Ancient mysteries and the unexplained
QuestMagazine.com
Ancient mysteries originate in the distant past, but the mystery may continue into modern times. These mysteries often include artifacts, sites, people, or legends with which mysterious events are associated. The mystery may involve how an object or site came to be, its mystic attributes, or other historical questions.
Ancient mysteries and culture
Ancient mysteries can become an integral part of a nation's psyche, as England's King Arthur and Merlin are in Arthurian legend, or as the pyramids and the Sphinx are in Egypt.
Ancient mysteries list
* Alchemy
* Ark of the Covenant
* Atlantis
* Baphomet
Baphomet is an idol of uncertain origin, depicting a god, devil, or demon. The Knights Templar were accused of heretical worship of Baphomet.
* Camelot
* Cathars
* Delphic Oracle
* DeMolay curse
* Druids
* Egyptian pyramids
* Et in Arcadia Ego
Most scholars believe Freemasonry originated in the Medieval guilds of masons. Some people believe Freemasonry goes all the way back to King Solomon. There are even authors who claim it originated in ancient Egypt.
Some historians and authors have tried to draw a link from Freemasonry and its many branches back to the Knights Templar, with some Masonic organizations claiming a direct descent from them. This alleged link to the Freemasons remains a point of debate among scholars. Author John J. Robinson makes a case for the Templar/Freemason connection in his book Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry. More...
* Garden of Eden
* Green Man
* Hiram Abiff
Hiram Abiff serves as a Masonic symbol and is a central figure in Masonic legend and Freemasonry. He is also known as the widow's son. The exact historical origins of Hiram Abiff remain a mystery.
* Holy Grail
In Arthurian legend the Holy Grail is traditionally defined as the chalice that Jesus used at the Last Supper. It also has been described as the cup that caught the blood of Jesus as he was being crucified or as the platter used at the Last Supper. In legend it was brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea. The Grail story is a combination of history, Christian theology, Celtic myth, and fertility rites. There are also definitions that say it is a spiritual quest, Mary Magdalene, or that it refers to an alleged bloodline of Jesus. In addition, there are those who believe that the Knights Templar passed to the Freemasons special knowledge of the Holy Grail.
* Joseph of Arimathea
* King Arthur
The Templar Order was the largest and most powerful of the Christian military orders. The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon became widely known as the Knights Templar. The Order was founded by nine knights in 1118 A.D. who created an order of 'warrior monks.' The Templars were begun in the aftermath of the First Crusade of 1096 A.D. to help the new Kingdom of Jerusalem defend itself against its hostile Muslim neighbors and to ensure the safety of the large numbers of European pilgrims who journeyed to Jerusalem. As a result of charges of heresy and blasphemy, the Medieval Templar Order was officially ended in 1314 A.D. with the burning at the stake of the last official Grand Master, Jacques de Molay.
There is the mystery as to whether or not the Templars were guilty of the crimes of which they were accused. These included, but were not limited to, worship of the idol Baphomet and desecration of the crucifix. There is the legend that the Templars amassed large of amounts of esoteric knowledge and had mastered mystical practices. The Templars also possessed an immense amount of wealth which was never found and a Templar fleet sailed and was never officially heard from again. More...
* La Merika
* Lia Fail
* Lost Templar fleet
* Lost Templar treasure
* Mary Magdalene
* Mayan 2012 prophecy
* Merlin
* Mystery religions
* Nazca Lines
* Noah's Ark
* Rennes-le-Chateau
* Robin Hood
* Rosicrucians
* Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel is a chapel in Scotland that has links to the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. It is decorated with Templar and Masonic symbols and some believe it has hidden within it the Holy Grail.
* Shangri-La
* Shroud of Turin
* Solomon's Temple
* Spear of Destiny
* Sphinx
* Star of Bethlehem
* Stonehenge
* Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
Hal Siemer is a historian, folklorist, religious researcher, writer, and the Editor of Quest Magazine. He has done extensive research on the Knights Templar, Freemasonry, ancient mysteries and Halloween and Christmas customs, traditions, and folklore. He founded and was president of a public policy think tank. He previously has worked as a lobbyist for nonprofit organizations and has been a political consultant.
Hal Siemer frequently is a guest on radio talk shows. His writing has appeared in the Dallas Morning News, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Austin Review, and other newspapers.
Hal Siemer's professional society memberships include the:
* American Anthropological Association
* American Folklore Society
* Medieval Academy of America
* Society for the Anthropology of Religion
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