Mason's, Aliens, Templars and a cup o Tea....................: Haaretz - Israel News - Mysterious Temple Mount artifact evokes Da Vinci Code

Haaretz - Israel News - Mysterious Temple Mount artifact evokes Da Vinci Code: "Accepted scientific research confirms that the Knights Templar built their base on the Temple Mount, around the underground compound known as Solomon's Stables. However, the whole story of a connection between the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail is pure fairy tale, according to archaeologists and experts on Temple Mount history.

Barkai, an expert on biblical archaeology at Bar-Ilan University, and Zweig, a master's student there, have spent 10 months examining rubble from the Solomon's Stables area of the Temple Mount. This dirt dates from the Crusades, when Muslim rulers apparently blocked up the spaces along the periphery of Solomon's Stables.

Barkai and Zweig discovered in the rubble a cross-shaped bronze pendant measuring a square centimeter. The pendant, which was originally gold-plated, bears mysterious symbols: on one side are a hammer, pincers and nails; the flip side has what looks like a sun, as well as an altar. But the main symbol, which immediately grabs the attention, is the Holy Grail lying on a crown of thorns.

According to Barkai, some of the people who saw the pendant suggested that this was an artifact that related to 'The Da Vinci Code,' but Barkai was dismissive. 'I heard several interesting explanations along those lines,' he said, 'but in my opinion there is here nothing more than a coincidence that ignites the imagination.'

Zweig decided to examine the pendant thoroughly. He supposed that it dated from the 19th century, since Christians had been barred from visiting the Temple Mount from the end of the Crusades until 1840. Based on the symbols, and particularly the work tools, he assumed the pendant was related to the Freemasons, a semi-secret fraternity that was founded in 18th-century England and established branches, or lodges, in nearly all Western countries.

Zweig could not locate an expert on Masonic symbols in Israel, so he contacted Prof"

Posted @ 9/12/2005 12:23:13 AM ( 0 comments )

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