Freemasonry
As regular readers of this blog will no doubt be all too painfully aware, I refuse to yield to anyone in my utter detestation of the literary (?) output of Dan Brown and all the demonic hybrids it has spawned but, to my unending horror, it seems impossible to avoid references to the said monstrosity. In all fields and all areas.
Take this example from Ha’aretz: Mysterious Temple Mount artifact evokes ‘Da Vinci Code’ - actually, no, let’s not. I intended to blog on Freemasonry and I sure as hell ain’t gonna let Brown stop me......ahem...err....ok, it seems that archaeologists working around the Haram as-Sharif in Jerusalem have uncovered an anomalous object which appears to display certain Masonic and Templar motifs and no, it does not “evoke” the da Vinci code - it evokes Masonic and Templar symbolism....(snarl).
Anyway, this is what happened:
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.
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. Andrew Prescott, director of the new Centre for Research into Freemasonry at the University of Sheffield. Prescott studied the photographs of the pendant and replied to Zweig at the beginning of this week that the symbols do, indeed, appear to be connected to the Freemasons, but are not the symbols of Britain’s Masonic Lodge.
Prescott noted, however, that members of the fraternity had visited the Temple Mount area during the 19th century. The mysterious pendant might have belonged to famed archaeologist Charles Warren, who made a documented visit to the Temple Mount in 1867, he said.
I cut out the myriad references to the dreaded DVC which litter this article - why do they need a tag like that? It is interesting enough in it’s own right. Anyway, question everything: how did they know it was the ‘Holy Grail’? Did it say so? No - it is a cup on a crown of thorns. I’m not saying it is NOT a Grail, just that it doesn’t have to be.
Apparently a Masonic expert has identified these symbols as Masonic. Well, Freemasonry has numerous parallels with Sufism - in fact Sir Richard Burton (a Freemason and Sufi) stated that “Sufism is the eastern parent of Freemasonry” and there do seem to be many grounds for this view. I don’t have time to do a full-blown post on all this stuff - coincidentally Tim Boucher is tackling the Masons over at Pop Occulture so maybe check out the discussion there - but will just throw out some ideas, hints and clues to add to any pots that might benefit.
Traditionally, in an Islamic sense, the origins of Freemasonry can be traced to the figure of the ninth century Egyptian Sufi Dhu’l Nun al-Misri who variously is stated to have decoded the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and to be associated with the Malamatiyya. He is also said to have instituted the order called al-Bannayin, ‘the Builders’. Another order with marked similarity to Masonic ritual is the Bektashi.
The symbol of a cup (even, in another context, the Grail itself) is a Sufi motif as is the figure of the Cupbearer - here are some useful leads in this regard (take it easy on the cannabis angle though).
Another fascinating issue concerned with all this is the topic of Mason’s marks. the strange coded symbols which are used on stone in churches and cathedrals throughout Europe and the Middle East. Idries Shah examines one of these in particular in The Sufis
One might also examine the Islamic concept of the 99 names of God - the hundredth name is said to be unknown and to confer magical abilities. the remaining names or attributes are traditionally divided in mystical exercises into 3 groups of 33 and of course, this number is of great significance to the Masons.
There are many other links but I don’t have time to post on them now. I may examine the Mason’s marks and the whole issue of the Cathedral builders (as well as the obscene figures such as sheela na-gigs that sometimes decorate European churches), in particular Islamic elements and motifs in European Cathedrals, in a subsequent post.
