In 2001, divers equipped with metal detectors scanned the dark depths of Germany's Lake Chiemsee in search of treasure. A glimmer in the muck led them to a 23-pound golden cauldron, decorated with relief figures of Celtic gods and warriors. At first, the discovery was hailed as one of the great archaeological finds of the last century, with the supposition that they had discovered a rare 2,000 year-old artifact worth upwards of a billion dollars. The truth, however, revealed through scientific tests, was disappointing… for it was undeniably evident that the Chiemsee Cauldron is a product of 20th Century craftsmanship (and worth $100,000 based on it's weight in gold). The quest for answers began. Produced in 2013 for the Smithsonian Channel, Nazi Temple of Doom takes a 45-minute look at the mystery. Some clandestine documents of Heinrich Himmler, discovered in an attic, reveal some intriguing background on the cauldron's creation. An inventory of Wewelsburg Castle, Himmler's SS "Temple of Doom" fortress, indicated that the cauldron had been made in Munich by Nazi jeweler Otto Gahr around 1929. It is likely that Gahr made the cauldron to present as a lavish contribution to the Nazis in an effort to gain favor in the regime. This makes sense, as Gahr was also the designer of the silver stylized "Death's Head" rings so coveted by the SS. Not an outright forgery, the cauldron was made as a tribute to the ancient past. Himmler was obsessed with the occult and sought ways to associate Aryan/Germanic people with glorified ancient roots. At Wewelsburg, even the floor plan offered reference to ancient legends, with a round 12-columned room set up as a Nazi version of King Arthur's Round Table. Himmler conceived Wewelsburg as his Camelot, and many rituals took place, some more secret than others… including pagan weddings, solstice celebrations and non-christian baptisms. The castle was filled with fine art, relics and antiquities. One particular relic that Himmler sought in vain, the most prized of all, was the Holy Grail. Himmler went so far as to commission Indiana Jones style adventurer Otto Rahn to seek the Grail, but he failed in his quest. It is possible that the Chiemsee Cauldron was intended as a consolation, a substitute for the Holy Grail, and was prominently used in the many ceremonies performed in the castle. In 1945, when the war's end was imminent, Himmler gave the order to destroy Wewelsburg rather than let the Allies have access to it's secrets. In the chaos, the golden cauldron was smuggled out by the Nazis, and thrown in the water to hide it from their enemies. It rested on the bottom of the lake, beyond human reach, for 56 years. Today, it is still out of reach, locked away in a vault with no access. Wonderful commentary is provided by experts throughout this short documentary, including Axel Effner, Andrew Gough, Kai Schmidt, Max Heiden, Dr. Peter Northover, Peter Longerich, Chris Going, Kirsten John-Stucke and Adrian Weale.
