The Keys to the Gateway of Magic. Dr Stephen Skinner. David Rankine. Occult. Grimoire

The Keys to the Gateway of Magic. Dr Stephen Skinner. David Rankine. Occult. Grimoire

 I'm reading through "The Keys to the Gateway of Magic: Summoning the Solomonic Archangels and Demon Princes." Edited by Dr. Stephen Skinner and David Rankine.

 

This classic text of the Nine Great Keys details the invocation of the Archangels, the full hierarchy of spiritual beings (including Olympic Spirits and Elementals) and the evocation of the four Demon Princes.

Highly sought-after, this edition of a rare early seventeenth century grimioire has never before appeared in English. Occult scholar Stephen Skinner, along with magician and author David Rankine, trace the history of the Keys and offer full transcriptions of four key seventeenth century manuscripts in the British Library and in the Bodleian Library.

https://amzn.to/4k6xcSs 

 

The Lesser Key of Solomon. Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Joseph H. Peterson

The Lesser Key of Solomon. Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Joseph H. Peterson

 I'm reading through Joseph H. Peterson's edition of "The Lesser Key of Solomon."

Compiled from original manuscripts and fragments in the British Museum Library, Joseph Peterson's new presentation is the most complete and accurate edition of this famous magical grimoire.

A widely respected scholar and archivist of occult texts, Peterson goes to great length to establish the provenance of each part of The Lessor Key of Solomon, and possible derivative works, including critical analyses of all major variations, utilizing fresh translations of earlier magical texts such as Johann Trithemius's Steganographia, The Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus, and newly discovered Hebrew manuscripts of the original Key of Solomon.

Abundantly illustrated, Peterson includes reproductions of the original magical circles, tools, and seals of the spirits with variations of certain drawings from various sources and notae missing from earlier editions.

This definitive edition of The Lesser Key of Solomon includes:

• Goetia—The ritual invocation of evil spirits and Solomons devices for binding them
  Theurgia Goetia—Continues the study of spirits that are “partly good and partly evil”
  Ars Paulina—Outlines the good spirits or angles governing the hours of the day and the signs of the zodiac. The text is purported to have been discovered by the Apostle Paul after he had been snatched up to heaven and includes “The Conjuration of the Holy Guardian Angel.”
  Ars Almadel—attributed to an Arab of the same name, this text describes twenty beneficial sprits that govern the zodiac
  Ars Notoria—With roots that go back to the 13th century Latin manuscripts, and probably even early oral traditions, this collection of orations and prayers in interspersed with magical words said to have mystical properties that can impart communion with God and knowledge of divine and human arts and sciences.
  Appendices, which include addenda found in the Sloan Manuscript 2731, Johan Weyer’s Psuedomonarchia demonum
  List of Sources
  Index 

 https://amzn.to/4bVroJ1

 

The History of Freemasonry. Albert Mackey

The History of Freemasonry. Albert Mackey

I'm enjoying "The History of Freemasonry" by Albert G. Mackey.


The fraternal order of Freemasons has been a mysterious organization since its origins centuries ago. Many historical figures such as Voltaire, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin were Freemasons and made the society all the more intriguing. This classic text illuminates the society's origins as well as the philosophical and ritual foundations on which it is built. Readers can explore the mythical tales about Freemasonry and learn how they relate to the historical truth. Included are excerpts from rare sacred documents along with explanations of their significance, plus black and white illustrations.

https://amzn.to/3UEsaUb

The Secret of the Temple. John Michael Greer. Earth Energies. Freemasonry. Sacred Geometry

The Secret of the Temple. John Michael Greer. Earth Energies. Freemasonry. Sacred Geometry

I'm enjoying "The Secret of the Temple" by John Michael Greer...


Over thousands of years, the priests and sages of the ancient world discovered that the design and location of certain structures had beneficial effects on the crops that sustained life. A body of traditional lore evolved, using architecture and ceremonies that made use of these wholly natural but mysterious effects. In The Secret of the Temple, John Michael Greer painstakingly rebuilds a body of lost knowledge that has been used to accumulate and direct energy throughout history, and can be used again today.

The Temple of Solomon was only one of many ancient structures that drew on the temple tradition. The insights of this tradition have been passed down through those in society tasked with protecting ancient wisdom, secret societies like the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. But over time, as cultures and technologies changed, the meaning of these cryptic symbols and rituals became obscured...until now. This book explores the esoteric body of knowledge that shaped the world of our forebears, gave rise to the world's most awe-inspiring temples and cathedrals, and continues to fuel speculation about powerful forces at work in our world.

https://amzn.to/3vTU8AX

The Templars. The History and the Myth. Michael Haag

The Templars. The History and the Myth. Michael Haag

I'm enjoying "The Templars: The History and the Myth" by Michael Haag


An order of warrior monks founded after the First Crusade to protect pilgrims to Jerusalem, the Templars developed into one of the wealthiest and most powerful bodies in the medieval world. Yet two centuries later, the Knights were suddenly arrested and accused of blasphemy, heresy and orgies, their order was abolished, and their leaders burnt at the stake. Their dramatic end shocked their contemporaries and has gripped people's imaginations ever since. This new book explains the whole context of Templar history, including, for the first time, the new evidence discovered by the Vatican that the Templars were not guilty of heresy. It covers the whole swathe of Templar history, from its origins in the mysteries of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem through to the nineteenth century development of the Freemasons. The book also features a guide to Templar castles and sites, and coverage of the Templars in books, movies and popular culture, from "Indiana Jones" to the Xbox360 game Assassin's Creed.

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

The Veritable Key of Solomon. Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Ceremonial Magick. Dr. Stephen Skinner. David Rankine

The Veritable Key of Solomon. Clavicula Salomonis. Grimoire. Ceremonial Magick. Dr. Stephen Skinner. David Rankine

I recently read through the Greek Magical Papyri and the Hygromanteia. In keeping with the chronological order of Grimoires, I'm now taking a renewed look at the 15th Century Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon). I also have the classic version edited by S.L. MacGregor Mathers, but this book by Dr. Stephen Skinner (and all the others in his Source Works of Ceremonial Magic series) adds so much depth and context.


"The Key of Solomon" is the most famous and infamous of the Grimoires ever produced. Yet amazingly only one version of it has ever been published, by S L MacGregor Mathers, over 100 years ago. What Mathers may not have known is that there were much more detailed and complete versions of this grimoire available in many other languages. This is not just a variant of Mathers' text, but a translation of three completely different and beautifully illustrated 1796 French manuscripts of the Key of Solomon. These are the most beautiful and complete manu-scripts of "The Key of Solomon" ever published. Much of the detail omitted from Mathers' edition is given here, providing a complete and workable system of high magic with full details of implements, procedures, and a wide range of talismans. Much material not available to Mathers is also found in this extraordinary book, including planetary prayers, names of angels and demons, and a vast array of pentacles, as well as material on the Olympic Spirits, Planetary Spirits and Intelligences. The commentary by two of the best known scholar-magicians provides much additional material, a full survey of all the extant manuscripts of this famous grimoire and how they relate to each other, as well as the historical influence of the Key of Solomon on the development of magic from the Renaissance until now. The pentacles as drawn by Fyot, the original scribe, are reproduced here, with more than twice as many pentacles as were produced in Mathers' text. "The Key of Solomon" is the most significant magical grimoire ever penned, certainly for the period from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth century. This present work finally restores "The Key of Solomon" back to its place at the heart of practical Western magic.

The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia. Grimoire. Ioannis Marathakis. Dr. Stephen Skinner

The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia. Grimoire. Ioannis Marathakis. Dr. Stephen Skinner

I'm spending some time reading through the Hygromanteia. This grimoire is part of the bridge between the Graeco-Egyptian Magical Papyri (PGM) and the Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon). This translation is by Ioannis Marathakis, but is part of Dr. Stephen Skinner's series of Source Works of Ceremonial Magic.


The Magical Treatise of Solomon, or Hygromanteia is the ultimate grimoire―the absolute foundation of ceremonial magic. The true source of the Key of Solomon, it is arguably the most significant magical text in the world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary work has been translated from the original Greek into English, allowing magic scholars worldwide to finally access its treasures. The translator, Ioannis Marathakis, is a native born Greek academic with an extensive knowledge of ceremonial magic. Unlike the abridged Latin translation, this groundbreaking work is the complete text, now arranged in its proper order.

Techniques of Solomonic Magic. by Dr. Stephen Skinner

Techniques of Solomonic Magic. Hygromanteia. Key of Solomon. Goetia. by Dr. Stephen Skinner

I'm enjoying "Techniques of Solomonic Magic" by Dr. Stephen Skinner. This book contains the historical background and methodology of the various Medieval and Renaissance Era Solomonic Grimoires (manuscripts containing magical workings ascribed to King Solomon). This text formed part of Dr. Skinner's doctoral thesis. He is certainly one of the most respected authorities on the subject in the world.

The most detailed analysis of the techniques of Solomonic magic from the seventh to the nineteenth century ever published. This volume explores the methods of Solomonic magic in Alexandria, tracing how the tradition passed through Byzantium (the Hygromanteia) to the Latin Clavicula Salomonis and its English incarnation as the Key of Solomon.
Discover specific magical techniques such as the invocation of the gods, the binding of demons, the use of the four demon Kings, and the construction of the circle and lamen. The use of amulets, talismans, and phylacteries is outlined along with their methods of construction. Also included are explanations of the structures and steps of Solomonic evocation, the facing directions, practical considerations, the use of thwarting angels, achieving invisibility, sacrifice, love magic, treasure finding and the binding, imprisoning, and licensing of spirits.

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

The Sworn Book of Honorius. Liber Iuratus Honorii. Honorius of Thebes. Translated by Joseph Peterson

The Sworn Book of Honorius. Liber Iuratus Honorii. Honorius of Thebes. Translated by Joseph Peterson

I'm journeying back several hundred years to spend some time with "The Sworn Book of Honorius", which roughly dates to the 13th or 14th Century.
All of the grimoires and other works translated by Joseph Peterson are nicely done, but this one is particularly great.



As the title testifies, students were sworn to secrecy before being given access to this magic text, and only a few manuscripts have survived. Bits of its teachings, such as the use of the magic whistle for summoning spirits, are alluded to in other texts. Another key element of its ritual, the elaborate “Seal of God,” has been found in texts and amulets throughout Europe.
Interest in The Sworn Book of Honorius has grown in recent years, yet no modern translations have been attempted―until now.
Purporting to preserve the magic of Solomon in the face of intense persecution by religious authorities, this text includes one of the oldest and most detailed magic rituals. It contains a complete system of magic including how to attain the divine vision, communicate with holy angels, and control aerial, earthly, and infernal spirits for practical gain.
Largely ignored by historians until recently, this text is an important witness to the transmission of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism to European Hermeticists.

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Wall Mural 

Painted for the

Master Architect Society

Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation

Grand Lodge of Maine

Holden, Maine

by Travis Simpkins

and Janet Simpkins

The Master Architect Society mural measures 5.5 feet x 9 feet. 

This is a donor recognition project for the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 

Eventually, the blank "stones" on the wall surrounding the depiction of King Solomon's Temple 

will be filled with brass plaques engraved with the names of benefactors.

Grand Lodge of Maine

200th Anniversary

For more info, please visit:

mainemason.org

and

masoniccharitablefoundation.org

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

Grand Lodge of Maine. Master Architect Society. Mural in progress by Travis Simpkins and Janet Simpkins

 

The Key to Solomon's Key. Lon Milo DuQuette. Knights Templar. Freemasonry. Goetia. Ceremonial Magick

The Key to Solomon's Key. Lon Milo DuQuette. Knights Templar. Freemasonry. Goetia. Ceremonial Magick

An interesting (and very different) perspective on King Solomon, the Knights Templar and Freemasonry... by the knowledgeable and engaging Lon Milo DuQuette.

"Sketching out a fascinating network of historic figures, cults, and Christendom, this book by an occult-studies expert and respected authority on magic and sorcery takes Western spiritual traditions seriously—but examines them with common sense and self-effacing humor. Working backward from the Freemasons to one of their original orders, the 14th-century Knights Templar, the account considers sorcery, heresy, and intrigues; explores the legend that the Knights possessed a powerful secret dangerous to the Church of Rome; and finds an essential clue to the order's practices in their connection to the biblical Solomon, king of Israel in the 10th century BC. This updated edition features new images, chapters on important symbols, and a new preface."

The Three Magical Books of Solomon. Greater Key. Lesser Key. Goetia. SL MacGregor Mathers. Aleister Crowley

The Three Magical Books of Solomon. Greater Key. Lesser Key. Goetia. SL MacGregor Mathers. Aleister Crowley

Essential texts, conveniently with all three Magical Books of Solomon in one volume...



"For the first time, the three great magical works of King Solomon are together in one volume. The Greater and Lesser Keys give a practical guide to the operation of his magic. The testament gives a historical account of its use by Solomon himself.
The Key of Solomon the King was originally researched and translated by S.L. MacGregor Mathers from ancient manuscripts in the British museums. Included by Mathers is the Order of the Pentacles of Solomon, the Ancient Fragment of the Key of Solomon, The Qabalistic Invocation of Solomon, and 15 plates full of figures, seals and charts, as well as the original text giving detailed instruction for spells and invocations.
The work is traditionally divided into two books detailing the Key of King Solomon. Book One explains the operation of conjurations, curses, spells and other magical works. Book Two instructs the practitioner on the proper attire, purification rituals and other means of obtaining the goals of the Goetia. Between these two books is the list of plates that contain numerous illustrations and secret seals of Solomon, including the Mystical Seal of Solomon, the Pentacles of Solomon, and the Mystical Alphabet, which impart the mechanisms and requirements for the invocation of spirits and demons.
The Lesser Key of Solomon, or the Clavicula Salomonis Regis, or Lemegeton, is a compilation of materials and writings from ancient sources making up a text book of magic or “grimoire.” Portions of this book can be traced back to the mid-16th to 17th centuries, when occult researchers such as Cornelius Agrippa and Johannes Trithemisus assembled what they discovered during their investigations into their own great works.
As a modern grimoire, the Lesser Key of Solomon has seen several editions with various authors and editors taking liberty to edit and translate the ancient writings and source material. In 1898, Arthur Edward Waite published his The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts, which contained large portions of the Lemegeton. He was followed by Mathers and Crowley in 1904 who published The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon.
In the preface to this edition, it is explained that a “Secret Chief” of the Rosicrucian Order directed the completion of the book. The original editor was a G. H. Fra. D.D.C.F. who translated ancient texts from French, Hebrew, and Latin, but was unable to complete his labors because of the martial assaults of the Four Great Princes. Crowley was then asked to step in and finish what the previous author had begun.
The Testament of Solomon is a pseudepigraphical work attributed to King Solomon the Wise of the Old Testament. Written in the first-person narrative, the book tells the story of the creation of the magical ring of King Solomon and how Solomon’s ring was used to bind and control demons, including Beelzebub. In this book of King Solomon, the discourses between the King and the various spirits are told, and the story shows how Solomon uses his wisdom to withstand the demons’ tricks and guile and enlist their aid in the building of his temple.
The manuscripts from which this work was discovered date from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. All were written in Greek. This dating makes most experts believe that the work is medieval. But some scholars, including D.C. Duling, argue that it is likely that the work comes from the 5th or 6th centuries.
No matter the date, the text provides an immensely interesting description of how King Solomon tamed various demons to build his temple. The text includes predictions of the coming of Christ, as one demon explains to Solomon that while he may be bound, the only thing that can truly take his power away is the man born from a virgin who will be crucified by the Jews."

"The Sign and the Seal" by Graham Hancock

The Sign and the Seal

The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant

by Graham Hancock

Touchstone, 1992

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

     Years of research and dangerous travel serve to unravel the enduring 3,000 year old mystery of the fabled lost Ark of the Covenant (which disappeared from written record around 600 BC) in The Sign and the Seal, Graham Hancock's bestselling masterwork of historic reportage. The well-crafted book examines the plausibility of the claim that the Ark of the Covenant (the real Biblical-era golden artifact topped by Cherubim) resides inside a guarded sanctuary in the ancient city of Axum, Ethiopia. 
     Ethiopian legend, the Kebra Nagast, tells that the Queen of Sheba was an Ethiopian beauty who indeed traveled to meet with King Solomon in Jerusalem (as stated in the Bible). However, in addition to sharing thoughts, the two also shared Solomon's bed and the Queen of Sheba gave birth to Solomon's son, named Menelik, after returning to Ethiopia. When Menelik was 20, he went to Jerusalem to meet his famous father at his temple. Soon after, Menelik conspired to steal the Ark of the Covenant and bring it back to Ethiopia… where it has remained ever since. Hancock maintains that the fanciful tale was muddled a bit in it's facts, but like many legends, holds some elements of truth… with clues hidden in unlikely places, like the niches of Chartres Cathedral.
     Research shows that others in history have been intrigued about the possibility that the powerful Ark resides in Axum. The presence of the Knights Templar, who derive their name from King Solomon's temple (which was built for the sole purpose of housing the Ark), is rumored to be visible in the rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia. Legend states that red-haired white angels built the complex edifices around the time of the Crusades. The Freemasons, the often rumored descendants of the Knights Templar, appear to have shown an interest as well (Masonic ritual centers around King Solomon's temple)… with Masonic nobleman James Bruce of Kinnaird mounting thorough expeditions of the area in the 18th Century.
     Much of Hancock's immersion resides with interviewing the people who live in the area in question. Ethiopia is home both to Christian sects as well as Hebrews. The Felashas, a group that practices Judaism straight out of the Old Testament, are likely the key to how the Ark came to be in Axum… removed from the temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Manasseh for safekeeping, and later brought to Ethiopia by way of centuries-long layovers in Egypt and mystical island lakes. The festival of Timkat, in which replicas of the Ark are paraded through the city by priests, provides an interesting spiritual context and contemporary cultural connection.
     The text also examines what the Ark really is. Of particular interest is the notion that the Ark was a manmade object, a "monstrous instrument." Constructed by Moses, who had been trained in all the magical Hermetic arts of Egypt as a young man (and was likely even a Kher Heb or "High Priest"), the atrocities that befell those who mishandled the Ark are reminiscent of exposure to radioactive material. The relic is made of near solid gold, a metal that is a strong conductor and is non-corrosive. The theory goes into much further detail…
     Graham Hancock began his fascinating quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant shortly after the release of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark… and his writing style and enthusiasm make for a journalistic adventure on par with the film. His admirable work will surely be enjoyed by future generations as well as his present world-wide fan base. 

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Sanctuary of Ark of the Covenant - Axum, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Kebra Nagast: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Kebra Nagast: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Temple of King Solomon: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Queen of Sheba Meets King Solomon: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Chartres Cathedral: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Queen of Sheba and her Nubian Slave - Chartres Cathedral: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Nubian Slave: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant - Chartres Cathedral: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Axum, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Axum, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Axum, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Knights Templar: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Temple Mount: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Temple of King Solomon: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Temple of King Solomon: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Rock Hewn Church - Ethiopia. Knights Templar: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Rock Hewn Church - Ethiopia. Knights Templar: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Rock Hewn Church - Ethiopia. Knights Templar: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

James Bruce of Kinnaird. Freemason: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Bruce's Travels. by James Bruce of Kinnaird. Freemason: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Structure of Freemasonry: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Egyptian Masonic Temple: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Ark of the Covenant: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Ark - Tomb of King Tut: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Elephantine, Egypt: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Tana Kirkos, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Timkat with Tabots, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Timkat with Tabots, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Timkat with Tabots, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Moses: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Axum, Ethiopia: The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

The Sign and the Seal. Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock- The Ark of the Covenant