Monday Ground Up: Distinctive Characteristics of Renaissance Art And Artists

Renaissance art has been characterized as an individualistic approach to humanism, where an eye of an artist interprets what they see everyday. The interpretations may have been realistically based and the emphasis on naturalism was used to persuade onlookers that an object was real-both living and breathing in the eyes of the artist. The standards reflected a focus of the human form and the social, political, and religious aspects of the time.

The Tribute Money, fresco in the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence

Giotto originally began the imitation of nature, however Massacio frescoes in Brancacci Chapel are the first masterpieces of Early Renaissance art. The use of realism to reflect perspective and a relationship between a figure and the landscape, bore a new type of painting and sculpture of dimensions. Other painters, such as Paulo Uccello used mathematical equations to determine space and light. However, this experimentation was more often opportunistic to showcase his mastery of perspective.



Part of the court in Florence was a circle of artists that were interested in Greek and Roman mythology. Sandro Botticelli's famous work, "Primavera" was a removal from realism. The emphasis was on the female form in a naturalistic way, with somewhat of an unworldly quality.



Donatello constructed "David", which first stood in the courtyard of the Medici Palace. The statue was heroic, simple, and humanistic, or possibly a reflection of a natural state.



Architectural art was of great importance, especially since 1296 when the Duomo had just started being built. Brunelleschi drew his inspiration for the completion of the Duomo from Roman antiquity, so he devised a dome to finish the Duomo, which would span over a 140-foot opening.



Federico III da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. Portrait
by Piero della Francesca, 1492.

One of the most influential and evident movements was that of human individuality in their present political or social state. Patrons and aristocrats found themselves painted into the corners of sacred pictures and depicted in statues. Piero della Francesca started capturing a new sense of political power and social standing of his subjects. Of course, this carried over to the High Renaissance where Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo re-focused a humanistic and individual aspect of painting and sculpture towards their commissioned works for the papacy, aristocrats, and political figures.



Leonardo's "Last Supper" depicted an idealism of dismay and a profound psychological dimension. Movement of the figures embodied a living story, brought to live with the stroke of a brush.



Raphael, under commission from the church, painted frescoes in the Vatican, his most famous being the "School of Athens". His art was a classical depiction of social meetings in Greece and Rome.



Click on the picture to see a larger image from Wikipedia.

Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was said that the two were constantly arguing over Michelangelo's need to keep each section covered. Pope Julius was very impatient, however when his eyes were finally able to view the splendor of the masterpiece, he had tears in his eyes. Michelangelo depicted the Creation of Adam, as well as the scenes from the book of Genesis. He believed the more perfect the body, the more God like the figure.



Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence



A copy of the statue standing in the original location of
David, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

This would explain his depiction of David, which is far more heroic and masculine looking than Donatellos. The statue had originally been placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the Florentine government; thereby representing resolve and human power.

The Renaissance is deemed as being the age of enlightenment. There was a new vision of humanism and experimentation with new forms of artistic expression. It's one of those most admired times in history, at least, that's what I believe. How about you?

Who is your favorite Renaissance artist and why?

More Related Articles About the Renaissance

Based on the retrospectives and actions of the humanist writers and masterminds of the 15th and 16th centuries, there is evidence that the Renaissance was an era of climax in the Middle Ages. Those who viewed themselves as pioneers of this grand rebirth were greatly influenced by literature of the successful Greek and Roman Empire.

Read more about Enlightenment Thinkers During the Renaissance by hotsauce369


The art of Michelangelo Buonarroti [1475-1564] is some of the most heroic in Renaissance art. He was an architect, poet, painter, and engineer. He considered himself as a artistic sculptor. At a very early age of twenty seven he already established his reputation in Florence, when he managed to carved a free-standing larger than-life statue of the most famous biblical David.

Read more about Michelangelo by donnau1

The Ohio Decalogue Stone: The Ten Commandment Rendition

How odd to find out that a rare tablet was discovered not far from where I used to live in Ohio. The Ohio Decalogue Stone, sometimes called the Ten Commandment Stone, was discovered in Ohio by archaeologists during the excavation of a cairn in 1860.

They also found a wooden casket with a skeleton inside, however when they opened up the casket, the skeleton crumbled into pieces. Inside the casket was the stone, enclosed in a cemented casing with the Hebrew language carved along the edges.

This video is both bizarre and surprising, especially when you take into account that some of the Archaeologists that discovered the stone deemed it as a fake, and others believed it was tied to Moses. Their explanation, although seemingly it might have made sense to them, was that no one was in Ohio before Christopher Columbus discovered it. For that matter, why would a Hebrew artifact be buried in Ohio in the first place?

Inveraray Castle in Scotland

From a distance, Inveraray castle appears to be a Gothic and Baroque style structure, which is most certainly is. However, before this castle ever stood still in western Scotland, the original city of Inveraray was torn down as a result of Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll. His ideal of his perfectly constructed abode did not include a rustic and aging town that impeded on the structure itself.

The castle was constructed in a square like fashion with four castellated towers at each corner, each of which bears a conical spire.

The gardens occupy two acres and the rest of the grounds is parkland and forests. Unfortunately, the castle suffered some loses due to two fires in the 18th and 19th century; however most of the decor and furnishings have been restored since the fires.



Source

The elaborate paintings in the castle's State Dining Room were completed in 1784 by two French painters Girard and Guinard, who were also commissioned by the then Prince of Wales to decorate his London residence, Carlton House. The work of these painters only survives at Inverary, so make sure you take some extra time to admire the brilliance of the atmosphere that these paintings create.



Source

Developed in keeping with Vanbrugh's original sketch dated 1720 and using a similar concept which he used at Castle Howard & Blenheim Palace, the dramatic Armoury Hall soars to 21 metres in height, the highest ceiling in Scotland.

Source

Inveraray Castle is home to Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll and his family, but they have graciously opened up the castle to visitors at certain times of the year.

If you'd like to learn more about Inverary, visit their website. There is so much history to be learned and so much to see.

Monday Ground Up: The Medieval Gothic Malbork Castle

The Teutonic Order constructed this medieval fortress in Prussia around the time of the crusades in Ordensburg, naming it Marienburg, or rather "Mary's Castle”. The name was derived from the patron saint the Virgin Mary. Malbork is one of the world’s largest red brick Gothic castles in the world, with a small middle castle nested within the outer walls.

The castle consisted of three separate sections including the High, Middle, and Lower castles, separated by dry moats and towers. It was said at one time the castle held close to 3000 knights and the High Castle enclosure measured 52 acres, which is four times the enclosed space of Windsor Castle.

The flatness of the grounds allowed for easier trading with ships and barges, thus creating a toll stop for passing vessels. The Order imposed a monopoly of amber trade, therefore building their reputation as commercial capitalists along the waterfront.

Around 1410, the castle was besieged when the armies were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald, however Heinrich von Plauen successfully led the defense, resulting in the reconstruction of the city.

During the Thirteen Years' War, the Order could no longer pay its mercenaries, therefore resulting in their transition to Königsberg, giving the castle to the Bohemian mercenaries as payment. King Casimir IV Jagiellon acquired the castle in 1457.

Under mayor Bartholomäus Blume, the city itself resisted the Polish onslaught for three more years, until the Poles captured and hanged Blume in 1460. A monument to him was erected in 1864. Castle and town became part of Royal Prussia in 1466, and served as one of the several Polish royal residences. During the Thirty Years' War, in 1626 and 1629, Swedes occupied the castle, and again from 1656 to 1660 in The Deluge (Polish history) during the Northern Wars.

Around the late 18 century, the Prussian Amry used the castke as a barracks. It wasn't until 1874 that a Prussian architect, David Gilly, surveyed the castle to determine if it should be demolished or what it's use should be left standing. His son created engravings of the castle that were exhibited in Berlin leading to a "rediscovery" of Malborks history.

In the early 1930s the Nazis used Malbork as a meeting site for Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls. It was the Teutonic Castle at Marienburg, Malbork that served as the blue print for the Order Castles of the Third Reich.
The castle has been considerably pillaged,burned, and destroyed, especially due to the aftermath of World War II. It has been rebuilt and restored over the years, so much of what we see today of the outlying structure is new construction.







by MrSco



by lostajy





Resources

• Malbork Castle Museum
• The Malbork Castle Virtual Tour

Sources

Pictures

Crowland Abbey in Lincolnshire, England

England never falls short of historic churches and sites to visit along the country side, and Crowland Abbey does not disappoint. This Church of England was founded around the 8th century in Lincolnshire and it was dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Bartholomew and Saint Guthlac.

Crowland is best known for the Croyland Chronicles which was written in the Benedictine Abbey at Crowland, with the writer claiming to be Pseudo-Ingulf. The English medieval history covered in the chronicles was received by someone that had access to information from the court of Richard III.

Many historians have tempted to identify all of the contributors, however John Russell makes the most sense considering he was at Crowland during 1486 and the sections end with the marriage of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York and the rebellion that followed.

This date ties in with the survival of a copy of Titulus Regius(statute of the Parliament of England, issued in 1483, by which the title of King of England was given to Richard III of England) in the text.

Historic Building: Statues at Crowland Abbey

Historic Building: Crowland Abbey, Lincs

Mysterious Green Flash at Strasbourg Cathedral

My personal writing friend is a translator and art historian; a passion that shows through his historical travels in Europe. He has written an interesting and intriguing piece about a mysterious green flash at Strasbourg Cathedral on two specific times during the year.

Francois Hagnere is a gem at sharing some of the inner workings of some of the most spectacular churches and cathedrals in the world.

Twice a year, for the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, crowds throng into the Strasbourg cathedral. A mysterious light phenomenon appears at 11:38 on March 20, and September 21, it lasts several days. The patriarch Judah, an ancestor of the Christ, is featured in one of the South triforium windows and will be our guide. He looks towards the sun above his right shoulder whilst his index shows his left foot, thus indicating the sun goes through his green foot at a determined moment and from a certain angle. This stained glass window dates back to 1876 and the sun crosses the nave of the cathedral via this beautiful window on every sunny day and particularly on these dates.

Read more about the mysterious green light in Strasbourg Cathedral

Monday Ground Up: Saint Demitrios and the Crusades

When I finally decided that may focus was going to be Medieval European Archaeology, I started diving into the subject. Of course as a you can see by the last editions, the Middle Ages have been my focus.

When I traveled today to the Greek Festival, I had every intention of sharing my experiences for the day. However, when I started to roam the church and study the paintings and depictions of Saint Demetrios, it sparked my interest, especially considering I wasn't looking for a connection between a Greek Saint and the crusades.



Saint Demetrios (Demetrius of Thessaloniki-(Greek: Άγιος Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης) was a revered Orthodox military saint and Christian martyr during the time of the crusades in the Middle Ages. Many scholars believe he was a member of the Roman Army and a patron of the crusades, along with Saint George.



His cult, created in Thessaloniki, was ever growing and open to external attacks from Slavs moving into the Balkans. It was his interventions during the crusades that led him to the title of a military martyr.

Myth has always surrounded Saint Demetrios as no relics were ever left behind after his death.

What were claimed to be his remains subsequently appeared in Thessaloniki, but even the local archbishop (John of Thessaloniki, 7th century) was publicly dismissive of their authenticity. These are now also kept in Hagios Demetrios. According to legend, these relics were ascertained to be genuine after they started emitting a perfumed scent of myrrh.

Brief Overview of the Crusades

The crusades were an attempt by the papacy to demonstrate their influence over European society. It was a war between the godly followers and the infidels. Due to developments in the Islamic and Byzantine world, this gave rise to the new European civilization to expand their borders. As a new dynasty emerged, the demand for knights was answered leading to the first crusades which were precipitated by various religious aspects and conflicts, and tempted warriors to fight for their religion and engage in their favorite pastime-fighting.

After the division of the Catholic Church of the west and the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Byzantine Empire, the state of the empire was weakened. The head of the Eastern Orthodox Church Michael Cerularius refused to accept the pope as the sole head of the church, therefore forming a great schism between the two branches of Christianity. The Byzantine Empire was constantly open to external threats from the Turks, Normans, and the Pechenegs. So when a new dynasty was formed by Alexius I Comnenus, the leader turned to the west for assistance in a holy war, and his requests were positively answered leading to the crusades.

Christians were on holy pilgrimage to rid the world of infidels and unbelievers, those being the Muslims. So when the pope saw an opportunity to provide papal leadership for a great cause, they rallied the warriors in an attempt to liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The pope promised knights remission of sins allowing for the knights, who died in battle against the pagans, to be absolved from sin through the power of God which the pope had been invested.

The knights of the crusade were initially tempted by religious fervor, adventure, and the opportunity to engage in fighting, which was of course their favorite pastime. Others believed they would gain more land and holdings, a title, and even salvation. Merchants believed the crusades would allow for greater trade opportunities in the Muslim Lands. It was simply a war to rid Europe of young nobles who insisted upon fighting each other, thereby turning the tables and giving them a new target.

The crusades were a massacre that brought about evil side effects that effected the society of Europe for centuries. The hopes of reviving more trade during the crusades would have had the same results without the murders of thousands of people. Not much as changed even today as Christians and Muslims lay in dispute over the Holy Land.

More Related Articles

The Effect of The Crusades on the Jews

The Jews found themselves in a very difficult position between the two religions at war. The treatment of the Jews by the Crusaders in both Europe and the Middle East was an atrocious episode in the chronicle of the Crusades. Jews were always distrusted and scorned but this turned into widespread persecution and slaughter. Read more about the Effect of the Crusades on the Jews By oeillade

Saladin and The Third Crusade

The main objective of the third crusade was to retake Jerusalem from Muslim control. The reason for this was that a military mastermind named Saladin had united almost all of the Middle Eastern countries under one banner. Saladin was from Tirket, modern day Iraq. When he was young his uncle taught him the ways of a military commander. Read more about Saladin and the Third Crusade ByElliot912


Resources

Medieval Crusades
The Crusades

Medieval Identifications: Alcuin of York

Alcuin of York was an intellectual, ecclesiastic, poet and lecturer from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Ecgbert at York.

At the invitation of Charlemagne, he became a leading scholar and teacher at the Carolingian court, where he remained a figure at court in the 780s and 790s. He wrote many theological and dogmatic treatises, as well as a few grammatical works and a number of poems.

He was made abbot of Saint Martin's at Tours in 796, where he remained until his death. He is considered among the most important architects of the Carolingian Renaissance. Among his pupils were many of the dominant intellectuals of the Carolingian era.

Alcuin died on May 19, 804, some ten years before the emperor. He was buried at St. Martin’s Church under an epitaph that partly read:

“

Dust, worms, and ashes now... Alcuin my name, wisdom I always loved, Pray, reader, for my soul.

On a Personal Note: Happy Veterans Day!

This photo features my Grandfather, positioned after the soldier getting his checkup. Thanks to all of the men and women that protect our country everyday. You are appreciated!!!!

Persian Army Discovered in Sahara Desert By Italian Archaeologists

One of the greatest mysteries may have possibly been solved by two renowned Italian Archaeologists.

The lost army of Persian King Cambyses II was said to have disappeared on there way to attack the Oasis of Siwa and destroy the oracle at the Temple of Amun after the priests there refused to legitimize his claim to Egypt.

"It all started in 1996, during an expedition aimed at investigating the presence of iron meteorites near Bahrin, one small oasis not far from Siwa," Alfredo Castiglioni, director of the Eastern Desert Research Center (CeRDO)in Varese, told Discovery News.

To read the entire story of the long journey it took to discover this amazing find, and even more fascinating army, visit Discovery Channel. For a video about the find, click here.

On a side note, I would personally like to thank Discovery Channel for featuring the Ancient Digger on their Blogroll. It's an honor and a thrill to be associated with such an innovative and amazing establishment.

Agriculture During the High Middle Ages

During the High Middle Ages, the culture saw a significant increase in arable land which was directly influencing the population, which was on the rise. People were settling down and agricultural production was sustaining more and more families. Much of the changes were to the availability of arable land, technological advancements, and the transitions from a two field system to a three.

Large forested areas were being cleared for cultivation and the materials from the forests were being used to build houses, bridges, fortresses, ships, and for fuel. Nearby swamps were drained to provide even more land for growing crops and foodstuffs. Economically, farming in Europe at this time was beneficial for the workers and laborers and the land owners.

Technological advancements like mining for iron and trading it to areas that did not have it readily available were encouraging trade relations and geographical transition. Inventions like the carruca and the aratum made it possible to plow the land more efficiently, therefore allowing for faster growing and harvesting. In the past, the easterners used the aratum, which only turned the top soil. Now, they had the option to do both levels of soil at once.

New horse collars were developed that allowed the horses to pull the heavy plow faster and cultivate more land, all while wearing iron shoes that produced greater traction and protection from rocky soil.

The transition from a two field to a three allowed for seasonal crops to be grown at all times. One field was planted in the fall with grains such as rye and wheat; spring saw the planting of barley, oats, and legumes and the third was usually empty to allow for over exhaustion of the soul. The positive aspect of this system was that the serfs became free peasants, meaning they were no longer tied to the land.

Due to the increase in production during the High Middle Ages, birth rates were soaring and economics were allowing for better living conditions and relationships in the trade centers. It was a time of peace and prosperity for both the land owners and the free peasants.

Ancient Digger Has Won A Blog Award

I am quite humbled and very honored to have received a blog award from Will Oaks Studio. Coming from an accomplished artist and photographer, it's even more special that she thinks I deserve it for my work here on the The Ancient Digger.

I now have to choose 15 blogs that I think are most deserving of this award as well. That's going to be tough. I have hundreds of blogs that I follow that I think are worthy. Mmm, let me see. While I'm thinking about it, here are the rules.

The Best Blog Award rules are:

To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers you've awarded to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Ok, here are my choices and congratulations to all the winners.

• English Wilderness
  
  
• Bo Poetry
  
  
• Chris Stonecipher
  
  
• Entrewas
  
  
• Modern Bohemian
  
  
• Wandering Thought
  
  
• Webphemera
  
  
• Pro Map Traveler
  
  
• Historical Travels
  
  
• Richard X Tripp

• History and Traditions of England
  
  
• Unsolved Mysteries In The World
  
  
• The History Cellar
  
  
• Chicago History Journal
  
  
• The Modern Historian
  
  
• Virtual Dime Museum

The Monday Ground Up: The Catholic Church During Charlemagne

The Catholic Church at the time of Charlemagne had significant impact on the lives of the Frankish people. There was fusion of cultural ideals which directly influenced family life, sexuality, and the views of children.

Marriages were arranged by the fathers and uncles, and wives were expected to remain faithful to their husbands, even if they kept concubines and remained unfaithful to them. The Catholic Church insisted on blessing the marriage, although at that time, marriage was civil arrangement.

The emphasize on monogamy by the church led to a law, or rather a right to prohibit divorce, even if the woman was sterile or unattractive. This right was not accepted gracefully. This institution, considered to still be a frigid moral establishment, led to the nuclear family, whereby the power of the household went to the eldest woman, although her place as a wife was still dominated by her husband.

Celibacy was stressed as part of the sanctity of marriage, although during the Middle Ages, this proved to be impossible. Thus, the church felt that marriage was the lesser of two evils. Couples could engage in sexual intercourse if married, only if it was fir the purpose of procreation and not pleasure. In this arrangement, contraceptives were forbidden and abortions were frowned upon, even though herbal remedies were often used to prevent contraception.

The condemnation of sexual activity outside marriage also included homosexuality, even though Roman Law had never recognized any difference between heterosexuality and homosexuality. How odd that the evolution and acceptance of homosexuality under Roman Law was never seen as a problem, although today, our law that was derived from the Romans mysteriously excludes homosexual relations.

The Catholic Church listed wergelds, whose size represented a persons worth. In the past, the limiting of children through infanticide was used often by Roman families, however now the adoption of personal worth was used to determine where a child would end up. Males were valued at solidi until they became warriors, then their worth increased to 300.

Females were around 30, then it increased to 250 when they were able to bear children. Unwanted children were abandoned or donated to the Catholic Church and were raised as nuns and monks.

The strict code of law by the church in the Middle Ages led to the development of institutions of marriage and the condemnation of infanticide. Of course, these laws were impossible to enforce, especially when it came to celibacy during the Middle Ages. The way of life was challenged on a daily basis, be it in secret, Germanic peoples still managed to work around the strict control of the Catholic Church and they still do today, trying to avoid their strict ideals and moral codes.

Throne of Charlemagne and the subsequent German Kings in Aachen Cathedral

Champagne Fairs: What were they?

The Champagne Fairs evolved out of the annual cycle of trading fairs held in Champagne and Brie in France during the Middle Ages. The fairs became an important engine in the reviving economic history of Medieval Europe.

Initially, they became the nerve centers for textile, leather, fur, and spice trading. At the height of the trading industry, the fairs linked the cloth producing Low Countries with Italian dying and exporting centers, like Genoa and Venice.

The fairs were well organized and represented the beginnings of commercial capitalism in the High Middle Ages, bringing about banking and investor relations.

At the end of the 12th century, the fairs, which were conveniently located on major trade routes, dominated commercial and banking relations operating at the frontier region between the north and the Mediterranean.

La Casa Tomada: The Haunted House Presented at Daytona State College

Buenas Tardes,

This week, on Thursday November 5th, there will be a play called La Casa Tomada at Daytona State College at 7:00pm. Admission is free to the public.

There will be a raffle with door prizes including:

• A personal tennis lesson
• Spanish bottle of wine
• Gift certificates to restaurants
• And much, much more.

Raffle tickets cost $1.00 for one, 6 for $5.00

Dress is casual.

The play is entirely in Spanish, however you'll still be able to understand the plot even if you don't speak the language.

I'll be singing in Spanish, so if you'd like to meet me in person, I'll be there. I will also have the part of the writer, ironic isn't it?

The play is in the Theater Center (building 220) at 7:00pm November 5th, so don't be late.

Espanol

Esta semana, el jueves 5 de noviembre, habrá un juego llamado La Casa Tomada en la universidad del estado de Daytona en 7:00 P.M. La admisión está libre al público.

Habrá un raffle con los premios de la puerta incluyendo:

Una botella española de la lección personal del tenis de vales del vino a los restaurantes y a mucho, mucho más.

Los boletos de Raffle cuestan $1.00 para uno, 6 para $5.00 que el vestido es ocasional.

El juego está enteramente en español, no obstante usted todavía podrá entender que el diagrama aunque usted no habla la lengua.

El juego está en el centro del teatro (edificio 220) en 7:00 P.M. el 5 de noviembre, no es tan atrasado.

Monday Ground Up: Rosslyn Chapel, the St. Clair’s of Roslin, and the Templar Order: The Connection

In Edinburgh, Scotland there is a building that for years has been shrouded in mystery. Rosslyn Chapel was the last resting place chosen by the Templar Order for their treasure and is said to be the center of peace, as well as a shrine for the scrolls found in Jerusalem during their excavations at the Temple Mount. For years, archaeologists and historians have tried to recover the artifacts that were found on the Holy Land. Ultimately, the discovery of these findings would shed light on thousands of years of knowledge about the St. Clair family and their relationship with the Templar Order. Rosslyn Chapel stands as a memorial to the Knights Templar, hiding a library of secrets about the St. Clair’s of Roslin and sculpted in stone symbolism.

The Templar Order was on a quest for holy artifacts; and William St. Clair of Roslin’s shield carried an engrailed black cross on silver, clearly denoting him as a Grail Knight. This was one of the twists in the mystery of Rosslyn Chapel and the connection with the Templars. Jewish Families had fled Israel to Europe, forming new alliances and holding power and lands in France, therefore instrumenting the formation of the Knights Templar. The Templar Order functioned as protectors of the pilgrims; however in reality they had an entirely different agenda to follow-the recovery of whatever constituted the true treasure of the Temple of Jerusalem (Swanson, 2006).

The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon were founded in Jerusalem in 1118 by Hugh de Payne, Andre de Montbard, and seven other knights. Hugh de Payne was married to Catherine de St. Clair of Roslin and Andre de Montbard, a relative of the Duke of Burgundy, who was also the uncle of Bernard de Fontaines, the most powerful man in Europe in the early twelve century (Baigent, 1982). Initially, the Templars were established to protect the Hold Land; however they became concerned about their role in the church, and why it was believed that they should never bare blood on their shields when their lives had been dedicated to protecting the word of God.

The formation of the Templar Order and their developing appeal was starting to attract free thinkers, one of those being Bernard de Fontaines. Bernard was a leading thinker in the Cistercian Order and he mysteriously became involved with the Knights Templar. For reasons that haven’t been explained, bizarre events started to occur within his noble family. Although his family was shocked at his vocation, they decided to follow him when he joined in 1112. This influx of members more than doubled the size of the Templar Order.

Shortly after Bernard joined, he was suddenly appointed to the position of abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Clairvaux when he was only twenty four years old. In his position, he transcribed a discourse in which he addressed to Hughes de Payne. The last paragraph reads “Hail, land of promise, which, formerly flowing only with milk and honey for thy possessors, now stretchest forth the food of life, and the means of salvation to the entire world” (Swanson, 2006). The possible translation to this cryptic message could be construed as what was once abundant and plentiful for all, is now only reserved for or controlled by a single entity. Could this have been a reference to the growing power of the Templar Order?



The discovery of certain documentation that the Templars had discovered while excavating under the Temple Mount had alluded to the fact that the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ never happened. It was also said that they had found the Ark of the Covenant during their excavations, although many people believe, including me, that the Ark was hidden by the Templars under Rosslyn Chapel. If that was found to be true, it would be one of the greatest discoveries in the world proving once and for all that the Ten Commandments really did exist, challenging Christians to rethink their ideals about the true nature of the resurrection, and whether the body of Jesus Chris was removed from his resting place.

The discoveries of these sacred artifacts and the damaging repercussions they could have had for the Templars could explain why the Templars became multinational conglomerates, richer than any kingdom in Europe. Noble families had donated land showing their commitment to the Order, while Templar buildings were constructed on major trade routes. Their activities directly resulted in the boom of European economics, strengthening the merchant class, which led to the development of capitalism. The Templars created a climate of peace at their trade ports, allowing pilgrims to journey all over Europe, in exchange acting as their personal bankers. Their power grew as a direct result of sacred rituals and an extraordinary mix of military skills.
During the crusades and the suppression of the Templars, the Order had to disappear from site. Some say they fled to Lombardy Scotland, Portugal, and the Baltic states. Many fleeing knights found asylum in lodges of the Craft masons. Knights in Scotland went through an entirely different experience.

The knights who reached Scotland fought with Robert the Bruce and gained royal protection. Sir Henry St. Clair of Roslin and his sons William and Henry took part in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, which ultimately rerouted the English and made Robert the Bruce the first true King of Scotland (Albany, 1988). Even today, the legacy of the Bruce lives on in Rosslyn Chapel, which depicts stone angels holding the heart of Robert the Bruce.



Earl William St. Clair, the builder of Rosslyn Chapel, was apparently the Grand Master of the guild of Craft masons in Scotland for unknown reasons. Due to the position of Grand Master being hereditary, it stayed in the St. Clair family until 1736 when Sir William St. Clair of Roslin resigned his hereditary patronage. Therefore, this effected the erection of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Scotland (Murphy, 1992).

Earl William St. Clair of Roslin attempted to celebrate the beliefs of the Templar Knights with the erection of Rosslyn Chapel. He created a fireproof library that housed secret coded Templar artifacts and documentation. The chapel is the embodiment of sacred and theosophical acknowledgments, representing a three dimensional structure for late medieval teachings.
Every year thousands of visitors make pilgrimages to Rosslyn Chapel with their guidebook closely at their side, “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown.



Bill Putnam, the Principal Lecturer in Archaeology at Bournemouth University until his retirement, released a magazine article in History Today, along with John Edwin Wood, which peeled away the evidence to find an extraordinary hoax at the heart of Dan Brown’s bestselling novel (Wood, 2009).

Of course, this hasn’t halted the curiosities of many conspiracy theorists and tourist’s who travel to Rosslyn with visions of the Holy Grail, the head of Jesus Christ, and quite possibly the Ark of the Covenant which they believe resides in a chamber below the chapel. Others may visit because they believe it’s a portal for the supernatural. Of course, this isn’t exactly as bizarre as it seems considering Rosslyn is one of seven druidic planetary oracles which was part of an apocalyptic configuration in stone. So what exactly does this mean? The symbolism of the ornate carvings can be interpreted in many different ways, and although many have been deciphered, most of them are a mystery of mixed and conflicting ideologies.



Take for instance the presence of the Green Men which are found all over the chapel. The significance behind the many different carvings of the Green Men is unknown, although William Anderson believes even if one were to regard him as the lowest level, as a mascot of the Masons, his presence in so many regions and over long a period of time indicates that he had a particular meaning to them (Hopkins, 2000). In some legends they speak about a green knight, although the symbolism and the identity of the knight is unknown.



The Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel has such an innate quality about it, that is surpasses all the other carvings in the chapel. Hitler had an immense interest in the pillar making the assessment that the Holy Grail was hidden inside. Archaeologists have been able to scan the pillar and have come to the conclusion that a metal object is inside the pillar. Although it would be an amazing opportunity to examine the pillar to its full extent, the curator at Rosslyn will not allow any further investigations or deep scans to verify what’s actually inside. The pillar is said to represent a transformation of the ancient pagan conception, although what most people associate with the pillar is the story of the apprentice who actually built it.

The pillar was intended to be the crowning achievement of the master stonemason; however while the master stonemason was away, his apprentice took the plans and created the pillar himself, far surpassing the skill and beauty defined by the original plans, conceived by the master himself. When the master returned, he beheld the exquisite beauty and surpassing skill with which the pillar had been made, and in a fit of rage he killed the apprentice with a sharp blow to the crown of his head (Green, 2001).

The Egyptians built the pyramids pointing towards the stars in a particular configuration. The nested walls of the Forbidden City were created to surround the world, which the emperor believed revolved around him. Then we have Rosslyn Chapel, a symbol of Templar beliefs constructed in an apocalyptic formation much like Stonehenge or Bluehenge. So what is the meaning behind all of this? A simple explanation would be that the architects knew or could foresee the future. In the case of Rosslyn, Earl St. Clair was believed to hold the key to life’s unanswered questions. Was this because Rosslyn holds all of the artifacts found at the Temple Mount, which ultimately would provide archaeologists and historians thousands of years of knowledge? If the key to life is under the chapel at Rosslyn, we might not ever find the answer.


Resources

Albany, HRH Prince Michael of. The Forgotten Monarchy of Scotland. Shaftesbury: Element Books, 1988.

Baigent, Leigh, Lincoln. The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. London: Jonathon Cape: Random House, 1982.

Green, Justin E. The Holy Grail: The Legend, the History, the Evidence. Jefferson: McFarland & Company Inc., 2001.

Hopkins, Tim Wallace Murphy & Marilyn. Rosslyn: The Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail. 2nd Edition. Great Britain: Element Books Limited, 2000.

Murphy, Tim Wallace. The Templar Legacy and The Masonic Inheritance Within Rosslyn Chapel. Edinburgh: The Friends of Rosslyn, 1992.

Swanson, Vern G. Dynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormonism's Sacred Bloodline. Springville: Cedar Fort Inc, 2006.

Wood, Bill Putnam and John Edwin. Unravelling the Da Vinci Code. 55 Volume January 2005. 21 October 2009 .

New Species of Dinosaur Discovered In Montana

Paleontologists have discovered a new species of dinosaur that lived over 112 years million years ago in Montana. They are calling it a biological version of an army tank because of the hard armor consisting of a set of sharp spikes and a skull so thick that even 'raptors' such as Deinonychus could leave barely more than a scratch.

Bill and Kris Parsons, Research associates of the Buffalo Museum of Science, found much of the skull of the newly described Tatankacephalus cooneyorum resting on the surface of a hillside in 1997. Because the skull was 90% complete, it was possible to justify this fossil as a new species.Read the full story at Science Daily