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Transcript
The Watchers The Powers whose name and shape no living creature knows Have pulled the Immortal Rose, And though the Seven Lights bowed down their dance and wept The Polar Dragon slept His heavy rings uncoiled from glimmering deep to deep When will he awake from sleep W.B. Yates There follows in this chapter a solution to the clues that have been associated with this mystery. This will involve the Poussin and Teniers paintings along with clues left by the Dossiers Secrets and other testimony and last but not least clues left by Saunière himself and his church and garden. You will remember that the only reason that the 17th century painters Poussin and Teniers are associated with the mystery of Rennes le Chateau is through the parchment supposedly found by Saunière known by some as the large parchment but in this book it is called the Shepherdess parchment. Many will insist that this is a fake and composed by Philippe de Chérisey. Comments he made in his lifetime about him being a prankster give people an excuse to bale out and insist there is no mystery. However most researchers who have studied this in detail know that there is definitely something here and indeed de Chérisey himself in the early days insisted that there was but that it should be left for the exclusive discussion of the priesthood and initiates. It is my belief that Philippe de Chérisey was a researcher searching for answers in the early days and that both he and Pierre Plantard de St Clair came across some information under the auspices of the Priory of Sion that was begun in Annemasse in 1956. In their research they had many clues, hints, documents – call them what you will, given to them. They had many lose ends and at the end of a long research that still didn’t have the answer but they knew that there were people out there who did have the answer. What better way to flush them out than to fabricate a mixture of fact and fiction that implies that they were the holders of the truth and that if you joined them and released your piece into the jigsaw this would be for the greater good. That names are made up in this story is not grounds for dismissing the whole story. Even if some facts of the case are at best dubious this does not mean that the whole story is false. This chapter does assume the involvement by Poussin and Teniers and the most incisive clue of Poussin’s involvement in some mystery is the letter by the Abbé Louis Fouquet to his brother Nicolas Fouquet that will give: “advantages which even kings would have great pains to draw from him, and which, according to him, it is possible that nobody else will ever discover in the centuries to come. And what is more, these are things so difficult to discover that nothing now on earth can prove of better fortune nor be their equal” The fact that Teniers was directly involved with King Leopold von Hapsburg and that he in turn was involved in various aspects of esoteric thought and was the King to whom was entrusted the treasure of the Merovingian king Childeric I, the son of King Mérovée, is yet another part of this story that seems to me to be too much a coincidence to be ignored. If this is a hoax then the pranksters were over meticulous to a fault. The following chapter requires the acceptance that the Shepherdess parchment is in fact a genuine piece of evidence needed to solve of this mystery. When this text was constructed is in fact irrelevant and even if written by de Chérisey it has a message that still needs to be interpreted. That it may lead to further information is the true value of this document. One can only achieve this by studying it, ignoring it guarantees failure. However let us start where our mystery started - François Beringer Saunière. You will remember that a section of text from the Book of Hours is displayed by Saunière as you enter the church. Regnum Mundi et omnem ornatum soeculi contempsi propter anorem domini mei Jesu Christi quem vidi quen amavi in cremini quem dilexi. Why would Saunière place a passage from the Book of Hours at the entrance to his church? Before the invention of printing from moveable type around 1455, all books were illuminated by a scribe on parchment or paper. Thus every manuscript was unique and represents hours of labour in copying alone. The Book of Hours is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript each Book of Hours is unique, but all contain a collection of texts, prayers and psalms, along with appropriate illustrations, to form a reference for Christian worship and devotion. An illustrated version of this book from 1505CE was owned by the Rothschild family which is only three and half inches high. It was owned by Louis Nathaniel von Rothschild however it looted by the Nazis in 1938 at the annexation of Austria from the Viennese branch of the family, Mayer Amschel Rothschild. Through efforts of Bettina Looram Rothschild, niece of the owner, it was sold at the auction house of Christies London on July 8th 1999 for £8,580,000 ($13,400,000) a record price for an illuminated manuscript. In its original form, a Book of Hours would list the appropriate texts for each liturgical hour of the day. However over time other useful references were often added, especially calendars of the religious and secular year along with the prayers and the masses required for certain holy days. My first attempt at the solution features the time called Sponde from the Book of Hours and refers to almost Midday over Rennes le Chateau on the 17 th January 1681. The Book of Hours calculations for Rennes le Chateau for 17th January 1681 are: AUGE: 6:23AM, ANATOLIA: 7:19AM, MOUSIKA: 8:15AM, GYMNASTIKA: 9:11AM NYMPHE: 10:07AM MESEMBRIA: 11:03AM, SPONDE: 11:59AM, ELETE: 12:55PM, AKTE: 1:51PM, HESPERIS: 2:47PM, DYSIS: 3:43PM’, ARKTOS: 4:46PM Each Hour is 56 minutes long. Therefore The time of the SPONDE = 11:59am 11:59AM is the time called SPONDE in the book of Hours calculation. This would in fact result in the Blue Apples phenomena in the church The Constellation Cygnus (The Northern Cross) is directly overhead. Venus is at its maximum extension from the Sun 36 degrees. The Planet Mercury is at 204 degrees from Rennes le Chateau. The Pleiades is elevated by 33 degrees from due west. The Horse of God (Abraxas) is the Sun and is due south. However another time would be the time of the Nymphe from the book of Hours and one remembers the story of Phaeton who lost control of the Golden Chariot and was sent to earth by Jupiter a scene painted by Poussin. Phaeton was buried by nymphs. Time of the NYMPHE = 10:07AM Virgo (House of Bread) is setting Pisces (House of Fishes) rising. WHY 10:07? This Book of Hours calculation is a possible solution. The date is 17th January 1681 at Rennes le Chateau. This would be calculable by someone versed in mathematics but would not be directly observable owning to the daylight. This may in fact be the solution to the Poussin painting. In the story the Shepherds of Arcadia encounted Nymphes in their journey. We first meet these shepherds in art from Guercino where two shepherds look at a skull who evidently is speaking to them “Even in Arcadia there I am”. According to Virgil these Shepherds had thus far only encountered “nymphs and swains, purling brooks and enamelled meads”. Now they encountered death. At this Book of Hours time of the NYMPHE: SPICA (l’Epi) in the House of Bread is setting The ecliptic and the equatorial cross at each horizon forming an arch. The Crescent Moon is at the keystone position of this ARCH or DÔME as it is known in France Al Qaus (epsilon Sagittarius) is in the centre under the keystone and from Arabic the literal meaning of Al Qaus is – The "Southern part of the Bow" The constellations of the Serpent and Ophiuchus form the Red Serpent above the Arch. As we can see this time is marked by the setting (moving into the underworld) of the star of Bethlehem Spica in the west, which at this time of the nymphe in the book of hours and is directly over the churches of Compagne les Bains and Les Sauzils. But more importantly it is over the snow capped Pic de Soularac in the Pyrenees, more about this mountain later. Porrima (due west) is the Goddess of childbirth and is represented by Chartres Cathedral in Carpentier’s map of France. It is due west and will be positioned in the quite distinct gap in the hills on the western horizon. If Virgo (The House of Bread) is the Shepherdess this time, her right arm reaching out to the Red Shepherd's shoulder. Mars is at her forehead and the constellation will spread out 20º of the sky over Montségur. The Blue Shepherd is kneeling and straddles the Rose Line looking west. Although he is pointing at the phrase ET IN ARCADIA EGO on the tomb he is also pointing at the dove shaped cloud in the top right-hand corner and the flock of Doves are the Pleiades. With this solution perhaps Poussin is alluding to the legend of Dionysos who represents the white shepherd, where Ikarios represents Arcturus, Erigone is Virgo and Maera is the lesser Dog Star (Canis Minor) Procyon. Procyon is the eastern anchor of the three stars of the Winter Triangle, the other two being Sirius and Betelgeuse. This legend cannot be made to fit the sky pattern on this date however. In the Poussin painting more likely the Russet-haired, Red-dressed Shepherd represents the constellation of Boötes and it can be seen that he has turned around and he faces the Shepherdess (Ursa Major), he is the bear watcher. He points to the Rose Line running up and down and his finger is just below the line running left right and touches it with the bright star ARC-T[A]U-RUS that is EXACTLY on the line to the west in this gap in the hills signified in the painting by a soon-to-be-risen sun (strongest light source). The Cabalists associates the constellation Boötes with the Hebrew letter Teth and the 9th Tarot Trump card, "The Hermit". The Red shepherd wears a wreath around his head which is the Northern Crown (Coronae Borealis). At this time of the Nymphe the 17th January 1681 the Star SPICA in Virgo would have been seen from Rennes le Chateau setting over the Pic de Soularac and Pic de St Bartholémy: 52km away. Another star in Virgo is Porrima and this star is due west, Porrima is the Roman goddess of Childbirth and according to Louis Carpentier this star is associated with Chartres Cathedral. The star Porrima would have been visible in the gap on the horizon when viewed from the Tour Magdala; however 10:07 is of course in daylight. At this same time the very bright star Capella in the constellation of Auriga is setting on the Northern Horizon. Its bearing is 11degrees 21 minutes from Rennes le Chateau. There is a well-known Menhir called la Pierre Droite near to the church of St Salvayre. Rennes le Chateau can be seen from this stone, (shown left) its bearing is 11degrees 21 minutes from Rennes le Chateau. The bright star Capella is over this stone if it could be viewed from Rennes le Chateau at this time, the alignment of this stone is clearly done during the night or with the sun or moon during daylight. The distance from this clearly ancient stone to the Chateau at Rennes le Chateau is exactly six miles and this cannot be a chance occurrence and the positioning of this stone is obviously directly linked to whatever previous temple that was built at position that now has the church of St Salvayre over it. One can also note that ‘The Great Camp’ consisting of beehive huts is close to the Pierre Droite, these huts are called Capitelles. These beehive huts with corbelled roofs can also be found in County Kerry in the west coast of Ireland and form part of an offshore monastery on Skellig Michael off Valentia Island. These huts have survived from the 5th century despite the ravages of Atlantic gales and their construction is identical to those in the Great Camp and these stone worked camps are called Cathairs in County Kerry. One is reminded that the largest concentration of surviving stone circles anywhere in the world are found here in the south west portion of Ireland and are usually orientated from 190 to 210 degrees, the direction of the winter solstice. But regarding Skellig Michael we have something else. We have already mentioned the St Michael Ley Line that runs from St Michael’s Mount off Marazion (Market Zion) through Glastonbury Tor, Avebury Ring and several points that are associated with the Archangel St Michael. Well researchers Hamish Miller and Paul Broadhurst have identified another Ley Line which goes from the Skellig Michael through St Michael’s Mount Cornwall and then through Mont Saint Michel in northern France, through Sacra di San Michele, through Assisi, through Delphi, Athens, Rhodes and ultimately Mount Carmel in Israel. These lines form a cross and are associated with the sighting of the star Aldebaran at specific times of the year and this star. Aldebaran is one of the four Royal Stars fixed around Canopus at six hour intervals, has been associated by Hermetic adept Cornelius Agrippa as the Archangel Michael (the Angel of the Lord). The Talisman for Aldebaran used by Agrippa is the cross (shown left) and forms the two angles for each St Michael Ley line and is shown here on the left. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim was born in Cologne on September 14 th 1486 and was a German Magician, occult writer, astrologer and alchemist. He is highly regarded amongst occult researchers and even the likes of John Dee and Giordano Bruno are known to have consulted his work. He is even mentioned in famous books of fiction like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and even briefly mentioned in the Harry Potter series. His famous quote is: “Seeing there is a Threefold world, Elementary, Celestial and Intellectual, and every Inferior is governed by its Superior… the very Original and Chief Worker of All doth… convey the Virtues of his Omnipotency upon Us.” This recurring 72 degree angle is repeated again at Rennes le Chateau down David Wood’s Sunrise (sic) Line, what is its significance? Well 90 – 72 = 18 and this number divides into 72 four times. The recurrence of the pentacle with angles of 36 degrees (2 x 18) at the points seems to be significant here. It will shown later that this five pointed star shape is indicative as of the position of the four Royal stars the fifth being a place where God resides. This pentagonal star probably has a generic name that gives its name to America. The Jewish writer Josephus observed that the Essenes believed that good souls lived beyond the oceans in a region that had neither snow nor intense heat. The existence of this idyllic land was believed by the Jews, the Greeks and the Celts. The Mandaeans however believed that the inhabitants of this land are so pure that normal mortal eyes cannot see them and that this place is marked by a star and the name of this star is “Merica”. This star is the star of Ishtar and is the Whore of Babylon symbol. The worshippers of Ishtar write about this star where the dead go after shedding their earthly form. The name of America is traditionally thought to have originated from Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian Merchant who only journeyed to the Americas a full seven years after Columbus. If that is the case then it would appear that for seven years America did not have a name at all. No the continent of America already had its name long before Vespucci. It does seem to be too much of a coincidence that the man who supposedly discovered America is named after a dove. But then he wasn’t named after a dove, the man who discovered America was called Cristóbal Colón. Columbus didn’t discover the American mainland until 1498 he merely discovered the Bahamas in 1492. Columbus worked for the Crown of Castile and Leon, Castille being the former domain of the Visigoths. Columbus was reportedly born in the Republic of Genoa in Italy however there is some controversy over this and there is some speculation that Columbus was in fact a Sephardic Jew of both Spanish and Portuguese origin, however his writings seem to indicate that he wasn’t a natural Spanish speaker and did appear to speak Genoese. However his wife was Portuguese and was the daughter of the governor of Madeira. Columbus was originally in the service of another great player in our story of the Priory of Sion and esoteric history in general. Columbus (the Dove), the discoverer of the Americas was under the employ of René d’Anjou (Le bon roi René) from Aix-en-Provence, the heart of the traditional legend of Mary Magdalene and France. Good King Rene is listed as a grand master of the Prieure de Sion indeed in the list of Grand Masters Good King Rene has a special mark against his name. In his later years he was an artist with one of his works being the illumination of the Book of Hours and one illustration that has occult geometry associated with it. His daughter married Henry VI of England and he makes an appearance in Shakespeare’s play Henry VI as Reignier. He was born at the Castle of Angers from where the Plant Genet originated and this is the broom plant or Fleur de Lys. The historian Desmond Seward has described René d’Anjou as “one of the most spectacular royal losers in fifteenth century Europe.” He was however a shadowy figure behind Joan of Arc. Visitors to this area will note that menhirs and stone circles were positioned all around this area in some distant epoch and are a feature of this whole area and you are reminded that Saunière’s contemporary at Rennes les Bains wrote of ‘The true Celtic language and the Cromlech of Rennes les Bains’. Above shows the hemisphere clearly showing the ecliptic and equatorial meeting on each horizon with the moon as the Keystone. This event is close to the winter solstice, the time when the Sun stops descending for each subsequent day and starts ascending again. It appears to stop and the name solstice means ‘sun stop’. The northern ecliptic pole, the point around which the earth’s solar orbit seems to travel, is at 66 degrees, a significant elevation and it is of course due North. The constellation Draco (The Dragon) is at this point and this would carry some significance in occult circles. The ecliptic North Pole is due North at 10:07 17th January 1681. At the HOURS time of the NYMPHE. The centre of this celestial pole is at 66 degrees elevation, two times the degree of the master. This would correspond to the ceiling display at the Temple of Denderah in Upper Egypt. This Temple is so placed so that it will see the southern equivalent of this on the Winter Solstice when the bright star Canopus appears above the horizon due south marking the start of the year. This time effectively marks the start of the year. Let us examine the parchment message again. SHEPHERDESS NO TEMPTATION POUSSIN TENIERS HOLD THE KEY This is direct and undisputed reference to Poussin's Les Bergers d'Arcadie featuring the Shepherdess and David Teniers the Younger St Anthony and St Paul fed by Ravens, the only Teniers painting where St Anthony is NOT being tempted. In Poussin’s Les Bergere d'Arcadie the shepherd dressed in red points to a line running east/west at a specific time and point of light, the setting sun, is directly above this line. The Red Shepherd (whose cloak was painted by Poussin in the colour called ROSE Madder) points at a ROSE LINE, he does not point at ET IN ARCADIA EGO only the kneeling blue shepherd does this. Later we shall see that star patterns on the ground are indeed in the part of Greece kown as Arcadia. The line marks the principle light source of the painting even though a shadow is cast onto the tomb by the arm of the kneeling blue shepherd. The Red Shepherd looks around at the Shepherdess, he is watching her. The star Arcturus is called the 'bear watcher'. At the time of the Nymphe 10:07 on 17th January 1681 Arcturus is EXACTLY due west of Rennes le Chateau and would appear in a gap between the hills. The kneeling Blue Shepherd points, along with the half ARC shaped (Bow like) shadow of his arm, at the word ARC. The Greek letter TAU ' Т ' is clearly at the top of this line, slightly detached from the below it that the Red shepherd points at. TAU is the symbol of St Anthony the Hermit, and clearly seen on his upper arm in the painting by Teniers and indeed all depiction of St Anthony the Hermit. The feast of Saint Anthony is 17th January and this is also the feast of St Sulpice, the church in Paris where you'll find the ROSE LINE Gnomon. This is not to be confused with the Paris Meridian that was abandoned only as recent as 1979. Etymologically the word RUS literally means red-head, you will notice that the Red Shepherd has quite distinctive red hair. However although this is controversial RUS is also is the name for the Franks or the Varangians who came down from Scandinavia but their name first appeared in Byzantium it is a name for Germanic people of the Baltic. The words Roux & sillon means Rust coloured furrow and this whole area is the Languedoc/Roussillon. Contemporary texts say that the red-haired Celtic "Redones" or "rose people" (Rutheni/Rhodanim) settled both Rennes in the Midi area of the Languedoc and Rennes in Brittany. As a matter of interest a similar pattern of churches has been discovered on the Danish Island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea whose capital is RØNNE. It is said that the resident goddess of Sion – Vaudémont, the other Sion associated with the "Priory of Sion" near the city of Nancy, is Rosemertha - the Rose mother. Interestingly, one interpretation of the King Arthur legends is that "Arthur" or "Ursus" was really Riothamus, a Dark Age Celt ruler of a "Thalassocracy" that spanned Brittany in France and Cornwall in England and possibly the west coast of Ireland. Many of the places near the Breton Rennes are associated with Arthur and the Grail legends, and many of the Breton kings had Judaic names and some scholars derive Riothamus' name from... Joseph of Arimathea, the supposed bearer of the Grail to Glastonbury. Is this the source of these legends? It is interesting that some of the earliest drawings refer to a later culture that has been given the title Magdalénien, named after the cave La Madeleine in the Dordogne but was originally called “L’Age du Renne” by Lartet and Christy. Remember we have been told to use the Language of the Birds and the three pointers in the Poussin painting, the word ARC, the Tau at the top of the join and the RUS coloured hair. Make up the word: ARC+TAU+RUS Arcturus is a RED supergiant star in the constellation of Boötes and is the fourth brightest star in the whole sky. The shepherdess rests her hand on the shoulder of the Red Shepherd (the bear watcher who looks around at her) as does the constellation of the Great Bear touches the constellation of Boötes. The blue Shepherd kneels in a similar manner to the constellation of Hercules. The proper motion (the speed the star moves compared to other stars) of Arcturus is the second highest in the visible heavens, so it means that this star was in a different place with reference to the other stars when Poussin painted Les Bergers d’Arcadie. Unless there is a solar eclipse no stars can be observed in the daylight hours. It is possible that an astrologer would have the skill to be able to work out the position of the stars and planets but we are concerned with observation here and alignment and these must be done in the hours of darkness. Therefore observations must be made from high places during the hours of darkness and the landscape must be marked with beacons capable of being seen at night or the directions of towers fixed prior to the sunset. Below is a depiction of the behaviour of planets and stars on the 17th January 1681 during the hours of darkness and it can be seen that features marked on the landscape take on a relationship with the position of prominent stars and planets. The Sunrise solution With the Poussin painting above the principle light source is directly above the line pointed at by the Red shepherd, this seems to indicate dawn. At sunrise on the 17th January 1681 the sun rises behind the Pech de Rhodes (Rose Peak) and continues to rise through the Bugarach gap. These four constellations shown right are directly overhead Rennes le Chateau within a 30º cone above and all pointing to the zenith. Boötes is the closest to south (a Midi) with Arcturus at 210º from Rennes le Chateau. This means that at sunrise the Bear Watcher (Boötes) will be over the Grotte du Fournet otherwise known as the Gite de la Madeleine. These four constellations with Hercules bottom left of the inner circle, Boötes bottom right of the inner circle, Ursa Major top right of inner circle and Draco ‘The Dragon’ at the top left. These constellations will be clearly seen overhead in the pre dawn twilight. The serpent just has its head in the circle and will be over the mountain of Bezu and so will the crown (of thorns) that occurs between Hercules and Boötes. Both the crescent Moon and Mercury will be emerging from behind Bugarach (the highest mountain in the Corbières) and will be over Bugarach village church and one of the Royal stars Regulus will be setting due west. Arabic legend saw the movement of the constellation Ursa Major as a funeral procession of Al-Na’ash who was assassinated by al-Jadi, the Pole Star. More significantly later it was thought by Arabic Christians to be the funeral bier of Lazarus with the three stars of the handle representing the women Mary, Martha and Mary Magdalene following behind the four stars making up the funeral bier. There are seven major stars in Ursa Major (The Great Bear). Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Merak, Dubhe. These Arabic Christians called the stars Banat Na’ash al Kubra – The Daughters of the Great (funeral) Bier. An older name for this constellation is The Wain (or Charls Wain) and in Britain it is known as The Plough and evidence suggests that the name Celt has been taken from the name of a Plough. The second star in the handle of the Plough is Mizar and it has a companion (double star) called Alcor - the Forgotten, Lost, or Neglected One. Mizar is coloured blue and Alcor is coloured yellow the same colours as the clothes of the shepherdess. Alcor is the Arabic name for Black Horse and it was discovered to be a double star in 1650. However it is said that double star astronomy was to have first been discovered by Benedetto Castelli (1578 – 1643), a student of Galileo Galilei at Padua. The position of the four stars forming the funeral bier at Sunrise on 17th January 1681 would be over the western end of the pointed hill of Roque Fumade. Previously the astronomer Nicolas Copernicus, who first proposed the heliocentric theory, had also studied and taught alchemical astronomy began by St Anthony at Padua also, he had been the canon at Frauenberg Cathedral. Is this why Saunière placed St Anthony of Padua in his church supported by the four Royal Angels represented in the heavens by the four Royal stars placed equally at the six hour periods? Is Saunière giving a reference to Padua and astronomy here? Under Hercules (a name that means Glory of Hera or Glory of the air) is the story that the three stars in the tail of the Great Bear represent the three golden apples - Alioth (epsilon), Mizar (zeta) and Benetnash (Alkaid, eta) - which Hercules (11th labour) had to fetch from the garden of the Hesperides. The Hesperides are said to be the stars of Ursa Minor, Daughters of the Evening and seven daughters of Atlas, - Atlas had three sets of seven daughters, Pleiades, Hyades and Hesperides. When these three stars of the Hesperides culminate in the spring, Hercules is just rising in the east, meaning that he is just beginning his labours. The Hesperides are the Three Graces and are sometimes called the ‘Sunset Goddesses’. Therefore perhaps Poussin meant the Blue Shepherd to be the kneeling figure of Hercules and, as well as the phrase “I am in Arcadia” he points at the shepherdess and to the Pleiades which are behind The Shepherdess in the form of a Dove. The Pleiades move together and are passing through a gas cloud which occasionally gives them a blue tint. The alpha star of the constellation of Hercules is Rasalgethi from Ra's al-Jathi, which means "Head of the kneeling one". It was variously called Al Ras al Jathiyy, Ras Algeti, Ras Algiatha, Ras Algetta, Rasacheti, Ras Elhhathi, Ras Alhathi, Ras Alheti; — all Arabian translations of the Greek names. The early Arabic nomads' title for it was Al Kalb al Ra'i, "the Shepherd's Dog", which our alpha star shared with the adjoining constellation of Ophiuchus, 5° distant (Ras Alhague) which was the Shepherd. (Allen) Manilius described Hercules in Phenomena: “…like a toiling man, revolves a form. Nor to what toil he is attached; But, simply, Kneeler they call him. Labouring on his knees, like one. Who sinks he seems; And his right foot is planted on the twisting Serpent’s head”. The Red Shepherd is Boötes The constellation of Boötes is the Huntsman, it is also known to the Cabbalists as ‘The Hermit'. Arcturus (alpha Boötes), is the Roman title and takes its name from its nearness to the “Sky Bears”, Big and Little Bears, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. The name is from Arktouros or Arctophilax meaning "the Bear Guard". It is also called "the Bear Watcher" and one remembers how the Red Shepherd with red hair and red cloak is looking around at the Shepherdess – Ursa Major - Arcturus the red supergiant star. The famous Islamic mathematician and astronomer Al Biruni (973-1048CE) called Arcturus ‘the Second Calf of the Lion’, the early Asad (Lion) in early Arabian astronomy; Spica in Virgo being the First Calf of Lion. The Greeks had a word meaning "Javelin-bearer", while Bayer had Gladius, Kolanza, and Pugio and these all applied to Arcturus, which probably marked in some early drawing the "Sword", "Lance", or "Dagger" in the Hunter's hand. Similarly it took the title Alkameluz of the whole constellation. It has been identified with the Chaldaeans' Papsukal, "the Guardian Messenger" (Demon Guardian?) and it held the divinity of their 10th month Tibitu. On the Euphrates Arcturus was the ‘Shepherd of the Heavenly Flock’ or the Shepherd of the Life of Heaven the star eta Boötes being often included in this, and thus making one of the several pairs of Euphratean Twin Stars. Another title was Audiens, which seems unintelligible unless the word is a misprint for Audens, the "Bold One". With others it was Arturig and Ariture, or the Carlwaynesterre from the early confusion in applying the title Arcturus to Charles' Wain as well as to Boötes and its stars. In astrology the star Arcturus brought riches and honour to those born under it. (Allen). Inside the same 30º area around the zenith is Ophiuchus or Serpentarius the right foot of Hercules is on his head. A sapphire star on the head of the Snake Charmer Ophiuchus is called Ras alhague, or Rasalague, is from Ra's al Hawwa', "the Head of the Serpent-charmer", the Moorish El Hauwe. Variations: Rasalauge, Ras Alhagas, Ras Alhagus, Rasalange, Ras al Hangue, Rasalangue, Ras Alaghue, Rasalhagh, Alhague, and Al Ra'i, "the Shepherd", was a title from the early Arabic astronomy, the near-by alpha Hercules (Ras Algethi), 6° to the west, being Kalb al Ra'i, the Shepherd's Dog. (Allen). The Serpent Holder is generally known as Asclepios or Aesculapius and in the King James Bible is described as a “mediciner after made a God”. You will remember that Aesculapius was the ships surgeon onboard the Argo during the search for the Golden Fleece by Jason. As you can see he stands on the ecliptic. Teniers guards the KEY - This painting fixes the Time as indicated in the picture. In the Teniers painting St Paul points at the Raven and the Raven points at the date i.e. St Anthony and the date for his feast 17th January. The Thorn bush is down the middle of the painting. Christ is shown crucified in the physical centre and Virgo, the House of Bread (Beth-Lehem) is setting. Right in the centre is a skull and crossed sticks with the sand timer and a wine bottle at the base of crucifix. The Cross The Star REGULUS (The little king) another of the Royal stars is a bright second magnitude star in the constellation of Leo which has some significance regarding THE CROSS (It represents the Archangel Raphael). This star is the timing for this and just before dawn (when the winter sky is still able to be observed) Regulus will be observed EXACTLY due west through the gap in the hills and the elevation is 20°. Pegasus is rising in the East at this time of the rising of the Sun on 17th January 1681. In addition to the four constellations at zenith described above there are some other alignments. At this precise moment another important star SPICA (l’Epi) is overhead the Grotte de la Madeleine at 33°and yet another important star that we've already mentioned: ARCTURUS is directly above this star at 66°. Both are above the Grotte du Fournet and obviously the Gite de la Madeleine also. The planet SATURN at the very bright magnitude of -0.3 is on the horizon at this moment at sunrise on the 17th January 1681 here one is drawn to possibility that the Roman midwinter festival of Saturnalia is being practiced although the date for this is usually 17th December. Also the star Kochab in Ursa Minor is EXACTLY due north at this time. The Arabic name is Al-Kaukab, meaning “The star". Kokab or Kochab is from the Arabic title that it shared with alpha (Polaris). It was near the pole 1000 years ago at around the height of Templar activity. Alrucaba or Reicchabba, variously written, is also common to it and Polaris, as well as to its constellation Ursa Minor. Na'ir al Farkadain and Anwar al Farkadain, "the Bright One", and "the Lights, of the Two Calves", were titles in the Desert for this star, from an early figure here, in the Fold, of these timid creatures keeping close to their mother, beta was often designated by pre-Islamic poets as the faithful and, from its ever visible position, the constant companion of the night traveller. Indeed the Badawiyy claimed that they had a perpetual treaty with Al Farkad to this effect, and their poets made the Two Pherkads, beta and gamma, symbols of constancy. Alferkathan is a variation. “Ursa Minor alpha, beta, gamma1, gamma2, delta, and epsilon constituted the group Circitores, Saltatores, Ludentes, or Ludiones, "the Circlers", "Leapers", or "Dancers" around the early pole, well known from classical times to late astronomy.” (Allen). The Kabbalists associated this star Al-Kaukab with the Hebrew letter TAU and the 21st Tarot Trump "The Universe", "The World". (Robson). Polaris (The pole star) is at the other end of this constellation also naturally due north at our present time within the precession cycle. Kochab is yet another DOUBLE STAR and although faint at the moment, may well have varied dramatically in brightness over the centuries. A 4th Magnitude star NEKKAR (The Cattleman) in the constellation of Boötes is EXACTLY at the zenith (overhead) at this time. This star despite being only the sixth magnitude star in Boötes has been designated β Boötes after α Boötes – Arcturus and Nekkar (Nakkar) is the Arabic word for the whole constellation of Boötes. The Cabbalists associate it with the Hebrew letter Teth and the 9 th Tarot Trump card, The Hermit". This star, beta (Nekkar), with gamma (Seginus – from Theguius the Greek name for Boötes), delta (Princeps – The Prince), and mu (Alkalurops – The Herdsman’s club), constituted the trapezium Al Dhi'bah, "the Female Wolves", or, perhaps, Hyenas, an earlier interpretation by the Arabs before they adopted the Greek constellation. These animals, with others similar shown by stars in Draco and near it, lying in wait for the occupants of the ancient Sheep fold around the pole. The hyena is shown close the centre of the ceiling painting at the temple of Denderah. Just a reminder this that we are referring to the position at SUNRISE on 17th January 1681 At sunset on the same day however the double stars Mizar and Alcor (The Shepherdess) are both EXACTLY due North and the Pleiades will be directly over Rennes les Bains church at Sunset. There are no significant stars over the Sunrise line (i.e. David Wood’s sunrise line) but the planet Saturn will be over the Chateau at Arques at Sunset 17th January 1681 and it would have been magnitude -0.3 and one of the brightest objects in the sky. Note: The Sun is physically over the horizon at these times, however because of atmospheric refraction the Sun's disk will be visible and disappearing into the golden cup of sunset. The Thorn is the symbol of Christ's death and rebirth and the Christmas thorn at Glastonbury flowers twice in year, once on old wood, once on new wood. It usually flowers around Christmas or around mid January. The Raven stars γ and δ point at SPICA, the Thorn but it also points at Orion’s belt and the Pleiades in the other direction. The rising, the transit and the setting of SPICA mark the time of day. The setting of the Constellation of Virgo (The house of Bread) at the time when the Ecliptic and the Equatorial meet on each East West horizons is called the ARC or the Döme. This is depicted in the Teniers painting as denoting a specific time. In the painting by Teniers the Holy Cross symbolised by the four angels in Saunière’s church is featured and consists of Antares, Regulus (already mentioned), Fomalhaut and Aldebaran. The constellation of Corvus (The Raven) is the pointer to Spica (The Thorn bush on the side of the vertical rock) this time and this direction is important and is marked by the dead Christ as depicted on the crucifix right in the centre of the painting. SPICA is the time marker and its setting and rising mark the time - Death and rebirth or as we shall see Transfiguration. The Pleiades are marking due west at this precise time. The 'sunrise' line of David Wood now takes on a new meaning. Here is the sky over Rennes le Chateau at 20 minutes to midnight (Greenwich Mean Time) on 17th January 1681 looking from southwest to west. Now, at local midnight, Aldebaran will be over the twin peaks of St Bartholomew and Soularac. And here something unique happens: The stars Sirius, the central belt of Orion and the Pleiades form almost a straight line across the sky. ALCYONE in the Pleiades and ALNILAM, the star reportedly denoting the Great Pyramid, are EXACTLY 45 degrees apart. These stars were EXACTLY due WEST and SOUTH WEST respectively at 20 minutes to midnight (GMT) on 17th January 1681 as viewed from Rennes le Chateau. In the bottom left corner of the picture above is the Constellation of Leporis (The Hare). The early Arabs designated the principal stars — alpha, beta, gamma, and delta — as Al Kursiyy al Jabbar and Al 'Arsh al Jauzah, "the Chair of the Giant" and "the Throne of the Jauzah" Orion (one of the many thrones which the Arab astronomers had in their heavens). Greenwich meantime was not adapted in France until as recent as 1979, up until then they used the Paris meridian for time measurement. The Paris Meridian runs through the Paris Observatory, this was not exactly the same as the ROSE LINE that runs through St Sulpice. There is in fact approximately 20 minutes difference between GMT and the ROSE LINE so in this situation this rising of SPICA 20 minutes before midnight was the French Midnight in 1681. The ROSE LINE (or RUS Line) passes some three miles east of Rennes le Chateau. In 1681 there was a dispute over the exact placing of the French meridian in the court of Louis XIV. This time would have been 'designated' midnight using the Rose Line (A MIDI i.e. Midnight Local Sidereal Time) with just a small error of approximately 13 seconds (the difference between the Tour Magdala and the Rose Line). The Pleiades would have been clearly seen in a gap in the hills on the horizon that is directly due west from Rennes le Chateau and marks the western datum line and the star VINDEMIATRIX, the Grape Gatherer, would have been precisely due east. The constellation of Orion would have been seen directly over a series of snow capped mountains actually in the Pyrenees, the central peak being called Pic de L’Hommé. This time was fixed by rising of the Star SPICA in VIRGO which would have been fixed on Rennes les Bains Church, exactly three miles away. The first 'ARCH' of the day would have occurred at 22:00:52 GMT i.e. the point where the Equatorial and the Ecliptic meet at each horizon. At this time the sun is precisely on the opposite side of the earth from Rennes le Chateau which is the French Middle of the night. A Midi – Midnight. On the right is the equivalent daylight view looking east along David Wood's "Sunrise line" from Rennes le Chateau over Blanchefort and towards the mountain of Cardou on the right and to the Chateau of Arques (left of centre). The line to the Grotte is just above the lower left hand most crest of the dark green Blanchefort, the tower of Arques is just to the right of this line as indicated. The Tour Magdala was built by Saunière and would not have existed in 1681 however the ruined Chateau of the Dame d'Hautpoul has a tower with wedge shaped holes cut in it at unusual angles. These are almost certainly for sighting and marking astronomical events. The name of this tower is called the 'Alchemical Tower'. Below is the view of the stars down this ‘Sunrise line’ at midnight on 17th January 1681. SPICA (The Ear of Corn) also known as l’Epi (The Thorn) in France and Virgo (The House of Bread: Beth-Lehem) is rising over Rennes les Bains. The bearing of SPICA is 102° 27' true from Rennes le Chateau. The bearing of Rennes les Bains church from Rennes le Chateau church (using map IGN 3615) is 102.5° at a distance of EXACTLY 3 miles. The pointer stars of the Raven δ and γ rises over L’Hommé Mort at this time. In Greek mythology the Raven serves Apollo, a diety that will become significant later. The painting 'Christ of the Hare' that hangs in the church of Rennes les Bains depicts the dead Christ (L’Hommé Mort) held by Mary Magdalene. In the painting Christ points at the 'Crown of Thorns' close to a plateau. The Hebrews called the constellation Virgo ‘The House of Bread’. L’Hommé Mort is next to a plateau and nearby is Source de la Madeleine, Coume Sourde, l'Ermitage Valdieu (the valley of God) What it signifies is the birth of the King of the Jews I.N.R.I Iesus Nazaramus Rex Idiurum (Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews). JANVIÉ MDCOLXXXI Remember Abbe Jan Vié was a former Curé of Rennes les Bains and is buried in the graveyard there. Al Kraz - The Claw is on the horizon over the plateau of L’Hommé Mort. An interesting if possibly irrelevant coincidence is that the man widely involved in bringing to the world the original Beringer Saunière story is Noel Corbu if we take the name's root it is Corbeau in French literally means: "Raven". Noel Corbeau is therefore "the Raven of Christ's birth." - The pointer serving Apollo? The significance of this apparent non-sequitur is that the birth of Christ is not 25 th December, which is linked to the winter solstice, but is indicated by an astronomical date marked by the rising of the constellation of Virgo when the Sun is in Virgo i.e. Jesus born of a Virgin in Beth Lehem – The House of Bread – Virgo. This date when the sun is in Virgo occurs in August or September, Jesus was born of a Virgin on this date which is likely to have been the start of the third Decan or September 11th. The Chateau at Arques can just be made out in daylight down the valley from Rennes le Chateau. With Spica on the horizon on the 17th January 1681 the star Arcturus (ARC+TAU+RUS) will be at Azimuth 71° 13' at midnight (local sidereal time). This is EXACTLY over the Chateau at Arques and directly down the line at the top of the pentacle from Rennes le chateau through the Templar Commanderie at Blanchefort. Or what David Wood called 'The Sunrise line'. The Pentacle of David Wood describing the Astrological Temple built into the landscape. Wood calls the line from Rennes le Chateau to Arques "The Sunrise Line". He maintains that the sun rises along this line on the Feast day of St Mary Magdalene or the 22 July. The problem is that it doesn't rise at this angle on this day. However Arcturus is positioned along this line bearing 71º 13’ the instant Spica rises over Rennes les Bains. The Raven δ Corvus and γ Corvus point at SPICA (The Thorn) on the Feast of St Anthony. 17th January 1681. The rising of Spica (The Thorn) fixes this exact time AND the two pointer stars of the Raven also point in the other direction to Orion's belt and the Pleiades. Orion's Belt is EXACTLY South west at this time and Alcyone (Sion) is EXACTLY due West. THEREFORE The Rose Line is fixed on the Feast of St Sulpice. [Sulpitus the Pious] which is 17th January 1681. This particular Rose Line goes through the Gnomon in the Church of St Sulpice in Paris. The star ε Virginis known as VINDEMIATRIX (the wine gatherer) is due east from Rennes le Chateau at this time. Due South at this rising of Spica and Alcyone marking due west at midnight 17th January 1681 is the constellation of ARGO NAVIS. This Friend, how to present it to you? His name remained a mystery, but his number is that of a famous seal. How to describe him to you? Perhaps like the nautonnier of the arch imperishable, impassive like a column on its white rock, scanning about the middle, beyond the black rock. Le Serpent Rouge –Pisces ARGO NAVIS is a constellation that is no longer in general use and has been spit into smaller asterisms. It contains the second brightest star in the sky called Canopus, however Canopus can never be seen at Rennes le Chateau as the observer will be too far north. But this constellation is at the southern Ecliptic pole (Draconis is the Northern pole). It sits almost in the centre of the cross made up of the four arch angels: Aldebaran, Fomalhaut, Regulus and Antares, which are stars placed roughly at six hour intervals around Canopus. The views looking back along Wood’s sunrise line to the West in the distance are the Mountains of St Bartholemy and Soularac. At midnight local time, this same rising of Spica in the east and Alcyone marking due west, the star ALDEBARAN (one of the Arch Angels) in Taurus will be over these snow capped mountain (Pic de Soularac and St Bartholomew: 52km away) Azimuth 254 degrees. These two mountains are a mere 8km south west of Cathar castle of Montségur. Vivian Robson says that Aldebaran is one of the four Royal Stars or Watchers of the Heavens. These stars were later associated with four archangels: Aldebaran with Michael, Fomalhaut with Gabriel, and Regulus with Raphael and Antares with Uriel. These are the four knights alluded to in 'Le Serpent Rouge'. Cornelius Agrippa says that, "Under Aldebora [Aldebaran] they made an image after the likeness of God, or of a flying man; it giveth riches and honour." Aldebaran is known as 'The Follower' of the Pleiades. The lunar mansion for Aldebaran in the Vedic calendar is known as Rohini and is the Hindu name for this star and for the 2nd nakshatra; and literally means "Red Deer" and is the name of river in Nepal and was adopted as the name for a series of Satellite Launch vehicles in the Indian Space Program. Rohini is also known as the "The Star of Ascent" (Ascension?) 'Renne' is French for Red Deer and this is what later observers called the constellation of Taurus, the Bull. Here shows sunrise over Rennes le Chateau as seen from Pic de St Bartholémy 7703ft. On the left of the Sun right in the distance is Mt Bugarach (the highest mountain of the Corbières) on the right is the peak overlooking Quillan. But probably more significantly this would have been the scene at dawn on the 16th March 1244, the day the besieged Cathars marched down from Montségur and into the flames. The Star SPICA is important in the modern era. In France this star is called l'Epi (as in Mort Epee). It is in the Constellation of Virgo. As we have seen in Hebrew the constellation of Virgo is called The House of Bread or 'Beth Lehem'. When this constellation rises the constellation of Pisces (the House of the Fishes) sets. The star of Beth Lehem, the house of Bread, is the star SPICA. (l'Epee). The rising of this star and various other alignments will signify to a Magi Priest schooled in Astrology (the world's oldest science) the coming of a Jewish Messiah. You can read the word 'Mort' and the word 'Epee' rising over Mt Cardou at around midnight every year on the 17th January how you will. Perhaps I should mention here that Schellenberger and Andrews in their book The Tomb of God reached the conclusion that the Tomb of Jesus was in the Mountain of Cardou. You will remember that the words 'Mort Epee', taken from the Hautpoul tombstone, are used as a key word for the Vigenere code used to decode one of the parchments. One has to say that it would be an appropriate place to bury the body of Jesus should his body be in the Languedoc. There is a Cathedral in Reims called Notre Dame L’Epine - Our Lady of the Thorn. According to Louis Carpentier in his book Mysteries of Chartres Cathedral this, and the Cathedral at Reims, are part of a map of France that is laid out in the shape of the constellation of Virgo, the House of Bread (Beth-Lehem). According to him this constellation was important to the founders of France who of course were the Merovingians. The upper pattern shows his linking for the Constellation Virgo; the lower pattern shows all the towns containing churches or Cathedrals called Notre Dame - Our Lady. Chartres Cathedral was built from 1194 and 1220. Twenty six years and all of these churches were built around the same time. Chartres itself was only a small village; Carpentier asks the question why it was built in preference to the Churches of Amiens, Reims and Paris. His linking is not the same as the Skymap diagram above. Note that he calls alpha Virginis L'EPI - The Thorn - This is SPICA. There is this enigmatic inscription in Chartres Cathedral it says: "All the answers are written here. All that should be said is said. What has vanished only the work of those barbarous children, men, whether bishop or lamplighter, despot or leader of revolutions. In the name of religion they have shattered its religious symbols. In the name of liberty they have broken down the doors of liberty. In the name of light they have shattered the doors of light. But not all the answers have vanished. Interrogate." There is however one star that forms a significant part in religions throughout the world and that star is ALCYONE: The Central star of the Pleiades Alcyone was once 33º from what is still known as the First Point of Aries, to point where the ecliptic and the Equatorial meet at a point that used to be in Aries. When the Sun reaches the First Point of Aries, as it does once each year, an equinox occurs, however due to precession this point is now in Pisces. The significance of 33 degrees is from the Mystery schools of Isis. 33 degrees is the number of the Master. The astrological circle equals 360 degrees that is 12 zodiacal houses of 30 degrees each. In a Vedic (Hindu) astrology book the Moon was exalted at 3 degrees of Taurus and debilitated in 3 degrees Scorpio. Exaltation was considered to be the optimum position, where the planet is strong and potent and debilitation was the opposite. The difference between the Vedic zodiac and the modern interpretation is currently 24 degrees and corresponds to a precession shift over 1700 years. However the sidereal zodiac used by the Vedic tradition and the one used by modern astrologers known as the Tropical zodiac vary by 39 degrees along the ecliptic and the sidereal zodiac was said by Irish astrologer Cyril Fagan to have its base line at 786BCE. Why 3 degrees of Taurus? In Vedic astrology, the Lunar Zodiac is based on the Moon's movement against the brightest stars divided into 27 Nakshatras measured in the modern vernacular as 13 degrees and 20 minutes each. It is in effect the arc covered by the moon during the full cycle of its phases. 3 degrees of Taurus corresponds with the Nakshatra called Krittika - which we now know as The Pleiades similarly 3 degrees of Scorpio corresponds with the Nakshatra called Vishakha which we know as the North and South Scale of Libra called Tula in Sanskrit. If you plot 3 degrees of Taurus on the great wheel of 360 degrees starting with zero degrees Aries, 3 Taurus equals 33 degrees. Alcyone is the brightest star in the Pleiadian cluster and thus Alcyone is 33 degrees - the number of the Master. Using Etymology (origins of words) when the word Master is divided into two becomes Ma /Ster and it means Mother Star. Thus, Alcyone is the number of the Mother Star - 33 degrees and everyone will recognise 33 degrees as being significant in some forms of freemasonry. The Pleiadian star system has been one of the most revered cosmic objects in history, poetry and mythology across all cultures. According to the cultural traditions, the seven visible stars of the Pleiades have been referred to by many names, such as the Seven Sisters, Krittika, Kimah, Flock of Doves, Hens, Virgins of Spring, Sailor's Stars and the Seven Atlantic Sisters. 'The Pleiades were known as Seven Sisters by indigenous people in North America, Siberia and Australia and this common heritage means they were described as the Seven Sisters more than 40,000 years ago.' 'The Pleiades seem to be among the first stars mentioned in astronomical literature, appearing in the Chinese annuls of 2357 BC, Alcyone, then being near the vernal equinox. And their beginning of the year gave rise to the title 'The Great Year of the Pleiades' for the one whole cycle of precession of about 25,900 years." Professor Charles Piazzi Smyth in the late 19th century suggested that that the seven chambers of the Great Pyramid of Giza commemorate these seven stars. He said: “And here is a wonderful corresponding fact, that the date of the Great Pyramids completion, at midnight of the autumnal equinox the Pleiades was distributed over the meridian of this pyramid, with Alcyone precisely on the line. What if the Great Pyramid was actually built in honour of the Pleiades when they rose near the vernal equinox 2357 BC and completed by 2170, as suggested by Siess. According to Albert Churchward the name of the Great Pyramid was 'Khuti,' which denoted the seven Lights, or Glorious Ones. Likewise, the Tower of Babel with its seven tiers was also symbolical of the 'Great Altar Stairs,' by which men climbed heavenward: “Many ancient traditions state that Alcyone was the Central Spiritual Sun, the Mother Sun (the Ma Ster) that emits creative Light, that which births great teachers of Light into the world. It was believed to be the centre of the Universe around which our own solar system revolves. Our current astronomers do not support this idea although in the 1850's it well accepted. Science has at last discovered that the Sun is not a dead centre, with planets and comets wheeling around it but itself stationary. It is now ascertained that the Sun is also in motion, around some other and vastly mightier centre. Astronomers are not fully agreed as to what or where that centre is. Some however believe that they have found the direction of it to be the Pleiades, and particularly Alcyone. To the distinguished astronomer, Prof.J.H, Maedler belongs the honour of having made this discovery. Alcyone, then, as far as science can perceive, would seem to be the "midnight throne in which the whole system of gravitation has a central seat, and from which the Almighty governs his universe.” An astronomer will tell you this is complete rubbish but I want to go back to the ancient traditions and deal with their beliefs in order to get to the bottom of the mystery. Alcyone was called Al Wasat, the Central One by the Arabs and Temennu, the Foundation Stone by the Babylonians. The next quotation I found in a wonderful book on ancient constellations called The Mazzaroth. 'Wasat, an Arabic name for Alcyone, was first given by Ulugh Beigh from early Arabian astronomy and describes a centre of some sort. It thus testifies to the knowledge of the first astronomers of some long lost but lately removed fact, that in this group is the centre of something revolving and all traditions contain this same reference. The ancient name Alcyone is evidently of Oriental origin, having the Arabic and old Hebrew article Al, prefixed to its root Cyon, its meaning - centre, or foundation and one of the greatest achievements in ancient astronomy, the discovery that to this point, this centre, gravitates the whole magnificent arrangement of the stars called the Galaxy, to which our sun belongs. One cannot help noticing the similarity between the word Cyon and Sion/Zion - the heavenly city of God. It may be no more than a coincidence but in the Bayer catalogue eta Tauri (Alcyone) is the 32nd star of Taurus. An intriguing article has been written by Ken Raines called Jehovah: Ancient Astronaut from the Pleiades' Raines says that apparently for 62 years, 1891 - 1953, the Watchtower Society (The Jehovah's Witnesses) taught that God resided on the star Alcyone in the Pleiades constellation and that from this star he governed the universe. It was also stated that the City of Zion in heaven was Alcyone. The original Watchtower magazine was called Zion's Watchtower and the article is quoted below: "1927 "The face of the deep, of course, would be toward the Pleiades, which are claimed to be the habitation of Jehovah." (Creation; 1927; 2,175,000 ed.; p. 94) 1928 "The constellation of the seven stars forming the Pleiades appears to be the crowning center around which the known systems of the planets revolve even as our sun's planets obey the sun and travel in their respective orbits. It has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling-place of Jehovah and the place of the highest heavens;..." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14) 1928 "The constellation of the Pleiades is a small one compared with others which scientific instruments disclose to the wondering eyes of man. But the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small when compared with the Pleiades in importance, because the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14)" These are extracts from Zion's Watchtower - The Journal of the Jehovah's Witnesses – from 1927-28. If one takes up the watchtower theme then in Micah 4:8 of the Old Testament, we find: 'And thou, O tower of the flock (Migdal Eder - Magdalene?), the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.' The Pleiades were most frequently represented as a flock of doves. Indeed the word is from 'Peleiades' and is the Greek for 'Flock of Doves'. From the Tour Magdala on 17th January 1681 the Foundation Star Alcyone transits (i.e. is due south) at around 7:30 pm. The time itself has no significance but at this precise moment Venus is directly on the horizon over the previously mentioned mountain of St Barthélemy which is known locally as Mt Thabor which is the name of the mountain of Christ’s ascension. St Barthélemy is a snow-capped mountain in the Pyrenees, 8km from Montségur. Barthelemy is the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "son of ( ַי ְמ ַלתTalmay)". Talmay is a Hebrew name meaning "furrowed". The Constellation of Leo (The Sphinx) is rising in the east down the valley shown about towards Poussin's Tomb at Arques. ALNILAM (the central star of Orion) is directly over the Templar Commanderie at Bezu. Sirius is at 18 degrees elevation directly over La Pique, the centre of the pentacle of mountains. The star Sirius is the star of ISIS whose number is 18. That astronomy forms a major part of freemasonry was illustrated in a book by Robert Hewitt Brown a 32° mason. Here is an extract from Stella Theology and Masonic Astronomy by Robert Hewitt Brown - 32° THE SEVEN STARS "Q: To what does the Masonic emblem of the seven stars allude? A: To the Pleiades, or seven stars in Taurus. These stars were called by the Romans Vergili, or Virgins of Spring. The constellation Taurus was anciently at the vernal equinox, and the year formerly then began. Thus Virgil, referring to a remoter age, in the "Georgics," Book I, says: "Candidus auratis aperit cum Cornibus annum taurus." "When the bright bull with gilded horns opens the year." Job speaks of the Pleiades, also, as exerting "a sweet influence," expressive of the balmy air of spring which accompanies the approach of the sun to the constellation Taurus and the "seven stars." This Masonic emblem, therefore, has a direct allusion to the vernal equinox, and thus becomes a beautiful symbol of immortality, reminding us, also,, of that starry home beyond the grave to which the soul of man aspires. It was for these reasons that, of all the "hosts of heaven," the Pleiades were selected as an emblem by our ancient brethren. THE MASONIC LADDER OF THREE ROUNDS Ladder of three rounds to Pleiades Q: What is the signification of the ladder of three rounds, and why is it represented as leading up to the "seven stars," or the Pleiades? A: This emblem is clearly but a modification of the latter of the Mysteries, consisting, as we have seen, of seven rounds - and is of the same general astronomical meaning. The sun, when ascending from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox, the constellation Taurus, and the Pleiades, or seven stars, situated therein, passes successively through three signs of the zodiac, to wit, Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries. These three signs are therefore emblematically represented by a ladder of three principal rounds, by means of which the sun climbs up from the point of his lowest southern declination to the vernal equinox and the "seven stars" in Taurus. The foregoing is the emblem of the Masonic ladder as generally represented. THE ZODIACAL LADDER. Ladder of three rounds on the zodiac to Pleiades "The emblematic meaning now attached to the Masonic ladder, which refers it to the one "Jacob saw in his vision," is neither lost nor sacrificed, even if we admit the probable origin of the emblem in that of the ancient mysteries. Its symbolism is, however, thus made more extended and impressive, so that we gain rather than lose by so referring it. The initiation into all the ancient mysteries, it will be remembered, was a drama founded upon the astronomical allegory of the death and resurrection of the sun, and was intended to, and did, impress upon the mind of the candidate, in the strongest manner possible, the two great doctrines of the unity of God and the immortality of man. These are to-day the two great fundamental principles of Freemasonry, and are illustrated and taught in a similar manner in the ritual of the third degree. The solar allegory and emblems of the ancient mysteries have, however, a twofold meaning: 1) Being founded, as before stated, on the passage of the sun among the twelve constellations of the zodiac - his overthrow by the three autumnal months, his return to life at the vernal equinox, and his exaltation at the summer solstice they therefore taught and illustrated all the leading principles of astronomy, and thus had an important scientific value to the initiated. 2) By personifying the sun, and requiring the candidate to represent him, the whole solar phenomena were exhibited in an allegorical manner, and became symbolical of the unity of God and the immortality of the soul. The ladder of the Mysteries, being but an emblem intended to illustrate the main solar allegory, had the same twofold symbolism. When full explained to the initiated, it fixed upon the mind certain great facts in astronomical science. It taught the order and position of the signs of the zodiac; the ascent of the sun from the point of his lowest declination below the equator to that of his highest above it, by seven equal gradiated (sic) steps. It also taught the duration of and order of the seasons, the length of the solar year, and many other particulars of the greatest importance to agriculture, as well as to science and art generally. The emblem, viewed in an allegorical sense, also taught, by solar analogy, the unity of God and the life everlasting. The ladder in this sense was the emblem of the ascent into heaven from the lower hemisphere - the underworld of darkness, winter, and death. This mystic ladder leads to the "seven stars," or the Pleiades, shining in the constellation Taurus, at the golden gates of spring. It mounted still onward and upward, to the summit of the Royal Arch of heaven, thus emblematically teaching us that by the ladder of virtue the soul of man will at last pierce the "cloudy canopy," and mount to the highest circle of "the starrydecked heavens," to dwell for ever triumphant over death and the grave. Thus, it is logical that the Pleiades as a Masonic symbol in America is as old as the craft's beginnings on this continent due to its importance in the old country. It was only a matter of years after 1717 that Speculative Masons, later called "Moderns," were setting up shop in Boston and the Carolinas. Masonic aprons, engravings, and other paraphanalia (sic) were emblazoned with a grouping of 7 stars, and this practice continues to this day. As discussed in the Sibly treatise, the chart for the Grand Lodge of London boasts the Moon conjunct the Pleiades." According to Robert Hewitt Brown the very name ‘freemason’ is from the Egyptian words Phre meaning Sun and Mas meaning children so according to him the very word ‘freemason’ means Children of the Sun.