Source: “The Lost Colony of the Templars: Verrazano's Secret Mission to America**”,** By Steven Sora, Destiny Books, 2004.
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This podcast explores the enduring influence of ancient knowledge, particularly in astronomy and mathematics, on architectural design across various cultures, from megalithic structures and classical temples to Islamic mosques and medieval Christian churches built by the Knights Templar and Cistercians. It highlights how these seemingly disparate buildings, especially round and octagonal structures, often share a common symbolism of death and rebirth and eternity, linked to the worship of sun gods and Christian concepts like baptism. The text suggests this hidden wisdom, preserved in architectural form, was passed down through secret societies and building guilds, connecting ancient pagan beliefs with later religious practices and surviving even the suppression of groups like the Knights Templar.
Topic 1 Ancient Astronomical and Mathematical Knowledge in Building and Cultures The sources reveal that ancient builders and cultures possessed sophisticated knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, which they incorporated into their structures and traditions. Examples include the precise alignment of megalithic temples to the winter solstice, the Great Pyramid's alignment with cardinal directions and Regulus, and the Pyramid of Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá demonstrating knowledge of equinoxes and subtle angles to create a serpent shadow effect. Astronomical sight lines related to lunar cycles and Venus were found in the observatory at Chichén Itzá. Beyond architecture, mathematical secrets were embedded in cultural narratives, such as the Norse myth featuring 432,000 warriors, a number echoed in Babylonian records and the Rig Veda. The significance of the number sixty, used in Sumerian timekeeping, and its relationship to the zodiac cycle (25,920 years divided by 60 yields 432) is highlighted, suggesting a shared ancient understanding of cosmic cycles. This knowledge was not universally understood but was often held by initiated builders and priests, passed down through generations, and sometimes expressed through symbolism in structures, art, and tales. The Metonic cycle, a nineteen-year pattern related to the sun god Apollo's return, was known in Greco-Roman times and understood by initiates as an astronomical reference.
Topic 2 The Crusades and Their Impact The Crusades were a series of military campaigns initiated by Europe against Islam, largely driven by the Church's desire to regain control of Jerusalem and channel the aggressive tendencies of European nobles away from internal conflicts. The First Crusade was prompted by the Byzantine emperor's appeal for help against Turkish invasions and Pope Urban II's efforts to unify the fractured Church and curb abuses. Urban preached the crusade at Clermont, promising absolution for sins. The People's Crusade, a less disciplined early wave, met disaster. The main force, led by Norman nobles, eventually reached and captured Jerusalem in 1099, which resulted in a brutal massacre of its inhabitants. The Crusades facilitated interaction between European and Middle Eastern cultures, leading to the spread of knowledge. Returning crusaders brought back ancient texts on mathematics, cosmography, and geography, which were translated and made available to a wider audience, contributing to advancements in various sciences and crafts. The fall of Edessa to Zengi in 1144 marked a major defeat and prompted the call for the Second Crusade, for which Saint Bernard actively recruited.
Topic 3 Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem holds immense sacred importance for Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and its control frequently changed hands, serving as a focal point for conflict, particularly during the Crusades. After Jesus's execution, the Romans built a pagan shrine on his burial site. Constantine's mother, Saint Helena, ordered the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre over Christ's tomb around A.D. 390. This site became the ultimate destination for Christian pilgrims, though the pilgrimage was fraught with dangers. The Holy Sepulchre, particularly its rotunda structure covering the tomb, served as an architectural prototype. Despite suffering destruction from fire, earthquake, and conflict, it was rebuilt. The Islamic Dome of the Rock was later built nearby, also incorporating an octagonal structure, demonstrating similar architectural concepts across religions. For the Knights Templar, the Holy Sepulchre and the site of Solomon's Temple were central to their presence and activities in Jerusalem. The rotunda and octagonal geometry of the Holy Sepulchre symbolized the concept of infinity and rebirth, influencing the design of subsequent Christian structures.
Topic 4 The Knights Templar The Knights Templar, formally known as the Poor Knights of Christ, were a military order founded around 1119 in Jerusalem by Hugh de Payens and eight other knights. Their stated mission was to protect pilgrims on the roads to the Holy City, a task seemingly impossible for such a small group. There is speculation that they had a hidden agenda, spending their first decade excavating under the Temple of Solomon, possibly seeking sacred treasure or artifacts. The order was supported by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem and later championed by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who helped draft their Rule of Conduct and promote recruitment. Early members were linked noble families, largely from the Champagne region of France, including relatives of Bernard. The Templars quickly gained immense wealth and status, becoming the first international bank and rivals to the Church in land ownership. They became renowned for their fearlessness in battle, adopting the Red Cross symbol. They played a significant role as a standing army during the Crusades but also engaged in military campaigns independently. Their power and wealth grew exponentially until their eventual dissolution in the early fourteenth century.
Topic 5 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercian Order Saint Bernard was a pivotal figure in the twelfth century, instrumental in the growth of both his own Cistercian order and the Knights Templar. The Cistercian order was founded by Robert of Molensme as a reform movement, seeking a stricter adherence to the Rule of Saint Benedict, emphasizing prayer and work. Bernard joined the order in 1112 and founded a chapter at Clairvaux. Under his leadership, the Cistercians experienced remarkable growth, establishing hundreds of houses. Bernard was related to early Templar members, including his uncle Sir André de Montbard, on whose land the Cistercians settled. He actively preached and fund-raised for the Templars and helped shape their rules. Bernard was a protégé of Pope Innocent II, who granted the Templars special privileges, and was appointed protector of the order. Bernard also played a key role in promoting the Second Crusade. He is noted for his interest in Mary Magdalene and the Black Virgin. Both the Cistercians and Templars were deeply involved in building projects, with the Cistercians becoming known as the "missionaries of the Gothic." Bernard saw architecture as a sacred art, deeply connected to geometry and divine proportion, famously asking "What is God?" and answering, "He is length, width, height, and depth."
Topic 6 Round and Octagonal Architecture and its Symbolism A recurring architectural theme discussed in the sources is the use of round and octagonal structures, particularly in chapels and baptisteries, which spread throughout Europe and the Middle East. This design is traced back to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which featured a domed rotunda covering the tomb and was likely built on an octagonal foundation or incorporated octagonal elements. The octagonal form is repeatedly cited as symbolizing the infinity of life, representing birth, death, and resurrection. It is also strongly linked to baptism, the sacrament of cleansing and rebirth. Examples include early Christian baptisteries in Italy (Florence, Ravenna) and France (Frejus, Poitiers), which were often octagonal. Later, the Knights Templar and Cistercians adopted this architectural style, building round and octagonal chapels across their domains. The source suggests these structures were not merely functional but conveyed a sacred message, understood by initiates, representing eternity and the cyclical nature of life, echoing themes found in older pagan religions related to death and rebirth.
Topic 7 Transmission and Preservation of Ancient and Secret Knowledge The source posits that ancient knowledge, particularly related to astronomy, mathematics, sacred geometry, and associated symbolism, was not lost but deliberately preserved and transmitted across generations through specific groups, such as building guilds and closed societies like the Knights Templar and Cistercian Order. This knowledge was often kept secret, shared only among initiates who demonstrated a profound understanding. Architecture, art, and even literature (like the Grail romances) became vehicles for encoding and conveying this hidden wisdom, especially during periods when challenging the established Church or openly practicing older faiths was dangerous. The builders of Gothic cathedrals, for instance, are described as initiates into a sacred science, using geometry and proportion to create structures that mirrored cosmic principles and contained deeper symbolic meaning beyond the understanding of the average observer. The sudden halt in building round and octagonal structures after the Templars' dissolution is suggested as an intentional suppression of the knowledge they embodied, potentially including concepts related to the feminine principle or earth worship.
Topic 8 Integration of Pagan and Sun Worship Concepts into Christianity The sources highlight how early Christianity, in its expansion into a pagan world, incorporated and adapted many aspects of older religions and cults, particularly those related to sun worship and cyclical concepts of death and rebirth. The Christian calendar, symbols, and even figures were influenced by pagan traditions. The celebration of Jesus's birth on December 25 coincides with the rebirth of the sun after the winter solstice. Saint John the Baptist's birthday on June 24 aligns with the summer solstice and ancient midsummer festivals celebrating the sun god. John's role as the Precursor who must diminish as Jesus grows greater is paralleled with the pagan concept of the old sun god dying to make way for the new sun. The Christian sacrament of baptism, symbolizing cleansing and rebirth, is linked to the octagonal form representing infinity and the sun god's resurrection. Christianity replaced figures like the Mother Goddess with the Virgin Mary and minor gods with saints. Symbols like the cross were similar to Mithraic sun symbols. This process allowed Christianity to find common ground with various pagan faiths, facilitating conversion, but also preserved older beliefs and symbols within the new religion, sometimes in encoded or hidden forms.
Topic 9 Saint John the Baptist Saint John the Baptist is presented as a significant figure whose symbolism connects early Christianity with older pagan beliefs, particularly those related to the sun god and cycles of death and rebirth. He instituted the sacrament of baptism, symbolizing cleansing and spiritual rebirth, a concept central to the round/octagonal baptistery architecture. John is called the Precursor, making way for Jesus, paralleling the pagan idea of the old sun dying before the new sun is reborn. His birthday, uniquely celebrated among saints (along with Jesus), falls on June 24, the time of the summer solstice, associated with ancient midsummer sun festivals. In many cultures, bonfires once lit for sun gods like Hercules or Baal were later lit for Saint John. He is the central figure in the Mandaean religion, a Gnostic sect that regards Jesus differently from mainstream Christianity and retains ancient practices. The Mosque of Umayyad in Damascus, built on the site of a temple to the sun god Hadad and later a church dedicated to Saint John, still contains a shrine believed to hold John the Baptist's head, highlighting his enduring significance and connection to ancient sacred sites.
Topic 10 Specific Examples of Round and Octagonal Churches The widespread construction of round and octagonal churches, chapels, and baptisteries across Europe, modeled after the Holy Sepulchre, is detailed through numerous examples. These structures, often built by or influenced by the Templars and Cistercians, share the core symbolism of infinity, rebirth, and baptism. Noteworthy examples include: