Christian Round Churches Hide Astronomical Secrets of the Viking Seafarers

Ancient Origins

Orkney is an archipelago in the northern isles of Scotland, annexed by Norwegian explorers in 875 AD and Christianized by King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, (960s – 1000). It was from Orkney where many of the early Viking raids into England were launched. Were Christian Viking round churches in Norway aligned with the round church in Orkney, Scotland, to support astronomical maritime navigation routes?

Blaeu's 1654 map of Orkney and Shetland. (Public Domain)

 Haakon Paulsson, Jarl of Orkney
A Jarl is a Norse title, preceding the title of Earl. By the early 12th century the navigable channels between the islands of Orkney were controlled by Jarl Haakon Paulsson (Old Norse: Hákon Pálsson) (1103-c. 1123), whom King Magnus III of Norway had appointed regent in Orkney. Haakon was a descendant of the Norse lineage of Røgnvald (the Wise) and jointly ruled the Earldom of Orkney with his cousin Magnus Erlendsson, from 1105 - 1114, in which year Haakon had Magnus murdered. As penance for having unlawfully killed his cousin, church authorities ordered Haakon to undertake a pilgrimage to 'the burial place of Christ’, an adventure which was recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga (a historical narrative of the history of Orkney from the 9th to 12th century):

 “Haakon faired south to Rome, and to Jerusalem…upon his return he became a good ruler, and kept his realm well at peace and he built Orphir Church to replicate the Templar built rotunda in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which he had visited while he was in Jerusalem.

An example of a page from the Orkneyinga saga, as it appears in the 14th century Flatey Book. (Public Domain)

Was Haakon Paulsson a Templar Knight? Haakon was a wealthy warlord who had undertaken a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in the fashion of the Templars. He even had a round church built in the style of the Templar rotunda, which he encountered in Jerusalem, upon his return to Orkney. He had visited Jerusalem at the same time as the founding Knights Templar. An interpretation panel installed at Orphir Round Church claims it is the “northernmost Knights Templar round church in the UK”. However, it is disputed whether Haakon built a “Templar church”.

Although Templars vowed to ‘defend the Church of the Holy Sepulchre’ and subsequently built many round churches reflecting its underlying design, circular church design was not limited to Templar architecture and several monastic institutions had built in the circular style. Nevertheless, so often it is written that all of Europe’s circular churches were built by the Knights Templar, but it is much closer to the truth to say that ‘they built some, possibly most’ of Europe’s medieval round churches.

King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, (960s – 1000) who forcibly Christianized Orkney. Painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo. (Public Domain)

 Furthermore, if Haakon had become a Templar Knight in Jerusalem then he would have been obliged upon joining to relinquish his “material wealth and possessions” to the Order. This transaction would certainly have included his valuable agricultural and strategically located lands at Orphir and as such it would have been listed somewhere in the inventories of Templar properties in Scotland. However, there is no mention of Orphir anywhere in the records. The northernmost Templar property recorded in Scotland was a Preceptory House (farm, temple, bank) located in Dingwall on the Black Isle, near Inverness. It must be added however, that many 12th century knights and noblemen avoided the ranks of the Knights Templar for socio-political reasons, yet they maintained strong mercantile and military relationships with the Order.

Ashley Cowie is a Scottish historian, author and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems, in accessible and exciting ways. His books, articles and television shows explore lost cultures and kingdoms, ancient crafts and artifacts, symbols and architecture, myths and legends telling thought-provoking stories which together offer insights into our shared social history. www.ashleycowie.com.

Top Image: Wasteland Viking Ship. (CCO Public Domain)

By Ashley Cowie

10 Secrets About Ancient Greece That Are Rarely Recounted

Ancient Origins

The ancient Greeks have contributed so much to modern civilization, especially regarding education, philosophy, science, art, politics, and language, among other things. But, their legacy does not end there. One of the most enduring things about ancient Greece is the mythology. Zeus, Minotaur, Hercules, Achilles, Prometheus… The list is virtually endless. But, while it’s a given that most myths are fiction for the most part, have you ever wondered if there is any truth in the stories? I have, and after doing my homework, here is a list of 10 secrets about Greek mythology and Ancient Greece that have only been revealed fairly recently.

 1. The Trojan Horse Didn’t Really Exist
We are all familiar with the story of the Trojan Horse from Homer’s Odyssey, but it turns out that the legendary wooden horse that was used to sneak into Troy is indeed a myth. While there are no doubts about Troy being a real city which was really burned to the ground by the Greeks, there is no archaeological evidence to support the existence of the Trojan Horse, which is the source of the myth. It was probably inspired by the fact that most armies were using damp horse hides to protect themselves from flaming arrows during sieges.

The Procession of the Trojan Horse in Troy.’ (Public Domain)

Although it looks impressive, there was no real Trojan Horse.

2. There is No Proof that Homer Existed
In addition to some of his biggest epics being a myth, we cannot say for sure that Homer himself existed. To be more accurate, there is no written proof about Homer ever existing - which isn’t to say for sure that he didn’t either. The problem is that Greek epics and legends were passed on orally for centuries, before someone remembered to write them down, which means it’s hard to prove that Homer had existed and written all those epics.

Frontispiece and Titlepage of a 1752 edition of Alexander's Pope's translation of The Odyssey. (Public Domain)

3. Pythagoras May Not Have Invented the Theorem Bearing His Name
 Again, there is no written evidence that Pythagoras came up with his famous equation. But, there is evidence that the Babylonians were using the theorem to do calculations a few centuries before. Pythagoras was a brilliant mathematician nonetheless and was the first one to use ratios in order to explain music intervals.

Old Babylonian clay tablet (known as Plimpton 322) stores combination of primitive Pythagorean triples. Babylonians knew of the ‘Pythagorean’ theorem. (Luis Teia)

4. Spartans Didn’t Use Iron as Currency
Although it fits in well with the whole Spartan mythology and their image as hardened warriors, Spartans did not actually use iron as currency. In fact, no coins were ever actually made in Sparta. Instead, they used foreign silver. Apart from that, there was no import of luxury goods into Sparta, as it would alter the way they led their lives, which consisted of rigorous training regimes, war, dieting, and of course, using laconic expressions, for which they are known the most.

‘A spartan woman giving a shield to her son’ by Jean-Jacques-Francois Le Barbier. (Public Domain) Spartans weren’t all about iron money.

5. The Greek Alphabet Didn’t Have Just One Inventor
One of the first works that was ever written down using the Greek alphabet was the Homeric epics - dating as far back as the 8th century BC. The Greek alphabet actually used the Phoenician alphabet as a basis. The first two letters of the aforementioned alphabet were aleph and bet, hence the name. According to ancient Greeks, Palamedes was the one who invented the Greek version, but surprisingly, it was the Pythagoras who gave the letters their distinct geometrical shapes they are famous for.

Pythagoras helped shape the Greek alphabet. (CC BY SA 3.0)

 6. Greeks Started Using Money Because of Their Psyche
Needless to say, when it first appeared, money made things a lot easier. However, trade was not the reason why Greeks started using currency and coins in the 5th century BC. They did it because the idea of reciprocation and obligation to their fellow men that was deeply ingrained into their society and psyche.

454-404 BC Attica, Athens. Tetradrachm. Helmeted head of Athena right / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right; olive-sprig and crescent above. (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc./CC BY SA 3.0) Greek money came about due to reciprocity and obligation.

7. Theaters Were a Part of the Cult of Dionysus
 There is no doubt that the great Greek tragedies and comedies performed at the Acropolis were a part of the cult of Dionysus. But, there has been a lot of debate about the origins of theater itself. According to some sources, it started with the actor Thespis, because of whom we use the word “thespian”, who performed his roles standing on a cart almost a century earlier.

The half-mask over the eyes and nose identifies the figure as an actor. He wears a man's conical cap but female garments, following the Greek custom of men playing the roles of women. (Public Domain) Did Greek theater come about thanks to a man who stood on a cart?

 8. Socrates Was a Warrior before He Became a Philosopher
Even though Socrates is primarily known for his legacy as a thinker and a philosopher, he was actually an experienced warrior who survived grueling military campaigns - during which he even performed heroic acts. It was his experience in the military that made him think about life. He spent the rest of his life trying to educate his fellow Greeks and get them to think about their own lives.

Statue of Socrates – warrior turned philosopher. (C Messier/CC BY SA 4.0 )

9. The Secrets of Greek Cults Remain Secret
We've already mentioned the cult of Dionysus, but there were other cults, most notably the cult of Demeter, who was a goddess of agriculture. Not much is known about what actually went on during the ceremonies. It is speculated that the initiations involved wearing ritual clothing and worshiping different objects so that initiates would be permitted with a glimpse of the afterlife.

Demeter, enthroned and extending her hand in a benediction toward the kneeling Metaneira who offers the triune wheat that is a recurring symbol of the mysteries (Public Domain) The cult of Demeter was just one mysterious group in ancient Greece.

 10. Alexander the Great Was Not That Great
We are not trying to take away anything from his military prowess, which is legendary and accurate. But, his stature was short and Alexander was not known for being disciplined. He drank and had a bad temper, and there are plenty of his companions that wound up on the receiving end of his tantrums. Later in life, he became paranoid. However, his legacy as a famous military leader remains untouched.

The meeting between Alexander and Diogenes (Public Domain) Alexander the Great was rather short, angry, paranoid, and somewhat undisciplined.

Top Image: Bust of Pythagoras. (CC BY SA 3.0), ‘The Procession of the Trojan Horse in Troy.’ (Public Domain), Statue of Socrates – warrior turned philosopher. (C Messier/CC BY SA 4.0), Demeter, enthroned and extending her hand in a benediction toward the kneeling Metaneira (Public Domain), The meeting between Alexander and Diogenes (Public Domain), and Tetradrachm. ΑΘΕ, owl standing right; olive-sprig and crescent above. (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc./CC BY SA 3.0)

By Mia Stokes

Scientists Unravel Secrets of a Hidden Room Within a Hidden Room in English Tudor Mansion

Ancient Origins

A team of scientists provided with 3D laser scanners have disclosed the secrets of a hidden room, known as a "priest hole," in the tower of an English Tudor mansion linked to the failed "Gunpowder Plot" to assassinate King James I in 1605.

 New Study Reveals Secrets of the “Priest Holes”
The secrets of a hidden room in Coughton Court, a Tudor mansion associated with the plot to assassinate King James I in 1605, have been revealed in a new study. The double room was a hiding place for priests during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the 16th and 17th centuries and was leased by Sir Everard Digby, one of the leading conspirators of the plot. According to Christopher King, an assistant professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and one of the lead researchers of the study, the “hidden” priest holes were originally built inside walls and between floors, as places where a priest could hide from their prosecutors, while the family of the house pretended to supposedly live an ordinary life. King told Live Science "We know that priests were hiding in these spaces for up to three days while people were searching the properties. Some of them are really very small, where the priest would be in quite an enclosed box-like space."

Coughton Court, Warwickshire ( CC by SA 3.0 )

 A Little History Behind That Dark Era for Catholicism

During the 16th century, Europe was under the religious leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. However, over time, protests against the Catholic Church and its influence eventually led to the formation of the Protestant movement. The separation of the Church of England from Rome under Henry VIII in 1537 brought England alongside this broad Reformation movement. Under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England , which began in 1558, Catholics were persecuted by law and priests were imprisoned, tortured, and frequently executed. As a result of this oppression, wealthy Catholic families began building secret chambers and passages in their homes called ‘priest holes’ in order to hide priests when the ‘priest hunters’ came searching. Priest hunters took their job very seriously, sometimes searching a house for days or even weeks. They would move furniture, lift floorboards, bang the walls for sounds of a hollow cavity, and plunge their swords between cracks and crevices. They counted windows from the outside and inside, and measured the height of ceilings and the length of walls, in the hope of detecting hidden chambers. Clearly, the priest holes had to be very cleverly constructed to evade such extensive searches.

The consequences if a priest were captured. Engraving by Gaspar Bouttats. ( Wikipedia)

Priest holes and were frequently built into fireplaces, attics, and staircases. Sometimes, a network of passages led to the final hiding place, at other times the priest hole was hidden inside another chamber, making it more difficult to find. However, more often than not the priest holes were tiny with no room to stand or move. Priests sometimes had to stay for days at a time with little to no food and water, and no sanitation. Sometimes, they would die of starvation or suffocation if the priest hunts went on for too long.

 The Importance of the 3D Laser Scanning Equipment
The priest hole in Coughton Court was first discovered in the 1850s, but more details have now been revealed than ever before thanks to 3D laser scanners. In order to understand better how the priest hole was constructed and hidden from searchers, King and his colleagues used 3D laser scanning equipment to accurately spot the secret chambers and determine their location in relation to the rest of the building and its grounds.

The priest hole (in color) was built in a closed-off space in a tower of Coughton Court, as a place for Catholic priests to hide from search parties. Credit: University of Nottingham

The compound images and 3D computer models generated from the laser scans show the chamber's "double-blind" construction, which was constructed this way to deceive priest hunters into thinking they had found an empty priest hole, King told Live Science . “When they're searching, they think they've found the priest hole but it's empty, but actually the priest is hidden in the more concealed space beyond." And continues, "And that's what happens at Coughton: there's one chamber under the floor in the turret of the tower, and then there is another trap door that goes through into a second space, which we assume is where the priest was actually hiding." Ultimately, King’s colleague Dr. Lukasz Bonenberg of Nottingham University, emphasized on the significant help modern technology contributed to this project, “Terrestrial laser scanning is an important new technology for recording ancient monuments as they capture a huge amount of data very quickly and this is the first time that TLS has been used for the purpose of visualising hidden spaces inside Tudor houses. Digital visualizations of historic buildings are vital tools for helping the public to picture the past,” said as Daily Mail reports.

 Top image: The priest hole at Coughton Court, England ( CC by SA 3.0 )

 By Theodoros Karasavvas