The sacred wisdom of women, defended by the Knights Templar
HYPATIA, CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA & THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM
Originally published on my Facebook page
“Just as places where the goddess was worshipped became sites for Christian churches, so too were her symbols taken over. Before becoming Mary's symbol, for instance, the open red rose was associated with Aphrodite and represented mature sexuality. At Chartres, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, roses abound. Light streams through three enormous and beautiful stained glass rose windows, and a symbolic rose is at the “centre” of the labyrinth. The path of the labyrinth is exactly 666 feet long. Six hundred sixty-six, according to Barbara Walker, was Aphrodite's sacred number. In Christian theology it became a demonic one.”
― Jean Shinoda Bolen, Crossing to Avalon: A Woman's Midlife Quest for the Sacred Feminine
Mary Magdalene was turned into a prostitute by Pope Gregory the (not so) Great from 6th Century AD (this was never said by the Bible, we owe it to him) but slowly, prior to that from the 1-3rd centuries the divine feminine, was erased from history. At the same time, women were demonised as was the sanctity of the sacred union (priests would no longer be allowed to be married or have marital relations). As a historian, I can see the transition and feel this even more today as I am often punished for being an independent woman who leads with her heart, has a voice and seeks wisdom. This seems to be a tradition that keeps repeating itself throughout history where such women were “Courtesans”, “Witches”, “Sorceresses” and brides of the devil, “Mermaids”, “Ancient Priestesses” who engaged in Temple Prostitution, or Goddesses associated with darkness and evil, like Hekate (who is the goddess of many things including wisdom, embodying “Sophia” and the “Shekinah”; the divine feminine creation life-force of God so relevant to the Knights Templar as represented by the priestess Mary Magdalene. Mary is a name but also a “title” for ancient priestesses like in Egypt, “Mari-Isis”, “Mari-Hathor”, etc. Note that the words “Mary, Mari, Mar or Mer” actually mean “mother, beloved, sea or feminine light which is reflected in the name of Our Lady of the Sea also known as “Stella Maris”(as in the Sufi tradition strongly linked to Marianist Cistercian abbot Bernard the Clairvaux who wrote the Latin Rule of the Templars and to Cistercian/Templar sites and the knowledge of the heart but also Cathars and of course, Dante Alighieri and the Fideli di Amore. They would later be known as the Mermaids of Galilee. As shown in some of my research, we see them linked to Cistercian/Templar sites and heraldry. These mermaids are connected to the divine feminine life-force creation aspect of God, known as the Shekinah (whose symbol is the dove as we see in Iona but also rose) but also to the serpent (kundalini) which through enlightenment and the alchemical marriage of the sun and moon, becomes a winged serpent; a dragon (also found in many Templar/ Cistercian sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPVGqDFwruE
Women are key to understanding the mysteries of the Grail and the Knights Templar, but also the “Knowledge of the Heart”, the Cathar’s “Book of Love” and the teachings of Jesus (the anointed one or initiate), Mary Magdalene and John the Baptist. Women as the Shekinah carry within as sacred vessels a regenerative life force and embody “Sophia” (wisdom). They are “Water Bearers” and like the eleventh sign of the zodiac, Aquarius, pour the waters of wisdom into the world to heal it and for balance (key to Knights Templar symbolism). Today I’d like to remember one of these women in this short movie trailer on Hypatia (Agora) by one of my favourite film directors, Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar with one of my favourite actresses, Rachel Weisz.
Hypatia (born c. 350–370; died 415 AD) was a Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, which then belonged to the Eastern Roman Empire. She was a a woman ahead of her time, and a prominent thinker in Alexandria where she taught philosophy and astronomy. She was also the daughter of the "last member of the Library of Alexandria" (Theon), although many feel that Hypatia herself was the last head librarian at this wonderful repository of knowledge, whose loss I still mourn. Hypatia embodied the principle of “tolerance” towards Christians and taught many Christian students, including Synesius, the future bishop of Ptolemais. Thus, Hypatia was widely beloved by pagans and Christians alike and established significant influence with the political elite in Alexandria. Near the tragic end of her life, Hypatia advised Orestes, the Roman prefect of Alexandria, who was in the midst of a political feud with Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria. Rumours spread accusing her of preventing Orestes from reconciling with Cyril and, in March 415 AD, she was murdered by a mob of Christians. Hypatia's murder shocked the empire and transformed her into a "martyr for philosophy", leading future Neoplatonists to become increasingly fervent in their opposition to Christianity. During the Middle Ages, Hypatia was co-opted as a symbol of Christian virtue and scholars believe she was part of the basis for the legend of Saint Catherine of Alexandria who was a key saint for the Knights Templar who devoted many chapels to her and who was with them in their tragic end, as can be seen in the article by Jerry Glover on medieval graffiti in the Guard House in Domme (Catherine Wheel). During the Age of Enlightenment, she became a symbol of opposition to Catholicism, which is another clue as to the true beliefs of the Knights Templar who were Gnostics and never Catholic.
Curiously, the idea that Hypatia and Catherine of Alexandria were one person has also emerged too many times to be ignored (see article below), although personally, I would agree as above that she was part of the basis for the legend. But, it is very possible that she DID have access to the Antikythera mechanism and while she did not invest in astrolabes, she did build them. Perhaps, like Dr. Jones she used it to travel in time? What we do know is that she was a truth-seeker who pursued GNOSIS, like the Knights Templar who were gnostics. Gnostics believed in the existence of secret or hidden knowledge (gnosis) that led to spiritual enlightenment and salvation. The term 'gnosis' (γνῶσις) derives from the ancient Greek word denoting 'knowledge'. Simply put, a gnostic is one who, quite simply, possesses knowledge. And the Templars and Hypatia were definitely that, knowledge of the heart, so necessary to reach the Kingdom of God.
https://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/.../st-catherine-of...
I’d like to make a Christmas wish today, passing on the torch of wisdom and tolerance from Hypatia and the Templars as today I have felt what the lack of it can do to people (Hypatia and the Templars were murdered for it). Matters of Faith and History are always going to lead to disagreements and trigger our most primal archetypes in a flight or fight response, so when this happens, perhaps we can be mindful of it and catch ourselves so that we may take a step back. We may not always agree with everyone’s opinion or even findings, especially when it comes to the Templars (and when mentioning Catholic Church or Freemasonry) but great wisdom comes when men get together and speak, while respecting one another: Gnosis and Philosophy. Quoting Hypatia’s famous words in a discussion as seen here on tolerance and faith, as well as being irrelevant due to being a woman, I must say that:
“I believe in Philosophy”…as seed of wisdom. And may you all have Hypatia's courage to stand up for what is right, always.
Merry Christmas everyone from Ireland from me and best wishes for the holidays. May this challenging year finally come to an end and may the new year be the brightest one yet… remember "we are brothers"...