by D. N. Carter
“I do not follow what you are saying,” Alisha said and sat up straight.
“During the first century AD, an apostolic mission in the British Isles was the root of the development of the Church of Christ in Britain. Jesus called upon Andrew the Meek, the brother of Peter, whom he appointed to be their leader and patron saint forever. Ancient records clearly reveal that Saint Andrew was specifically charged with a mission to carry the message of Christ to Alba (Scotland) by Jesus himself. Proving Jesus personally knew of the existence of ancient Caledonia and considered it of sufficient importance to send a leading apostle there along with the connection to the colour blue,” Philip explained.
“What lay behind this?” Taqi asked.
“During the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian around AD 81 some of the disciples of the apostle John visited Caledonia and a strong Christian base was established there by AD 200. Chronicles record that the then king, Donaldus, was the first Christian king of Scotland. Joseph of Arimathea and Lazarus went on a secret Essene mission after the crucifixion of the historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth but not with Mary initially. With them was a small band of relatives including several women initiates. This small group came to Alba, to a place known as Fortingall. There you will find a very ancient yew tree, which is believed to be the oldest tree in Europe,” Philip continued to explain.
“Fortingall…,” Paul said and looked at his father. It was the same place his mother had mentioned in his dream.
“The village of Fortingall has a monastic settlement for the dissemination of an ancient mystery tradition centred on the teachings of Christ. But it also has a Johannite Grail Church which has incorporated the mystery teaching of Saint John the Evangelist, which is the result of a fusion between this Essene group and elements of a pre-existing Druid magi. This Johannite Church developed through a monastic line which became known in Celtic circles as the Culdees. Christian Grail descent from the family of the patriarch Noah, through to the immediate family circle of Jesus himself. The Celtic Hebraic origins of the family of Christ are directly associated with Alba, Scotland, giving rise to its appellation as the Holy Land. It is claimed that a son of Jesus and Mary Magdalene was born on the holy isle of Iona, with their daughter having been born in France already as I have explained previously,” Philip explained.
“I can see why the Church vehemently denies this…but why are there many points of reference across Italy also?” Paul asked as he checked the parchments closely. “And this symbol of a Cyclops on Italy…”
“You can answer that,” Philip replied smiling at Theodoric.
“In Italy there are miles of ancient polygonal stone walls…ancient ruins so unique and strange that many of our best most learned scholar types and philosophers believe they were built by an extinct race of giant human beings. Scattered throughout ancient Latium, which is the region in Italy where Rome was founded, are massive ruins that for thousands of years have been attributed to having been built by that long lost and now forgotten race of giants. They were said to have been taller, stronger, more intelligent and generally superior to us and known in all eras as Cyclopes. ’Tis where we get our word Cyclopean to mean massive constructions. Many classical writers and historians, including Homer, Hesiod, Plutarch, Thucydides and Diodorus Siculus, wrote or pondered if the Cyclopean ruins of Italy and all across Europe were erected by this Cyclopean race. Hundreds of years before Rome existed, the land of Italy was inhabited by a people who left indestructible monuments as their only record of their prior existence. The earliest Cyclopean cities are thickly scattered throughout certain districts, and are often perched like eagles’ nests on the very crests of mountains, at such an elevation as to wonder how they ever constructed them.”
“I thought Cyclopes only had one eye though…,” Taqi stated.
“Yes, indeed mythology speaks of an ancient race of giants with superhuman strength, stature, and longevity with a single eye…but this is a simple misunderstanding,” Theodoric continued to explain. “A mutation over successive generations has now prevented us from lucidly seeing the ‘soul within’. Though some can and still do this. It was done through the use of a so-called third eye centred just above and between our two physical eyes. But it is a spiritual eye and can see physical light our normal eyes cannot see. Most of man has lost the ability and so does not see or recognise our own inner divinity any more. We once possessed this mysterious ability due to the existence of an enigmatic, luminous organ associated with the forehead that has become known as the Cyclopean Eye or Third Eye as I have said. A strange and beautiful appendage from where we get the term Cyclopes.”
“I have missed these conversations,” Tenno said and sat back in his chair.
“And all God fearing people now shy away from such knowledge,” Paul commented as he started to roll up the parchments.
“God fearing…err where is the love? Why must you be fearing your God?” Tenno asked.
“’Tis all about power and control. That is all,” Theodoric answered.
“I recall being taught that Alba was really established by Ancient Egyptians… or did I understand that incorrectly?” Paul asked, looking down at a map of Alba.
“You heard correctly. ’Tis a pity Niccolas is not here for this was his passion,” Theodoric replied. “When your father and I were in the Emerald Isle, we saw and were taught many things, including the fact that many of their ships originated from Egypt via Scota, the Egyptian princess and daughter of the pharaoh Akhenaten.”
“Who?” Taqi asked, perplexed.
“I will explain later,” Paul replied.
“She was a princess who fled from Egypt with her husband Gaythelos with a large following of people and arrived in a fleet of ships,” Theodoric continued to explain. “They settled in Alba (Scotland) for a while, until they were forced to leave and landed in the Emerald Isle. They formed the Scotti, and their kings became the High Kings of that land. In later centuries, they returned to Alba, defeating the Picts, and giving Scotland its new name. Scota’s father is actually named as being Achencres, a Greek version of an Egyptian name. In the work of Manetho, an Egyptian priest, the translation of the name of the pharaoh Achencres was none other than Akhenaten, who reigned in the time frame of 1350 BC. Scota was in fact Meritaten, eldest daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. The controversial religious shift to the one god Aten caused conflict with the Amun priesthood, who reasserted their authority after Akhenaten’s reign ended and he disappeared from history. But he will be discovered again in time for records of him are also sealed and hidden,” Theodoric said and winked at Philip. “When she arrived in the Isle, the people inhabiting it at that time were none other than the Tuatha De Danann, the magical children of the goddess Danu who originally established the site of Tara, in the Boyne River valley, as the ritual inauguration and burial place of the ancient kings of the Isle. They were regarded as the gods and goddesses of the Celtic tribes, but their true origins date far back into history. The land of the Emerald Isle was divided, with Eremon in the north and Eber in the south, which was identical to the division of Upper and Lower Egypt itself. Egypt was unified by a central connecting city, Memphis. Likewise the Emerald Isle was divided with a central site of unity, known as Mide. Within Mide is the Hill of Tara situated as a site of High Kingship, representing the unity of the land and all of its people.”
“Perhaps you should tell them how you compiled many of their ancient poems into a single volume…,” Philip said and nodded his head at Theodoric. “No point being modest or hiding the fact. You see, Theo here was compelled to write them down but refused to put his name to it.”
“Hey, if I had put my name to it, I believe I would never be able to enjoy the life I do now,” Theodoric replied.
“What did you compile then?” Taqi asked.
“I had to write the poems, with some of my own interpretations, into an elaborate prose framework, partly of my own composition and partly drawn from older, no longer extant
sources…though I did paraphrase and enlarge upon the verses,” Theodoric started to explain then laughed to himself briefly as he recalled some prior events. “I wrote it in a form of Irish Gaelic. It tells of Princess Scota, how she met her end and was killed. How after her death in battle, war continued on at Tailtinn against the three kings of the Tuatha De Danann, the husbands of the goddesses Banba, Fodla and Eriu. MacCuill, MacCeacht and MacGreine. How the sons of Mil eventually conquered the de Dananns and took the seat of Tara. I did detail exactly where Scota was buried between Sliab Mis and the sea but that was removed. She will be found one day in a glen located in Glenscota. As with many myths, as a real person she lent her persona and identity to the landscape of the land she became a part of, giving Scotland her name…well it will be called that one day. They will also find within the Hill of Tara that it is riddled with pearls from Egypt. Pearls of the sea show kingship, sovereignty, the true centre of kingship, a centre that rules over all. Tara is the site of queenship, the beautiful centre of the rose, which is not…located in England. The goddess stands on Tara, in the centre, looking out over the Emerald Isle, Scotland and England.”
“Did you all know that when said backwards, Ta-ra becomes Ra-Ta, the priest from the names of the Egyptian creator god Ptah and of course the sun god Ra. Combined they become Ptah-Ra,” Philip explained.
“And I previously forgot to mention that Glen Lyon, which is derived from Gleann Lìomhann, essentially meaning Lugh’s Glen…I must remember to tell Upside that,” Theodoric remarked.
“I sometimes wonder if all men are just crazy for the way you all act and think,” Alisha said quietly.
“Men…crazy! I would agree with that,” Theodoric replied.
“No, no, no. Women are crazy and men are stupid. Women are crazy because men are stupid,” Sister Lucy joked, which made them all laugh, except Tenno, who sat bolt upright in his chair still.
“And you came all this way to pass on these details in person?” Paul asked after they had stopped laughing and looked at his father.
“Yes for trouble grows between France and England. ’Tis why I requested the assistance and escort of Tenno and Taqi from Al Rashid. Picking Conrad up was not on our initial route…,” Philip replied. “Plus I wished to simply see you all…especially after I learnt that you are expecting another,” Philip continued and smiled at Alisha.
“What troubles?” Theodoric asked, looking concerned.
“Eleanor,” Philip answered and sat back looking at Theodoric.
“Who is Eleanor?” Alisha asked.
“If there is trouble, a woman was bound to be involved,” Sister Lucy half joked.
“Eleanor…,” Philip said shaking his head. “Let me tell you about her for Theo and I know her well. She along with her husband Louis took up the cross after a sermon preached by Bernard of Clairvaux. She insisted on taking part in the Crusades as the feudal leader of the soldiers from her duchy. Her launch of the Second Crusade from Vézelay, the rumoured location of Mary Magdalene’s burial, emphasised the role of women in that campaign. In Constantinople, Eleanor was much admired. She was compared to Penthesilea, the mythical queen of the Amazons, by the Greek historian Nicetas Choniates. While in the eastern Mediterranean, Eleanor learned much about maritime conventions developing there and she introduced those conventions in her own lands, on the island of Oleron in 1160 and later in England as well…’twas the beginning of what would become Admiralty law. She was also instrumental in developing trade agreements with Constantinople and trade ports in the Holy Lands,” Philip explained.
“A smart woman by the sound of it,” Alisha said and sat closer to Paul.
“Oh she is that and much more,” Philip replied and continued. “Even before the Crusade, Eleanor and Louis had become estranged.”
“Oh yes I can vouch for that,” Theodoric chuckled to himself.
“Eleanor’s reputation was tarnished by an alleged affair with her uncle, Raymond, Prince of the city of Antioch which had been annexed by Bohemond of Hauteville in the First Crusade, and it was now ruled by Eleanor’s flamboyant uncle Raymond. He gained the principality by marrying its reigning princess, Constance of Antioch,” Philip explained, when Taqi interrupted him.
“Is that the same Constance Reynald was once married to?” he asked.
“Yes, yes it was,” Philip replied. “You see, Eleanor supported her uncle Raymond’s desire to re-capture the nearby County of Edessa, the cause of the Crusade. She also showed conspicuous affection towards him which she did not hide. This was just familial affection, for her uncle was similar to her father and grandfather, but at the time a hostile Church chronicler believed, and reported, that the two were involved in an incestuous and adulterous affair.”
“Yes and what a shit he was eh?” Theodoric interrupted. Sister Lucy sat down beside him and frowned at him. “Sorry. I shall keep quiet.”
“Louis was sent to visit Jerusalem instead by the Church but Eleanor declared her intention to stay with Raymond along with her Aquitaine forces. Louis had her brought out by force. His long march to Jerusalem and back north debilitated his army, and her imprisonment disheartened her knights. Divided Crusader armies could not overcome the Muslim forces so at the insistence of Church leaders, who were even more incompetent than Louis, the Crusade leaders targeted Damascus, an ally until the attack. Failing in that escapade, they retired to Jerusalem, and then left for home in 1152. Eleanor and Louis returned on separate ships due to their disagreements, but were first attacked in May by Byzantine ships attempting to capture both of them. Although they escaped, stormy weather drove Eleanor’s ship south to the Barbary Coast. Only in mid-July did Eleanor’s ship finally reach Palermo in Sicily, where she discovered that she and her husband had both been given up for dead. She was given shelter and food by servants of King Roger of Sicily, until Louis eventually reached Calabria. She set out to meet him there. Later, at King Roger’s court in Potenza, she learnt of the death of her uncle Raymond. Two lords, Theobald of Blois, son of the Count of Champagne, and Geoffrey of Anjou, who was the brother of Henry, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy, tried to kidnap Eleanor to marry her and claim her lands on her way to Poitiers.”
“What…that is shocking,” Alisha remarked.
“’Twas a normal way for Christian men of all classes to find a wife,” Philip explained and smiled. “Well, both attempts failed and as soon as she arrived in Poitiers, Eleanor sent envoys to Henry Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy asking him to come at once and marry her.
On Whit Sunday, May the 18th, 1152, six weeks after her annulment, Eleanor married Henry. She was about eleven years older than him and, incidentally, related to him more closely than she had been to Louis. A marriage between Henry and Eleanor’s daughter, Marie, had been declared impossible for this very reason. She bore Henry five sons and three daughters over the next thirteen years.”
“Who were they?” Tenno asked.
“William, Count of Poitiers, Henry known as Henry the Young King, Matilda of England, Richard the First of England, Geoffrey the Second, Duke of Brittany, Leonora of Aquitaine, Jeanne of England and John. Subsequently, the period between Henry’s accession to the throne of England, as Henry the Second, and the birth of their youngest son has seen many turbulent events. Aquitaine defied the authority of Henry as Eleanor’s husband and attempted to claim Toulouse, the inheritance of Eleanor’s grandmother and father, were made, ending in failure. 1167 saw the marriage of Eleanor’s third daughter, Matilda, to Henry the Lion of Saxony, during which time Eleanor remained in England with her daughter for the year prior to Matilda’s departure to Normandy in September. Following that, Eleanor proceeded to gather together her movable possessions in England and packed them up, transporting them on several ships in December to Argentan. At the royal court, whilst celebrating Christmas, she agreed to a separation from Henry. She then left for her own city of Poitiers immediately after Christmas. Henry did not stop her; on the contrary, he and his army personally es
corted her there, before attacking a castle belonging to the rebellious Lusignan family. Henry then went about his own business outside Aquitaine, leaving Earl Patrick as her protective custodian. When Patrick was killed in a skirmish, Eleanor was left in control of her inheritance. She ransomed Patrick’s captured nephew, the young William Marshal.”
“We are not told any of this,” Alisha said, a little surprised.