Outremer III

by D. N. Carter

  “My father did mention the Virgin tree, but I must confess I did not pay that much attention,” Paul explained and shrugged his shoulders.

  “Well…according to Coptic Christian tradition, and don’t forget the Coptic Church was among the very earliest Churches of Christianity, dating back to around AD 42. It was established by Saint Mark, apostle and evangelist of his faith, who would eventually be martyred in Alexandria… I digress…the Holy Family on their journey through Egypt rested beneath this tree after crossing the desert, and today, it remains a place of pilgrimage. Giza and Heliopolis were two aspects of the same cult of the Creator God Atum and considered part of the same complex system. The primeval hill is the Giza plateau. Diodorus Siculus wrote that during the construction of the Great Pyramid a cut was made from the Nile, so that the water turned the site into an island.”

  Paul immediately recalled his vivid dreams of the Giza plateau showing the Great Pyramid surrounded by water.

  “Yes…that I can believe for I have seen it,” he remarked.

  “By diverting the Nile, the plateau was turned into an island, to forcefully portray the creation myth of the primeval hill that rose from the Waters of Chaos. ’Tis identical to the original location of La Rochelle and Glastonbury in Britain before the lands surrounding them were drained. Imhotep, the great ancient Egyptian architect, was not the only great priest of Heliopolis for the biblical Moses was a high priest there too, which would make total sense if he had been one and the same Akhenaton, the heretic Pharaoh. But another important priest was Manetho, who in the third century BC codified the Egyptian religion in such a manner that it would be comprehensible to the Greeks who had conquered Egypt. Thankfully your father and I managed to learn a lot on this subject before it was branded as heresy to educate oneself with the language. When Herodotus visited and met the priests sometime around 449 to 440 BC he praised them for their wisdom. In 25 BC, when Strabo visited Egypt, he wrote that in Heliopolis he saw large buildings which the priests lived in who studied philosophy and astronomy. But there is no longer either such a body or such pursuits. Though little was left, as late as the fourth century AD, another Heliopolitan priest, Ammonius Saccas, taught two Greek philosophers, Plotinus and Origen, who developed what is now known as Neo-Platonism. The Greek philosopher Plato himself stated that he studied at Heliopolis. By the fourth century, most priests of Heliopolis had actually moved to Alexandria, the new capital.”

  “Oh how easy life in Alexandria now seems compared to now,” Paul sighed.

  Theodoric waited whilst Paul pondered, clearly reminiscing. He shook his head when he realised Theodoric was waiting. Paul feigned a brave smile and nodded he should continue.

  “Getting back to Ammonius, we know that Egyptian priests wrote nothing down and passed everything on orally. He made his students vow absolute secrecy. Alas, at least in the eyes of Ammonius, both Plotinus and Origen broke this vow and their doctrine, which was closer to the true Heliopolitan doctrine, as passed down to us. Ammonius fled Alexandria when its pagan temples were attacked by Christian mobs, which also set fire to many of the libraries of Alexandria as you know. The Christian attack was but the final assault in a long series, begun when the Persians under Cambyses razed Heliopolis in 525 BC, both to destroy the power of the priests and to take a strategic position for entering into the south of the land. Ammonius declared that all moral and practical wisdom was contained in the books of Thoth of Hermes Trismegistus.”

  As soon as Theodoric had said Hermes Trismegistus Paul pulled up his sword and rubbed his finger across the triple Tau image engraved upon the pommel. It too formed the Latin letters of a T placed upon an H. A shiver ran down his spine at the very obvious connection.

  “H and T!” Paul laughed to himself.

  “At least you now see it,” Theodoric remarked and patted Paul on the shoulder and smiled broadly at him before continuing. “And it is with Thoth that we learn of another key aspect of the Heliopolitan priesthood…their role in the Pyramid Texts. These texts adorn the walls of several pyramids, later constructed pyramids I stress, not the earlier ones. The texts are almost identical, repetitive sequences of magical utterances, to be spoken by the Pharaoh during his voyage in the Duat, the Egyptian afterlife, on his way to Heaven where he will meet, and become one with, the gods, and the creator deity Atum specifically. The Heliopolitan priesthood was famous for its astronomy as well as mathematics and were able to calculate and predict the heliacal rising of Sirius. They were in charge of the religious and civil calendars. They controlled time, or rather, were in charge of keeping time. That the temple was a centre of astronomical knowledge was also reflected in the title of its high priest, Chief of Observers or Greatest of Seers, a titled carried by Imhotep. All writing in Egypt was dedicated to Thoth, the scribe of the gods, and the inventor of hieroglyphs, the sacred language which is sadly being hidden from all as what it states does not fit with orthodox chronology,” Theodoric explained.

  “Such as?”

  “Such as the fact that man’s history stretches many thousands of years beyond that which the Church claims since the world was created. Those few learned enough to understand the ancient writings dismiss them as false and written by the Devil to mislead us,” Theodoric said, shaking his head. “King Khufu, the so-called builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, was apparently looking for the origins of the Pyramid Texts, which, according to various papyrus, were kept inside a flinty chest in a chamber called the Investigation Hall, which was somewhere in Heliopolis. Maspero wrote that the likeness between what was copied in the various Pyramid Texts suggests that some of their information was taken from old written sources…which were held in Heliopolis. Apparently Khufu consulted a magician, no doubt a high priest of Heliopolis, named Djedi, asking what of the report that he knew the number of the ipwt of the wnt of Thoth, that being the words meaning ‘tomb’, but also container, or more accurately ‘hidden chamber’. Djedi replied that he knew not the number thereof, but he knew the place where it is…in a box of flint in a room called ‘Revision’ in Heliopolis. Maspero’s interpretation is just one of several and others have included keys, or the secret chambers of the sanctuary of Thoth. The important aspect is, however, that the so-called builder of the Great Pyramid was searching for information and that this information was held in Heliopolis. Khufu afterwards went into the Per Ankh, the House of Life, but also a library, in search of information regarding the number of the chambers of Thoth. And though the priests were forbidden to commit things to writing, it is clear that some priests at some time had been allowed to write down their knowledge. And it is likely that it was this library that would later be transferred and/or copied to become the famous Library of Alexandria…or at least parts of the many libraries there. The books of the libraries as you know went up in flames; over the previous centuries, the priests, knowledge and monuments had been transferred, dispersed, largely in efforts to preserve them. Heliopolis might have survived the Deluge, but its element of destruction was obviously fire so closely linked with the sun. Just like the night will extinguish the last rays of the sun, so the City of the Sun entered into the shadows of history. A new dawn might be on the horizon, but it might merely be a false hope. Perhaps it never will…perhaps Heliopolis just shone too brilliantly, and its spark can never be reignited.”

  Paul sat in silence as he pondered upon Theodoric’s words. After Theodoric waited patiently again, Paul looked at him.

  “And this tree…Father said Alisha and I should visit it but time has flown past and we have not,” Paul said.

  “Ah well, the Al-Matariyyah tree as it is called. Lucy and I have visited it oft times. ’Tis named from the Latin mater, which means ‘mother’, and is from the presence of the ‘tree of the Virgin Mary’, Al-Matariyya, within the Ain Shams district, which is of course the old Heliopolis itself. Legend tells of the Christian Holy Family sheltering under a tree in Heliopolis, ‘the tree of the Virgin Mary’, now with the Chapel of the Virgin in Al-Mata
riyyah. Where Memphis, the first capital of Dynastic Egypt, embodied the political and administrative heart of the ancient kingdom, Heliopolis was its spiritual, theological and cosmological counterpart. Your father and I saw Memphis once as it stood…in a fashion and manner as you saw the Giza pyramids as they were long ago. It was surrounded by large gleaming white walls and hence why it was named Ineb-hedj, meaning ‘white walls’.” [104]

  “You mean to say you have had similar experiences to that which Percival and I have?” Paul asked, surprised.

  “Of course…” Theodoric smiled and winked. “Despite being sacked by the Persians in the sixth Century BC, Ancient Heliopolis remained a centre for learning and religion until the mantel was taken by Alexandria two hundred years later. The Virgin Tree lies just half a mile southwest from the Senusret obelisk. According to the Coptic Christian tradition, when the Holy Family, that is the Virgin Mary, Joseph and Jesus, entered nearby Heliopolis, all the Egyptian idols were destroyed by their presence. The Holy Family fled Heliopolis seeking refuge from angry Egyptians. They stopped at a sycamore tree, whose branches covered the Holy Family and hid them from the mob. The original Virgin Tree has been dead for centuries, but it has two generations of trees that have grown out of its dead shell. The second generation tree is also dead, but the third generation tree, still alive and bearing fruit which is considered blessed, still stands,” Theodoric explained then yawned.

  “Theo…I am sorry for I keep you,” Paul said, standing up.

  “Aye…these old bones grow weary this hour. I shall teach you how to use the compass starting tomorrow,” Theodoric answered, gesturing to the compass. “I will bid you a good night…and make sure you take an escort and visit the Virgin Tree.”

  Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191

  “I am seeing that trees indeed seem significant,” the Genoese sailor remarked as Stephan placed several plates on the table.

  “Is there really such a tree in Egypt?” Ayleth asked.

  “Yes there is,” the old man replied. “And Alisha and Paul did visit the place. They were quite shocked at how it was used as a money making scheme…the wealthiest getting to see it first and for longer periods of time. But now when they went out they had Ishmael, Percival and at least two of Thomas’s men with them at all times.”

  “I bet that must have made them feel secure,” Sarah said.

  “No…quite the opposite. It made Alisha feel oppressed and trapped into a way of life she did not want. It made her fully appreciate how Princess Stephanie must feel daily. But it affected every aspect of their daily lives. Arri had to be tutored at home…alone most of the time…and all of Alisha’s clients had to now attend measuring and fittings at her home, which meant they all had to be checked in and out every time. Without Nyla and with all the added pressures involved, Alisha lost her desire and passion for making dresses. Despite the generous support of Husam and his guards, she felt like a prisoner,” the old man explained.

  “And Percival. Did he not seek revenge?” Gabirol asked.

  “’Twas not his way,” the old man answered quietly. “Besides, he vowed to protect Alisha and Paul…despite being reminded daily of Nyla and the child he had also lost. And how could he get close to exact revenge upon Turansha anyway?”

  “But you said the one who ordered the attack was not Turansha,” Peter interjected.

  “Yes I said that and it was so…but at that time, all blamed him for want of knowing who else would wish such on them,” the old man explained.

  “What is a compass?” Simon asked.

  “’Tis an instrument that shows the direction of north at all times,” the Genoese Sailor answered. “But they are very few in number.”

  “Theo spent many hours teaching Paul how to use the compass. ’Twas a mariner’s compass and functions to establish the holder’s position relative to the magnetic meridian by use of a magnetic needle,” the old man started to explain.

  “He is lucky for we have but the simple ‘needle and bowl’ compass. Try using that in a swell,” the Genoese sailor commented and laughed.

  “Needle and bowl?” Ayleth quizzed.

  “Yes…you know, when you magnetise a needle by rubbing it on silk, then place it in a straw and float it in water to become a compass. But it could only help us to establish a rough location in conjunction with astronomical observations and depth soundings. Luckily those dry box compass sets are beginning to become more available.”

  “Tenno helped to improve the one Philip sent to Paul. The development of the ‘dry’ box compass is contested between us here in Europe and that of the Orient. Chinese literature first mentions a mariner’s compass in 1044, whereas here, we have only just started to note its design. The biggest difference really is that Chinese compasses have the needle highlighted as pointing south, whereas we have it highlighted north and the European compass card has sixteen rather than twenty-four basic divisions.”

  “How do they work?” Sarah asked.

  “In short, the ‘dry’ compass is a single sealed instrument where a magnetised needle is free to turn on a central pivot. It thus consists of three parts: the box, the card and the needle. Paul’s compass was actually divided into thirty-two points, or rhumbs, which follow wind directions. Our Naval Templars are presently using these with new instruments derived from the Celtic cross, as I explained earlier, to navigate…and, my dear friends, I have that very compass with me here this day,” the old man explained.

  “Why…and may we look at it?” the Templar asked as the Genoese sailor looked on, very interested.

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  The old man leaned down and opened his satchel and removed the ornate polished little box made from oak wood. Carefully he opened it and placed it upon the table so all could see its content.

  “’Tis beautiful to look at,” Ayleth remarked as she leaned forward to look at it closely.

  “’Tis that for sure,” the Templar said and ran his finger around the edge of the compass sat neatly in a bed of silk.

  “When we have concluded this tale I speak, one of you will be leaving here with it…as a gift,” the old man said but not looking at anyone in particular so as not to give any clue who.

  “The fact that this gift to Paul sits here this day does not bode well for him I suspect,” Gabirol said as he looked at the compass.

  “Did Alisha have her baby?” Sarah asked hesitantly pulling an exaggerated grimace on her face.

  “Yes…yes indeed she did,” the old man answered solemnly.

  “Did Paul keep his word or did he ever return to the pyramids…did he enter and stay longer so disappeared for good, from our time at least?” Simon asked.

  The old man looked at him in silence for s short time just as Gabirol stared at him.

  “Simon…you have as yet to begin your true vocation in this life…and your perceptiveness is what shall lead you,” the old man said.

  “So he did and that is why he is no longer here and you have his sword and journals,” Peter interrupted.

  “No, my friends…that is not what happened, though it could have. Paul visited the Great Pyramid again, mainly to check out certain things in his own mind, but he never entered them or below the plateau. I hope you have by now learnt and understood that Giza is the most central site on earth. All others link to it across the world and man will again learn this truth. Paul did however thoroughly check out the black floor slabs next to Great Pyramid and how they were made. ’Tis how it was made that will finally make man in the future wake up to its real origins…,” the old man explained and lowered his head. “’Twas there at Giza an old friend called upon him…”

  Giza Plateau, Egypt, December 23rd 1183

  Paul knelt beside a large black stone and ran his fingers along the perfectly cut groove. The stone made up part of the constructed levelled floor the Great Pyramid was built upon. There were no tools that could make the cuts and shape the stones in the exact manner they had been fashioned. The air was
warm and dry, the sun setting fast on the horizon. Ishmael and Percival remained upon their horses keeping hold of Adrastos. The few remaining workers were packing up to leave as the night shift guards took over from the two guards at the Great Pyramid’s entrance. Paul closed his eyes.

  “This is not a privilege, nor an honour but surely a curse…this burden you put upon my shoulders,” Paul whispered to himself. He closed his eyes tighter and tried to recall all the images he had seen of the Giza complex when it was first constructed. He could sense the presence of the place just as a gentle breeze blew cool across his face.

  “’Tis no curse, my friend, for you volunteered for this,” a familiar voice said behind him.