by D. N. Carter
“You seem suddenly troubled?” Paul remarked.
“No not at all. I just appreciate the enormity and responsibility that knowledge can place upon a person. I am not sure that I should impart too much to you so soon,” Niccolas replied.
“No, please, I am eager to learn as much as I can. I seek the truth of all things. I have asked my father many times about the rose symbol and why it has such importance within our family, yet he says he will tell me one day…but that day never comes. Please, I would pray you teach me,” Paul pleaded almost.
“Paul, the rose symbolism is complex to say the least. But for today, as a start I shall simply explain that the rose represents an alchemical esoteric symbol for perfection. The circle and dot inside, upon a cross collectively, makes what is known as a rose cross. It is connected with many ancient mystical orders that possessed secret wisdom passed down through the ages and studied by only the brightest minds and built upon far more ancient truths concealed from the average man on purpose to safeguard them. The clearest example I can offer is that contained within the Bible. It is to be found within the Book of Revelation. All people are aware of the Apocalypse and what it supposedly means. Yet in truth Apocalypse means to ‘unveil’ or to ‘reveal’ (apocalypse – Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apocálypsis, from ἀπό and καλύπτω), meaning ‘un-covering’, translated literally from Greek, it is a disclosure of knowledge, i.e., a lifting of the veil or revelation. So the Book of Revelation in the Bible actually predicts an unveiling of a great truth and unimaginable wisdom. Not the end of world but rather the end of the world as we know it. Revelation is another book of messages mis-interpreted and distorted. As for truth. Well…Truth! To ensure powerful wisdom could not be used by the unworthy, the early adepts hid their knowledge within codes, cloaking its truth in metaphorical language and symbols of myth and allegory. Most men have lost the ability to decipher the complex codes, and all were based upon maths. Legend states that a key was left named or referred to as ‘verbum significatum’, a magical word key to unlock the ancient mysteries. Legend claims it is buried deep underground where it waits patiently for the right time in history, during the period of Aquarius no less, so it is pointless seeking it now as we are but just over half way through the age of Pisces. Once found, it will herald in a new age of enlightenment. But even then, with facts laid out before them, some will learn the truths yet with little or no stirring of their emotions. Some, hopefully, will be deeply moved. Others will be so inspired as to create their own personal watermark on history, ensuring a beneficially different outcome for future souls to embrace. Some will undoubtedly scoff at its revelations, for that is the nature and sad reality of our world. But times are changing; a universal truth fast approaches and whether or not one likes, dislikes, agrees or disagrees, is irrelevant; for our individual prejudices will be consumed in equal measure. Within every culture and religion throughout history, the human mind has conspired to dream, focusing upon the exact same concepts of the forthcoming apotheosis of man, that transformation of the human spirit into its true potentiality. Some have tried to enforce change prematurely; your father and Firgany were both guilty of that. Some have denied it outright as the hysterical delusions of weak, readily manipulated minds. Whilst others, recognising its power and potential, have tried to suppress it totally with extreme violence; notwithstanding, they have all enjoyed a universal inner knowing inherently imbedded within each and every soul. We transpire to enjoy a common shared truth hiding within us; a ubiquitous constant. A common force responsible for the similarities, and inherent codes successfully carried intact across the millennia of time. The unmistakable power of truth is second only to the encompassing captivation of love. It obliges each of us to gravitate towards a similar truthful ideology, written deep within the universal coding of our souls, and even when beyond the reaches of our understanding, it touches and colours our subconscious wisdom. Truth is not a learned trait but rather a universal recollection. Some instinctively recognise truth as it gently touches them, whispering almost silently to their inner soul as they respond to its sustainability, clarity and eternal beauty. That is why the coming prophecy of enlightenment is echoed in all religions and every faith. The Hindus call it the krita age, astrologers call it the age of Aquarius; Jews call it the coming of the Messiah. In every culture, the human dream has focused upon the exact same concept of the coming apotheosis of man. The transformation of all human minds into their true potentiality. But how come they all have this shared belief? It’s because they all know and have this inherent belief of a universal inner truth for it is imbedded within everyone’s soul as I have already said. We all have the same truth hiding within us. A shared constant. This shared truth is responsible for the similarity. Truth has power second only to love. It causes all of us to gravitate towards similar ideas because those ideas are true, written deep within us. Even when we do not understand it, it touches our subconscious wisdom. Truth is not learned, but rather recalled. This type of box and symbols upon it will help in guiding people to rediscover that which was lost,” Niccolas said softly.
“So I must learn more about geometry too and maths if I am to understand?” Paul remarked.
“Yes, you must, and learn it you shall. But it will not be an easy road. Just as you think you understand one aspect, another presents itself. You can start by learning that our experience and our reaction to all things beautiful is made possible by our unique ability to subconsciously recognise geometric order from apparent chaos. The perfection inherent in a Greek temple or paintings by our great artists, and the structure and form of our many cathedrals we are now designing and building, is not simply because it is made of a particular material or colour and texture, but because the harmonic proportions contained in their design are bound by the laws of sacred geometry, which is itself the embodiment of harmonic waves of energy, melody and universal proportion. Our senses respond to these geometrical and proportional harmonies created through the application of sacred geometry. As stated in Islam, and echoed in all Abrahamic and Hindu religions, sacred geometry provides the means to see the vestiges of God and its multiplicity in the universal order of things. Remarkably, the Arabic religion contains at its core one of the last unadulterated vestiges of primordial truth. Its mosques and art forms, as well as its latter-day architecture, still incorporate many of the keys to the structure of the heavens, symbols of the archetypal world as a creation of God. Indeed, intellectual Islam is to be commended for the way in which it has preserved a mathematical philosophy akin to the Pythagorean–Platonic tradition of antiquity but in a totally sacred universe free of the nationalism and rationalism which finally stifled and destroyed the esoteric traditions of Greek intellectuality,” Niccolas was explaining when he noticed Paul looked confused.
“Oh dear, I am sorry. Pythagoras and Plato you have yet to learn about. They are ancient philosophers and writers presently set outside the accepted teachings of the Church…but in time, the papers we possess will be revealed again for all to learn from. Likewise it is not by accident that we see in Islamic art the very symbols which reflect the heart of matter,” Niccolas explained as he drew Paul’s attention to several of the many Islamic carvings and inkwells in his study. “As the last of the universal revelations, or religions, it is important to note that Islam has served as the curator of sacred geometry rather than its originator. It is not certain where the terrestrial origins of this knowledge stem from but its forms are evident throughout the yantras and mandalas of Hindu, Tibetan and Buddhist art, and Celtic carvings and book adornment. The earliest known proprietors of sacred geometry were the Egyptians, who embedded its secrets in the ground plans of their temples, their frescoes and, most blatantly, in the Giza pyramid, which single handedly contains most of the fundamental universal laws that many now attribute to Pythagoras. Although these enlightened people used geometry for all manner of terrestrial applications, hence the word ‘geo-metry’ or ‘measure of the earth’, the aim
was metaphysical in nature.”
“Their work is exceptionally beautiful. I had hoped to learn how to create and write in Arabic in their style,” Paul said, looking upon the stylised Arabic writing on the items before him.
“It does have a beauty of its own I agree. Calligraphers in the Maghrib (North Africa and Spain) favour thin, light letters with deep flourishes that curve below the line and create a rhythmic effect, again all geometric. This is known as Kufic script but I understand you already know the rudimentary aspects of this from your father,” Niccolas said as Paul simply nodded he did. Paul’s mind was already racing ahead again as to how he could write his poem for Alisha in this beautiful script. “You know Early Qur’ans were written in this angular Kufic script. It is characterised by short vertical and long horizontal strokes, and is also notable for the generous spaces between letters and words, which appear as significant as the shape and size of the letters themselves. By varying the thickness of the strokes or the intervals between both the letters and the words, calligraphers succeeded in introducing stylistic and visual variety within the strict canons of Qur’anic writing. The horizontal format, another common feature of early Qur’ans, further accentuated the horizontal thrust of the script. Although some of the Qur’ans I have, dating to the eighth century, avoid the use of ornamental devices and illuminations, by the ninth century they had become common. The background of this manuscript was originally tinted blue,” Niccolas said as he pulled nearer a parchment sheet that detailed Arabic writing set within sectioned off areas. “By using a series of different scripts, plaited Kufic around the edges, Naskh and Kufic on the inner bands, and simple Kufic just below the arch, carved on different planes, the calligrapher created an extremely rich surface that reverberates with the patterns of the lines. This calligrapher was named Ahmad Asid. This fragment includes verses 105–114 of the fourth chapter of the Qur’an entitled al-Nisa’ the Women,” Niccolas said as he pulled another fragment of parchment for Paul to view. He looked at Paul noting how intently he studied the parchments. This pleased him to see. “Here, this is another. This one includes verses 37 of the fourth chapter of the Qur’an, entitled al-Jathiyyah, the kneeling down, up until the tenth verse of the next chapter entitled al-Ahqaf, the winding sand tracts. These pages are from one of the grandest Qur’ans I have, created at Kairouan, in the workshop of the calligrapher ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al Warraq. And this inkwell,” Niccolas detailed as he moved an ornate inkwell in front of Paul, “is an exceptional specimen of a hard stone carving. On the inkwell is written the Bismillah, as well as a Qur’anic inscription from surah al-Kahf ‘the Cave’, verse 109: ‘Says: ‘If the ocean were Ink ‘wherewith to write out’ The words of my Lord, Sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words Of my Lord, even if we Added another ocean like it, for its aid.’ And here, look at this fine bowl. The inscription on this bowl reads, ‘Generosity is a disposition of the dwellers of Paradise’. The letters are horizontally elongated to fit the available space,” Niccolas enthused then placed more parchments in front of Paul. “The verses here are from surah 8, entitled ‘al-Anfal’ the Spoils of War, and explain some of the advantages of military discipline. This manuscript includes verses 34–36 from the fifth chapter of the Qur’an.” He placed yet another one in front of him. “Oh dear, Paul, my dear fellow…I do get carried away. Forgive me…it has been a long while since I had a student so eager to learn. I have taken too much of your time already. Let us rest awhile and continue this tomorrow,” Niccolas smiled, realising the growing pile in front of Paul was a little overwhelming.
“It is fine honestly. I love this. But can I ask one more question of you?”
“Of course you can.”
“This box! Rick said it was very old. Ancient even. Does he speak the truth?”
“Paul, this original one is indeed very old. I can tell you that it came from a place called Mohenjo-daro. It has been claimed by other people I have known that the city it came from was actually built in the twenty-sixth century BC. Naturally that does not sit well with our clerical beliefs and Biblical teachings but it is nevertheless true. It was one of the largest cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, also known as the Harappan Civilisation, which developed around three thousand BC from the prehistoric Indus culture. At its height, it had major urban centres at Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Kalibangan, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi. Mohenjo-daro was the most advanced city of its time, with remarkably sophisticated civil engineering and urban planning. When the Indus civilisation went into sudden decline around nineteen hundred BC, Mohenjo-daro was abandoned. Actually the ancient stories tell us that it was destroyed by a force brighter than the sun itself. But many of these relics were made and have survived…so guard it well.”[3]
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“My Lord. If Paul wasn’t confused, I certainly am from just what you have said. Did he learn as much from this Niccolas as he hoped?” asked the Spanish sailor, still sitting upright, almost rigid.
“Over the following months, Paul learnt to look after the horse daily, he even named it, calling him ‘Adrastos’, meaning ‘one who stands his ground’ or ‘not inclined to run away’. One thing became apparent and that was the horse would not have made a very good Destrier war horse for Gerard. But Paul had a way with it that was unusual shall we say. He also learnt how to copy manuscripts for both his father and Niccolas as well as begin his first steps in his study of astrology. All the while he worked upon his stylised Arabic rendition of his poem for Alisha. He learnt how to draw and draught properly. Niccolas also insisted he learn about the classical scholars of old including not just their great philosophers, but also their great artists such as Apollodorus, and an Athenian painter from the fifth century BC called Sciagraphus because, according to Pliny, he was the first artist to depict light and shadow in the modelling of his figures, an important development in art. These were subjects that were and still are heavily suppressed by the Church. He also learnt about Apelles, a Greek painter from the fourth century BC, a court painter to Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. None of his work has survived nowadays but his fame is due to classical writers giving detailed descriptions of his work. His work was inspirational. Paul was able to see some very rare copies of his work in Niccolas’s collection before they too sadly vanished. Paul was taught how to design and draw up plans for ship building, which he truly enjoyed doing. All of these skills he would one day rely upon. It was very providential he had Niccolas to keep his mind busy. Now and then he would sense Paul day dreaming and see his mind wander, in the main about Alisha,” the old man explained.
“But what happened with Alisha and her family then? And I presume you refer to the sea port of Tortosa in the County of Tripoli, the Levant, not Tortosa in Spain that they were sailing for, yes?” the Spanish sailor enquired.
“And what about the message Alisha left for Paul in his drawer? Did he not find it?” Sarah chipped in quickly.
“It was some while before Paul realised she had left a message for him, but I shall come to that. And yes, it was Tortosa in the County of Tripoli. After their arduous journey by cart to Marseilles, they managed to board a Genoese sailing barge that took them around the coast of Italy, then to Cyprus and finally on to Tortosa. It was not a good journey, with rough seas. Raja felt it particularly badly. She was laid low below decks for most of the journey. Taqi did an excellent job helping around the boat and acted as peace maker on more than one occasion with several pilgrims on board heading for the Holy Land and other Muslim traders. Firgany was not slow to recognise this trait in him or the fact that Alisha was unusually withdrawn. So it came as a most welcome sight to finally see the shores of Tortosa on the horizon despite grey clouds and a heavy swell at sea,” the old man explained and sighed.
“We know the place well, my friend,” the Hospitaller said as his brother nodded silently in agreement.
“That does not surprise me, especially from your earlier conv
ersations where you mentioned it several times. I know many of your brethren call it Antartus. I too was once there. I had to help repair damage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa after an earthquake. I believe you Templars now use Tortosa as one of your main headquarters in the region.”
“’Tis true enough it is, but how say you did you have reason to be there to repair the cathedral?” the Templar asked, looking at the old man quizzically.
“I had skills that were in demand shall we say. As you probably know, in 1152, Tortosa was handed to the Knights Templar Order and they immediately engaged in some major building projects, constructing a castle with a large chapel and an elaborate keep, surrounded by thick double concentric walls. The Templars’ mission being to protect the city and surrounding lands, some of which had been occupied by Christian settlers, from Muslim attack. My work concentrated on the works within the keep itself though I had initially been on the nearby island of Arwad when I was called upon for my services,” the old man answered.