One of the greatest mysteries relating to the Knights Templar is whether the order discovered some form of treasure in Jerusalem that would offer an explanation for their fabulous wealth. And was that treasure hidden, as has been alleged, at the French castle of Gisors? There have been repeated claims that Gisors, where Templars were also imprisoned, was a hiding place for Templar loot.
Back to the beginning of the Templar story
Nine knights at the start of the 12th century went to the Patriarch of Jerusalem and asked for permission to guard the roads in to the holy city to safeguard pilgrims. They wanted to form a new order that would combine militaristic valour with monastic discipline and piety. The Patriarch and secular authorities gave the knights the green light and so the Templars were launched.
They asked to be based in the Al Aqsa mosque, which they believed dated back to the reign of king Solomon – pre-dating the destruction of the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. King Baldwin of Jerusalem agreed to them being based at this auspicious location. These crusaders were to become the knights of the Temple – the Templars.
In a very short period of time, they began to amass significant wealth. How was this achieved? There are several explanations. The nine knights themselves were well connected aristocrats plugged into a network of well-heeled supporters in the church and state. Bequests began to flood in from those looking to support the crusade in the Holy Land and hoping for divine favour in the afterlife.
The Templars get very rich
As the Templars grew establishing preceptories across Europe, they created a complex financial and economic network to fund their activity in the Middle East. The order even developed the first banking cheques allowing knights to travel great distances without having to carry their wealth in chests. The Templars became money lenders to princes and ran an efficient farming enterprise. So is this where all their money came from?
Well, not according to sources down the centuries. In the 19th century, evidence emerged of excavations underneath the Al Aqsa mosque suggesting the Templars had been digging away for something. Of course, this gave rise to speculation that they had found some form of treasure – possibly the Holy Grail (with little agreement on what that actually is) – explaining their sudden leap in wealth.
As the crusades crumbled in the 13th century, the Templars were forced to abandon Jerusalem. The theory then goes that they hauled their treasure off to be stored in their most formidable and well guarded preceptory in Paris. This building with its thick walls still stood during the 1789 French revolution but was demolished in stages in the years that followed.
So did the Templars get their wealth out of Paris as their leaders were put on trial for heresy by king Philip the Fair of France – a monarch always short of money who fleeced the Templars, the church, the Jewish community and anybody else who could pay for his wars?
Templar treasure at Gisors?
When the Templars were rounded up and arrested in 1307, some were imprisoned at the fortress of Gisors in France. Graffiti on the walls was said to include the image of a large cart carrying treasure away. A caretaker at Gisors in 1929 claimed to have found an underground chapel crammed with vast riches. However, when the local authorities turned up to investigate further, there was nothing at all. He was duly fired.
In the 1960s, the French culture minister Andre Malraux ordered a new dig at Gisors using the army instead of archaeologists. But even their heavy muscle failed to reveal a thing. There was no Templar treasure.
When King Philip of France – scourge of the Templars – sent his forces to raid the Templar headquarters in Paris in 1307, the cupboard was indeed bare. There’s no doubt there had been a great deal of loot within its walls because the king had seen it himself on a previous visit but now….nothing. Had the Templars under cover of night spirited away their treasure?
Some were convinced they had. So where did it go? One theory was that the surviving knights headed to the port of La Rochelle and took their ships, loaded with riches, to England and then on to Scotland. There, they helped the plucky Scots beat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn – a claim the Scots dislike as it infers they couldn’t win their own battles!
Templars and their treasure go from Scotland to America
There were already Templars in Scotland, dating back to the order’s earliest days. The knights hooked up with Henry Sinclair, the Earl of Orkney. In the late 14th century, the story runs that Sinclair and the knights used old Viking routes to sail to Iceland, Greenland and then to Vinland in modern Canada. There, they founded a kingdom that the native Iroquois referred to as Saguenay.
Stories of Saguenay and the Scottish connection were picked up by French missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries who duly reported back to the Vatican. One theory is that the 17th century French artist Poussin hints at knowledge of Templars in the New World in his painting Et in Arcadia Ego, also referred to as The Arcadian Shepherds. taken from https://thetemplarknight.com/
Each of the Ten Sephiroth corresponds with a particular number in The Minor Arcana through which their numerical qualities and energy are individually expressed within their own Suit.
The 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 10th Sephira also corresponded with the Court Cards again reinforcing their meaning through the qualities of their Sephira and its number.
The 10 Sephiroth are further broken down into Four Different Realms of Creation from the Supernal World in Sephira 1, 2 and 3 followed by The World of Creation in Sephira 4, 5, and 6, followed by The World of Formation in Sephira 7, 8and 9 to The World of Action in Sephira 10.
The Four different Realms of Creation are linked to the Chakra System. The Ten Sephiroth also carry a planetary association, once more adding depth and meaning to each stage of the Journey.
This allocation is laid out in the Table below:
Sephira
Name
Meaning
Planet
Minor Arcana
Court Card
1
Kether
The Crown
Big Bang
Aces
———-
2
Chokmah
Wisdom
The Zodiac
Twos
Kings
3
Binah
Understanding
Saturn
Threes
Queens
4
Chesed
Mercy
Jupiter
Fours
———-
5
Geburah
Strength
Mars
Fives
———-
6
Tipareth
Beauty
Sun
Sixes
Knights
7
Netzach
Victory
Venus
Sevens
———-
8
Hod
Splendour
Mercury
Eights
———-
9
Yesod
Foundation
Moon
Nines
———-
10
Malkuth
Kingdom
Earth
Tens
Pages
The First Three Sephiroth represent, Atziluth – The World of The Supernals – Crown and Brow Chakra
The Second Three Sephiroth represent, Bria – The World of Creation – Throat and Heart Chakra
The Third Three Sephiroth represent, Jetzirah – The World of Formation – Solar Plexus and Sacral Chakras
The last Sephira represents, Assia – The World of Action – Root Chakra
The 10Sephira are linked by 22 connecting paths that chart and guide the progress of each emanation from God/Source. Each pathway contains lessons that must be understood before progressing on and through the next Sephira.
Each of the 22 connecting pathways corresponds with one of the 22Major Arcana. Each of these Major Arcana Cards contain the lessons that The Fool must understand or endure before he can confidently move forward. The Fool must not get stuck on his journey for his mission is to complete it and then return home. The 22 connecting pathways are numbered by the Hebrew Alphabet.
Pathway
Hebrew Letter
Meaning
Major Arcana
11th
Aleph
Ox
The Fool
12th
Beth
House/Temple
The Magician
13th
Gimmel
Camel
The High Priestess
14th
Daleth
Door
The Empress
15th
Heh
Window
The Emperor
16th
Vav
Nail/Hook
The Heirophant
17th
Zain
Sword
The Lovers
18th
Cheth
Fence
The Chariot
19th
Teth
Serpant/Snake
Strength
20th
Yod
Open Hand
The Hermit
21st
Kaph
Palm of Hand
Wheel
22nd
Lamed
Ox Goad
Justice
23rd
Mem
Water
The Hanged Man
24th
Nun
Fish
Death
25th
Samekh
Staff
Temperance
26th
Ayin
Eye
The Devil
27th
Peh
Mouth
The Tower
28th
Tzaddi
Fish Hook
Star
29th
Qoph
Back of Head
The Moon
30th
Resh
Head
The Sun
31st
Shin
Tooth
Judgement
32nd
Tav
Equal Armed Cross/Earth
The World
This may all sound like double-dutch to you right now but as we work our way through the Major Arcana, you will begin to understand the connections and associations. If you are like me, you will find this area quite fascinating to study. Remember though that you are not expected to be an expert on the Kabbalah for that is a huge study in itself. All you need is a basic understanding of it so that you can apply its process to the Major Arcana Cards and the Journey of The Fool. Believe me, it will make much more sense as you go through the individual cards and I will give you as much detail as possible. I also need to set the record straight as to my own knowledge of the Kabbalah. It is basic and I am sure many reading this information will disagree of some of my observations or theories. When it comes to The Kabbalah, there are many different versions of it, different spellings of the words and different allocations of planets to the Sephiroth. I am afraid you will have to embark on further studies if you wish to gain a deep knowledge and understanding of this fascinating subject. There is a wealth of information on the internet and also hundreds of books written on the topic so you have no excuse.
Working with The Major Arcana and The Kabbalistic Tree of Life we can chart the progress of The Fool as he sets out on his journey. Like all forms of energy The Fool is no different. He starts out as mere potential and then raw energy before he can begin to take form and realise his full potential. From the moment of his emanation from the Source or Creator he sets forth on a personal quest for self-definition. He must follow his destiny and find his true purpose in life. To do so, The Fool travels the 22 connecting pathways from one Sephira to the next. He cannot skip any part of this journey, for in doing so he would fail to evolve and develop.
The Fool’s journey however, is not finite. For all his effort and endeavour to reach full realisation and manifestation in the 10th Sephira, it is merely only one journey or cycle completed. The Fool must then find his way back to the Source and await his next journey. The Fool will experience each journey in a different manner and will be expected to use his past experiences on each Journey to evolve further until total self-realisation has been secured and then he need journey no longer.
The Tree of Life – Individual Sephira Meaning
The Sephiroth
Listed Below is a breakdown of The Tree of Life and the Esoteric Meaning of each Sephira. As we travel with The Fool on his Journey through The Major Arcana we will be exploring each Stage and Pathway of The Tree of Life and its effect on The Fool. We must remember that The Fool’s Journey also corresponds with our own journey through life. By getting to grips with The Major Arcana we can greatly assist our own journey and enjoy a deeper understanding of the Self.
1st Sephira – Kether (Crown) is the highest and purest. It is closest to God and is the source of all creation. The Four Aces of The Minor Arcana also reside in Kether . It is a fitting and appropriate place for the Aces as we see Spirit, in the form of a hand extending from a cloud, offer the gift of the potential of each element to its corresponding Suit.
Astrologically – Corresponds to the ‘Big Bang’
2nd Sephira – Chokmah (Wisdom/Supernal Father) Primal Masculine energy. The raw force that brings the change to initiate creation. The Four Kings of the Court Cards and the Four Two’s of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds to The whole Zodiac
3rd Sephirah – Binah (Supernal Mother/Womb/Understanding)Primal Feminine energy.Binah is receptive and gives shape and form to the creation of energy released as it manifests. The Four Queens of the Court Cards and the Four Threes of The Minor Arcana also reside in the third Sephirah Binah . This is a fitting residence as the Queens being feminine and the number three related to creation and growth provide the necessary energy to facilitate manifestation. However, this energy is still abstract at this stage but the first stirrings of creation have been initiated.
Astrologically – Corresponds to Saturn
4th Sephira – Chesed (Mercy/Kindness/love). Energy is less abstract now as Chesed is the first Sephira of Action. The previous three are connected to the Intellect; Conscious and Subconscious. Chesed provides the nurturing stability for God’s emanation as it comes into being. The Four Fours of The Minor Arcana reside here.
Astrologically – corresponds with Jupiter
5th Sephira – Geburah (Stength/Judgement/Power). This Sephira brings with it restrictions, chaos and upheaval. Restrictive and eliminating it can cause energy to die. The Four Fives of The Minor Arcana also reside here. As we know the Four Fives brings difficulties and challenges that must be overcome.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Mars
6th – Sephira Tipareth (Beauty/ Balance/Son of God) lies half way between The Divine Source in Kether and the physical or purely world focus of Malkuth (Kingdom/Physical World). Tipareth’s role is that of the converter and harmoniser. All spiritual energy from the source must pass through Tipareth to become physical and all returning physical energy must pass through likewise to become spiritual. The pure energy of each Sephira on its own is not possible. Tipareth on The Tree of Life , is unique in the fact that it is connected to all the other Sephiroth except Malkuth (Kingdom/Physical World). Tipareth acts to balance and integrate all of the other Sephiroth’s energies in order to create harmony. Tipareth (Beauty/Balance/Son of God) bridges the divide between The Divine God and the Physical world.
The Four Knights of the Court Cards and the Four 6’s of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Sun
7th Sephira – Netzach (Victory/Endurance) provides the fortitude and determination to succeed in one’s endeavours and overcome obstructions or challenges. It deals with the emotions and feelings and the focussed concentration or control over same. The Four Sevens of The Minor Arcana also reside here. All the Sevens in the Tarot carry the message of victory as a result of grim determination and stamina.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Venus
8th Sephira – Hod (Splendor) brings the force that breaks down energy into different, distinguishable forms and is associated with mental energy, communication, reasoning, action, movement. Hod allows the diversity and expression of energy in its many forms. It provides structure. The Four Eights of The Minor Arcana reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with Mercury
9th Sephira – Yesod (Foundation) Translates spiritual concepts into actions. It is linked to the imagination and the Moon with the energies of reflection and illumination. Also connected to the sex organs. The Four Nines of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Moon
10th Sephira – Malkuth (Kingdom/Physical World). Manifestation of all creation; life, ideas, form. Malkuth gives tangible form and density to all God’s Emanations. This is the furthest Sephira from the Kether (Source) but this does not mean that it is un-spiritual.
The Four Pages of The Court Cards and The Four Tens of The Minor Arcana also reside here.
Astrologically – Corresponds with The Earth.
As a student of the Tarot , your first encounter with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life may indeed be confusing and far too Esoteric for you to grasp. Many courses start with The Major Arcana but I believe that it can be off-putting to many students who believe that it is all “too heavy” to follow. Therefore, I introduce The Minor Arcana first and by doing so the student is slowly and subtly brought round to thinking outside the box and developing their own Esoteric and Mystical understanding of the Tarot . When The Major Arcana is then introduced with its deeply mystical and esoteric background, it is not such a daunting task after all.
Do not be afraid of this part of your studies. I would advise those who wish to delve deeper to do some further study into the Kabbalah and The Tree of Life for it provides a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that will never go to waste. It will also make for richer and more meaningful card readings. https://teachmetarot.com/part-iii-major-arcana/the-kabbalah/the-sephiroth/
Get ready to discover the seven castles of Aragon where the Knights Templar were present between the 12th and 14th centuries. Visiting these places is a journey through the history of Aragon and the military and political movements that took place during this period.
The Order of the Temple was one of the most powerful and influential military monastic orders of Catholicism in the Middle Ages. It originated in France, but spread throughout much of the world, partly thanks to the crusades and its support to different monarchies. One of them was the Aragonese, so the Knights Templar had an important presence in our Community. Given their status as warrior-monks, it was common for them to be given castles from which they collaborated in the defense of the territory. Today we propose a journey through the Aragonese fortresses where they were present; many of them are only ruins and others have already disappeared, but their stories leave evidence of the Templar presence in Aragon.
Castle of Monzón
This fortress is of Muslim origin, but, after being reconquered, it was ceded to the Order of the Temple in 1143. They added walls, towers, stables, a refectory and dormitories to turn it into a barracks. A transformation that can still be appreciated in the visits to the castle. You can tour all these rooms and see inside, for example, the Tower of James I, the place where the young prince lived while he was trained by the Knights Templar as one of them, until, at the age of 9, he had to leave the fortress.
After the order was declared outlawed in the early 14th century, the castle held out thanks to its strategic location and the ease of defending its walls, but the defenders finally surrendered the square on May 24, 1309.
As the most important place for the order in our Community, and the best preserved, the interior of the castle houses an interpretation center dedicated to the Templars.
Chiriveta Castle
Another of the Aragonese defensive buildings given to the Order of the Temple by Ramon Berenguer IV to the Order of the Temple, this castle is more of a tower. Therefore, its role was not so much defensive as it was to watch over the land that had been conquered, which is why it is built on a hill.
Its current state is ruinous, but its view is still impressive. It has a height of 15 meters and walls over two meters thick. You can make the circular route around Chiriveta, of short duration and little difficulty.
Chalamera Castle
It is a building of Visigothic origin that the Templars adapted for use as a fortress, and that can no longer be seen because it was completely destroyed. It was the last one they surrendered after being condemned by the Pope, and with its assault ended the presence of the Order of the Temple in Aragon. Precisely because it was their last building, it was completely demolished once conquered and now only the land on which it stood can be seen.
Castle of Cantavieja
The first thing that stands out about this castle is its strategic location, at the top of a ravine, adapting its shape to the terrain, something that favored its defense and its function to guard the border between the kingdom of Aragon and the Muslim territories of Valencia. Today only part of the wall and the tower of the vertex remain, which in Templar times had a triangular base but in the nineteenth century was used to build a hermitage with a cylindrical base.
From its plan it is easy to imagine how it was its site, forcing the attackers to advance through a single point, where to concentrate the defensive emplacements. The knights of the Order of the Temple resisted the siege of the troops of Berenguer de Tobía for eight long months.
Castle of Castellote
The castle of Castellote was one of the great Templar fortresses, with a large arsenal and a lot of livestock activity. Many of the provisions that allowed the order to undertake overseas campaigns were kept here.
Despite its importance, only the remains of the chapter house, the keep, some cisterns for water supply and part of the original walls are preserved today. In its day it was accessed via a drawbridge, but today it can be reached on foot, albeit after climbing a considerable slope.
Villel Castle
Another castle erected to safeguard the border with the Levant; in fact, according to legend, this is where El Cid recovered from wounds suffered in a battle in Albarracín. It is the oldest building in Villel, and forms part of its coat of arms. Its most characteristic element, and one of the few still standing, is the keep.
In addition to the obvious historical value of its architecture, this fortress houses an archaeological treasure: the incised drawings made on its walls by some of the soldier-monks belonging to the Order of the Temple. Images that represent a graphic document of their life and the instruments they used.
Alfambra Castle
This castle was reconquered from the Muslims in 1169 and five years later it was ceded to the Order of Monfragüe, which would eventually unify with the Order of the Temple. The place became one of the most important fortifications in southern Aragon. A century later, Templar records showed that the fortress had almost 700 head of cattle, which gives an idea of its importance for the order.
Its remains have an elongated floor plan and only the base of a large tower 14 meters long by 7 meters wide is preserved.
As Syria erupts in to revolt against its leaders, it’s worth remembering how steeped that country is in ancient history. It’s a part of the world where the Knights Templar played a huge role.
Massive and decisive battles were played out in Syria between the Knights Templar and the Saracens. These great clashes happened in a land where many civilisations have flourished and fought. From the Babylonians to the Assyrians, the Hittites and the ancient Greeks.
Syria – from ancient Rome to the Knights Templar
It was one of the richest provinces of the Roman Empire and if you were going to be a governor, Syria was a plum though often troubled posting.
Antioch was the key city – or mega-city by the standards of the time with a six figure population. Not only was it a centre of great learning but also the seat of powerful Christian patriarchs who rivalled Rome, Constantinople and Alexandria for influence over the early church.
However, like most of the Levant – Syria fell under Islamic control in the seventh century AD. The eastern Romans, or Byzantines as we call them, were pushed out. Not forever though.
So integral did the Romans feel that Syria was to their world that they pushed hard to take it back and in the 10th and 11th centuries, Byzantine rule was re-established over cities like Antioch and Tarsus. But the onslaught of the Seljuk Turks saw that undone and Syria once more became part of the caliphate.
But its challenged ownership and history explain why modern Syria is such a patchwork of religious beliefs and tribal loyalties. The Assad regime currently in control has always argued that its strong arm tactics are required to keep order among all these groups – like a dictatorial ringmaster. Clearly this argument is not holding water anymore as ordinary Syrians demand that curious fruit called democracy.
Templar Syria – a jewel of medieval Europe
The Knights Templar knew Syria well and its seaboard fell under the control of different crusader kingdoms during the 11th century. The Principality of Antioch, the County of Edessa, the County of Tripoli and the Kingdom of Jerusalem all impinged on modern Syria. The inland areas including Damascus remained under Seljuk control though there were repeated attempts to take Damascus by the crusaders.
Indeed, many speculate whether the Knights Templar and crusaders should have taken Damascus before Jerusalem to secure their control of the region. If they had done, the history of the crusades and the modern Middle East might have been dramatically different.
Templar forts in Syria include one on the island of Arwad. This was something of a staging post for crusaders between the mainland and Cyprus. By the 1290s with the loss of Jerusalem and the Saracens closing in, the pope gave control of Arward to the Templars to defend to the last man. That’s pretty much what they ended up doing.
An alliance with the Mongols didn’t save them as their allies failed to show up on time whereas the Seljuk Turks landed and overran the fort. A promise of safe conduct to the surviving Knights Templar was broken and many died in Cairo prisons – refusing to convert to Islam for their freedom.
Modern Tartus in Syria was known as Tortosa to the Knights Templar who ran the town from the 1150s as a fortified base. The cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa is still there and other antiquities that the French government has been generous in funding to restore. For all the Templar efforts though, Tortosa fell to Saladin in 1188.