Codebreaker scores success in search for the Holy Grail

[emad]

Independent
By Ian Herbert, North of England Correspondent
26 November 2004


For 250 years, the cryptic inscription has exercised the minds of Britain's finest theologians, historians and scientists, including Charles Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood and, most recently, the Second World War code-breakers of Bletchley Park.

But an anonymous American researcher was credited yesterday with the best stab yet at what the letters D.O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V.M. - carved on the Shepherd's Monument at Lord Lichfield's Shugborough estate in Staffordshire - might actually signify.

The answer appears to be "Jesus (As Deity) Defy" - a message left by an 18th century Christian sect Priory of Sion, which was forced to keep its views secret since the Church of England thought they were heretical. On first impressions, this rather perplexing answer may disappoint those who believed the letters pointed the way to the final destination of the Holy Grail, the cup Jesus is said to have used during the Last Supper. But Shugborough Hall was holding on to its hopes last night, since the Priory of Sion was the spiritual successor to the Knights Templar, who were known as the keepers of the Holy Grail.

The stone monument, built around 1748, contains a carved relief of Nicholas Poussin's Les Bergers d'Arcadie II in reverse. Beneath it are the letters. The researcher, who applied standard codebreaking methods, initially came up with the message "Jesus H Defy" but says the H stands for Christ, hence the translation into "as deity". This is said to give the message a meaning of defiance against prevailing Christian norms.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=586828

[mmonk]

1. Thanks

Always find this stuff interesting.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Okay, could some one decode this for a layman who stayed

up until 3:00

I don't get why this message was against the (then) current church of England? And are there still Knights Templar members?

Oh, God, do I need sleep.

[Ian David]

4. Simpler explanation

Most likely, the "clue" was left as a wild goose chase. A joke at our expense perpetrated by hoaxers hundreds of years ago.

The Freemasons have done the same thing for centuries, most famously with The Oak Island Money Pit Hoax:

The Secrets of Oak Island
Joe Nickell
Oak Island Money Pit

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Thanks and welcome.

Sounds like it was the inspiration for National Treasure.

[RedCon1]

32. I'm not sure Oak island is a hoax

The effort, expertise, and secrecy that went into that thing were extremely elaborate. I prefer the Templar Knight treasure theory myself.

[Sporadicus]

3. Does This Mean I Can Say 'Jesus H. Christ' With Impunity Now?

Just asking :7

[The Night Owl]

9. LOL!

[BikeWriter]

15. I've always heard it stood for Jesus "Hallelujah" Christ... n/t

[rabbit2484]

22. Come on it's Herbert

I always say "Jesus HW Christ" now. After all he is the second coming right?

:evilgrin:

[BikeWriter]

29. Hee hee hee!

I don't think so! :-)

[420inTN]

30. I thought that it was "Hank". n/t

[MattBaggins]

31. It stands for Harold

It's in that song
Our father, who art in heaven harold be thy name

[GingerSnaps]

35. It's not Harold it's Hallowed be thy name

Hallowed be thy name :shrug:

[jdonaldball]

41. Herbert Hoover Christ was the First Coming. W Christ is the second.

[benburch]

5. This assumes that the grail was a cup...

Among modern spiritual decedents of the Templars, there are many different interpretations. Very commonly, the grail is seen at a metaphor for the female genitalia, and the grail legend is seen as a sex magick formula.

[KingChicken]

6. Priory of Sion was a hoax.....

No proof it actally existed beyond being a front...

[SpiralHawk]

7. 'do not seek the treasure.'

- the soggy bottom boys

[Mabus]

13. We........thought.......

you......was......a......toooad.

[minkyboodle]

34. ROTFLMAO

we gotta find some kind of wizard can change him back

[Straight Shooter]

10. Well, where did society come up with the expletive "Jesus H. Christ"?

If "H" stands for Christ, how did that expletive arise? What does the "H." stand for? I've never known.

Anybody else know about this expletive? It's always puzzled me.

[BiggJawn]

11. Maybe it's "Jesus H. Deity"?

"Deity" being translated as "Christ", thus we have the origin of "Jesus H. Christ"....

Bunch of jokers, those Templars...:D

I think his middle name was "Hosanna", you know, "Hosanna on the Highest" and all that?

And if the Sions used their time's version of the "One-time pad", there's NO way in Hell they could break the code. The O-T-P is unbreakable unless you have the key.

[Ernesto]

12. "The Demon Haunted World"

What a fine book! Haven't read it for a couple of years, but I know I still have it. Think I'll dust it off and get my 16 yr old young Democrat going on it.
Thanks for the reminder BiggJawn!

[AllyCat]

21. Love that Carl Sagan book!

Sagan's explanations of seeing faces in inanimate objects and why kids have nightmares are brilliant.

[BiggJawn]

26. I need to re-read that part!

Given that you have been recently able to bid on the BVM in a toasted cheese sammich and JHC Hisself in a fish-stick...:7

[daleo]

28. "Mother Mary on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich!"

I think that would make a great new oath.

[NashVegas]

39. And Jesus Christ on a Corn Dog

fitting pair.

[RetroLounge]

16. The 'H' stands for Howard

"Our Father, who art in heaven, Howard be thy name..."

RL

[Sparky McGruff]

25. H stands for "Haploid"

... an old genetics joke...

[TroubleMan]

42. The H. stands for Holy in Jesus H. Christ

nt.

[et in Arcadia ego...]

14. et in Arcadia ego...

;-)

[lexicon089]

17. Templar Knights/ Masons hold the holy grail

Little known fact but if you research the masons were originally the Templar Knights (Knights of Solomon's Temple) they were mostly put to death by the catholic church and the french empire after it was believed they were practicing Gnotcism. At that time, survivors formed the masons.

Anyway They have also built the 2nd temple of solomon in Europe, and burried below the church they built are several templar knights as well as the ark of the covenant. FYI.

Templar knights come from the crusades, while occupying the temple of solomon they excivated it and found several old transcripts, writings, maps, etc. They discovered several previously unknown tunnles below the temple, where it is believed they found the ark of the covenant. The location of which was only known by a few Elder Jews. To this day I do not believe the Elders realize that the Covenant was taken from the temple and is in Europe.

Also the Templars knew of the America's before anybody.


FYI facts in history make for a better movie than anything non-fiction.

[rabbit2484]

23. Well if only the Bible thumpers had known that

Maybe they would have voted for Gore. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he was a 33rd degree.

[hippiechick]

37. "Templars knew of the America's before anybody ..."

Does 'anybody' include the South American tribes who emigrated north to what is now 'the Midwest' circa 9000 BC when the El Nino ruined the farming prospects in their Native Lands ?

Or the circa 2000 BC Egyptians whose mummies were found with South American cocoa leaves (cocaine) in their wrappings ?

Just curious, since you seem to know so much. :shrug:


:hippie:

[Blue Gardener]

18. Very Interesting

I've been much more interested in this kind of thing since reading The Da Vinci Code.

[LizW]

40. Read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"

It's fascinating, whether you believe any of it or not.

[VegasWolf]

19. Jeez, once awol gets his hands on the grail he be unstoppable! n/t

[lovuian]

20. Maybe its a nice way at saying defy the Catholic Church

and after all its Inquisitions and Killings and stealing of money maybe they had a helluva point!!!

which when you look at the Vatican nowadays have to wonder when they give support to Bush!!!

Wise Words really!!! Even in these times!!!

[Ima]

24. I thought H

stood for 'hallowed". Like "hallowed be his name".

[VegasWolf]

27. The H stands for "hoax", old Constantine is laughing in his grave!

edit sp

[w4rma]

33. It sounds like the Priory of Sion had the same problem with the way that

*their* government and churches used Christ's teachings, also.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[markus]

36. Jesus H Christ!

How I understand where this particular ejaculation came from!

[Pepperbelly]

38. what a letdown!

Gee, all this trouble and effort for this?

For THIS?

[Oreegone]

43. The H stands for..................

When I was a kid in the Midwest and anybody said Jesus H. Christ and we asked what it meant we were always told it stood for Horatio.

[VegasWolf]

44. We all know the grail is hidden in the Musée du Louvre. n/t