Medieval Mysteries by Ralls, Karen -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER ONE: THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

Historical Overview Places to Visit: Key Symbols, Seals and Relics Relics

CHAPTER 2: ON THE ROAD TO... MARY MAGDALENE

Overview: The shifting image of Mary Magdalene The Golden Legend A few medieval Mary Magdalene pilgrimage sites and their associated legends and relics: A key symbol: the Alabaster Jar The wisdom of Mary Magdalene

CHAPTER 3: THE BLACK MADONNA

Historical Overview Appearance and symbolism: In the Dark Places of Wisdom Wisdom and the Song of Songs Origin theories about the Black Madonna Examples of Black Madonna shrines Black Madonnas and the natural environment Earliest black virgin veneration at Chartres: Virgo Paritura A Sacred Trust Whispers of Wisdom...

CHAPTER 4: THE GRAIL

The Grail romances Templar-related themes in the Grail romances Symbolism, meaning and places: the many forms of the Grail The Rosslyn Chapel Traditional Grail Qualities The Precious Blood The Sword, Lance, and Spear of Destiny The Grail as a stone The quest for the mysterious eastern king Prester John The Grail as sacred Geometry Grail as relating to the constellations and stars The Grail and severed head imagery The Land as the Grail

CHAPTER 5: THE CATHARS

Historical Overview Organization and Beliefs The Cathar priesthood: the Perfecti and the Believers A secret heretical network for protection Hotbed of Heresy: The Languedoc in the 13th century Charges against the Cathars A series of crusades against the Cathars Papal Inquisition and posthumous burning Mysteries of Montségur The Church of Love—Amor—will rise again

CHAPTER 6: THE MEDIEVAL GUILDS

Historical Overview Merchant guilds Crafts guilds Structure of the Craft Guilds Legends of gifted builders Esoteric aspects of medieval guilds Parish Guilds and the medieval miracle and passion plays Mary Magdalene and the Mercator Gradual decline of the Guilds and the Mystery plays Medieval popular plays A Word on the Medieval Fool or Jester A labor of love that lasts forever

CHAPTER 7: HERETICS AND HERESIES

Historical Overview: A “sea of heresy” Charges and Trials Joan of Arc: Heroine and Heretic Roger Bacon Michael Scot: The “Wizard of Midlothian” The Museum of Witchcraft, Boscastle, Cornwall Commemorating the Outcast Dead: Cross Bones cemetery, London Conclusion

CHAPTER 8: TROUBADOURS

Who were the medieval troubadours? Duke William IX and his granddaughter Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) Major regions of courtly love and troubadour activity Difference between a “troubadour” and “jongleur” or “minstrel” Secular musicians and minstrels in England Women troubadours: the Trobairitz Fin'Amors: “Fine Love,” the famous code of love De Amore (“On Love”) by Andreas Capellanus The Courts of Love Raimon de Miraval: Troubadour of the Languedoc Roman de la Rose: a medieval courtly love bestseller The Decline of the Troubadours Chivalry and the knightly chivalric code Tournaments Puivert Castle: A famed troubadour citadel Carvings at cathedrals and chapels of troubadours, musicians and minstrels The Lion and the Unicorn Rosslyn; Song, Sonnet and Pageant The End of the Troubadours “To recover the Joy which we have lost”

CHAPTER 9: ARTHUR AND MERLIN GLASTONBURY AND OTHER SACRED SITES

K ING A RTHUR : H ISTORICAL I NTRODUCTION Arthur and scholarship Arthur Through the Ages The “Once and Future King” M ERLIN A most unusual Birth Was Merlin Historical? Merlin's “threefold death” Merlin and the Goddess G LASTONBURY V ISITING O THER R ELATED A RTHUR A ND M ERLIN S ITES Arthurian Sites in Britain Arthurian legends in Wales “Arthur's Stone sites” in Wales: Arthurian Sites—North Wales: Scotland: Arthurian sites, legends, and place-names “Men of the north”: The Gododdin Arthur's Seat Stirling Castle Scottish place-names Queen Guinevere's Monument M ERLIN P LACES Merlin sites in Cornwall Merlin sites in Brittany Merlin sites in Scotland Merlin's Final Resting Place? The power of Myth and Time

CHAPTER 10: ROSSLYN: CHAPEL, CASTLE AND GLEN

The Apprentice Pillar and the “Murdered Apprentice” carving The Veil of Veronica Rosslyn: A great variety of carvings The Green Man The Inscription The vaults Freemasonry, Hiram Abiff, and the Apprentice Pillar at Rosslyn “Son of the Widow” Rosslyn Castle as a medieval scriptorium The St. Clairs and the Guilds The Rosicrucians, Rosslyn, and the year 1484 The Treasure of Rosslyn

APPENDIX ONE: ADDITIONAL EUROPEAN SITES FOR MARY MAGDALENE APPENDIX TWO: ADDITIONAL EUROPEAN SITES FOR BLACK MADONNAS ENDNOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RECOMMENDED READING LIST ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INDEX