Product Description

In 1929 the Holy Inquisition seized a secret communique from a senior bishop to the Roman emperor when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in 325AD, and hid it in the Vatican's most sealed files. Graham Phillips' research in linking together the pieces of this puzzle at the heart of Western civilization has not only uncovered an extraordinary conspiracy, but also a wealth of new evidence pointing to the Jesus who did exist, and what became of his mother and early followers. Further, by identifying who the earliest Christians really were, he has possibly uncovered the resting place of Mary. This powerful story, which knits together historical analysis, archaeology, science and documentary evidence as never before, has opened up a whole new door of historical exploration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83822 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
"'Phillip's reasoning sounds positively sane' The Independent 'Phillips is a seeker of the truth, a questor...an extraordinary exploration into ancient history' The Universe"

About the Author
Graham Phillips is the author of the five acclaimed books in this genre. His most recent book was Act of God: Moses, Tutankhamun and the Myth of Atlantis.

Customer Reviews

A well written and informative 'religious' detective story.
I have to admit to a morbid curiosity in 'religious' conspiracy theories, especially those which involve the 'historical' Jesus and this is one of the latest of many such books. The title of the book, however, is slightly misleading because although there is a slight hint of a cover up this is by no means the main focus of the book.

In summary, Graham Phillips leads his readers through a highly readable and interesting quest to discover the most likely historical story of Mary the mother of Jesus. His conclusions are controversial but as with all such theories they remain entirely speculative.

The 'conspiracy' element regards the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Assumption, based upon tradition that the Virgin Mary ascended to heaven and thus has no mortal remains and no need for a tomb. Historically two tombs have been venerated as the tomb of Mary, one in Jerusalem and the other in Ephesus, and a Catholic priest Giovanni Bendetti was researching these and a third when Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption Dogma so the findings were never made public. This book is controversial for Catholics in so far as it suggests that the tomb of Mary might be located in Anglesey.

The opening scene of the book finds the author in the Vatican meeting Father Rinsonelli who introduces him to the 'secret' archives and in mentioning Bendetti's theories and the possible relation between the Virgin Mary and the Grail legends starts him on his quest.

The next stop is Jerusalem and here the author not only writes about the holy Land with style but gives very useful historical and legendary background to the people and places he writes about. On the whole the historical and biblical background is well-researched and generally accepting of contemporary consensus viewpoints. It is remarkably conservative for a so-called conspiracy book until, that is, it identifies Jesus' father.

Following the history of the Herodian dynasty Phillips adopts the theory that the Jewish scholar Joseph Schreiber put forward in 1956 that Jesus was the son of Antipater, the eldest son of King Herod the Great, and whom Augustus had designated heir to the kingdom. (Phillips does not mention that Robert Graves also offered a similar theory in his controversial historical novel King Jesus in 1946).

Identifying Mary as a daughter of the high priest and wife of the crown prince and Jesus as a grandson of the infamous King Herod is quite radical and controversial but Phillips is not alone in propounding such conclusions.

The next point of call in the quest is Ephesus in modern day Turkey which legend also associates with a tomb of Mary. The author explains how veneration of Mary may possibly be derived from assimilation with Artemis/Diana worship which was centred at Ephesus.

According to tradition Mary was thought to have gone with the apostle John to Ephesus but without hardly any explanation for his claim and making no reference to the much debated question of the mysterious 'beloved disciple' of John's Gospel to whom the mother of Jesus was entrusted, Phillips suggests that the beloved disciple was in fact Joseph of Arimathea, whom he also claims was Jesus' brother. This assertion naturally leads to the Grail legends and to Phillip's question: "Was Joseph's Holy Grail actually the Virgin Mary?" (163)

So in chapter VI we arrive in Britain. Beginning at Walsingham, through Elton Manor at Widecombe where William Blake is said to have composed 'Jerusalem' the trail continues to Glastonbury where Phillips finds his most important evidence to date. He finds a letter from Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Gregory in 597 CE which mentions an island on which there was a church built by Christ himself.

Tales and legends of Arthur are next investigated and finally we arrive at the new 'Avalon' which turns out to be Anglesey. Anglesey was the last stronghold of the Druids who for some reason or another so upset Nero that he decided to see them off forever. Phillip's quest ends at Llanerchymedd a dilapidated church which he suggests was the first burial place of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Even if this book were only a creative work of fiction it would be well worth reading. The author has an engaging descriptive style which brings the places he visits alive. I found the historical information given regarding the biblical background well researched and have no doubt that the same applies to the information regarding the Grail legends. The book would be of interest to anyone who is interested in the historical background of Jesus and his family and also to those interested in the legends of the Holy Grail.

Intriguing, interesting, but can it be true?
Most certainly if Graham Phillip's hypothesis is not true, then he will surely be destined for a hot place when his time is up.I find him very easy to read and as a student of Christian Theology I was interested to see what he came up with. The early part of the book where we get into the lineage of Mary and her son Jesus has a certain possibility, that is not to say any probability. Just the same with his earlier work"Act of God". Plausible until you read an alternative thesis which then makes you wonder. The first section of the book I found absorbing, but once we got England and then finally Wales and the supposed final resting place of Mary, I found the text more difficult to follow and the Welsh place names and other explanations difficult. Personally I don't believe a word of it, but a good yarn non the less. Thus am I assured the keys to the Kingdom? Probably not. I am sure there will be some other conjecture at another time by somebody else.

Britain�s answer to "National Treasure"
I have never been interested in Bible mysteries and only read this book because a friend had it. However, this book is a really exciting adventure story about solving a series of historical codes to lead to the secret burial site of the Virgin Mary. In many ways it is a real-life "National Treasure" type story, set against a backdrop of a conspiracy of silence by the established church. The pace gathers throughout the book and left me breathless at the end. This is a marvellous read for anyone - regardless of whether or not they are interested in the Bible.