Friday, April 2, 2010

The Biblical Land of Ophir (Peru), , Frances Bacon, Ben Johnson, King Solomon, and Gene Savoy

The possibility that Thor Hyerdahl suggests--that man traveled westward across the Pacific--might well explain the expansion of this concept from a Central American culture to a civilization of the East. Also the reverse could just as easily be true that ancient mariners have been shown to have traveled from the Old World to this hemisphere as long ago as 600 BC as demonstrated by the discovery by Gene Savoy in the highlands of Northern Peru at the headwaters of the Amazon River where he found a cave that housed three stone tablets or tables, one of which was roughly six feet long with carvings hewn into the stone in very ancient Hebrew and Phoenician that seems to say (translation of these very ancient Hebrew and Phoenician glyphs is somewhat problematic. It is estimated that they are from around 900 BC at the time of Solomon’s Temple construction, so the availability of scholars that are familiar with that old of writing is a problem so we need more research to absolutely verify the literal meaning of the inscriptions), “We have sailed across the big ocean and then traveled up this huge river (the Amazon) and we then traded for gold with these people and are going back to our home now”, or words to that effect. *
The discovery at Gran Valaya "ship" designs of the Chachapoyas from the tomb walls at "Pueblo de los Muertos"

In an article written for the journal of The Explorer's Club of New York (vol. 76, no. 4, winter 1998/99), explorer Gene Savoy recounts how he made the discovery of the symbol and described the glyph's appearance:

"At the conclusion of my 1966 expedition into the area, I reported a funerary monument near Tingorbamba [Pueblo de los Muertos].... The site was in the cliffs far above the Utcabamba River. We had found some thirty-odd anthropoid funerary coffins of mud and fiber which contained the mummified remains of dignitaries, apparently of the Chipuris culture. Further along we came across what looked like a royal cenotaph, a funeral monument erected to the memory of some titular personage. incised in the wall of one mud building we discerned two extraordinarily important glyphs. The smaller sign (8.5 inches high by 21.5 inches long) was the Babylonian hieroglyph for "ship." This compares to a figure in Unger's list of pictorial characters (E. Unger, "Babylonsches Schrifitum," Ziscar, 1920). The second glyph (14.5 inches by 36 inches in length) was also a primitive sign for "ship." The sign obviously indicated a seagoing ship with high vertical prow in the form of the Egyptian "hieroglyphic sign for God, reading neiter, he of the tree" (Margaret A. Murray, The Splendor that was Egypt, Sidgwick and Jackson, London, St. Martin's Press, New York).... What was this ancient sign doing incised on a mortuary cliff in Peru, we asked? How does one explain the conflict in chronology; i.e., a Peruvian temple built circa A.D. 1250 bearing a hieroglyphic sign dating at least 3500 B.C.? Adding to this enigmatic puzzle is the fact that this glyph for ship is found on rock art in the Dead Sea region of Sinai."


The commonly accepted theory is that the Indians of the Americas developed independently and owe nothing to outside influences before the arrival of the Spaniards. The existence of these glyphs strongly points to contacts in some inexplicable manner

Ophir was the distant land to which the fleets of Phoenicia sailed on behalf of Israel's King Solomon to acquire for him gold to build the Temple at Jerusalem. Its exact location has never been confirmed. In 1 Kings 9:26-28 we read:

And King Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, ship men that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents and brought it to king Solomon.


The amount of gold retrieved was extensive. Four hundred and twenty talents is about fourteen hundred pounds. Another biblical passage (2 Chronicles) suggests that the voyage round trip took three years to complete.
The land of Ophir is described variously --a place in the east, a place of rivers and mountains, land of the sun, a place inhabited where even apes are found. No one has yet found this land of legend, although many have suggested various locations, in Africa, in India, and even in the Americas.
It is believed that King Solomon sent two fleets out to Ophir: one through the Red Sea, the route known to the Egyptians, and another right through the Straits of Gibraltar. It is generally assumed that both fleets sailed to a port on the coast of east Africa. But if it is true that Hiram's ships made the voyage in no less than three years, that location in Africa does not lend itself to this fact.... Many have suggested that Peru may indeed have been Ophir. Etymologically, the names of both places may have the same meaning: Ophir, "the land of fire," and Pir-u, "the land of fire."

Epigraphy is the study of ancient inscriptions. The science of epigraphy traces origins of writing and the evolution of written or alphabetic systems. This science classifies and explains inscriptions and, in a specific sense, concerns the paleography of inscriptions.
Inscription is writing in the form of letters, of words, or of other conventional symbols cut into a permanent material to convey some information or to preserve records. An inscription is distinguished, on the one hand, from manuscript, and is distinguished, on the other, from a picture or a relief that is intended to convey information or to record events, though inscriptions often are combined with pictures or with reliefs.

See “The New Atlantis” by Frances Bacon here ..



http://thegreatskull.com/bacon.php


In 1623 Bacon expressed his aspirations and ideals in The New Atlantis. Released in 1627, this was his creation of an ideal land where "generosity and enlightenment, dignity and splendor, piety and public spirit" were the commonly held qualities of the inhabitants of Bensalem. In this work, he portrayed a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge. The plan and organization of his ideal college, "Solomon's House", envisioned the modern research university in both applied and pure science.

There are some scholars who believe that Bacon's vision for a Utopian New World in North America was laid out in his novel The New Atlantis. He envisioned a land where there would be greater rights for women, the abolishing of slavery, elimination of "debtors prisons", separation of church and state, and freedom of religious and political expression.

Francis Bacon played a leading role in creating the British colonies, especially in Virginia, the Carolinas and Newfoundland. His government report on “The Virginia Colony” was made in 1609. Francis Bacon and his associates formed the Newfoundland Colonization Company and in 1610 sent John Guy to found a colony in Newfoundland. In 1910 Newfoundland issued a stamp to commemorate Francis Bacon's role in establishing Newfoundland. The stamp states about Bacon, "the guiding spirit in Colonization Schemes in 1610."[3]
Francis Bacon often gathered with the men at Gray's Inn to discuss politics and philosophy, and to try out various theatrical scenes that he admitted writing. Bacon's alleged connection to the Rosicrucians and the Freemasons has been widely discussed by authors and scholars in many books However others, including Daphne du Maurier (in her biography of Bacon), have argued there is no substantive evidence to support claims of involvement with the Rosicrucians. Historian Dame Frances Yates does not make the claim that Bacon was a Rosicrucian, but presents evidence that he was nevertheless involved in some of the more closed intellectual movements of his day. She argues that Bacon's movement for the advancement of learning was closely connected wit the German Rosicrucian movement, while Bacon's The New Atlantis portrays a land ruled by Rosicrucians. He apparently saw his own movement for the advancement of learning to be in conformity with Rosicrucian ideals.

In 1618 Francis Bacon decided to secure a lease for York House. This had been his boyhood home in London next to the Queen's York Place before the Bacon family had moved to Gorhambury in the countryside. Upon the passing of Lord Egerton (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England), it now was available for Bacon to lease it. During the next four years this mansion on the Strand (so large that it had 40 fireplaces) served as the home for Francis and Alice Bacon. Over the next four years Bacon would host banquets at York House that were attended by the leading men of the time, including poets, scholars, authors, scientists, lawyers, diplomats, and foreign dignitaries. Within the banquet hall, Francis gathered the greatest leaders in literature, art, law, education, and social reform. On 22 January, 1621 in honour of Sir Francis Bacon's sixtieth birthday, a select group of men assembled in the large banquet hall in York House without fanfare for what has been described as a Masonic banquet This banquet was to pay tribute to Sir Francis Bacon. Only those of the Rosicrosse (Rosicrucians) and the Masons who were already aware of Bacon's leadership role were invited.[3] The tables were T-tables with gleaming white drapery, silver, and decorations of flowers. The poet Ben Jonson, a longtime friend of Bacon, gave a Masonic ode to Bacon that day. He had once remarked of Bacon, "I love the man and do honour his memory above all others."

There was a depth of love by a large body of men toward Bacon, similar to some degree in the manner that disciples love a Master.This is especially true when taking into account his membership (and some say leadership) of secret societies such as the Rosicrucians and Freemasons In the inner esoteric membership, which included Francis Bacon, vows of celibacy for spiritual reasons were encouraged.

and see the play “The Alchemist" by Bacon’s friend Ben Jonson, for further clues and evidence that there was secret or esoteric knowledge that a society of brethren were custodians of but at the same time they would release that same knowledge in hidden or symbolic forms through the arts. In the play “The Alchemist Jonson makes reference to the mysterious “Land of Ophir” the biblical source of the gold for Solomon Temple and the home of the precious and powerful Ark of the Convenant that was housed in the Holy of Holies for the thirty three years of Solomon reign.

ACT THE SECOND
SCENE I: An outer room in Lovewit's House.

[Enter Sir Epicure Mammon and Surly.]

Mammon. Come on, sir. Now, you set your foot on shore
In Novo Orbe; here's the rich Peru:
And there within, sir, are the golden mines,
Great Solomon's Ophir! he was sailing to't,
Three years, but we have reach'd it in ten months.
This is the day, wherein, to all my friends,
I will pronounce the happy word, BE RICH;
THIS DAY YOU SHALL BE SPECTATISSIMI.
You shall no more deal with the hollow dye,
Or the frail card. No more be at charge of keeping
The livery-punk for the young heir, that must
Seal, at all hours, in his shirt: no more,
If he deny, have him beaten to't, as he is
That brings him the commodity. No more
Shall thirst of satin, or the covetous hunger
Of velvet entrails for a rude-spun cloke,
To be display'd at madam Augusta's, make
The sons of Sword and Hazard fall before
The golden calf, and on their knees, whole nights,
Commit idolatry with wine and trumpets:
Or go a feasting after drum and ensign....
And unto thee I speak it first, BE RICH.
Where is my Subtle, there! Within, ho!
Face. [Within.] Sir, he'll come to you by and by.

if you want to to tackle this play in its entirety you will find it here at this Alchemical web site

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/jn-alch0.html

Ben Jonson (1573-1625):

Ben Johnson On Lord Francis Bacon, 1625

Ben Jonson, after Shakespeare the most eminent writer for the Elizabethan stage, was born in 1573, and died in 1635. He was the founder of the so-called "Comedy of Humours," and throughout the reign of James I was the dominating personality in English letters. A large number of the younger writers were proud to confess themselves his "sons." Besides dramas of a variety of kinds, Jonson wrote much lyrical poetry, some of it of the most exquisite quality. His chief prose work appears in his posthumously published "Explorata, Timber or Discoveries, made upon men and matter", a kind of commonplace book, in which he seems to have entered quotations and translations from his reading, as well as original observations of a miscellaneous character on men and books. The volume has little or no structure or arrangement, but is impressed everywhere with the stamp of his vigorous personality. The following passage on Bacon is notable as a personal estimate of this giant by the man who, perhaps, approached him in the field of intellect more closely than any other contemporary.

One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not to be imitated alone; for never no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker who was full of gravity in his speaking; his language, where he could spare or pass by a jest, was nobly censorious.1 No man ever spake more neatly, more prissily,2 more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion.3 No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he should make an end.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for your excellent research!

You have given me jewels of facts for my current research project--but I wanted to ask you a question: Are you aware that one of Noah's descendants was named Ophir? He came through the line of Arphaxad. Some believe that he went to Peru (See Wikipedia: The Sons of Noah). I have not researched it very deeply at this point, but it was this fact which eventually led me to your blog. Does it interest you at all? I have been reading Ignatius Donnelly's "ATLANTIS: THE ANTEDELUVIAN WORLD," and I understand that the Peruvians, Bolivians, Italians, and Spaniards all speak Umbrian and Aymara. Donnelly's book states that a a White guy came to civilize Peru, then told them he had to go back to Italy, about 10,000 years ago. You can read the book online. The most pertinent chapter is "THE PERUVIAN COLONY OF ATLANTIS." Thank you SO MUCH for this excellent article!

PEACE

Anonymous said...

Ignatius Donnelly said that when the Spaniards arrived in Peru, they were amazed to find that the natives were speaking Hebrew and following Hebrew religion--or more like Catholocism--to a "T". The result? The Spaniards thought it was a "fake copy" of the real Catholicism--a trick of the devil--and so they tried to destroy it.

Donnelly's book gives a lot of other interesting facts, as well.

He says that there are flood stories all over the earth, that there are several Noah's whom God told to build boats, and that they all refer to a land "beyond the water," from whence they originated. Those who lived in Eurasia gave the location as being to the West, and those who lived in America gave the location as being to the East.

I have been researching the ancient history of India, and was disappointed that I was unable to identify the "Mount Meru" of the Hindus. After reading Donnelly's book, I believe that Mount Meru of India lore, was Atlantis.

All cultures who trace their heritage back to Atlantis, in their mythology, refer to it as a truly blissful era of man, a veritable Garden of Eden. For it was a time in human development when spirituality was keen, and people had not fallen to such a low comprehension of the fact that LOVE is truly the only necessary commodity. People lived in peace.

In fact, it seems apparent that Atlantis WAS the Garden of Eden, and that after Atlantis sank, and beforehand (for they knew it would eventually happen, in a series of three floods) they went to all corners of the earth to put down new roots.

The history of India goes back, archaeologically speaking, 9,000 years to the "earliest known city" which is called Mehrgarh. It has been hailed as an absolute feat of civil engineering, for that time period, but I began researching other cultures from the Mehrgarh timeframe, and decided that a huge technological advancement had hit a lot of countries at the same approximate time--10,000 BCE--and that was when Atlantis sank, with finality, from the third flood.

Interestingly, there are cultures in the United States who revere the "memory" of living in Atlantis, today, among them, the Mandean Indians, near the Great Lakes.

It seems that the Atlanteans were not only a warring people, but also brilliant, and world dominators, who were adept at sea navigation, but until I read your blog, and Donnelly's book, I did not comprehend that they were well acquainted with the entire world.

King Soloman supposedly lived 350 years after the Deluge. I think Donnelly surmised that the White visitors to Peru had come from Atlantis itself, or were going back and forth from it, to other places, but apparently, 350 years after Atlantis sank, the Atlanteans had become well-established in their new locations in the Mediterranean and Egypt, India, etc., and their navigational knowledge of the World at large must have still been active, hence the fact that Soloman knew that there was gold in Peru.

Thank you again.