Feminism; The Men from Ninive.

The male and female depictions of some form of deity presented earlier were interesting. Particularly the female depiction which is hidden away in the corner of the chapel. Biblically this would be Babylon, the Harlot or the Queen of the South.

Therefore, I specifically looked for other similar images which could relate to Babylon or a feminine theme.

I was curious about an engraved metal burial cover.

The tourist information describes that it is believed by some to be the burial place of the founder of the chapel or possibly two other figures associated with the Sinclair family. It describes the animal/s around the head to be either the lion rampant or two hounds help and hold.It suggests that the figure at his feet is either a grey hound or a stag.

Associating the dogs help and hold with this cover raised my interest and in this regard read the section Dog New Tricks.

The upper body is predominantly male but the lower body is clearly female.I have layered a sketch to highlight.

This androgynous theme is reasonably consistent with the male and female aspects of the devil and Babylon represented in the chapel. The figures behind the bag pipe player being good examples. It also reminded me of the combination of male and female attributes in the sketch of  the Templar deity Baphomet.

It is strange that a depiction of a knight, a warrior, should display female characteristics.

From the pictures and sketches it can be seen that both male and female characteristics are presented. He does not appear to be a happy individual. There is a suggestion of a sword or scabbard to the right. He has a narrow waist and broad feminine hips. The animal in the shield is not clear but does not appear to be a dog. Neither do the lines around the figures feet. These lines appear more like flames.

In the process of researching Babylon I had come across the Queens of the South. Associated with her are the men of Ninive.

In the Old Testament, Nineve was destroyed due to the worship of the Harlot. The Harlot was perceived to be beautiful and acceptable among the inhabitants of the city. Associated with her was witchcraft and sex.

The people in Ninive were considered women. Regardless of their physical sex. Nahum 2 & 3.

3:13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women.

This seemed to be too much of a coincidence. A biblical reference which could explain why the knight has feminine features and which, like Freemasonry and several images in the chapel, is directly associated with Babylon. Consequently, flames, in the context of hell, could also be understood.

Could the cover represent a hidden meaning for those with eyes to see?

Such a mechanism and hidden religious signs are present in Freemasonry. Yet the chapel was built centuries before the official formation of Freemasonry.

The Babylonian theme has been continued in more recent additions to the chapel. The statue showing the Lamb of God at the feet of a woman, presumably Babylon, was erected around 1880, well over a century after the official creation of Freemasonry.

The common connections between Rosslyn and Freemasonry are the Templars. The ancient fraternity prosecuted for secret devil worship. The owners of the chapel have held extremely prominent positions in Scottish Freemasonry. And ,apart from any other issue, the connection between Rosslyn and Freemasonry is specifically advertised by the owners of the chapel and is used to entice a source of income.

Therefore, it may be reasonably concluded in light of the recent additions, that the same mechanism of secrecy and religious misinformation which is evident in Freemasonry can be applied to the chapel and vice versa.

The tourist information explains that the detailed history of the cover is unknown and the identity of the person buried there is unknown. Is any one even buried there at all?

Taking the burial cover at face value it could simply be regarded as an illustration of biblical text. A sign which specifically relates to Freemasonry.

Such things and subtle hints are present elsewhere in the chapel. The graffiti, the chains, horned Moses, the carved masonic signals and the King of terrors. Several indications which point to a hidden and radically different system of belief.

Taking it at face value it could then be interpreted as follows. The bare legged Freemasonic ‘son of the widow’ who has sworn allegiance to the widow Babylon on the Bible and who is lowered into a grave to lie with a representation of the widow is biblically defined as a woman, standing in the flames of hell.

How this contradicts with an aspect of the story of the building of Solomons temple to which Freemasonry often refers . One of the final instructions Solomon received from his father David before he died was simply to remember and show that he was a man.