Rosslyn Chapel Decoded

New Interpretations of a Gothic Enigma

Alan Butler, John Ritchie

$49.99

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Watkins
01 November 2018

Religious buildings; Popular beliefs & controversial knowledge

Rosslyn Chapel is a deeply enigmatic 15th-century Gothic masterpiece, situated near Edinburgh. Although generally referred to as a 'chapel' and acting as a local parish church these days, Rosslyn is actually much more than either – and in fact most people who have studied the site in detail come to the conclusion that those who created the structure in the 15th century were not, in reality, intent on building a Christian church at all. In fact, nothing at Rosslyn is what it seems. With its overpowering air of mystery, its superlative stone carvings and its strong Templar and Freemasonic connections, Rosslyn represents one of the most absorbing historical puzzles in Britain.

The discovery of new evidence by the authors puts a new slant on the motivations of those who decided to create a New Jerusalem in the Scottish Lowlands. The signs pointed the authors to a lost holy relic – the skull of St Matthew the Evangelist, in whose name the chapel is dedicated. There is startling evidence that this skull came to Rosslyn in the early 15th century, brought there by polymath, librarian and all-round genius Sir Gilbert Hay, who also put together a substantial library.

What follows is no less than an adventure, using the clues from the lost books to locate St Matthew's skull – now in Washington, DC. The authors also embark on a thorough examination of Rosslyn Chapel's credentials, both a Christian church and as an icon of the impending Renaissance, a reconstruction of King Solomon's Temple and an astronomical observatory – all suffused with ancient beliefs that would have had the chapel's builders burned at the stake if their true motivations had been discovered.

By: Alan Butler, John Ritchie
Imprint: Watkins
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 358g
ISBN: 9781780284927
ISBN 10: 1780284926
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 01 November 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Alan Butler has spent 30 years immersed in world history, writing books delving into neglected recesses of the past. Butler is an expert in ancient astronomy and astrology and proficient in interpreting historical symbolism of the sort represented by Rosslyn Chapel. John Ritchie has travelled the world as film cameraman and a stills photographer. These days he is a broadcaster and a successful historian. He brings to this book his keen eye, a peerless knowledge of Scottish history and a trust on the part of its custodians that have given Butler and Ritchie unrivalled access to Rosslyn Chapel.