Rosslyn and the Grail

by Mark Oxbrow, Ian Robertson, Simon Cox (Foreword)

Tens of millions of people worldwide learned of Scotland's Rossyln Chapel in Dan Brown's blockbuster novel The Da Vinci Code. Now, after 500 years shrouded in mystery and legend, the secrets of the chapel, the castle, King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail are about to be revealed.





The astonishing story of Rosslyn brings together a host of famous figures from history and legend, including Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, Alexander the Great, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, Joan of Arc, Sir Gawain and Merlin the Wizard.





No one has come close to unravelling the truth about Rosslyn. Until now.





* Does the fabled Holy Grail lie buried beneath Rosslyn Chapel?


* Did the Knights Templar hide their treasure in Rosslyn's secret crypt?


* Can the thousands of carvings within Rosslyn Chapel be decoded?





After more than a decade of research, two Scottish historians have finally uncovered the real story of Rosslyn and the Grail.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ruth]

C2005. FWFTB: carvings, treasure, medieval, legend, truth. I am an absolute sucker for all things Templar related and Rosslyn always seems to come into the various manufactured myths.The authors are certainly qualified to write such a book and the set out is good. The legend/myth is detailed and then countered with the facts. This works well for the first couple of chapters but then gets a bit repetitive. The sentences become shorter and terser and I could almost feel the authors’ impatience with all the pseudo-historians out there.The real gem is the appendices – especially The Templar Trial in Scotland and The Story of the Scottish Templars.As mentioned before, there is no doubting the gravitas of the authors.The dreaded words of the ‘Da Vinci’ code are on the front cover but I really don’t think are needed.The cover has the photograph of a movie prop in the form of the Holy Grail.Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the Templar story and Arthurian myth. It is always interesting to note that the Knights Templars were a really misogynistic bunch. One of the witnesses in the above mentioned trial mentions the following, the Knights should “and never to seek hospitality in a house where a woman lay in childbirth, nor to be present at a wedding, nor at the purification of a woman.”

[Julie]

For those seeking conspiracy theories or confirmation that the Holy Grail is in fact hidden at Rosslyn Chapel, this book is not for you. Rather, this debunks popular theories that have developed over the centuries and presents the actual history of Rosslyn and the St. Clair family who founded the remarkable and enigmatic chapel. Sure, there are plenty of local legends in its history, including mythical creatures of Scotland and variations on the Arthurian legends. There were also significant historical figures who are affiliated with Rosslyn like Robert the Bruce, Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots. People seeking riddles and codes among Rosslyn Chapel’s hundreds of carvings will be disappointed to discover that there is a logical outline to these images that combine biblical chronology, the life of Christ and a celebration of nature. The narrative was often bogged down with the lineages of the St. Clairs, various local dialects and a myriad of names of people and locations. Readers interested in Scottish lore may benefit from the appendices. Overall, I did think it effectively outlined a concise history of Rosslyn and demystified this astonishing piece of architecture and art, but it could have been written in a more engaging way.

[Allie]

Definitely worth a read if you believed every word of The Da Vinci Code, or simply want to know the truth behind Dan Brown's tall tales. An engaging blend of history, mystery, symbolism, and legend, interweaving so many historical figures from various places and various points in time. I read this in one night - it definitely kept me intrigued! I am now a bit ashamed that I've never been to Rosslyn (actually the village is spelled Roslin), when it's barely 50 miles from my home. I will definitely visit at some point, especially for all the interesting points the last chapter in the book mentioned. I'm sure the Rosslyn Chapel Trust would be pleased that I won't turn up with my head of Templar and Holy Grail nonsense, at least!

[Margaret]

Looks at the history of Rosslyn Chapel and the legends tying it to the Holy Grail.

Most of the book happily debunks "The Da Vinci Code" which definitely added to my enjoyment of the book.

A well written, well researched GENUINE history of Rosslyn Chapel and its surrounds.