/* written 9pm 9/16/91 by David Yarrow (jdmann) */
/*-------- WHO WAS CHRISTOFORO COLOMBUS? -------*/
In history, 1992 is the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to
the New World. In herstory, 500 years is a fundamental cycle -- half of
a millenium -- in which polarity reverses. Certainly the 1990s seem to
be a time when the world is turning upslide down -- or insight out. In
such a reversal of phase, the past takes a new face. In this changing
light, let's look anew at who was Colombus.
Columbus kept a diary of his 1492 voyage. He wrote in this journal that
at one point in the journey, he held a conference on the Santa Maria
with the captains of all three ships. Christoforo penned in his log
that he consulted his map, and based on his map and the sighting of some
birds, they changed course. Eight days later, they sighted land.
Many historians and scholars have commented on this singular reference
in Columbus' memoir to a map. They have wondered what it told him, and
where he got it, and why he consulted it thus and then. No one has ever
shed any light on this cartographic mystery.
When Columbus originally petitioned the Spanish Naval Commission for
ships and provisions to make his voyage, he asserted that he expected to
find land 850 leagues to the west. Indeed, eight days after they
changed course based on Columbus' map, the three ships encountered land
850 leagues west of the Iberian Peninsula. How remarkable!
When Columbus set sail with three ships, there wasn't a Catholic priest
on any three of the vessels. Considering this expedition was chartered
by Spain's most Catholic monarchs, this seems a bit odd. If one of the
men had died on the trip, who would have given last rites? Columbus?
One of the other captains?
History tells us that Columbus' adventure was financed by the sale of
Queen Isabella's jewelry. But that's only half the story -- history.
We aren't told who bought her jewelry to capitalize Columbus' quest.
Would Queen Isabella tell us this part of herstory?
Yet, in herstory, I've heard that a consortium of wealthy Moorish,
Jewish and Cathar financiers put up funds to finance the foray. Now,
this opens doors to several mysteries and speculations.
It's important to know that in 1492, Spain's most Catholic monarchs were
endorsing passage of laws which enforced on all residents of Spain a
requirement that they, too, be Catholic. Far from separating church and
state, this wedding of religion and government would have closed steel
jaws on any who refused to profess belief in both. Or put them to the
sword. Or roasted them on a stake. In a few more years, this legally
enforced religion led to the Inquisition and all its terrors.
Already, in 1492, many of Spain's non-Catholics were moving to liberal
Portugal and other countries where the threat of persecution and
oppression had not yet gathered the force of law. Wise and educated
leaders of Spain's non-Catholic communities were looking for safe havens
for their people.
According to a NY Times feature on 6/2/91: There have been those who
think Columbus might have been Jewish, but the Encyclopedia Judaica
doesn't seem eager to claim him. According to the entry on Columbus,
"He was himself mysterious about his background, which he wished to
conceal. However, he boasted cryptically about his connection with King
David. The mystery of Columbus' origins is largely the outcome of his
own mendacity."
Whoever he was, it is also odd that the sails of Columbus' vessels had
crosses on them. Not Catholic crosses. Rather, these were Templar
crosses, with four equal sided, flared arms meeting at a narrow center.
Now, on Oct. 13, 1307, French King Phillipe and Catholic Pope Clement
(Phillipe's puppet) declared the Templars to be heretics who practiced a
blasphemeous religion which included the worship of a skull and bones.
For their crimes, the Templars were hunted down, imprisoned, tortured,
forced to sign confessions, executed, and extinguished -- says history.
At the time in history, the Templars were the second most powerful
organization in France. With their great wealth they created a banking
and currency system; as holy knights, they maintained safe passage on
roads and highways; as monks, they built the Gothic Cathedrals, and
named them "Notre Dame" -- says herstory.
Fortunately, the Templars were forewarned of the King's play for power,
and most escaped, taking with them the fabulous Templar treasury. Also
disappearing then was the Templar fleet, which at that time was Europe's
largest navy. No one knows where the Templar navy fled, but they had
the most sophisticated maps and navigation equipment of that age.
History tells us that in 1492 Columbus was looking for a westward route
to India. Upon arriving on a western shore, he therefore proclaimed
them the "West Indies" and the inhabitants thereof were "Indians" -- a
misnomer that has stuck through the last 500 years, testifying to our
continuing confusion about culture, geography and history.
Yet, according to herstory, Columbus was so impressed by the goodness,
grace, gentleness, and generosity of the residents of his new-found
island that he declared they must be "in Dios" -- or living "in God."
>From this came their name: "Indians."
[ Russell Means also tells this story about the origin of the word in
an article he wrote for the December, 1980 issue of _Mother_Jones_
magazine, entitled "For the World to Live, 'Europe' Must Die." --Gary ]
In the next century, Spanish galleons would haul vast bullions of New
World gold back to Europe. Often these monarchial vessels were raided
by ships which sported the Jolly Roger of a skull and crossed bones.
History tells us these raiders were pirates; but herstory whispers these
freebootin' buccaneers were Templars sailing from their secret refuge.
There's a lot of unknown history (and herstory) about how the New World
was won (and lost). Even as Europeans have erased the native history,
culture and populations, so they have erased their own native herstory
of religion, culture and secret societies. Maybe, as we pass the 500
year, half millenial mark, in this saga of Empire and Re-public, maybe
it's time to get the whole story.
Does this wet your appetite?
-- for a green and peaceful planet, the turtle
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/* David Yarrow (turtle) Econet: jdmann 315-675-8498 */
/* Earthwise Education Center, P.O. Box 91, Camden, NY 13316 */
/* "be earthwise, not clockwise" */
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