La Merika

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

The La Merika Theory is the theory that America was discovered centuries before Christopher Columbus by the Freemasons (possibly the Knights Templar), and that the name La Merika (The Star) is what led to the later name of the continent America.

Contents 1 Evidence for the theory 2 Why 'La Merika'? 3 Criticisms of this theory 4 See also

Evidence for the theory

The theory is based on old graveyards in Nova Scotia which contain grave stones which incorporate Templar devices such as Crusader Crosses and other Masonic symbols. The name Nova Scotia is Latin for New Scotland; this is significant because Scotland is believed to have been a hiding place of some Templars who escaped the Purge of their order by Philip the Fair (Philippe le Bel, 1307).

The Templar fleet would have left La Rochelle for America with the Venetian sailor Antonio Zeno around 90 years after the end of the Order of the Templars. Nicolo Zeno (a descendant of Antonio Zeno) published a manuscript and a map of this voyage in 1558. The Templars were publicly disbanded in the early 1300's after the arrest in France of thousands of their members by the King of France. However, ten thousand more Templars went unaccounted for after that point and most of the others were released from custody by 1314. Notably, the Templars had had a fleet of large ships used to ferry passengers and cargo from Europe and the Mediterranian to and from the Holy Land. After their public dissolution, the ships disappeared from any documented history. This is a considered odd as the ships would have been of significant value. Speculation suggests that these ships were quietly sailed to Scotland where they continued to be used by surviving Templars and may have been used in this expedition.

Theories speculate that Henry Sinclair (Zichmni) traveled not only to Greenland but to present-day Nova Scotia, where he may have founded a settlement among the Micmac Indians, and perhaps as far south as present-day Massachusetts and Rhode Island. According to these theories, his expedition may have been responsible for the building of the Newport Tower and the carving of the Westford Knight.

The theory that Henry Sinclair explored North America is based on three separate propositions:

1. That the letters and map ascribed to the Zeno brothers and published in 1558 are authentic.
2. That the voyage described in the letters taken by Zichmni around the year 1398 actually reached North America.
3. That 'Zichmni' is actually Henry Sinclair.

Also in Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland there are stone carvings of American plants, supposedly not seen by Europeans until Columbus, such as aloe vera. As the Chapel was completed in 1486 and Columbus made his first voyage in 1492 this would seem to be compelling evidence for it being true. Advocates also note the "Westford Knight" - a stone effigy of a knight bearing the arms of Clan Gunn upon his shield. Some speculate that the Scottish Templars shared information of the voyage with their Portuguese brethren, and that the knowledge found its way to Columbus' Portuguese navigators.

Notably, the sails of Columbus' ships were emblazoned with the Templar cross (which was an emblem of Spain).

Why 'La Merika'?

It has long been held that the name America comes from Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer who is credited with describing the New World. The name 'America' first appeared on a map and globe created by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller. Many see this as unlikely because countries and continents are not normally named based on first names.

However, in Templar symbology 'Merica' is a western star toward which their emblems of ships sail, or mounted knights ride. The name 'Merica' is believed by some taken from the name of the five pointed star of Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess.

It is further believed by some that, after nine years excavating the site of the temple of Solomon (during the Crusades), the Templars came upon a treasure of ancient scrolls. Those scrolls may have contained many lost religious doctrines on which the Templars based their rituals, the locations of other treasures hidden in Israel, or even Phoenecian maps describing the location of Merica - the New World.

Criticisms of this theory

When Columbus reached the Americas, he reported his findings, something that these Masonic 'voyagers' failed to do. The theory also comes in for criticism as there is no documentary evidence for it - just a graveyard in Nova Scotia. But this lack of reports and documentation may be explained by the strong motivation of the Sinclair voyagers to keep their activities secret: under strong pressure in Scotland, they may have been looking for a safe and secret haven for themselves and/or their treasure. Also historians question the authenticity of the Westford Knight, claiming that it is not clearly inscribed, and may be a hoax or a result of erosion that makes it appear to resemble a knight.

See also

• Ancient mysteries