Dr Gabriel Barkay and Ben Hammott
Barkay confirmed that all three objects were 100% authentic ancient relics that had originated in or around the 1st century BC in Judaea, possibly Jerusalem.
He confirmed the British Museum’s view that the small pottery vase was an ungenterea or ointment vessel, which was mainly used to fragrance a tomb.
Dr Gabriel Barkay examining the Cup and Vase
Remember that the Serpent Rouge document which is held at the National Library in Paris, mentions ‘the sweet smelling perfume’ coming from ‘the tomb of a lost queen’ called “madeleine’.
3 Aries
In my difficult pilgrimage I was trying to hack my way through the dense vegetation of the woods with my sword. I wanted to reach the abode of the sleeping beauty in whom some poets can see the queen of a lost kingdom. Desperate to find the way, I was aided by the parchments of my friend, being for me like Ariadne's thread.
7 Leo
The scent of the perfume, whom I wish to liberate, which fills her tomb, , mounts upwards towards me. Long ago she was named Isis, queen of the benevolent spring, come to me all COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL COMFORT YOU. Others knew her as MAGDALENE with the celebrated vase of healing balm. The initiates knew her true name: OUR LADY OF THE CROSSES.
Dr Barkay also said that the small glass vial was known as an alabastra which was early roman glass imitating alabaster. Inside was the small piece of rolled parchment. Of course Mary Magdalene is often depicted with an alabaster jar or vase.
The Glass Vial
Again, concurring with the analysis from the British Museum, Dr Barkay identified coins that dated back to 1st century BC, through to 1st century AD at the time of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, down to the 5th century in Constantinople, right through to a coin from the Crusades in the 12th century. There were 30 coins in total.
Close up of one of the coins showing both sides
(See images of some of the other coins below)
So now we know, thanks to the British Museum and Dr Barkay, that the objects are 100% genuine. But the question is, how did they find their way from 1st century Judea into this chest buried in a cave across the valley from Rennes-le-Chateau?
And why did the clue, possibly written by Sauniere, call them the ‘cup of Jesus and Mary’ & ‘the anointing jar’ ?
Dr Barkay said :
“It’s very interesting. I’m very happy that I saw it with my own eyes….it is possible, it would be not out of the question that artifacts excavated by the Templars in Palestine or even in Temple Mount would find a way to Europe. The finds in this chest are really intriguing and it is really something that inflames the imagination. But whether it is connected to the historical Jesus or not, time will tell…”
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