Our investigation continues by examining the Roman Historian Tacitus and the Roman poets, Ovid and Virgil and how they influenced Philip Sidney, Francis Bacon and their circle of Rosicrucians/Freemasons. These people were highly intelligent and were afforded the highest level of learning at the time. This included a comprehensive education of Ancient Rome’s history, mythology, poetry, politics, philosophy, military, and related studies. We will discuss how this political and mythological symbolism played a role in the motivation for work on Oak Island.
Tacitus - @poets
Tacitus (AD 56 – AD 120). was one of the greatest Roman historians and politicians. Tacitus wrote about the advantages of having a republic represented by the people instead of an emperor or monarch. History suggests that the Rosicrucian/Masonic group were followers of Tacitism. It is apparent that there was a movement by this group to start a new colony, a utopia, that would evolve into a republic without a monarch in the battle against tyranny. Philip Sidney referred his brother Robert to the works of Tacitus. Robert Sidney’s copy of Tacitus has numerous annotated notes and underlining of key ideas that he referred to often. The writing style that Francis Bacon employed involving scientific topics was influenced by Tacitus. It appears that Sidney and Bacon understood that this process would be a long one. Their society wasn’t ready for this type of revolution, and patience and planning were necessary.
Robert Devereaux - Wikimedia Commons
When Philip Sidney died, Robert Devereaux, The Earl of Essex, assumed his role and influence. Devereaux wasn’t Sidney, and exhibited little patience, wanting change sooner than later. In 1591, Henry Saville published Tacitus’s Histories in English for the first time, and Essex was his patron. The Shakespeare plays were being used as propaganda to further this operation. Secret communications between Essex’s spy network and King James IV of Scotland indicate one of the codenames of Essex’s circle was “Tacitus”. In 1601, “Essex’s Rebellion” was Devereaux’s frustration boiling over. It appears that Essex was most likely baited into his actions by Robert Cecil, Elizabeth’s Secretary of State. The two were enemies and with Devereaux being sent to Ireland and his lack of advancement, it mirrors the life of Germanicus, the famous Roman general, who was detailed by Tacitus. Bacon warned Essex not to go down this road. Essex’s reckless moves almost destroyed the plans of the Rosy Cross and Freemasonry and their utopia.
Ovid’s Metamorpheses by Golding - Wikimedia Commons
Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 AD), one of the greatest Roman poets, was very influential on Philip Sidney, Francis Bacon and their Rosicrucian/Masonic circle. The Metamorphoses, Latin for "Books of Transformations", is a narrative poem that is considered Ovid’s best work. He uses alchemical imagery in the book which emphasized that religion, philosophy, magic, and mathematics were woven together. This Hermetic philosophy suggests there’s one simple formula for immortality. Transmutation is a key element in the stories, as it is in alchemy, and the search for the Philosopher's stone, the “Great Work”. Arthur Golding completed the first English translation of Metamorphosis in 1567. Golding’s nephew, Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, a Spenser/Shakespeare authorship suspect, helped him with some of the work.
Cygnus (Cyncus) – Wikimedia Commons
The “Metamorphoses” inspired many great intellects across Europe. The works of Shakespeare have many references to “Metamorphoses” using the original Latin version which showed a great knowledge and understanding of Ovid's original work. Ovid described the Milky Way as the shining road to Olympus and the palace of Zeus. He describes the story of Cygnus, brother of Phaëthon, who roamed in search of his brother's body when he died after falling to Earth from his sun chariot. Phaëthon's body fell into the River Eridanus. Cygnus threw himself into the water and repeatedly dove to find Phaëthon. In mercy, the gods transformed him into a swan. Phaeton’s sisters mourned and wept so uncontrollably that Zeus turned them into weeping willow trees along the banks of the river. In Ovid's “Metamorphoses”, there are three people named Cygnus, all of whom are transformed into swans. Transformation being the key concept. The Swan is a symbol of transformation and indicates a soul level experience about to commence. This concept of transformation was very appealing to the Rosicrucians/Freemasons.
Virgil - romanoimpero.com
The biggest influence on the Sidney/Bacon group was Vergilius Maro, known simply as Virgil (70 BCE – 19 BCE). The famous Roman was considered the foremost poet of his age. He is best remembered for his epic, the “Aeneid”. There are many similarities between Philip Sidney’s characters and the epic heroes of Virgil. Virgil’s influence is found in the poems and plays of Shakespeare. Francis Bacon talks of Virgil in his “Advancement of Learning” saying, “Neither needed men of so excellent parts to have despaired of a fortune, which the poet Virgil promised himself, and indeed obtained, who got as much glory of eloquence, wit, and learning in the expressing of the observations of husbandry, as of the heroical acts of Aeneas…” It’s noted that Virgil was Bacon’s favorite poet.
Shakespeare Monument – Wikimedia Commons
There is a reference to Virgil on the Shakespeare Funerary monument at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford upon Avon, UK. On the top line of the plaque it states in Latin, “IVDICIO PYLIVM, GENIO SOCRATEM, ARTE MARONEM,…” which translates to: "A Pylian in judgement, a Socrates in genius, a Maro in art," comparing Shakespeare to Nestor, the wise King of Pylos, to the Greek philosopher Socrates, and to the Roman poet Virgil. Many researchers of the plaque believe Francis Bacon was responsible for its design although he is not honoring William Shakespeare. As Petter Amundsen discovered, there is a pentagon that can be formed within the plaque that spells the name BACON. The exact date of the plaque is unknown, but it is believed to have been around 1618.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World
The swan is the emblem of poetical dignity, purity, and grace. The swan is associated with poetry because of Orpheus, the greatest poet and musician of the Greeks, as well as the founder of the Orphic Mysteries. He was one of the Argonauts, traveling in the company of Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Being associated with the Swan was a great honor, only bestowed to those of great prominence. The Greek poet Homer (750 BC.) was called the Swan of Meander. The Roman poet Virgil (70-29 BCE) was called the Swan of Mantua. The English poet Shakespeare (1564-1616) was called The Swan of Avon. The French poet François Fenelon was called The Swan of Cambray (1651-1715). The Italian poet Count Francesco Algarotti was called The Swan of Padua (1712-1764). The attributes of these men point to their identification as “The Swan” and being the image of the divinely inspired poet.
New Atlantis – Francis Bacon
In a remarkable comparison, Virgil's death left his epic “Aeneid” incomplete with some of the lines unfinished. Ovid’s “Fasti”, was left unfinished. Philip Sidney’s “Arcadia” was left unfinished, and Francis Bacon’s “New Atlantis” was also unfinished. Coincidence, or a carefully planned detail to show reverence and a connection between the authors?
Join us next week as we continue with Virgil and how a specific part of his Eclogues, were the inspiration of work on Oak Island.
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