Topic: British Museum

After disappearing for centuries, the Sola Busca deck resurfaced in the hands of the Milanese Cerbaloni family in the 19th century. Photographic images of the cards were sent to the British Museum in 1909, where they influenced Pamela Colman Smith's design of the popular Rider-Waite Tarot deck. In 2009, the Italian Ministry of Culture purchased the original deck for 800,000 euros, placing it in the Brera Gallery in Milan.

Greg Carlwood plays devil's advocate, suggesting that the lack of primary sources is due to the fragility of ancient materials and the late invention of the printing press. John Le Bon responds by explaining his transition from a fan of Ancient Egyptian mythology (citing the show Stargate) to a total skeptic. He acknowledges that historical narratives provide meaning to people even if they lack empirical evidence.

After disappearing for centuries, the Sola Busca deck surfaced in the hands of the Milanese Marquis Cerbelloni in the 19th century. Photographic images of the cards were sent to the British Museum in 1909, where they were studied by Pamela Colman Smith. Smith subsequently incorporated elements of the Sola Busca imagery into the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, unconsciously propagating these esoteric symbols into modern tarot.

Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, a 19th-century orientalist, argued that the Templars practiced Ophite Gnosticism, a sect associated with snake worship. His research, which has been largely dismissed by modern scholars who cannot read the original Latin, describes bizarre relics featuring androgynous beings and ritualistic orgies. Tracy Twyman successfully tracked down two of these controversial artifacts in the British Museum's private archives.

Greg Carlwood reflects on the interview, highlighting Tracy Twyman's effort in paying the British Museum to photograph rare Templar artifacts. He notes the recurring appearance of the name Abraxas, from Gnostic seals to coffee shops in Amsterdam. Carlwood also mentions his recent appearance on the Free Your Mind podcast and shares an archival interview with comedian Joey Diaz available for Plus members.