The Rosslyn Ground Scans - John Ritchie Interview - Part Three

Continued From Part Two

THM: Indeed he was. You have said that the equipment you are to use is capable of taking readings up to one mile beneath the surface of the earth. Do you anticipate the need to approach anywhere close to these depths?

JR: No, we do not anticipate this depth, however it is good for covering horizontal distances, for example the beams can be directed under the chapel from the brae that surrounds it, without damaging even a blade of grass.

THM: In the event that the surveys discover something beneath the chapel or under the grounds surrounding it, do you think that this will prompt a greater desire to excavate the area and how do you anticipate this would be met by the Rosslyn Chapel Trust?

JR: Obviously I cannot speak for Rosslyn Chapel Trust Ltd. nor would I wish to. We are aware of the possible Pandora's box scenario, which could emerge from our Scan. It is knowledge we seek, not material treasure. We have an overall government body in Scotland called Historic Scotland, who have the responsibility to grant permission for any excavation of any kind. So in this we have a fail-safe. We have absolutely no wish to excavate, merely to clarify some of the myths that have grown up due to the proliferation of books and television programs.

Indeed the myths and theories have grown at such a pace, I sometimes get the feeling that one day I will walk into the chapel and find it staffed by the crew of the Marie Celeste. Because of the fragility of the chapel, it would be very unwise to excavate. The scan project would also bring media attention, which would benefit the whole area, including Rosslyn Chapel Trust Ltd.

THM: John turning our attention from the potential secrets that lie beneath the chapel and its grounds, you have gone on record as saying that Rosslyn is literally a book in stone. If I may quote you from a recent newspaper interview: "Rosslyn is an amazing building. It is a book in stone but, because the symbolism which is written into the chapel is in a medieval language, we haven't even cracked the introduction page yet," As such, is it your belief that as much of Rosslyn's mystery is above the soil as it is below?

JR: Treasure ,Gold , Fantastic wealth? No I do not think so, the real treasure is in the carvings of the chapel, and there is so much to learn and decipher. Yes correct, for a long time I have called the chapel a book in Stone and for the most part we have not even translated the introduction. We realise that the chapel is multi layered. Animism, overlays biblical philosophy, overlays history, overlays astrology, all written or should I say, carved in long forgotten Mediaeval symbolism, it is an enigmatic onion of a building. Everybody has their theories as we have witnessed from the plethoric publications of books on Rosslyn claiming to have found the answer to the Rosslyn enigma. I am sure the chapel smiles even more enigmatically.

THM: In 1998, when we were both interviewed for A&E's "Sacred Societies Documentary" we both were opposed to the theory put forth by Dr. Keith Laidler (Head of God) that the green men carved in Rosslyn represented severed heads revered by the Templars. If I may quote you once again from the newspaper article: "We have to go back to the 15th century and read it with a medieval eye to understand what it all means. All these symbols relate to events in history. It is a book created in stone, which brings in all the apostolic religion, laid over by an astrological form which tracks the seasons, and the plants in the seasons." This comment would certainly explain the proliferation of Green men imagery found in the building as emanating from them one finds a great deal of foliage. Can you enlighten our readers on some of the other vegetative carvings in the chapel?

Continue To Part Four