What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chalice of Magdalene: The Search for the Cup That Held the Blood of Christ
Reveals the discovery of an artifact that many experts believe may be the Holy Grail
• Traces the journey of the Grail from the Holy Land to Rome and eventually to a ruined chapel in Shropshire, England
• Uncovers new evidence identifying the historical King Arthur and his connection to the Holy Grail
The popular Arthurian stories of the Middle Ages depict the Holy Grail as Christ’s cup from the Last Supper, which was believed to have been endowed with miraculous healing powers and the ability to give eternal life to whoever drank from it. A much earlier tradition, however, claimed the Grail was the vessel used by Mary Magdalene to collect Christ’s blood when he appeared to her after rising from the tomb. While many vessels were claimed to have been the true Grail, there was only one thought to have been the chalice used by Mary. From Jesus’ empty tomb, where it remained for almost 400 years, this holy relic known as the Marian Chalice was taken to Rome by the mother of the first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. It was then smuggled from Rome in 410 A.D., according to the fifth-century historian Olympiodorus, to save it from the barbarians who sacked the city. Well into the Middle Ages legend persisted that it had been taken to safety in Britain, the last outpost of Roman civilization in Western Europe.
This journey to England, and what happened to the Chalice there, is the focus of this book. Graham Phillips’s research uncovers the secret legacy of an ancient noble family over generations and a trail of clues hidden in the English countryside that lead to a mysterious grotto, a forgotten attic, and the lost chalice. In tracing the relic, Phillips offers the inside story behind an astonishing adventure that results in the identification of the historical King Arthur and the location of one of the most powerful symbols in Western tradition.
• Traces the journey of the Grail from the Holy Land to Rome and eventually to a ruined chapel in Shropshire, England
• Uncovers new evidence identifying the historical King Arthur and his connection to the Holy Grail
The popular Arthurian stories of the Middle Ages depict the Holy Grail as Christ’s cup from the Last Supper, which was believed to have been endowed with miraculous healing powers and the ability to give eternal life to whoever drank from it. A much earlier tradition, however, claimed the Grail was the vessel used by Mary Magdalene to collect Christ’s blood when he appeared to her after rising from the tomb. While many vessels were claimed to have been the true Grail, there was only one thought to have been the chalice used by Mary. From Jesus’ empty tomb, where it remained for almost 400 years, this holy relic known as the Marian Chalice was taken to Rome by the mother of the first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. It was then smuggled from Rome in 410 A.D., according to the fifth-century historian Olympiodorus, to save it from the barbarians who sacked the city. Well into the Middle Ages legend persisted that it had been taken to safety in Britain, the last outpost of Roman civilization in Western Europe.
This journey to England, and what happened to the Chalice there, is the focus of this book. Graham Phillips’s research uncovers the secret legacy of an ancient noble family over generations and a trail of clues hidden in the English countryside that lead to a mysterious grotto, a forgotten attic, and the lost chalice. In tracing the relic, Phillips offers the inside story behind an astonishing adventure that results in the identification of the historical King Arthur and the location of one of the most powerful symbols in Western tradition.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2004
5 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Graham Phillips
31 books75 followersGraham Phillips is a British author.
Phillips has a background working as a reporter for BBC radio and as a magazine editor.
Wikipedia - Graham Phillips
Phillips has a background working as a reporter for BBC radio and as a magazine editor.
Wikipedia - Graham Phillips
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2021
I am really sorry I did not read or hear about this when the book came out, because I am sure some of my friends at the time would have loved to read it too.
The author, after some missteps, finally locates the tiny jar that was reputed to be the cup of Mary Magdalene. He believes it is the cup that help the blood of Jesus, collected when he hung on the cross -- and later entrusted to the keeping of King Arthur.
Yeah, he also tracks down who he believes was the real King Arthur... Arthur being a nickname that means 'bear', not a given name. AND the real Robin Hood, so how's that for a triple header?
All very convincing information and an absorbing read.
The author, after some missteps, finally locates the tiny jar that was reputed to be the cup of Mary Magdalene. He believes it is the cup that help the blood of Jesus, collected when he hung on the cross -- and later entrusted to the keeping of King Arthur.
Yeah, he also tracks down who he believes was the real King Arthur... Arthur being a nickname that means 'bear', not a given name. AND the real Robin Hood, so how's that for a triple header?
All very convincing information and an absorbing read.
October 28, 2022
I'm relatively sure, based on other sources, that most scholars would not agree with the conclusions drawn by Mr. Phillips as relate to the chalice story.
Going back to and establishing an historical King Arthur through Robin Hood to present day descendants of that line seems a little tenuous in places.
However, it is a good read (and a good detective story) and there are some very plausible theories put forth. Whether or not it is historically accurate in its conclusions is something we probably will never know for sure.
Going back to and establishing an historical King Arthur through Robin Hood to present day descendants of that line seems a little tenuous in places.
However, it is a good read (and a good detective story) and there are some very plausible theories put forth. Whether or not it is historically accurate in its conclusions is something we probably will never know for sure.
January 23, 2013
The information was well documented. I really enjoyed reading this. I want more!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews