Shadow of Solomon: The Lost Secret of the Freemasons Revealed

by Laurence Gardner

What ancient mystery lies behind the creation of Freemasonry a lost secret so powerful that the Brotherhood itself has been on a quest to find it for three hundred years? For those of us lacking the resources to excavate occult secrets hidden beneath the Louvre or the Rosslyn Chapel, or within CIA Headquarters, The Shadow of Solomon is the next best thing. These pages reveal the true secrets of Solomon, from masonry to magic. Laurence Gardner's personal experience as both a Templar and a mason makes this fascinating journey through the history of the Bible, Knights Templar, Freemasons, and everything that followed all the more striking and immediate. Is it an accident that the world's attention should be turned to these men and their strange lexicon of symbols and secrets RIGHT NOW? What will happen when we understand that there is something we all have in common that is greater than nation or religion? Freemasons are often said to be the world's most influential secret society, yet the story of this enigmatic fraternity is wrapped in mystery and intrigue. Their involvement in shaping political world events has stretched over centuries, even to the extent that masonic principles lie beneath the establishment of the United States and its Constitution. The Shadow of Solomon is the definitive insider's account of the startling truth behind masonic history and the centurieslong search that the fraternity has undertaken to find its own lost secrets.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Alternate History, Ancient History

408 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2005

About the author

Laurence Gardner was a prominent author and speaker in the alternative history genre of research and writing.
--from the author's website

Reviews

[Inge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. It was far more informative then the others I red about the subject. Sadly it reads like a history course: dates everywhere, a lot of footnotes (and those are in the back explained), more sources then there ever should be in a book (around 50 pages), it is not reading fluently...

Yes to the knowledge of the freemasons but I would have preferred better writing and a nice story this is more an analytic CANVAS or VRT-program about politics. I definitely learned a few things but this is one of the first books where I skipped pages to things I wanted to know and things I know that weren't so important. There were a lot of chapters so skipping is possible. Something are way overthought, it could have been fiction...
I was happy to read it but as you can see there were some struggles... I would advice only to read if you are really interested and when you're planning to make an effort because it isn't an easy read.

[Sammy Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although The Shadow of Solomon is a complex piece of work it is a wonderful collection of a vast array of theory. The author's dedication and detail is impeccable. Yes, he is a conspiracy theorist, but he goes to great lengths to back up his hypotheses.

Much of this book surrounds around Secrets from within Freemasonry. Mr. Gardner traces lengths of the organization as well as beliefs back to Solomon, and Ancient Egypt. It reads like a rich text book with bits of the author's fabulous sarcasm scattered throughout. For those interested in the subject this is a wonderful read.

[Chris Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book presents itself as a historical work when it is really a stitched together quilt of speculation that leads to somewhat improbable conclusions. It is very similar to reading a book that speculates on the assignation of JFK. Had the author chosen to present the material as a historical novel or conspiracy revelation I might rate it higher, but as a historical read, one star.

[Dan McGirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engagingly written and well-footnoted. Discusses some interesting aspects of the development of Freemasonry and its influence on history, esp. in Scotland, England and the American Revolution. I love a good conspiracy theory and enjoy this genre of speculative history. I would put this book more in the category of dwelling on obscure aspects of history rather than proposing some way out there theory of "what REALLY happened that THEY don't want you to know".

Well, except for the part about the ancient Egyptians and their magic levitating white gold powder, of course.

[Nox Prognatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regardless of what people have said regarding Gardner and his position on Michael La Fosse. Read this very informative book with an open mind and you will learn a lot. This is not pseudo history, but a very compelling history of Freemasonry from within. It is a well researched and written book covering history of Freemasonry, mysteries and the influence of these on the World. Including on the monarchies and Governments of UK and the founders of America. Make your own mind up.

[Mike Luoma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this one. Gardner reveals himself to be a true Jacobite in this retrospective of Freemasonry which is highly sympathetic to the Stuarts and the Scots. Also ties in his theories from "Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark", which he now argues was also the "lost secret of the masons." Fun read if you don't take him too seriously.

[Clive Walker]

A thought provoking read detailing the activities of the knights templars and suggesting that the secrets once known by them are now lost . Will the Freemasons re-discover what knowledge was found beneath Jerusalem?

[vahid]

I am looking for a copy or PDF file of this newly released book.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read, informative and interesting. Well researched.