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Mythos Christos
WILL A YOUNG SCHOLAR UNCOVER CHRISTIANITY'S DARKEST SECRET? Alexandria, Egypt / AD 391 - When the great temple of Serapis and its library annex are destroyed by the Christian mob, the Neoplatonist philosopher Hypatia becomes concerned the Great Library might suffer the same fate. She vows to save as much of the ancient knowledge as she can, especially certain telling documents concerning the origins of Christianity. But rather than merely hiding the heretical scrolls and codices in desert caves and hoping for the best, Hypatia contrives a far more ingenious plan. She sets up an elaborate sequence of burials, each of which is governed by actual ancient linguistic and geometrical riddles which must be solved to gain access. Only one steeped in Platonic mysticism would be capable of finding and unlocking the buried secrets.
Oxford, England / June, 2006 - American Rhodes scholar Lex Thomasson is sent to Alexandria to aid a mysterious Vatican group known only as "The Commission." They require a specialist in ancient languages to solve a sequence of Greek Mystery puzzles in what soon becomes evident is Hypatia's ancient treasure hunt. The Oxford paleographer demonstrates his unique talents by unlocking the secrets along the trail. It does not take long, however, for him to become suspicious of the Commission's true motives, and the trail becomes a trial fraught with danger. The scene alternates between the two time periods. In both, assassins lurk and fanatics abound. And all along, religious Faith and historical Truth struggle for supremacy.
Oxford, England / June, 2006 - American Rhodes scholar Lex Thomasson is sent to Alexandria to aid a mysterious Vatican group known only as "The Commission." They require a specialist in ancient languages to solve a sequence of Greek Mystery puzzles in what soon becomes evident is Hypatia's ancient treasure hunt. The Oxford paleographer demonstrates his unique talents by unlocking the secrets along the trail. It does not take long, however, for him to become suspicious of the Commission's true motives, and the trail becomes a trial fraught with danger. The scene alternates between the two time periods. In both, assassins lurk and fanatics abound. And all along, religious Faith and historical Truth struggle for supremacy.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Edwin Herbert
1 book43 followersEdwin Herbert is president of his local freethought society, an avid reader, writer, and chess enthusiast, and he actively promotes science and skepticism. He works as an optometrist in southern Wisconsin.
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April 28, 2023
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Some people think faith untied to religions, is untied to God. They have trouble absorbing contradictions to familiar doctrine. Every spiritual source demonstrates that wisdom and love are the purposes of our souls. Edwin Herbert’s fictional adventure full of factual religious provenance is enlightening to read. “Mythos Christos” was self-published in 2016 but is excellent. It is a heavy 485 page trade paperback that blends archaeological adventure, with the fifth century philosopher, Hypatia, orchestrating it.
A Vatican caretaker recognizes theological symbols in basement storage: a clue to undiscovered wonders of antiquity. The Vatican doesn’t mind giving them to the department of heritage; as long as there are no writings that quash the position of Christianity. PhD graduate, Lex, is a connoisseur of Greek and Roman theology and history, solving the puzzles at each subterranean door. But he does not know with whom he is dealing. In Hypatia’s scenes, we learn how a Christian Emperor quashed other religions by destruction, concealment, and death. Proof of borrowing “Sun God” imagery and dates for our “Son of God”, did not change my connection with Jesus. I part company with Edwin there: one of those people who feels that an embellishing church means there is no such thing as Jesus.
There is a thrilling chain of mysteries around Alexandria and a compassionate story of Hypatia and other persecuted Sun God citizens. This novel and its insights would garner 5 stars, if not for a pointless assault scene and Lex not monitoring an evildoer, who destroyed archives preserved for centuries. Edwin was also heavy-handed in portraying we of spiritual faith as stupid. He was very successful at conveying sadness for wiped out, peaceful religions. It makes readers hope that interested parties will vindicate them by seeking out in reality, the true origin of spiritual faith.
Some people think faith untied to religions, is untied to God. They have trouble absorbing contradictions to familiar doctrine. Every spiritual source demonstrates that wisdom and love are the purposes of our souls. Edwin Herbert’s fictional adventure full of factual religious provenance is enlightening to read. “Mythos Christos” was self-published in 2016 but is excellent. It is a heavy 485 page trade paperback that blends archaeological adventure, with the fifth century philosopher, Hypatia, orchestrating it.
A Vatican caretaker recognizes theological symbols in basement storage: a clue to undiscovered wonders of antiquity. The Vatican doesn’t mind giving them to the department of heritage; as long as there are no writings that quash the position of Christianity. PhD graduate, Lex, is a connoisseur of Greek and Roman theology and history, solving the puzzles at each subterranean door. But he does not know with whom he is dealing. In Hypatia’s scenes, we learn how a Christian Emperor quashed other religions by destruction, concealment, and death. Proof of borrowing “Sun God” imagery and dates for our “Son of God”, did not change my connection with Jesus. I part company with Edwin there: one of those people who feels that an embellishing church means there is no such thing as Jesus.
There is a thrilling chain of mysteries around Alexandria and a compassionate story of Hypatia and other persecuted Sun God citizens. This novel and its insights would garner 5 stars, if not for a pointless assault scene and Lex not monitoring an evildoer, who destroyed archives preserved for centuries. Edwin was also heavy-handed in portraying we of spiritual faith as stupid. He was very successful at conveying sadness for wiped out, peaceful religions. It makes readers hope that interested parties will vindicate them by seeking out in reality, the true origin of spiritual faith.
February 25, 2017
Mythos Christos is a historical treasure hunt thriller reminiscent of Dan Brown. The basic premise is both simple and compelling: certain ancient documents threaten to reveal that Jesus never existed. The Vatican seeks to destroy this embarrassing evidence, while brave young Oxford scholar Lex Thomasson works towards bringing the truth to light. This, along with historical background flashbacks, makes for a complex, engaging and intellectually challenging read.
My enjoyment of the book continued unalloyed until page 472, where I spotted a passing reference to a supposed Jewish practice of human sacrifice. I found this very jarring not just because human sacrifice was never part of Jewish rituals in any way or form, but also because that paragraph was, in my opinion, wholly unnecessary to the plot.
I realize this is a work of historical fiction, not an academic paper, but I do believe there is a difference between a muddled timeline or anachronistic architectural design and a fictional reference (which many readers might not be able to discern from fact) that throws a black shadow over an entire practicing faith.
It might be petty to focus on one paragraph out of a 500+ page book, but I felt compelled to mention this inaccuracy for the sake of any uninformed readers.
Nevertheless, I consider this book one of the most interesting reads I have come across lately, and recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, archeology and religious conspiracy.
My enjoyment of the book continued unalloyed until page 472, where I spotted a passing reference to a supposed Jewish practice of human sacrifice. I found this very jarring not just because human sacrifice was never part of Jewish rituals in any way or form, but also because that paragraph was, in my opinion, wholly unnecessary to the plot.
I realize this is a work of historical fiction, not an academic paper, but I do believe there is a difference between a muddled timeline or anachronistic architectural design and a fictional reference (which many readers might not be able to discern from fact) that throws a black shadow over an entire practicing faith.
It might be petty to focus on one paragraph out of a 500+ page book, but I felt compelled to mention this inaccuracy for the sake of any uninformed readers.
Nevertheless, I consider this book one of the most interesting reads I have come across lately, and recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, archeology and religious conspiracy.
February 16, 2017
This is a very good novel that is set in two time lines in what could be a parallel world and as the scenes unfolds in each world the tension in the story builds making it hard to stop reading. I do feel that anyone who gets upset with novels about Jesus and a myth should leave this of there list, although it is easy to read and enjoy without losing any your own persona believes.
I love stories set in the ancient world and Egypt is one of my favorites. Set in 5th centaury Egypt, Hypatia is a mathematician and philosopher at the Temple of Isis, where the most sacred, valuable texts and scrolls of the religion are stored. The temple is under siege by the Romans who now insist that Christianity is the only religion and everything else is blasphemy (what a change from just a few centauries ago) and she is charged with hiding the texts.
In the current timeline set in Alexandria, Egypt in 2006, Lex Thomasson, an American Rhodes Scholar is contacted by a mysterious Vatican team, “The Commission” who are trying to hide their dig and finds from the Egyptian Antiquities Commission. They need help because Hypatia left a series of clues about where the texts and scrolls were hidden and he helps them with the clues she left hoping to keep the texts safe and available to others for study. Lex follows the clues not realizing that he is working for an organization that wants those documents destroyed or hidden from the world (for reader who like to solve puzzles the Gematria Key is included). There are other ironies in the novel that I’ll leave the reader to discover on their own.
If you can read this novel with an open mind, please do so, however, if you are going to give a low review because the book offends you believes please skip it instead of low-balling the book so you don’t feel so guilty for reading it.
5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
I love stories set in the ancient world and Egypt is one of my favorites. Set in 5th centaury Egypt, Hypatia is a mathematician and philosopher at the Temple of Isis, where the most sacred, valuable texts and scrolls of the religion are stored. The temple is under siege by the Romans who now insist that Christianity is the only religion and everything else is blasphemy (what a change from just a few centauries ago) and she is charged with hiding the texts.
In the current timeline set in Alexandria, Egypt in 2006, Lex Thomasson, an American Rhodes Scholar is contacted by a mysterious Vatican team, “The Commission” who are trying to hide their dig and finds from the Egyptian Antiquities Commission. They need help because Hypatia left a series of clues about where the texts and scrolls were hidden and he helps them with the clues she left hoping to keep the texts safe and available to others for study. Lex follows the clues not realizing that he is working for an organization that wants those documents destroyed or hidden from the world (for reader who like to solve puzzles the Gematria Key is included). There are other ironies in the novel that I’ll leave the reader to discover on their own.
If you can read this novel with an open mind, please do so, however, if you are going to give a low review because the book offends you believes please skip it instead of low-balling the book so you don’t feel so guilty for reading it.
5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
February 22, 2017
Book – Mythos Christos
Author – Edwin Herbert
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 530
Cover – Intriguing
POV – 3rd person, multi-character POV
Would I read it again – YES!
Genre – Historical, Thriller, Conspiracy, Crime/Mystery
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
**FOR MY FULL REVIEW, PLEASE SEE AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1JS7...
**
Right from the start, I was intrigued by this story. The blurb and cover made me request it and I wasn't disappointed.
This is PERFECT! Full of realistic situations, adventure, intelligence, wit and flair when needed, it's the perfect conspiracy theorist's dream, a nightmare for the devoutly religious and an amazing adventure into Ancient Egypt, with a modern day tour guide with all the right keys to unlock the past.
Oh, and Herbert? Can we have another one, please? Just one more story for Lex?
~
POV
Most chapters are a single POV, but some require 2-3 to explain events that the main POV can't see or doesn't know about. This is especially important when it comes to thoughts and motivations. For this reason, sometimes we need up to three POV's within one scene/chapter. The changes, however, are made clear within the text and only switch when necessary, such as when the main POV character moves out of a scene but more needs to be told, or a POV precedes the main POV to set the scene of location, situation and companions. The story, though, is never omnipresent in the way that you always become aware of other character's thoughts. It's more of a subtle blend between necessary POV's.
I logged each POV as I was reading and there's a nice chunk of present day POV before we slip into the necessary flashback to 3-500 CE POV. Out of the 85 chapters, a total of 25 are in the 300-400 CE and 51 are in modern day 2006, so there is a very definite focus on the present day adventure, with enough snippets of the past to give us a view of what transpired then.
Each are told not in snippets, but in logical chunks that make sense as you morph from one to another. For example, the Prologue makes sense once you reach Chapter 10 and read the events that transpire there. By Chapter 12 we move into 391 CE to begin Hypatia's story in Ancient Egypt, returning to present day 2006 in Chapter 21. At that point, what we've learned in Hypatia's part of the story makes sense of everything that came before and shows how it all came about without giving away any spoilers to what Lex experiences in 2006. Each part of the story is told in chunks, with the shortest being 2 chapters long (not including the closing chapter)
As I said, this is necessary, because of the way that the story needs to be told. It's one thing to know that there is this large treasure hunt placed out by Hypatia that Lex has been drawn in to solve, but it's another to see it unfold in ancient times, to understand the motivation for the task and the struggles she suffered to get to that point.
~
WRITING
A great deal of research has gone into this, to supply texture, knowledge, a wealth of realism and authenticity. It's not overwhelming in description, info dumps or the technical terms. As someone who has studied history, forensics, archaeology and worked in a museum, although I understand all of these terms, any other reader will be able to read, follow and understand this.
As someone who has studied archaeology, Ancient Egypt and who is a big conspiracy buff, I was scared that I'd know too much and see into all the cracks left over from underwhelming research or attempts to make history seem more magical and sparkly than it really was, or that I'd know too little for the subject area and not be able to tell if it was real or not. I needn't have worried.
The author did such an incredible job of being authentic, knowledgeable and approachable for all – whether the reader knew about the history/procedures or not – that even someone who had no prior knowledge of anything related to the themes of the story – religion, history, archaeology, theology – could follow and understand the story perfectly.
I have discalcula and have trouble dealing with numbers, but even I didn't feel overwhelmed or confused by the constant mathematics included within the solving of the riddles. In fact, the handy printable key that we were warned about before beginning the book (which I downloaded and printed) was immensely helpful. If I'd wanted to check every single calculation, they were all described so clearly as to how they came about and what kind of mathematics they entailed that I could have done so if I wanted to. But I didn't need to. The magic of the facts of the mathematics was that it was all right there on the page for me to work out and understand. The helpful little diagrams inserted in images were also a fantastic resource to help my understanding.
For an ARC, I have to admit that there were very few editing issues. The only things I noticed were a missing quotation mark or two. For a book that is 530 pages (in my PDF copy) that is remarkable!
I loved the way that the flashbacks were used and explored. They allowed me to connect to Lex's discoveries in a very visceral way. When he wonders who last saw/did or experienced the events of his quest, I knew the answers and it gave me a sweet, fluttery connection that the historian in me loves.
The amount of research and planning needed to devise the locking mechanisms and their codes is mind-bogglingly staggering and totally genius.
I love the addition of quotes at the head of chapters, offering a diversity of sources and quotes relating to God and the mission. Each one added a little bit of extra insight or understanding or the material we were about to read and explore with Lex.
~
OVERALL
I didn't want to finish this book and yet, I did. I needed desperately to know what happened, but at the same time, I didn't want it to be over. There was so much in here that spoke to me, as a person, a historical, an Ancient Egyptian fan, a reader and a writer. It spoke to all the academic parts of me that make me who I am and I never wanted it to end.
This was one large but entertaining read full of adventure, excitement, history and passion that touched on the very cornerstones of humanity and challenged every strongest held belief that we humans hold dear. Our faith. Whether that's for religion or something else, this story will challenge you in all kind of ways. If you're deeply religious, prepare to have your beliefs chopped up, churned into butter and spat out into a pretty cupcake, because they'll come out looking so different to how they went in.
One very large part of the story is the proof that religion and religious disagreements are the biggest cause of pain and bloodshed in the human world. Religion, more than any other belief, causes more evil and violence than anything else. But another part is that humans hold our beliefs dear and God help anyone who dares to take that away.
If you like The Da Vince Code, Lara Croft, National Treasure and/or Indiana Jones then you'll love this. It's the perfect blend of intellect, conspiracy and adventure for any historian, archaeologist, theologist or just any reader who loves a good conspiracy and who doesn't mind challenging the concepts of Christianity and religion. If you do mind, then you might find that the well researched and intelligent arguments leave you questioning everything or at least with a more open mind than when you started.
If nothing else, you'll feel and think. Because that's what this book does. It makes you care, belief and feel for the characters and their quest. It makes you question and calculate and wonder over every small detail.
Prepare to question everything.
~
Author – Edwin Herbert
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 530
Cover – Intriguing
POV – 3rd person, multi-character POV
Would I read it again – YES!
Genre – Historical, Thriller, Conspiracy, Crime/Mystery
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
**FOR MY FULL REVIEW, PLEASE SEE AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1JS7...
**
Right from the start, I was intrigued by this story. The blurb and cover made me request it and I wasn't disappointed.
This is PERFECT! Full of realistic situations, adventure, intelligence, wit and flair when needed, it's the perfect conspiracy theorist's dream, a nightmare for the devoutly religious and an amazing adventure into Ancient Egypt, with a modern day tour guide with all the right keys to unlock the past.
Oh, and Herbert? Can we have another one, please? Just one more story for Lex?
~
POV
Most chapters are a single POV, but some require 2-3 to explain events that the main POV can't see or doesn't know about. This is especially important when it comes to thoughts and motivations. For this reason, sometimes we need up to three POV's within one scene/chapter. The changes, however, are made clear within the text and only switch when necessary, such as when the main POV character moves out of a scene but more needs to be told, or a POV precedes the main POV to set the scene of location, situation and companions. The story, though, is never omnipresent in the way that you always become aware of other character's thoughts. It's more of a subtle blend between necessary POV's.
I logged each POV as I was reading and there's a nice chunk of present day POV before we slip into the necessary flashback to 3-500 CE POV. Out of the 85 chapters, a total of 25 are in the 300-400 CE and 51 are in modern day 2006, so there is a very definite focus on the present day adventure, with enough snippets of the past to give us a view of what transpired then.
Each are told not in snippets, but in logical chunks that make sense as you morph from one to another. For example, the Prologue makes sense once you reach Chapter 10 and read the events that transpire there. By Chapter 12 we move into 391 CE to begin Hypatia's story in Ancient Egypt, returning to present day 2006 in Chapter 21. At that point, what we've learned in Hypatia's part of the story makes sense of everything that came before and shows how it all came about without giving away any spoilers to what Lex experiences in 2006. Each part of the story is told in chunks, with the shortest being 2 chapters long (not including the closing chapter)
As I said, this is necessary, because of the way that the story needs to be told. It's one thing to know that there is this large treasure hunt placed out by Hypatia that Lex has been drawn in to solve, but it's another to see it unfold in ancient times, to understand the motivation for the task and the struggles she suffered to get to that point.
~
WRITING
A great deal of research has gone into this, to supply texture, knowledge, a wealth of realism and authenticity. It's not overwhelming in description, info dumps or the technical terms. As someone who has studied history, forensics, archaeology and worked in a museum, although I understand all of these terms, any other reader will be able to read, follow and understand this.
As someone who has studied archaeology, Ancient Egypt and who is a big conspiracy buff, I was scared that I'd know too much and see into all the cracks left over from underwhelming research or attempts to make history seem more magical and sparkly than it really was, or that I'd know too little for the subject area and not be able to tell if it was real or not. I needn't have worried.
The author did such an incredible job of being authentic, knowledgeable and approachable for all – whether the reader knew about the history/procedures or not – that even someone who had no prior knowledge of anything related to the themes of the story – religion, history, archaeology, theology – could follow and understand the story perfectly.
I have discalcula and have trouble dealing with numbers, but even I didn't feel overwhelmed or confused by the constant mathematics included within the solving of the riddles. In fact, the handy printable key that we were warned about before beginning the book (which I downloaded and printed) was immensely helpful. If I'd wanted to check every single calculation, they were all described so clearly as to how they came about and what kind of mathematics they entailed that I could have done so if I wanted to. But I didn't need to. The magic of the facts of the mathematics was that it was all right there on the page for me to work out and understand. The helpful little diagrams inserted in images were also a fantastic resource to help my understanding.
For an ARC, I have to admit that there were very few editing issues. The only things I noticed were a missing quotation mark or two. For a book that is 530 pages (in my PDF copy) that is remarkable!
I loved the way that the flashbacks were used and explored. They allowed me to connect to Lex's discoveries in a very visceral way. When he wonders who last saw/did or experienced the events of his quest, I knew the answers and it gave me a sweet, fluttery connection that the historian in me loves.
The amount of research and planning needed to devise the locking mechanisms and their codes is mind-bogglingly staggering and totally genius.
I love the addition of quotes at the head of chapters, offering a diversity of sources and quotes relating to God and the mission. Each one added a little bit of extra insight or understanding or the material we were about to read and explore with Lex.
~
OVERALL
I didn't want to finish this book and yet, I did. I needed desperately to know what happened, but at the same time, I didn't want it to be over. There was so much in here that spoke to me, as a person, a historical, an Ancient Egyptian fan, a reader and a writer. It spoke to all the academic parts of me that make me who I am and I never wanted it to end.
This was one large but entertaining read full of adventure, excitement, history and passion that touched on the very cornerstones of humanity and challenged every strongest held belief that we humans hold dear. Our faith. Whether that's for religion or something else, this story will challenge you in all kind of ways. If you're deeply religious, prepare to have your beliefs chopped up, churned into butter and spat out into a pretty cupcake, because they'll come out looking so different to how they went in.
One very large part of the story is the proof that religion and religious disagreements are the biggest cause of pain and bloodshed in the human world. Religion, more than any other belief, causes more evil and violence than anything else. But another part is that humans hold our beliefs dear and God help anyone who dares to take that away.
If you like The Da Vince Code, Lara Croft, National Treasure and/or Indiana Jones then you'll love this. It's the perfect blend of intellect, conspiracy and adventure for any historian, archaeologist, theologist or just any reader who loves a good conspiracy and who doesn't mind challenging the concepts of Christianity and religion. If you do mind, then you might find that the well researched and intelligent arguments leave you questioning everything or at least with a more open mind than when you started.
If nothing else, you'll feel and think. Because that's what this book does. It makes you care, belief and feel for the characters and their quest. It makes you question and calculate and wonder over every small detail.
Prepare to question everything.
~
March 25, 2017
Quick Summary: Utterly captivating! Filled with action, intrigue and academics, Mythos Christos completely blew me away. This book was a whirlwind from beginning to end. The story took me on a temporal ride, present to past and back again. The characters were both dark and light, each with his own sense of purpose. I loved the originality of the story, as well as the constant air of mystery that permeated my breathing space. I confess that I was delighted by the approach to antiquities. Bravo!
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: Mystery/Thriller
Keeper: Yes
Re-read: Yes
Want More: Yes
Special Note: A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. The critique I have submitted expresses my own thoughts and opinions. I was neither expected to give a positive review, nor was I compensated for it.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: Mystery/Thriller
Keeper: Yes
Re-read: Yes
Want More: Yes
Special Note: A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. The critique I have submitted expresses my own thoughts and opinions. I was neither expected to give a positive review, nor was I compensated for it.
January 26, 2017
5 Plus Stars
It’s hard to believe that this is Edwin Herbert’s debut novel. It has such fine writing, plotting and research. The scholarship is amazing! This book is one of the works looking at the true origins of the Jesus story. Its premise is one of the more contested ideas that the Jesus of Nazareth story is one that is based in myth, not fact.
In the 5th Century CE Hypatia, a philosopher and mathematician of the Temple of Isis is tasked with hiding the most valuable texts/scrolls of her religion while their temple is under siege by the Romans who purport Christianity to be the only religion, and that all else is heresy. Ah, how many wars have been fought in the name of religion? They are too numerous to count.
The book goes back and forth from the 5th Century to the almost present, giving a detailed and exciting account of the circumstances that were present in the older era that brought about the hiding of the treasures and the almost present day search for the same. Imagine the uncovering of what remains of the lost Great Library of Alexandria!
In 2006 in Alexandria, American Rhodes Scholar Lex Thomasson is contracted to aid a mysterious Vatican team called “the Commission” in solving a series of quests while at the same time trying to hide their dig from the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Each solved puzzle leads to more information, but what is the true source and resolution of those quests? As their search goes along, Lex becomes uncomfortable with the warnings cited by Hypatia to not trust just anyone with the knowledge they are uncovering. The naive and sometimes too trusting Lex gets an education in skullduggery and backstabbing.
Here enter the bad guys. The search continues and the chase becomes deadly serious.
This is a thrilling, edge of your seat ride that examines myth and legend. I can’t say enough about the research involved in writing such a book. I liked it even more than Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
“He’ll reap what he has sown...”
I want to send a huge thank you to Netgalley and Createspace/Smith Publicity for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable book to read.
It’s hard to believe that this is Edwin Herbert’s debut novel. It has such fine writing, plotting and research. The scholarship is amazing! This book is one of the works looking at the true origins of the Jesus story. Its premise is one of the more contested ideas that the Jesus of Nazareth story is one that is based in myth, not fact.
In the 5th Century CE Hypatia, a philosopher and mathematician of the Temple of Isis is tasked with hiding the most valuable texts/scrolls of her religion while their temple is under siege by the Romans who purport Christianity to be the only religion, and that all else is heresy. Ah, how many wars have been fought in the name of religion? They are too numerous to count.
The book goes back and forth from the 5th Century to the almost present, giving a detailed and exciting account of the circumstances that were present in the older era that brought about the hiding of the treasures and the almost present day search for the same. Imagine the uncovering of what remains of the lost Great Library of Alexandria!
In 2006 in Alexandria, American Rhodes Scholar Lex Thomasson is contracted to aid a mysterious Vatican team called “the Commission” in solving a series of quests while at the same time trying to hide their dig from the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Each solved puzzle leads to more information, but what is the true source and resolution of those quests? As their search goes along, Lex becomes uncomfortable with the warnings cited by Hypatia to not trust just anyone with the knowledge they are uncovering. The naive and sometimes too trusting Lex gets an education in skullduggery and backstabbing.
Here enter the bad guys. The search continues and the chase becomes deadly serious.
This is a thrilling, edge of your seat ride that examines myth and legend. I can’t say enough about the research involved in writing such a book. I liked it even more than Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
“He’ll reap what he has sown...”
I want to send a huge thank you to Netgalley and Createspace/Smith Publicity for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable book to read.
February 28, 2017
I am a huge fan of mythology. As a reader, the name of this novel drew me in. I immediately googled the author’s website to learn about the book. I also read other reviews on Amazon which just fueled my interest and curiosity.
Edwin Herbert’s website is packed with interesting information, research tidbits and articles, as well as an interview podcast. It made me excited to get into a fictional story built around real historical figures and facts.
There are two ongoing storylines. One in present day and one in the past in the early days of Christianity. Edwin Herbert does a great job of blending the two stories and the intertwined connections.
The story starts in Rome Italy, modern-day 2006, in a most clandestine way, high intrigue and deadly secrets. It picks up in Oxford England at Oxford University following an American student, Lex Thomasson, there on a master’s scholarship studying ancient history and languages hoping to enter the doctoral program. Lex impresses his Oxford professor Ignatius Morely who recommends him for a paid translation assignment in Egypt so starts the present day adventure.
The second storyline starts in Alexandria Egypt 5th century at the Library of Alexandria with historically known figure Hypatia, a pagan and mathematician, in a very relatable scene of scholarly commandery which plunges straight into action in this venerable time.
The story knits together playing out in a worldwide treasure hunt of puzzles, riddles, and mysteries that propel a complicated story forward. It holds surprising twist, makes you think and likable characters that keep’s you turning the pages.
This was another great read for me. I will definitely watch for more from this author and followed his Amazon page so I can stay updated.
Edwin Herbert’s website is packed with interesting information, research tidbits and articles, as well as an interview podcast. It made me excited to get into a fictional story built around real historical figures and facts.
There are two ongoing storylines. One in present day and one in the past in the early days of Christianity. Edwin Herbert does a great job of blending the two stories and the intertwined connections.
The story starts in Rome Italy, modern-day 2006, in a most clandestine way, high intrigue and deadly secrets. It picks up in Oxford England at Oxford University following an American student, Lex Thomasson, there on a master’s scholarship studying ancient history and languages hoping to enter the doctoral program. Lex impresses his Oxford professor Ignatius Morely who recommends him for a paid translation assignment in Egypt so starts the present day adventure.
The second storyline starts in Alexandria Egypt 5th century at the Library of Alexandria with historically known figure Hypatia, a pagan and mathematician, in a very relatable scene of scholarly commandery which plunges straight into action in this venerable time.
The story knits together playing out in a worldwide treasure hunt of puzzles, riddles, and mysteries that propel a complicated story forward. It holds surprising twist, makes you think and likable characters that keep’s you turning the pages.
This was another great read for me. I will definitely watch for more from this author and followed his Amazon page so I can stay updated.
March 10, 2017
A very well written novel that spans two different time periods; however, the two time periods weave together a seamless story of a modern treasure hunt for ancient artifacts that may have been spared before the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria that may destroy the foundation of the Christian faith. Not surprisingly, the church is attempting to obtain and destroy these artifacts each step of the way—both way back then and now.
The present-day protagonist, Lex, is a brilliant student who has to decipher riddles, codes, and puzzles, and the author details how Lex achieves each. The protagonist from the past is also brilliant, but she is a bit more interesting. Hypatia is a well-educated scholar who teaches and influences the masses. She rejects the church and sets on a mission to save as much written work as she can before the church destroys anything and everything that challenges their faith and control over the masses. She creates and sets up these puzzles with some help from other interesting characters.
But the story doesn’t just focus on the academic puzzles; there’s plenty of action and danger along the way. Although a slightly more difficult (or time-consuming) read than a Dan Brown novel, it was well worth the extra effort and time. The only downfall in the e-version that I read was that the non-English characters were not properly transferred so I could not see those characters. But not being a classics scholar, I wouldn’t have known or recognized them anyway. If you are not interested in the academic puzzles or codes (including some geometry and other mathematics), then stick to Dan Brown. But if you want a deeper story with an equal emphasis on the scholastic hunt and the Indiana Jones adventure, then pick up Mythos Christos. 4 out of 5 stars.
The present-day protagonist, Lex, is a brilliant student who has to decipher riddles, codes, and puzzles, and the author details how Lex achieves each. The protagonist from the past is also brilliant, but she is a bit more interesting. Hypatia is a well-educated scholar who teaches and influences the masses. She rejects the church and sets on a mission to save as much written work as she can before the church destroys anything and everything that challenges their faith and control over the masses. She creates and sets up these puzzles with some help from other interesting characters.
But the story doesn’t just focus on the academic puzzles; there’s plenty of action and danger along the way. Although a slightly more difficult (or time-consuming) read than a Dan Brown novel, it was well worth the extra effort and time. The only downfall in the e-version that I read was that the non-English characters were not properly transferred so I could not see those characters. But not being a classics scholar, I wouldn’t have known or recognized them anyway. If you are not interested in the academic puzzles or codes (including some geometry and other mathematics), then stick to Dan Brown. But if you want a deeper story with an equal emphasis on the scholastic hunt and the Indiana Jones adventure, then pick up Mythos Christos. 4 out of 5 stars.
October 24, 2017
I worked on a novel about Christian origins (The Christos Mosaic) for about five years. I’ve estimated the research required at about 7000 pages of reading, including books, articles, essays, and interviews. And yet, within a few page of Edwin Herbert’s Mythos Christos, I learned a remarkable fact that—had I known about it earlier—I would have used in my own novel.
It’s an exceptionally ambitious thriller that not only offers a clever ancient puzzle for a contemporary Rhodes Scholar (and the reader) to solve, but it also tells the story of Hypatia, a Greek mathematician, astronomer and, significantly, the last chief librarian at the famed Library of Alexandria. Her section, set in 391 AD, begins:
“Crimson tendrils reached across the April sky from a westering sun, painting the stately Library of Alexandria a vivid vermilion. The beauty was not lost on Hypatia as she descended the polished marble steps and inhaled the fresh floral scents wafting up from the gardens below. The warm spring air sang with the energy of new life.”
I’m a notoriously slow reader, but I finished the first 66 pages in a single sitting—about 4 times what a single sitting for me normally entails. While the historical sections slowed me down a bit (I had to adjust to Alexandria in the 4th century AD and to its worldview), I found Mythos Christos a fascinating read. While there’s a fair amount of overlap—in terms of research—with my own novel, Herbert offers to my knowledge a unique take on the figure of Jesus and the origins of Christianity. More importantly, the novel is great fun—all of the riddles, puzzles, and action scenes of a Dan Brown novel minus the arcane nonsense with which Brown pads his tales.
This is a fine mystery-thriller that will keep you guessing. In all likelihood, it will also start you questioning your most basic assumptions about Christianity.
It’s an exceptionally ambitious thriller that not only offers a clever ancient puzzle for a contemporary Rhodes Scholar (and the reader) to solve, but it also tells the story of Hypatia, a Greek mathematician, astronomer and, significantly, the last chief librarian at the famed Library of Alexandria. Her section, set in 391 AD, begins:
“Crimson tendrils reached across the April sky from a westering sun, painting the stately Library of Alexandria a vivid vermilion. The beauty was not lost on Hypatia as she descended the polished marble steps and inhaled the fresh floral scents wafting up from the gardens below. The warm spring air sang with the energy of new life.”
I’m a notoriously slow reader, but I finished the first 66 pages in a single sitting—about 4 times what a single sitting for me normally entails. While the historical sections slowed me down a bit (I had to adjust to Alexandria in the 4th century AD and to its worldview), I found Mythos Christos a fascinating read. While there’s a fair amount of overlap—in terms of research—with my own novel, Herbert offers to my knowledge a unique take on the figure of Jesus and the origins of Christianity. More importantly, the novel is great fun—all of the riddles, puzzles, and action scenes of a Dan Brown novel minus the arcane nonsense with which Brown pads his tales.
This is a fine mystery-thriller that will keep you guessing. In all likelihood, it will also start you questioning your most basic assumptions about Christianity.
April 11, 2016
I love a book that entertains. I also love a book that makes me think, one that shows me places I haven't seen or presents important facts I didn't know. In Mythos Christos I get it all. Plus puzzles that would have Martin Gardner smiling from ear to ear. And rather than seeming forced (as many of Dan Brown's riddles do for me) these spring naturally from surprising mathematical relationships in certain Greek myths, and also in the Gospel narrative itself!
The story boasts two wonderful and unusual heroes, one following literally in the footsteps of the other. Lex Thomasson and Hypatia might be separated by centuries, but they're bound together by a joy in learning and a passion for truth that clearly drives author Edwin Herbert too. That passion no doubt will be shared by the many mystery-thriller lovers who have a real treat in store for them here. Where else are you going to turn the page from a rousing scene of sword play only to find St. Augustine wandering through for a little postprandial debate?
Not since Sophie's World has an author done such a delightful job of blending a fun mystery with such deep erudition. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Read Mythos Christos. You'll be very glad you did.
The story boasts two wonderful and unusual heroes, one following literally in the footsteps of the other. Lex Thomasson and Hypatia might be separated by centuries, but they're bound together by a joy in learning and a passion for truth that clearly drives author Edwin Herbert too. That passion no doubt will be shared by the many mystery-thriller lovers who have a real treat in store for them here. Where else are you going to turn the page from a rousing scene of sword play only to find St. Augustine wandering through for a little postprandial debate?
Not since Sophie's World has an author done such a delightful job of blending a fun mystery with such deep erudition. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Read Mythos Christos. You'll be very glad you did.
April 6, 2018
Faith and fact come to a head in this must read historically based thriller
Exquisitely written, educational, and entertaining to the last page, Edwin Herbert has created something beautiful. It’s as if James A. Michener and Dan Brown co-authored a book. Incredibly detailed and thoroughly researched Mythos exposes the foundational falsehoods of Christianity and sheds light on the mythological roots of Jesus.
A brilliant alchemy of history and fiction, Herbert intertwines modern and historical narratives in a race to protect and unearth the truth before it is destroyed. A tale filled with religious zealotry, secret organizations, and corrupt church officials Mythos Christos is truly a page turner. The mythology of ancient civilization, Platonic philosophy, and alphanumeric code breaking all find their way into this rich and elegant tome.
James Miller
Author
A Better Ten Commandments
Exquisitely written, educational, and entertaining to the last page, Edwin Herbert has created something beautiful. It’s as if James A. Michener and Dan Brown co-authored a book. Incredibly detailed and thoroughly researched Mythos exposes the foundational falsehoods of Christianity and sheds light on the mythological roots of Jesus.
A brilliant alchemy of history and fiction, Herbert intertwines modern and historical narratives in a race to protect and unearth the truth before it is destroyed. A tale filled with religious zealotry, secret organizations, and corrupt church officials Mythos Christos is truly a page turner. The mythology of ancient civilization, Platonic philosophy, and alphanumeric code breaking all find their way into this rich and elegant tome.
James Miller
Author
A Better Ten Commandments
June 15, 2016
Very good read.....
A fantastic story combining a tragic historical time and a fast paced, modern day fictional scenario. As you jump from one timeline to the other, the story really draws you in. Not to mention the amount of research that was put into this in order to accurately portray the archeological and historical information. Edwin Herbert is definitely going on my watchlist as a promising new author. I'm looking forward to whatever he may release in the future.
A fantastic story combining a tragic historical time and a fast paced, modern day fictional scenario. As you jump from one timeline to the other, the story really draws you in. Not to mention the amount of research that was put into this in order to accurately portray the archeological and historical information. Edwin Herbert is definitely going on my watchlist as a promising new author. I'm looking forward to whatever he may release in the future.
May 8, 2017
This book makes you think. Lex is an archaeological student that can solve many puzzles and is hired to help solve puzzles that were left by someone from the fifth century that lead to what the Church might not like. He is aided by others that he is not sure if he can trust or not. This treasure hunt leads to many twists and turns. Can these scrolls if found lead to some people not believing that Jesus Christ was ever born. As I said before this makes you think. I received this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
November 17, 2018
Read as a narrative framework to learn fascinating facts about history and mythology, this is an excellent book. It inspires the reader to learn more about the morsels of information that flit past, each with hints of a much larger story beneath.
I think it may disappoint someone who is looking just for a story and is not concerned with discovering what lies beneath the surface, but to those with a passion for learning and in particular with an interest in anything related to history, this is worth picking up.
I think it may disappoint someone who is looking just for a story and is not concerned with discovering what lies beneath the surface, but to those with a passion for learning and in particular with an interest in anything related to history, this is worth picking up.
May 16, 2017
Edwin has an awesome way of sharing historical information that pulls the reader in to the religious struggles that were present in 400CE and how they have influenced history since. Knowledge is power and when those who control knowledge can then exert their power over others. If you love history, math, the results of scientific facts, and philosophy, then you’ll love this book.
March 13, 2017
This novel is a fun way to get some philosophy, history, theology, fiction, adventure, geometry, riddles and discovery. This very entertaining and enlightening novel does much to expose the sources of Christianity in older mythologies. The major theme is that faith is the enemy of truth. In this book that theme plays out loudly in the 4th and 21st centuries.
November 24, 2019
Set in both the modern and ancient worlds, the two were seamlessly woven together in an exciting and engrossing novel. Very well done and highly recommended.
September 3, 2022
Given how much controversy Dan Brown generated with The Da Vinci Code, his 'scandalous' suggestion of a secret marriage between Jesus and Mary was really quite underwhelming. It's like suggesting that Zeus seduced Leda as a goose rather than as a swan - a significant twist on the mythology for some, but a big yawn for a rest of us.
While I suspect Mythos Christos is both too daring and too smart to ever generate the same level of global hype, Edwin Herbert's novel is very much the book that I had hoped Brown's would be. Rather than safely limit himself to casting doubt upon one small part of the biblical story, Herbert deconstructs the entire mythology, exposing its origins, and exploring the complete absence of an historical record for Jesus during his lifetime.
This is a story told in two parts, with an historical thriller interspersed with the more contemporary adventure.
In the latter, we have a young scholar by the name of Lex Thomasson reluctantly leading a secret Vatican team in uncovering the lost documents of the Library of Alexandria. He starts out naively believing that they will allow secular study of the documents, but soon comes to realize that their only goal is to destroy what they believe to be a heretical threat to their faith. It is a very dark and cynical tale in many aspects, but also a wondrously exciting one in others. The mathematical puzzles and old-fashioned treasure hunt are Indian Jones worthy, and some of the archaeological sites are stunning to explore, especially with their clash (and sometimes usurpation) of mythological idols.
In the former storyline, we follow the famous philosopher Hypatia as she guards against the encroaching destruction of the Romans, as they seek to purge all elements of paganism, especially those that contradict the spreading tenets of Christianity. There's some necessary invention in this part of the story, with timelines compressed and historical personages juggled around, but the overarching historical details are solid. It provides a fascinating look at a significant time in history, exploring it from the unique perspective of the pagans who were being displaced, rather than the Church that was selectively chronicling its own history. It is Hypatia who preserves the documents, establishes the puzzles, and sets in motion the treasure hunt of centuries later, although she never expected discovery to take quite so long.
Assuming you can keep an open mind, Mythos Christos is a fascinating novel that works as well as a history lesson as it does an adventurous thriller. Even the most cursory glance at the mythologies of the world will show that each has taken something from the ones before it, and even the most devout believers cannot deny that contemporary mythologies are hardly the first to tell many of their most significant stories. However, when you really start to dissect the mythology, to look at in terms of origins and sources, and realize just how much of it is really paganism under a new name, it becomes all too easy to believe that two warring cultures would have gone to such great lengths in attempting to obliterate or preserve history.
I went into Mythos Christos with impossibly high hopes, and never really expected Edwin Herbert to deliver on his own premise. I kept waiting for him to pull back at the last minute or to cast some shadow of doubt upon Lex, but he sees this through to the very end - without, I might add, going too far the other way. While Herbert is certainly preaching to the converted (so to speak), the way he uses Lex and Thea to explore the dictates of faith and reason, and the way he concludes the story by leaving room for both to coexist, certainly offers something of an olive branch to more fundamental readers. This is one of those rare books that I will keep on hand and gladly revisit again over the coming years.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
While I suspect Mythos Christos is both too daring and too smart to ever generate the same level of global hype, Edwin Herbert's novel is very much the book that I had hoped Brown's would be. Rather than safely limit himself to casting doubt upon one small part of the biblical story, Herbert deconstructs the entire mythology, exposing its origins, and exploring the complete absence of an historical record for Jesus during his lifetime.
This is a story told in two parts, with an historical thriller interspersed with the more contemporary adventure.
In the latter, we have a young scholar by the name of Lex Thomasson reluctantly leading a secret Vatican team in uncovering the lost documents of the Library of Alexandria. He starts out naively believing that they will allow secular study of the documents, but soon comes to realize that their only goal is to destroy what they believe to be a heretical threat to their faith. It is a very dark and cynical tale in many aspects, but also a wondrously exciting one in others. The mathematical puzzles and old-fashioned treasure hunt are Indian Jones worthy, and some of the archaeological sites are stunning to explore, especially with their clash (and sometimes usurpation) of mythological idols.
In the former storyline, we follow the famous philosopher Hypatia as she guards against the encroaching destruction of the Romans, as they seek to purge all elements of paganism, especially those that contradict the spreading tenets of Christianity. There's some necessary invention in this part of the story, with timelines compressed and historical personages juggled around, but the overarching historical details are solid. It provides a fascinating look at a significant time in history, exploring it from the unique perspective of the pagans who were being displaced, rather than the Church that was selectively chronicling its own history. It is Hypatia who preserves the documents, establishes the puzzles, and sets in motion the treasure hunt of centuries later, although she never expected discovery to take quite so long.
Assuming you can keep an open mind, Mythos Christos is a fascinating novel that works as well as a history lesson as it does an adventurous thriller. Even the most cursory glance at the mythologies of the world will show that each has taken something from the ones before it, and even the most devout believers cannot deny that contemporary mythologies are hardly the first to tell many of their most significant stories. However, when you really start to dissect the mythology, to look at in terms of origins and sources, and realize just how much of it is really paganism under a new name, it becomes all too easy to believe that two warring cultures would have gone to such great lengths in attempting to obliterate or preserve history.
I went into Mythos Christos with impossibly high hopes, and never really expected Edwin Herbert to deliver on his own premise. I kept waiting for him to pull back at the last minute or to cast some shadow of doubt upon Lex, but he sees this through to the very end - without, I might add, going too far the other way. While Herbert is certainly preaching to the converted (so to speak), the way he uses Lex and Thea to explore the dictates of faith and reason, and the way he concludes the story by leaving room for both to coexist, certainly offers something of an olive branch to more fundamental readers. This is one of those rare books that I will keep on hand and gladly revisit again over the coming years.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the author in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
March 1, 2017
It is clear from the outset that this novel has been very thoroughly researched. The problem is that the research is then presented to the reader in huge information dumps that are difficult to follow and have little to do with the plot. The characters behave in ways that, for me, were totally unbelievable and the protagonist is so clever, that I struggle to see him as anything other than an avatar for the author's research. The sections of the novel set in the past were dealt with far more effectively and I think it would have been better for the author to write the whole novel from this standpoint, rather than try to produce what is, in effect, a weak Dan Brown-esque treasure hunt.
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