Solomon's Treasure: The Magic and Mystery of America's Money
"Solomon's Treasure: The Magic and Mystery of America's Money" by Tracy R. Twyman is a compelling exploration of the esoteric, mystical, and historical influences that have shaped the United States' founding and its currency. Twyman goes into the symbolism embedded in the American dollar, the philosophical and mystical visions of the country's founders, and the complex history and origins of the name "America."
The Esoteric Foundations of America
Twyman begins by discussing the overarching theme that the United States was envisioned as a "New Atlantis" or "New Jerusalem" by its founders, who were heavily influenced by Freemasonry and other secret societies. This vision is deeply embedded in the country's symbols and currency, particularly the dollar bill, which Twyman argues is a "magical talisman" (p. 5).
Freemasonic Influence
Many of America's founders were Freemasons or influenced by Masonic philosophy, embedding the dollar with complex symbolism that reflects ancient wisdom and alchemical principles. Twyman highlights how these founders saw America as a beacon of enlightenment, democracy, and peace, guiding the world towards a new global order.
Quote: "It is commonly known now, more so than ever before, that the United States of America was founded largely by men with a philosophy grounded in the occult: namely the members of Freemasonry, and other secret societies, who saw in the US a potential 'New Atlantis' or 'New Jerusalem.'" (p. 5)
The Dollar as a Magical Talisman
Twyman explains that the American dollar is more than just a currency; it is a talisman imbued with magical energy, intended to inspire faith and trust in the economy (p. 5). The book details the intricate and deliberate symbolism on the dollar bill, much of which is linked to Masonic and alchemical traditions.
Quote: "Few understand that the dollar is a unit of magical energy, and the dollar bill itself a magical talisman." (p. 5)
Symbolism of the Number 13
The number 13 appears repeatedly on the dollar bill, symbolizing the original 13 colonies and possibly reflecting Masonic significance. Twyman notes the various instances of the number 13 on the bill, including the layers of the pyramid, the stars above the eagle, and the stripes on the shield (pp. 7-9).
Quote: "The number 13 is undeniably the most omnipresent, most repeated symbol on the one dollar bill, although its use is not always explicit." (p. 8)
The Great Seal and Its Symbols
The Great Seal of the United States, which appears on the back of the dollar bill, is a focal point for Twyman's analysis. The seal features several esoteric symbols, such as the pyramid, the all-seeing eye, and Latin phrases like "Annuit Coeptis" and "Novus Ordo Seclorum" (p. 10).
Quote: "The Great Seal of the United States... is part of the Great Seal of the United States, created in 1776, at the same time the nation was founded." (p. 10)
Transition to Fiat Currency
The book discusses major changes in American monetary policy, particularly during the Roosevelt administration, which led to the removal of the gold standard and the creation of fiat currency. This shift was necessary to finance the New Deal and later to stabilize the economy during World War II (pp. 13-15).
Quote: "It was 'faith' and 'trust' in the American dollar that Roosevelt and his friends were attempting to create with the new design of the one-dollar-bill." (p. 14)
Quote: "The dollar is 'fiat currency,' declared into existence by the central bank in a manner similar to the creation of the universe by the divine words 'Fiat Lux!' - 'Let there be light!'" (p. 20)
Alchemical Principles and the Economy
Twyman draws parallels between the Federal Reserve's creation of fiat money and alchemical practices, suggesting that the process of creating money from nothing is akin to turning lead into gold (pp. 18-20).
Quote: "The power of money to transform almost any thing or situation into another is similar to the alchemical power of the so-called 'universal agent' or 'Philosopher’s Stone,' and the act of turning paper into dollars is like turning lead into gold." (p. 20)
Historical Context of the Dollar
The origins and evolution of the American dollar are traced back to the Spanish peso and the Maria Theresa taler, explaining how these coins influenced the American currency system (pp. 39-40).
Quote: "In adopting the Spanish dollar as the American dollar, which the U.S. Congress did on July 6, 1785, the founders of America were being thoroughly American, because they were being anti-British." (p. 44)
Detailed Examination of Masonic Symbols
The book provides an in-depth look at various symbols on the dollar bill, interpreting them through a Masonic lens. Phrases like "In God We Trust" and "Annuit Coeptis" are seen as intentional Masonic symbols designed to reinforce public faith in the currency (pp. 11-12).
Quote: "The words 'In God We Trust' are meant to inspire faith in the dollar as a currency, and faith in the American republic." (p. 22)
Secret Societies and America's Founding
Twyman discusses the involvement of secret societies, particularly Freemasonry, in the colonization and founding of America. These groups aimed to establish a philosophic empire based on esoteric wisdom (pp. 23-24, 26-27).
Quote: "Bacon’s society of the unknown philosophers included men of high rank and broad influence. Together with Bacon, they devised the colonization scheme." (p. 26)
Exploration and Colonization
The book links historical explorations, such as those by Christopher Columbus and Prince Henry Sinclair, to the influence of secret societies and the search for a New Atlantis. Columbus's voyages are portrayed as being guided by esoteric knowledge and possibly secret maps (pp. 24, 32-33).
Quote: "When Columbus sailed to discover a new world, or re-discover an old one, he took his departure from a Phoenician seaport... This Atlantean sailor, with his Phoenician features, sailing from an Atlantean port, simply re-opened the path of commerce and colonization which had been closed when Plato’s island sunk in the sea." (p. 33)
Economic Impact of New World Treasures
The influx of gold and silver from the Americas to Europe had a profound economic impact, leading to the Great Price Revolution and the rise of a merchant middle class. This historical context is used to explain the foundations of modern capitalism and its connections to the American dollar (pp. 37-39).
Quote: "The result, more or less, of this influx of gold and silver was the creation of the merchant middle class. It allowed merchants and artisans to trade their goods more freely, to expand their overall wealth." (p. 39)
Influence of European Coins
Twyman traces the historical evolution of the dollar, emphasizing the influence of European coins such as the Spanish peso and the Maria Theresa taler. These coins set the precedent for the design and usage of the American dollar (pp. 39-42).
Quote: "The Maria Theresa taler carried so much prestige that in some places, especially the Middle East and Northern Africa, they became synonymous with the concept of money itself." (p. 41)
Symbolism and Esoteric Connections
The book delves into the detailed symbolism found on the dollar bill, interpreting various elements through the lens of Masonic and esoteric traditions. This includes phrases like "E Pluribus Unum" and the imagery of the Great Seal (pp. 10-11).
Quote: "The words 'In God We Trust' are meant to inspire faith in the dollar as a currency, and faith in the American republic." (p. 22)
Vision of a Utopian Society
Twyman concludes that America's founders used national symbols and money to promote a vision of a utopian society based on enlightenment principles and esoteric doctrines. This vision is reflected in the design of the dollar bill and the country's economic policies (pp. 26-27).
Quote: "To understand Francis Bacon’s ultimate vision for the new colony in America, we need only read the treatise he wrote on the ideal philosophic empire, a utopian fantasy called The New Atlantis." (p. 27)
The Possible Meanings of the Word "America"
1. Amerigo Vespucci
The most widely accepted theory is that the name "America" is derived from the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. His accounts of the New World were instrumental in establishing the idea of a new continent separate from Asia.
Quote: "America is generally believed to have been named after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian navigator whose voyages to the New World were influential in the early 16th century." (p. 34)
2. Richard Ameryk
An alternative theory is that the name "America" could be derived from Richard Ameryk (or Ap Meryk), a Welsh merchant who was one of the financial backers of John Cabot's expeditions to the New World.
Quote: "Some have suggested that the name America could come from Richard Ameryk, a Welshman who was a sponsor of John Cabot's voyages of discovery." (p. 35)
Quote: "Richard Ameryk, a Welshman, was one of the financial backers of John Cabot's expeditions, and some believe that his name may have influenced the naming of America." (p. 35)
3. Esoteric and Symbolic Interpretations
Twyman delves into the symbolic and mystical interpretations of the name "America," suggesting it may have been chosen for its esoteric connotations. This aligns with the vision of America as a New Atlantis or New Jerusalem, representing a land of enlightenment and new beginnings.
Quote: "The name America fits well with the Masonic and esoteric vision of the New World as a land of enlightenment and new beginnings." (p. 36)
4. H.P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society
H.P. Blavatsky's Theosophical Society provided an alternative explanation for the name "America." In 1895, the magazine Lucifer, published by Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society, ran an article suggesting that the name derived from a native Peruvian word "Amaruca," meaning "Land of the Plumed Serpent." This referred to the tall, white, bearded man-god whom native South American legends say brought civilization to the continent in ancient times.
Quote: "In 1895 the magazine Lucifer, published by H.P. Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society, ran an article alleging that the name came from a native Peruvian word 'Amaruca', meaning 'Land of the Plumed Serpent', a reference to the tall, white, bearded man-god whom native South American legends say brought civilization to the continent in antediluvian times." (p. 34)
Manly P. Hall, a noted occultist and Freemason, also believed that this was the origin of the word "America."
Quote: "Manly P. Hall also believed that this was the origin of the word 'America.'" (p. 34)
5. Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas' Theory
Contemporary Masonic historians Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, in their book "The Hiram Key," postulated a different origin for the word "America." They connected it to the Mandeans, a Middle Eastern Gnostic sect influenced by the teachings of John the Baptist. The Mandeans were linked to the Nasoreans, or "Qumranians," whom Knight and Lomas believe were responsible for depositing secret scrolls beneath King Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem, built on the foundations of Solomon’s Temple.
Quote: "But more contemporary Masonic historians, Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, have postulated in their book The Hiram Key a quite different origin for the word 'America.' They connect it to the Mandeans, a Middle Eastern Gnostic sect influenced by the teachings of John the Baptist." (p. 35)
Quote: "The Mandeans were also connected with the Nasoreans, or 'Qumranians', whom Knight and Lomas believe were responsible for depositing numerous secret scrolls beneath King Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem (built on the foundations of Solomon’s Temple)." (p. 35)
6. Josephus and Ancient Mythologies
Knight and Lomas reference the writings of the historian Josephus, who recorded that the Mandeans believed good people went to Paradise after death, to a land located west, beyond the ocean, marked by a star called "Merica." They speculated that the Knights Templar might have learned about this mystical land from the scrolls and sailed west to find it.
Quote: "In the writings of the historian Josephus, it was recorded that the Mandeans believed that good people went to Paradise after death, to a land located West, beyond the ocean, and which was marked by a star called 'Merica.'" (p. 35)
Quote: "We knew the Mandeans were the direct descendants of the Nasoreans, who we had also established were the same group as the Qumranians, the people who buried their sacred scrolls under Herod’s Temple. It follows that if the forefathers of the Mandeans were the authors of the scrolls which the Templars unearthed, the mystical land beneath a star called ‘Merica’ might have been recorded in their secret writings." (p. 35)
Quote: "In short, it seemed possible that the Templars learnt about a wonderful land beneath the bright lone star ‘Merica’ from the scrolls, and if so, there is a strong possibility they sailed west to find it." (p. 35)
7. Etymological Interpretation
Twyman also suggests a more practical etymological interpretation. The "mer" in "America" might refer to the sea, as this syllable is part of the word for "sea" in many languages. "America" could essentially mean "land beyond the sea," beyond the Straits of Gibraltar and the Pillars of Hercules. This interpretation is further supported by the term "mercantile," originally referring to the traffic of goods by ship.
Quote: "Perhaps the 'mer' in 'America' refers to the sea, as this syllable is part of the word for 'sea' in many languages. 'America', then, may essentially mean 'land beyond the sea', beyond the Straits of Gibraltar and the Pillars of Hercules." (p. 35)
Quote: "This root syllable is also part of the word 'mercantile', originally referring to the traffic of goods by ship. It was mercantilism that quickly made America wealthy, prosperous, and dominant throughout the whole world." (p. 35)
Conclusion
Tracy R. Twyman's exploration of the name "America" in "Solomon's Treasure" provides a comprehensive view of its possible meanings and origins. While acknowledging the conventional attribution to Amerigo Vespucci, the book also considers alternative theories and symbolic interpretations that align with the esoteric themes central to the nation's founding. The name "America" is thus presented as more than just a label for a new continent; it is imbued with historical, symbolic, and mystical significance.
