Charlemagne is, of course, pivotal to the story. His historical context, as presented, is accurate (chapter 36), as is his signature (chapter 10). He remains one of the world's most enigmatic figures and still carries the title Father of Europe. The authenticity of the story of Otto III entering Charlemagne's grave in 1000 CE is a matter of debate. The tale featured in chapter 10 has been repeated many times-though, of course, the strange book Otto finds is my addition. There are equally strong stories that say Charlemagne was buried lying down, inside a marble sarcophagus (chapter 34). No one knows for sure.
Einhard's Life of Charlemagne continues to be regarded as one of the great works from that period. Einhard himself was a learned man, and his involvement with Charlemagne, as described, is accurate. Only their connection to the Holy Ones is my invention. Einhard's accounts quoted in chapters 21 and 22 are loosely based on portions of the Book of Enoch-an ancient, enigmatic text.
Operations Highjump and Windmill happened as described (chapter 11). Both were extensive military operations. Much about them remained classified for decades and is still shrouded in mystery. Admiral Richard Byrd was co-leader of Highjump. My descriptions of the technological resources Byrd brought south with him (chapter 53) are accurate, as is the tale of his extensive exploration of the continent. His secret diary (chapter 77) is fictitious, as are his supposed findings of carved stones and ancient tomes. The German Antarctic expedition of 1938 (chapter 19) happened and is accurately detailed-including the dropping of little swastikas all over the icy surface. Only Hermann Oberhauser's exploits are my creations.
The strange writing and manuscript pages (chapters 12 and 81) are reproduced from the Voynich manuscript. That book rests in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University, and is generally regarded as the most mysterious writing on the planet. No one has ever been able to decipher its text. A good primer on this oddity is The Voynich Manuscript, by Gerry Kennedy and Rob Churchill. The symbol first seen in chapter 10-a monad-came from their book, an archetypal representation originally found in a sixteenth-century treatise. The strange Oberhauser family crest (chapter 25) also is from Kennedy and Churchill's book and is actually the Voynich family coat of arms, created by Voynich himself.
The true explanation of the term Aryan (chapter 12) demonstrates how something so innocuous can become so lethal. The Ahnenerbe, of course, existed. Only in the past few years have historians begun to reveal both its pseudo-scientific chaos and its horrible atrocities (chapter 26). One of the best resources on the topic is The Master Plan, by Heather Pringle. The Ahnenerbe's many international expeditions, detailed in chapter 31, happened and were used extensively to fashion its scientific fiction. Hermann Oberhauser's involvement with the organization is my invention, but his efforts and discrediting are based on the experiences of actual participants.
The concept of a first civilization (chapter 22) is not mine. The idea has been the basis for many books, but Christopher Knight and Alan Butler's Civilization One is excellent. All of the arguments Christl Falk and Douglas Scofield advance for the existence of this first civilization belong to Knight and Butler. Their theory is not all that farfetched, but the reaction to it is similar to how mainstream science once viewed continental drift (chapter 84). Of course, the most obvious question remains. If such a culture existed, why are there no remnants?
But maybe there are.
The stories detailed by Scofield in chapter 60 about 'god-like' people interacting with cultures around the world are true, as are the inexplicable artifacts found and the story of what Columbus was shown. Even more amazing are the image and inscription from Hathor Temple in Egypt (chapter 84), which clearly show something extraordinary. Sadly, though, Scofield's observation that 90 percent of the ancient world's knowledge will never be known is potentially true. Which means we may never have a definitive answer to this fascinating inquiry.
Locating the first civilization in Antarctica (chapters 72, 85, and 86) was my idea, as are the civilization's knowledge and limited technology (chapters 72 and 81). I didn't visit Antarctica (it's definitely at the top of my Must-See list), but its beauty and danger are faithfully reported using firsthand accounts. Halvorsen Base (chapter 62) is fictitious, but the cold-weather gear Malone and company don is real (chapter 76). The politics of the Antarctic continent (chapter 76), with its various international treaties and unique cooperative rules, remains complex. The area where Malone explores (chapter 84) is indeed controlled by Norway, and some texts note that it is designated as off limits for supposed environmental reasons. The underwater sequences with Ramsey are taken from those who have dove those pristine waters. The dry valleys (chapter 84) exist, though they're generally confined to the southern portion of the continent. The preserving and destructive effects of absolute cold on human bodies are accurately portrayed (chapters 90 and 91). Ice, by Mariana Gosnell, is an excellent account of these phenomena.
Aachen cathedral (chapters 34, 36, 38, and 42) is well worth a visit. The Book of Revelation played a key role in its design, and the building remains one of the last from Charlemagne's time still standing. Of course, my interjection of the Holy Ones into its history is simply part of this story.
The Latin inscription inside the chapel (chapter 38) is from Charlemagne's time and is reproduced exactly. While counting every twelfth word I discovered that only three words would be revealed, the last count stopping at number eleven. Then, amazingly, the three words formed a recognizable phrase-Brightness of God.
Charlemagne's throne does indeed have a Nine Men's Morris board etched into its side (chapter 38). How and why it's there, nobody knows. The game was played in Roman and Carolingian times, and is still played today.
The Charlemagne pursuit, with all of its various clues, including Einhard's will, are my invention. Ossau, France (chapter 51), and the abbey (chapter 54) are concocted, but Bertrand is based on a real abbot who lived in that area.
Fort Lee (chapter 45) is real, though the warehouse and refrigerated compartment are not. I've recently acquired an iPhone, so Malone had to have one, too. All of the peculiar investigations conducted by the US government during the Cold War into paranormal and extraterrestrial phenomena (chapter 26) happened. I simply added one more.
Biltmore Estate (chapters 58, 59, and 66) is one of my favorite places, especially at Christmastime. The inn, mansion, village, hotel, and grounds are accurately portrayed. Of course, the Ancient Mysteries Revealed Conference does not exist, but it is based on a variety of real gatherings.
The Piri Reis map and other portolans (chapter 41) are real, and each one raises a host of perplexing questions. Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings, by Charles Hapgood, is regarded as the definitive work on this subject. The prime meridian debate happened as described (chapter 41), and Greenwich was arbitrarily chosen. Using the Giza pyramid as zero longitude (chapter 71), though, does produce some fascinating connections with sacred sites around the globe. The megalithic yard (chapter 71) is another interesting concept that rationally explains similarities engineers have long noticed at ancient construction sites. But proof of its existence has not, as yet, been established.
This story poses some interesting possibilities. Not of a mythical Atlantis with surreal engineering and fantastic technology, but instead the simple idea that we may not have been the first to achieve intellectual consciousness. Perhaps there were others whose existence is simply unknown, their history and fate extinguished, lost among the 90 percent of ancient knowledge we may never recover.
Far-fetched? Impossible?
How many times have the so-called experts been proven wrong?
Lao-tzu, the great Chinese philosopher who lived 2,700 years ago and is still regarded as one of humankind's most brilliant thinkers, may have known best when he wrote:
The Ancient Masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable, all we can do is describe their appearance. Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream. Alert, like men aware of danger. Courteous, like visiting guests. Yielding, like ice about to melt. Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
