Interesting thread.

I wouldn't say it's masonic, being made of bronze, and not stone. Also, the Shang dynasty was around 1600 BC, which predates King Solomon, so it was certainly not made as a masonic artifact.

Still interesting, though...

wow. i have no idea about the symbology but its certainly a beautiful relic. The detail is amazing!!

g

I dont get it, is it supposed to be 'laser-etched' (I bought one in Japan), but that would have to be modern, or is it like glass, and the image inside is magnifying from the book underneath sitting on top of?

Anyway when I read that thread thats what I thought too, hmm I wonder what could unify people from around the world to worshipping the same things...?

Which came first and influenced whom first. Did the "Ancients" know each other.

I believe that at least two civilizations, India and Chaldea, predated Egypt with regards to Masonic symbolism and teachings, but I have never come across China in my studies. I shall certainly look in to possible links.

[edit on 28/10/2009 by Saurus]

Hey there, Slayer.

I hate to be the one to rain on someone's parade but I'm gonna have to. In the same thread it was concluded that the artifact is from modern days. In fact, it was created pretty recently and is apparently made by a museum where Sanxingdui artifacts were on display. On each side of the pyramid was information of the other exhibits.

When I read that I was bummed, too, but I think that closes the case.

If that was, in fact, an artifact from antiquity, I'd say it'd be one of the greatest artifacts found ever.

[edit on 28-10-2009 by Whine Flu]

edit to add: Well it was a nice run.

I still want one though.



[edit on 28-10-2009 by SLAYER69]

Proofs all around you! They mapped the stars and made more accurate calendars and made stone blocks fit in precisely, in my opinion they discovered the secret to anti-gravity looong ago and only the priests/politicians/elite/kings used it to keep people in fear and stay in charge!

I watch a lot of 'ancient' theme history channel shows, dunno names, but there's a ton about ancient China technology, flamethrowers, worlds first handguns, sea mines, diving suits, catapults, pump action crossbow, it fascinates me, and every ancient culture was so ridiculously advanced, but in our history books it is made out like we are superior.

We just made life easier, not superior. Electricity goes out and 3 billion people dont know how to make a fire.

Despite the popular fiction of Dan Brown, Masons really don't use pyramids as one of their symbols.

So in answer to the question of the thread title? No.

That's a modern artifact. You can tell by the writing on the bottom. It's modern Chinese. Not that I can read Chinese or anything, but ancient Chinese looks completely different, more like line drawings.

The thing about "Masonic" symbols is that many of them are more or less universal. Pyramids show up all over the place, Egypt, India, South America, maybe even Europe (I seem to remember something, but can't remember for sure). Whatever, they are at least in India, Egypt, and South America. The "cross" shows up everywhere, as the ankh, the crucifix, the Indian swastika, etc.

I think a lot of these symbols get copied by people who have no idea what they stand for. Lots of people like the pyramid shape. A casino in Las Vegas is shaped like one. It's kind of a cool shape. Stars, crosses, wheels, and other mandala-type symbols are popular as designs. I know lots of people who think the tai-chi-tu ("yin-yang" symbol) is cool, without any understanding of Taoism.

Still, you wonder whether there are some links between ancient cultures and modern groups - or between various ancient cultures. I'm sure there's lots of stuff out there we haven't discovered yet, that will eventually help us to make sense of our various ancient civilizations.

Originally posted by chiron613
The thing about "Masonic" symbols is that many of them are more or less universal. Pyramids show up all over the place, Egypt, India, South America, maybe even Europe (I seem to remember something, but can't remember for sure).

JoshNorton is right - the pyramid is not a masonic symbol (although the triangle is). It requires quite a stretch of the imagination to link the two with regards to Freemasonry.

Occasionally, people try and justify linking pyramids to Freemasonry because there is a brief mention of pyramids in an obscure Masonic rite known as the Rite of Memphis. However, pyramids are certainly not a part of mainstream masonic symbolism, and it is a real stretch to call them masonic at all.

[edit on 28/10/2009 by Saurus]