The last two clues of the Maranatha puzzle instructed readers to ‘draw a square’ and ‘draw a circle’ for the assumed formation of the geometric ‘Key’ in the Maranatha book. The December 2010 and January 2011 clues were as follows:
“Draw a circle around Hermes using his feet as the edge”
“Draw a square around Time using his back as the edge”
Previous to these two clues, certain incidents were being noticed which indicated the puzzle may be coming to a close. For example, in august 2010, Time Monk books were being sold in bulk and a few months before the termination of the contest, emails to the site were going unanswered.
Many also felt the change in the last clues by providing direct instructions was signaling a probable end. Most clues were ambiguous and multiple applications or interpretations could be realized. The above clues seemed clear.
It could be speculated that the date for the puzzle competition end had then been planned. The announcement came on February 21, 2011 at 9:00 AM. Looking upon this date, it was noticed 2011 is 120 years after the all important Rennes date of 1891. The puzzle companion book mentioned this date and also shared the myth of the lost tomb of Christian Rosenkreutz. This secret location was discovered 120 years after the crypt had been closed. Perhaps the date alluded to the opening or closing of this or another lost tomb?
There are sure to many different speculations on why that particular date was chosen. It can even be said to hint at the verse of John 3:19; because of the amount of days from the end date to the coming date of Christ’s birth is 319 (original date of January 6). The verse actually coincides with an end and the coming of Christ. It says: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world….”
Other considerations can be made based from the last two clues. Given in the last and first months of a year could hint at the common union of opposite theme throughout the puzzle. This theme can also be recognized from just the last clue given in the first month. The end and the beginning.
However, could the clues imply something more? Or actually, could what was not given impart a deeper understanding.
Following the conclusion of the puzzle, an article (The Time Monk Project) was later posted on the popular Arcadia website. Written by Duncan Burden, it described a geometric key which spoke of the three primary shapes of Geometry; a square, a circle, and a triangle. Puzzlers were being told to draw a square, a circle, but the triangle was left out. Deliberately, perhaps?
In The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall the following paragraph is found:
“There is a curious tendency among the builders of great religious edifices to leave their creations unfinished, thereby signifying that God alone is complete.”
This sentence of Hall’s was offering an explanation for why the capstones of the pyramids are missing. As a capstone can be likened to a triangle, one has to wonder if the so called geometric key was left unfinished purposely. Possibly implying the completion of the Key would require the realization or help of the Divine.
The continuation of the above paragraph in The Secret Teachings of All Ages states, “As a rough and unfinished block, man is taken from the quarry and by the secret culture of the Mysteries is gradually transformed into a trued and pyramidal capstone. The temple is complete only when the initiate himself becomes the living apex through which the divine power is focused into the diverging structure below.”
This belief of ‘Sacred Geometry’ being the work of God seems to have been shared in the following snippet from one of the ‘secret dossiers’ of the past Time Monk site:
“The importance of the work would be found in the exactness of the shapes. If irregular, it was not divine, hence not the work of God!”
Perhaps the ending of the competition hinted to puzzlers that the completion of the Great Work would be done with the Key being used on Man.
The November 2010 clue comes to mind; “On the topless mount it is sealed”
There are more geometrical figures than squares, triangles and circles. Many more can be found in the images of the book.
I wouldn’t assume that the date the puzzle ended was picked to have some specific meaning, unless something else comes up to confirm that idea.
Gold oxide is red, but I don’t think that’s relevant to the content of the Maranatha puzzle or Nicolas Flamel’s Hieroglyphic figures.
The exact words of Nicolas Flamel on the philosopher’s stone are: “I made projection of the Red Stone upon the like quantity of Mercury.” Which sounds a lot like combining the sun (red stone) with the moon (mercury).
Draw a pentagram on the circle of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian man and watch his shoulders.
I don’t think you can figure out the meaning of 681 before you have figured out first 666 and 618.
And what is it that you think you have figured out about 666 & 618?
The instructions to draw a circle around Hermes and a square around Time wouldn’t have led to the geometric figure that Duncan showed, but to a combination similar to the one seen on the Vitruvian man of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo deleted the other lines of the geometric figure, but it contains some equilateral triangles in it. I’m pretty sure the clues didn’t reveal this on purpose, since it’s obvious that Duncan hasn’t told everything he knows.
At least there is one thing we agree on.
The square and circle such as seen in Davinci’s vitruvian man is found in the first image. Making a circle around hermes using his feet as the edge and a square from time using his back as the edge. There is also a tilted hexagram in image number 2 that can be made partially by holding the page up to the light using staffs in the images from both sides and some further instruction from the text.