The Real Indiana Jones And The Holy Grail Quest

Otto Rahn became a favorite archaeologist of Nazi elite by accident. The Germans hired him to find the Holy Grail. The money that was offered to him could not be refused and a contract with the Devil was signed.

Otto Rahn

Those who are familiar with German history consider Otto Rahn as “real Indiana Jones”. And with good reason. The man was actually inspired the legendary film series, and from childhood he was obsessed with finding the Grail from which Jesus Christ drank from at the Last Supper and in which his blood is collected after the crucifixion.

Legend says that St. Peter brought Grail to Rome where the Pope used it as its chalice for two centuries. What eventually happened to the Grail is described in several legends, all of them was an object of Ran’s study.

He believed that "Parsifal", the work of Wolfram von Eschenbach from the 11th century, led him to the Holy Grail. Based on his research, he came to the conclusion that the Qatari guarded secret on the location of the Holy Grail.

He believed that the three knights brought the Holy Grail in a French castle of Montsegur, where trey hid it from the Crusaders.

Otto Rahn left the castle in 1931. The Holy Grail is not found, but is below the castle discovered caves that Cathars, and later the Templars, used for their religious ceremonies. There he found the pedestal on which allegedly once stood the Holy Grail.

That was enough to convince him that he is on the right track. He also wrote the book "Crusade Against the Holy Grail."

Because of this book, Rahn will sign "pact with the devil" that will eventually cost him his life.

In 1933, archaeologist received an anonymous telegram in which he was asked to write the sequel of his book for a monthly salary of 1,000 marks.

- If you agree, come to address 'Berlin - 7 Prinz Albrechtstrasse' - was written at the end of the telegram.

Heinrich Himmler

As he was in big financial problems, Rahn went to address mentioned in telegram. On his big surprise, there was Heinrich Himmler, the leading man of Hitler's SS. There happened something Rahn could never even dream about - he met the man who was obsessed with Holy Grail even more than he was.

Himmler was so obsessed with the Holy Grail that his castle Vevelsburg was already prepared for the arrival of the famous chalice. He believed that the Holy Grail could bring supremacy to Nazis in a war for which they were preparing.

In addition, Himmler believed that, as the new owner of the Grail, will have superhuman abilities and magical superpowers.

Rahn, intoxicated with the tempting offer, not only accepted the challenge of finding the Holy Grail, but also joined the SS, although he never supported the Nazi policy and ideology.

- A man has to eat. What was I supposed to do? Refuse Himmler? - Rahn asked his friend.

In addition to high salaries, Himmler also offered unlimited funds for the expedition, which had only one goal - to find the Holy Grail.