The History of the Dionysian Artificers #557886

The History of the Dionysian Artificers was published in London in 1820, exactly 200 years ago. This small book by Hipólito José Da Costa, a great Brazilian writer, journalist, diplomat and freemason, universally considered to be the “father of Brazilian press”, in fact little more than a pamphlet represents a real milestone in the history of Masonic literature, a precious book that all seeker of Truth should read and jealously keep in their library. In his book, the author draws a parallel between Masonic initiation and that practiced by the ancient mystery cults, in particular the Orphic and the Dionysian Mysteries. In his historical reconstruction, Hiram Abiff, a key figure in Masonic symbology, would have belonged to a very ancient secret society called “Dionysian Artificers”, which arose around 1000 BC, just before the construction of the Temple of Solomon began. These Dionysian Artificers, according to Da Costa, were associated with another initiatory brotherhood of builders called “The Ionians”, which had built the majestic Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Once settled in Jerusalem, the Dionysian Artificers, who were masters in the art of Sacred Geometry and keepers of an ancient initiatory wisdom, would call themselves the “Sons of Solomon”.