Were aspects of the Biblical Jesus narrative modeled on previous Greek and Roman mythology? Is it possible Christ never existed at all? Mythos Christos is a unique story, in that it entails a connection between two time periods (circa 400 CE and the present) and reveals certain information about the roots of Christianity everyone should know.
Hypatia of Alexandria wishes to preserve for posterity certain documents from the Library of Alexandria which have been deemed heretical by the orthodoxy – the truth about the mythical origins of Christianity. She develops an ingenious strategy for saving the manuscripts, a treasure hunt that would make the most jaded buccaneer drool. However, no ordinary pirate, or highborn archbishop for that matter, could hope to follow the Neoplatonist philosopher’s sequence of burials. Only one steeped in Pythagorean mathematics and Platonic mysticism, her philaletheian, could possibly track her obscure trail of burials and unlock the final cache. But Hypatia’s plan goes awry and her treasure languishes for sixteen centuries.
An American Rhodes Scholar, Lex Thomasson, finds himself hot on the philosopher’s treasure trail, deftly decrypting her linguistic and mathematical puzzles in succession using his peculiar knowledge and an ancient key: gematria – a table of Greek letters and their numerical equivalents.
Using this key, along with the Neoplatonist’s Book of Euclid – the “True Key,” Lex discovers ancient truths concerning mathematical relationships between certain Greek gods and, more astonishingly, numerical relationships in the Jesus tale as well.
Unfortunately, Lex is accompanied by a Vatican archivist, who is also a sociopathic killer with other plans for Hypatia’s collection of documents. Will the truth finally be broadcast to the world, or will the Church keep it under wraps, closeting their millennia-old secrets from the rest of the world?
Struggling to get past the horses, the infantrymen poured into the courtyard keen for an easy victory. They, too, were shocked by the number of defenders confronting them and wondered if it was they who’d been routed. “Fire!” thundered Helladus. Five of the six arrows found their marks, felling cavalrymen from their saddles.
Possessing an almost supernatural intellect, and untroubled by any code of ethics, Sir Stephanos becomes both a helpful ally and dangerous adversary to Lex in their hunt for the ancient treasure. And he has an altogether different plan for the final cache… when and if they locate it.
We find Lex and Thea in an ancient vault amid a collection of bone-dry parchments. That’s when they realize the library has been set ablaze, and they’ve been left to perish in the flames. Frantic, the two chance upon a hidden “riddle-door” which they must solve and unlock before death consumes them.
Many of the characters are actual historical figures. These include Hypatia, Helladus, Palladus, Olympius, Orestes, Macrobius, Synesius, Theophilus, Cyril, Pulcheria, and Peter the Reader. The major events, like the razing of the Serapeum and the abduction of Hypatia are historical, as is the tension between Archbishop Cyril and Prefect Orestes.
Two more great podcasts with fantastic information on the world of Mythos Christos
Take a moment and listen to both The Free Thought Prophet and Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio.
Listen to The Mythicist Milwaukee Show, and chat LIVE!
Mythicist Milwaukee produces a weekly podcast on the FutureLotus Podcast Network focused on freethought and secular topics.
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Read More"Mythos Christos is a fantastically fun piece of historical fiction, that manages to inform and entertain. Herbert's book is an exciting journey that jolts the reader back and forth between ancient Egypt and present day, as the heroes of both storylines race to stay ahead of those who would rather keep certain dangerous secrets hidden away. The details of the story and the intricate puzzles that must be unraveled pull the reader in and add layers of suspense until the final shocking climax is revealed. If you like Indiana Jones or The Da Vinci Code, you will love Mythos Christos."
"The author has used his incredible knowledge of religious history to create an engrossing story of how some aspects of that history might have been manipulated. Weaving together both actual historical figures and fictional characters, Mr. Herbert gives the reader an intriguing perspective of what might have been and how a modern day academic manages to uncover long-hidden facts. A fascinating detective story that can be simply described as The Da VInci Code on steroids."
"Mythos Christos is so firmly planted in actual history that I, guided by the vibrant characters, felt as though I were actually there to see Hypatia's treasure hunt play out. The authentic gematria enigmas added an extra dimension to this gripping tale. When it's over, lingering remains of the story entice the reader to consider where we might be now if humanity had valued knowledge and rebuked superstition thousands of years ago."
"Mythos Christos is well written and fast paced. Its historical events have been meticulously researched. For mystery fans, unraveling the philosopher’s clues is guaranteed to challenge. History lovers will enjoy the skillful rendering of life in ancient Alexandria. And if action is your cup of tea, unrest in ancient Alexandria and assassins in the present certainly fit the bill."
is a freethought activist and avid writer on secular and non-theist topics, head of a group of writers with a regular newspaper column concerning related subjects which promote science and skepticism.
He is also a healthcare provider in southern Wisconsin. Mythos Christos is his debut novel.
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