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[–] 9217 [S] 0 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago 

Switzerland

"Child Eater Fountain," in Bern, Switzerland. (Note the goat's heads at the bottom of the image)

Listing an entire nation as a potential occult influence might seem absurd, until we delve into the history of Switzerland and specifically, its association with the Templar Order, which was alleged to have worshipped the same Baphomet that Levi drew, and which later fascinated Giger.

One very long thread describes the history of the Templars, suggesting that the Order essentially founded Switzerland after fleeing France.

Switzerland's Old Confederacy was (conveniently) officially founded in 1291, in close proximity with the dissolution of the Order and in the same exact year as the fall of Acre. Of course, Templars were also something of a precursor to modern banking, an interesting parallel with the history of Switzerland's famous and secret banking.

One author of a book on this topic states in an interview:

"Butler: There are a few important reasons why this is likely to have been the case. For example:

  1. The founding of the embryonic Switzerland conforms exactly to the period when the Templars were being persecuted in France.

  2. Switzerland is just to the east of France and would have been particularly easy for fleeing Templar brothers from the whole region of France to get to.

  3. In the history of the first Swiss Cantons there are tales of white coated knights mysteriously appearing and helping the locals to gain their independence against foreign domination.

  4. The Templars were big in banking, farming and engineering (of an early type). These same aspects can be seen as inimical to the commencement and gradual evolution of the separate states that would eventually be Switzerland.

  5. Even the Swiss don’t really know the ins and outs of their earliest history (or suggest that they don’t.) They are famous for being secretive and we don’t have to tell interested readers that this is something they share absolutely with the Templars.

  6. The famous Templar Cross is incorporated into the flags of many of the Swiss Cantons. As are other emblems, such as keys and lambs, that were particularly important to the Knights Templar."

The famous Swiss Guards are also the oldest military units in the world, and ceremonially protects the Pope in the Vatican to this day.

So, can we then trace the influence of the Templar Order in Switzerland, through to Giger's fascination with Levi's Baphomet? I think it is possible, but we cannot know for sure.

Additional intrigue is added to this scenario when considering the (surprising to me) connection between Switzerland and Egypt, which one will find an enormous amount of material, of varying quality, in a cursory search. Prior to researching Giger, I had no idea about the Swiss connection with Templars, possibly Egypt, or any other NWO-type issues, so this line of research is completely new to me. While such a connection may seem extremely unlikely, some news reports stipulate that half of all Swiss men are related to the Egyptian Pharoah, Tutankhamun, via a shared ancestor.

Giger also included Egyptian motifs in his work. For example, in the following work created as a tribute to his close friend and fellow Swiss Artist, Friedrich Kuhn:

The work includes depicts Egyptian pyramids, and the entire scene rests on a layer of rotting or diseased infants seen in Giger's 'Landscapes.'

Another example of overt Egyptian symbology can be seen in Giger's work titled "Hieroglyphics.".

As previously noted by others, this specific piece evokes Egyptian symbolism in more than just name. The arching figure in the painting is based on the Egyptian sky goddess, Nut/Nuit.

One does not have to stretch the imagination far in order to also recognize the Masonic symbol of the triangle topped by a radiating all-seeing-"eye" in Giger's version of this image.

In addition to the above-mentioned piece, Giger's work in general has the appearance of flat, almost two-dimensional, forward-facing displays, as if the viewer is looking at a carving on a wall, much as Egyptian art is painted and carved into the sides of temples and tombs. For example:

Egyptian hieroglyphs

An example of Giger's very 2-D work

Another occult influence for Giger appears to have been Timothy Leary, whose face Giger included in Illuminatus I, seen below. The image continues Giger's use of Egyptian symbolism, including a pyramid, the Eye of Horus, an Ankh at the bottom of the image, etc.

Illuminatus I

The apple on top of the pyramid is interesting, in that the Adamic apple was the fruit of the tree of knowledge, hence, ultimate - if illicit or forbidden knowledge - and therefore "Illumination"is placed at the top of the pyramid. The placement of the safety pin piercing the female's mouth seems to connote the "safety" of a violently enforced code of silence at the base of the pyramid.

Another piece, Illuminatus II, includes phrases written on the razor blades: "OTO," "Illuminatus," "666," "Cocaine (?)," and "Acid."

Now you may be objecting to the appraisal of Leary as an occult influence, given that most are aware that Timothy Leary and his cohorts were part of the impetus behind the psychedelic movement in the '60s and his purported association with the CIA. However, Leary also claimed on PBS that he was "carrying on the work" of Aleister Crowley.

According to Wikipedia, Leary was also a member of "Illuminates of Thanateros," which is described as:

"An international magical organization that focuses on practical group work in chaos magic. The idea was first announced in 1978, while the order proper was formed in 1987. This fraternal magical society has been an important influence on some forms of modern occultism."

By including what appear to be likenesses of Leary, Lovecraft and others in a painting titled "Illuminatus," Giger expresses an awareness of Leary's occult connections in addition to his work in the psychedelic realm. This communicates that at minimum Giger was running in similar circles.

Virgil Finlay

Finlay, a 'pulp fiction illustrator,' appears in Giger's Illuminatus I along with Lovecraft and Leary. This makes sense for multiple reasons, one being Finlay's correspondences with HP Lovecraft, whose work Finlay sometimes illustrated. Lovecraft praised Finlay's work:

"I liked the [Virgil Finlay] illustrations to my two tales—indeed, I believe Finlay is the best all-around artist Weird Tales has ever had. His drawing for the Doorstep was really an imaginative masterpiece. Wright has generously presented me with the originals of both Haunter and Doorstep pictures—and they far transcend the mechanical reproductions."

—HPL in a letter to James F. Morton on the spectacular art of Virgil Finlay. Dated to March of 1937.

Finlay's work often includes occult and macabre themes.

Whether Finlay was actively involved with the occult in some way beyond his artistic expression is not clear, and no information on his membership in Masonic, occult or other similar groups was available after researching the subject.

Sergius Golowin

Sergius Golowin, by HR Giger.

The final likeness included in Giger's 'Illuminatus I' was his friend, the Swiss Folklorist Sergius Golowin, whose Wikipedia entry states:

"Sergius Golowin wrote numerous books and articles, primarily about folklore and esotericism. For his work in folklore and exploring the counterculture, he was awarded the prize of the Schweizerische Schillerstiftung in 1974."

"Golowin was a contemporary of many notable people and events. He provided assistance to Timothy Leary while Leary was in Swiss exile. Golowin was a friend of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, and was portrayed by H. R. Giger... Golowin was an acquaintance of Martin "Tino" Schippert, founder of the Swiss Hells Angels."

In this light, Giger's portrayal of Golowin with Leary makes complete sense, and the former's interest in esotericism makes his inclusion in a work titled 'Illuminatus' self-explanatory.


Clearly, Giger's work very carefully incorporates and draws from real and fictional (Lovecraftian) occult material. The inclusion of this subject matter is not in question: the question comes when we try to determine meaning from Giger's occult references and ties. In order to do so, we need to look at not only Giger's symbols, but also important events from Giger's life. For that reason, in the next segment in this series we turn to the death of Giger's first muse and long-time partner, Li Tobler.

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[–] YogSoggoth 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago  (edited ago)

On the Swiss connection, it is my belief that when the Hyksos were kicked out of Egypt, they were later exiled to Hyrcania, Then into Khazaria. Flavious Josephus wrote on that.The expulsion from there by the Rus/ others. They then traveled back to Caanan only to find their Pheonician cousins as vassals to Assyria. They still had boats though, and eventually wound up in Spain and France. Kicked out of France (for the usual child sacrifice), they founded Switzerland in the 12 century. This would explain the Egyptian occultism through to the present day, and the real reason for the crusades. The two snakes entwined are representing the creation myth and can be a dragon or lizard in some countries. They are circling the sun in most ancient religions. The Hyksos were snake worshipers, and even after expulsion influenced Egypt by intermarriage to the original Egyptians. This culminated in direct descendant Amenhotep's aten worship, and dereliction of the old temples. He and his priests got kicked out and fled to Caanan as well. He was what we now call Moses.

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[–] 9217 [S] ago 

Very interesting theory. However I wonder if the Hyksos explain the genetic connection between Swiss men and Tutankhamun? I am not familiar with the timing of his family's reign[s] in terms of Hyksos invasion/repulsion timelines. Definitely something to ponder!