‘Da Vinci Code’: On the trail of Holy Grail

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Whereabouts remain a mystery
One of the most repeated legends again involves St. Joseph of Arimathea. In it, he brings the Grail and Christianity to Britain. The tale goes that Joseph was imprisoned after the Resurrection, but smuggled the Grail into his cell and it miraculously sustained him with food and water. Upon his release, he takes a band of followers to Britain along with the Grail.

Stories over the centuries have placed the Grail in the bowels of the 15th century Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland — which is featured in the “The Da Vinci Code” — or Glastonbury Tor in southwest Britain, which some contend is the mythical Avalon where King Arthur’s spirit resides.

Other legends have orders such the Knights Templar, a medieval band of warrior monks, stashing the Grail at various other places around Europe.

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The Grail’s trail even leads across the Atlantic. Stories say the Templars managed to reach Nova Scotia with the Grail a century before Columbus’ first voyage. Another tale has a priest aboard Capt. John Smith’s ship toting the Grail to what would become Maryland in the early 17th century.

All the Grail stories, of course, are based on a mix of conjecture, historical snippets and fantasy. But one thing cannot be disputed: There’s a wave of Grail mania and Grail profits — even as many Christian groups denounce Dan Brown’s novel for its dark portrayals of the powers behind the faith.

Visitors to Rosslyn Chapel jumped 72 percent last year compared with 2004. Tour groups in Paris arrange special “Da Vinci” itineraries that include the Louvre, the setting for the book’s opening scenes.

British cartoonist Royston Robertson took a timely jab at the whole affair. Two knights look over the Grail chalice. One says: “I got it on eBay.”

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