The 22 Code

So where is the entrance to the Cave of Treasures? We may know the answer. Very early on in the course of our investigation, we stumbled upon what seemed like the solution to one of the central mysteries of Rennes-le-Chateau: “the 22 code.” Throughout Sauniere’s church and its grounds, the number 22 is repeatedly encoded into things. Words are purposely misspelled so as to contain twenty-two letters. The Tour Magdala has twenty-two crenels. The skull at the entrance to the cemetery has twenty-two teeth. Researchers have gone to absurd lengths trying to divine the occult significance of the number 22, producing obtuse “explanations” which in fact explain nothing at all. We wondered if a simpler, more straightforward approach might be in order. We had noticed that the church and its surroundings seemed to be infused with symbolism pointing towards duality, or indeed, redundancy. There were two Christs on Sauniere’s pulpit, and two baby Christs at the front of the church (one held by Joseph, the other by Mary. The name of the Tour Magdala is also a redundancy, as the name “Magdala” means “tower.” Why would someone with Sauniere’s sophistication name one of his key constructions “Tower Tower” unless it was an indication of something? Bearing this strange theme of duality in mind, we wondered if perhaps the 22 code could mean that we should look for two sets of two. Almost immediately, we could think of a number of such sets: statues and other constructions around the domain that seemed to mirror or echo one another on some symbolic level. Enlarging a map of the church and its grounds, we marked the sets of landmarks. We proceeded to draw lines through the points indicated, extending the lines across the map. When we were finished, we had five sets of lines, all of which intersected at precisely the same point.

A strange coincidence? Hardly. We had followed obvious clues that had been purposely left by Sauniere. We had interpreted evidence according to the simplest possible means: logic. And as it appeared, we had gotten results. From the very onset, we had felt instinctively that the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau held something of far greater import than a mere treasure. Whatever lies buried beneath the spot on the map revealed by the 22 code holds the key to a great secret. We now believe that this location might very well conceal the entrance a tunnel system leading to the Cave of Treasures.

from: The Vessel of God