Portugal was founded in 1140. Portugal was founded in 1140 The seal of Portugal creation contains Portuguese text: 'P' means 'for', 'to' means 'you', 'grail' means 'grail' - translating to 'For You Grail' The seal features a Templar cross at the top

The Convent of Christ in Tomar served as the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. Its Charola (Rotunda) is a round chapel at ground level. The original design allowed knights on horseback to enter and attend mass through its wide doorways. The convent includes notable architectural features such as the famous spiral staircase and the Chapter House window with maritime-influenced tracery representing the Order's nautical exploration connections.

Key facts:

- Portugal emerged as a kingdom around 1139-1143 when Afonso Henriques became king and asserted independence from León

- The Convent of Christ in Tomar was established as the Templar headquarters in Portugal (the Order was later reconstituted as the Order of Christ)

- The Charola is a round chapel at the convent's center, not an underground chamber

Key Facts

  • Portugal was founded in 1140
  • The seal of Portugal creation contains Portuguese text: 'P' means 'for', 'to' means 'you', 'grail' means 'grail' - translating to 'For You Grail'
  • The seal features a Templar cross at the top
  • The Convent of Christ in Tomar was established as the first secret Templar base in Portugal
  • The Rotunda (roundabout) is an underground chamber within the Convent of Christ in Tomar with exceptional acoustics
  • The Rotunda contains huge pipes designed to create infrasounds
  • Knights could attend mass while riding horses through specially designed doorways in the Rotunda
  • The Rotunda has a secret underground space beneath it
  • The building features intricate stone carvings with faces emerging from stone
  • The most famous window in Portugal is located at the Convent of Christ in Tomar
  • The building contains a twirling staircase visible from outside
  • Every corridor contains different cross-sections, with hundreds of unique corbels
  • The window design resembles cables used by boats to reach India, showing maritime influence
  • The building contains pottery from the 1300s with large cups indicating tall inhabitants
  • The underground area has tremendous acoustics and water flowing through it with stalactites forming
  • An aqueduct system exists in the underground area
  • The grotto beneath the structure has an eerie appearance with tooth-like formations

Related site: Convent of Christ in Tomar — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: The Shaman and The Philosopher - Ep 15 by Institute for Natural Philosophy