Priory of Sion: The ‘Et In
Arcadia Ego’ Tombstone
Most romantics still seriously believe that the ‘Et In
Arcadia Ego’ tombstone actually existed, despite the
overwhelming evidence for it being another forgery concocted by
Pierre Plantard and Philippe de Chérisey (existing exclusively
in the form of a diagram), and everything relating to it
initially originating from their works and environment (like the Coume
Sourde "Stone").
The drawing of the ‘Et In Arcadia Ego’ tombstone is
usually attributed to Eugène Stublein – in reality Stublein
was a meteorologist who had no interest in engraved tombstones of
the Languedoc. In Louis Vazart, Dagobert II et le mystère de
la cité royale de Stenay (1983), Philippe de Chérisey
claimed that Stublein was the great-grandfather of Philippe
Toscan du Plantier ("Un de ses arrière petit-fils,
professeur de philosophie à Paris, est Philippe Toscan du
Plantier").
The 1977 Priory of Sion document Le Cercle d’Ulysse
by ‘Jean Delaude’ introduced the myth that the tombstone of
Marie de Négi d’Ables was "mentioned in an 18th
century work by abbé Delmas, had on its north face a vertical
stone which bore this motto: "ET IN ARCADIA EGO", and
in 1789 it was transported [from Les Pontils] to the cemetery at
Rennes-le-Château". ‘Jean Delaude’ continued:
"In the Bishop’s archives there exists a document in
the priest’s [Antoine Bigou’s] handwriting, bearing on
the transfer of this stone by Guillaume Tiffou from Serres to
Rennes-le-Château in November 1789. The engraving represented in
his book by Gérard de Sède via Chésa, has been tampered with.
From 1789 to 1895, this stone was found on the grave of the
Marquise of Blanchefort, in the cemetery of Rennes-le-Château,
near the bell tower. This is the one which was defaced by the
parish priest, Saunière in January 1895".
There are eight examples altogether to consider.
1) The drawing of the ‘Et In Arcadia Ego’ tombstone commonly attributed to Eugène Stublein first appeared in the Priory Document ascribed to ‘Madeleine Blancassall’,
Les Descendants Mérovingiens ou l’énigme du Razès wisigoth (1965).
It contained the caption:
La Deuxième Dalle De La Dame De Negri
D’Hautpoul-Blanchefort à Rennes-le-Château, Releveé au voyage du 23 Août
1905 à Rennes-le-Château (Aude).
There was no reference at all to Eugène Stublein.
2) From Antoine L’Ermite, Un Trésor Mérovingien
à Rennes-le-Château (1966). It contained the caption:
GRAVURE: EXTRAITE de
"PIERRES GRAVEES DU LANGUEDOC" de Eugène STUBLEIN à inprimerie de Limoux
– 1894 – Bibliothéque de Mr l’Abbé Joseph COURTAULY à VILLARZEL-DU-RAZES (Aude) – cette pierre
était la deuxième dalle de la Dame de NEGRI d’HAUTPOUL de BLANCHEFORT, se
trouvait à RENNES-LE-CHATEAU (Aude) et relevée le 25 Aout 1893,
de nos jours elle recouvre l’ossuaire du
cimetière de RENNES, (voir gravure originale page 189 du volume cité)
JANVIER 1961 – PUBLICATION DE L’ALPHA –
chez VIE à ANVERS
3) From Pierres Gravées du Languedoc ascribed to
‘Eugène Stublein’ & ‘Abbé Joseph
Courtaly’ (1966).
It included the caption: Dalle de grèc, couchée, au
cimetière de
Rennes-le-Château – Aude – Tombe des Dames
Hautpoul de Blanchefort.
The fake signature of Eugène Stublein found on the
drawings
attributed to him in Pierres Gravées du Languedoc:
The authentic signature of Eugène Stublein found in his
book,
Description d'un voyage aux ètablissements thermaux
de l'arrondissement de Limoux (1877):
The information concerning the two signatures was
provided in
"Pierre Jarnac", Les Archives de
Rennes-le-Château (1987-1988).
4) Gérard de Sède, L’Or de Rennes, ou
La Vie insolite de Bérenger Saunière, curé de
Rennes-le-Château (1967),
containing the caption: Releveé d'Eugene Stublein,
communiqué par M. R. Chésa.
5) Philippe de Cherisey, Circuit (1971), adding the ‘P-S Prae-Cum’ from the ‘Et In Arcadia Ego’ tombstone to the base of the tombstone of Marie de Négri d’Ables.
6) From the journal, Pégase Number 2 (June 1973),
in an article entitled Le Diable existe, je l'ai recontré!
by Jean-Luc Chaumeil (Archives de M.V. [Michel Vallet]).
7) From Jean-Pierre Monteils,
Nouveaux trésors à Rennes le Chateau ou Le retour
d'Ulysse (1974)
8) The Priory of Sion document ascribed to ‘Jean
Delaude’,
Le Cercle d’Ulysse (1977) reproduced the
‘Et In Arcadia Ego’ tombstone
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