Pages from the History → The Priory of Sion: Existence or Myth?

The Priory of Sion, a secret society purportedly founded in the Middle Ages, has been the subject of extensive speculation, debate, and fascination.

Popularized by works such as Dan Brown's *The Da Vinci Code*, this enigmatic organization is said to have guarded profound secrets, including the true nature of the Holy Grail and the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

However, the veracity of these claims is highly contentious.

This article delves into the origins, purported evidence, and counterarguments surrounding the Priory of Sion, aiming to assess whether this secretive order ever truly existed or is merely a complex hoax.

• Origins of the Priory of Sion

The story of the Priory of Sion begins with Pierre Plantard, a Frenchman born in 1920.

In 1956, Plantard, along with André Bonhomme, registered an association named "The Priory of Sion" with the French government. This organization, however, was not an ancient secret society but a small group focused on housing issues in France.

The name "Sion" referred to a local mountain, Mont Sion, in the Haute-Savoie region.

• The Dossiers Secrets and the Holy Grail