ROBERT FEATHER

Uncovering the Spear of Destiny

 

 Robert is a trained metallurgist and technical engineering writer of 25 years standing. His work on Jewish and Middle Eastern history and the Dead Sea Scrolls resulted in his book THE COPPER SCROLL DECODED (1999), which showed the undeniable link between the Dead Sea community responsible for the scrolls and the religion of dynastic Egypt. Yet some years ago he embarked on new research into the true history of one of the world’s most enigmatic religious artefacts - the Spear of Destiny, or Spear of Christ, housed in the Hofsburg Museum, Vienna.

Coveted by emperors and kings, this relic has the strongest claim to be the authentic weapon that pierced the side of Jesus at his crucifixion. Legend has it that the Spear passed from the Roman Centurion Longinus into the hands of St Maurice, Emperor Constantine, Charlemagne, Charles IV of Bohemia. Moreover, it was this single, immensely potent artefact that Adolf Hitler seized following the Nazis’ successful invasion of Austria in 1938. In a manner unprecedented before this time, Robert Feather was able to gain permission not merely to examine this priceless treasure in a laboratory environment, but also to take apart the delicate bands that hold it together. Using this invaluable information alongside the spear’s known provenance, Robert will present an unmissable audio-visual presentation in which he reconstructs the relic’s fascinating history, which goes back at least 1500 years.

Robert Feather studied at St. Marylebone Grammar School and Sir John Cass College, London University, subsequently becoming a Member of the Institution of Metallurgists and a Chartered Engineer. Working initially in research for BICC, on precious metals casting, and the British Iron & Steel Federation, he joined STEEL TIMES as assistant editor and has spent the last 25 years working in journalism and technical publishing. He has written for a wide cross section of technical magazines and was founder editor of the METALLURGIST & MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIST, editor of PURCHASING & SUPPLY, WEIGHING & MEASURING and a number of other technical journals. Having set up his own publishing company he acquired a share in Chess & Bridge Ltd, an ex- Robert Maxwell company in 1992.

He has spent many years studying comparative religions and the Middle East and is a member of the Egypt Exploration Society, Historical Metallurgy Society and is the author of a number of books on the subject of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including The Copper Scroll Decoded. (1999), subsequently translated into a number of languages and republished in the US as The Mystery of the Copper Scroll of Qumran (2003). A BBC TV documentary entitled ‘The Pharaoh’s Holy Treasure’, based on the book, was screened on 31 March 2002, and a BBC/Discovery documentary on The Spear of Christ was first shown in June 2003.

To learn more about Robert Feather and his books check out his website at www.copper-scroll.com

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