Graham Phillips (author)
Encyclopedia
Graham Phillips is a British author and historical mysteries researcher. Phillips has a background working as a reporter for BBC
radio and a magazine editor. He has made a number of controversial claims concerning the Arthurian legend, such as the discovery of a small stone cup that he proposes was the original Holy Grail
, the identification of a Roman ruin as the "historical Camelot
", and the discovery of what he suggests is King Arthur
’s grave. He has also investigated various biblical mysteries, again presenting some controversial theories, such as an alternative location for Mount Sinai
at Petra
in Jordan
, an Egyptian staff in a British museum as the staff of Moses
, and a grave on the British island of Anglesey
as the tomb of the Virgin Mary.
and appeared in his documentaries Robin Hood: Fact or Fiction (2003) and The Real Da Vinci Code (2005), and with historian Michael Wood: In Search of Myths and Heroes: King Arthur (2005). He has made two guest appearances on Britain’s Channel Four Richard & Judy
show: The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant (2004), and King Arthur: The True Story (2005). His investigations featured in two documentaries on the National Geographic Channel
: The Hunt for the Lost Ark (2005) and Is it Real?: King Arthur (2007). Phillips’s search for the lost Ark was the subject of an episode of the Travel Channel and History Channel’s Legend Hunters series (The Ark of the Covenant, 2007) as was his investigation into the Grail legend (The Holy Grail, 2004). Phillips’s search for the Holy Grail formed part of the Lucasfilm
documentary Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest about real-life Indiana Jones type researchers which accompanied the release of the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008. His research into the Grail and Camelot legend featured in the Travel Channel
’s Weird Travels 2006 series (Weird Travels: The Quest for the Holy Grail). And his investigations into the secret life of William Shakespeare and the Grail legend formed part of the Discovery Channel
’s Puzzles of the Past 2001 series (Master Spies and Holy Relics).
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio and a magazine editor. He has made a number of controversial claims concerning the Arthurian legend, such as the discovery of a small stone cup that he proposes was the original Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
, the identification of a Roman ruin as the "historical Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
", and the discovery of what he suggests is King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
’s grave. He has also investigated various biblical mysteries, again presenting some controversial theories, such as an alternative location for Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
at Petra
Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited...
in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, an Egyptian staff in a British museum as the staff of Moses
The Staff of Moses
According to the Book of Exodus in the Bible, the staff used by Moses was by his side throughout important milestones in the narrative...
, and a grave on the British island of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
as the tomb of the Virgin Mary.
Books
- The Green Stone (with Martin Keatman). Neville Spearman, 1983. ISBN 0-859780-60-0. Documents the authors’ search for a hidden jewel rumoured to have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots.
- The Eye of Fire (with Martin Keatman). C.W. Daniel, 1986. ISBN 978-0-852071-72-4. An investigation into a Victorian secret society and the search for an ancient talisman they are said to have possessed.
- King Arthur: The True Story (with Martin Keatman). Century, 1992. ISBN 978-0-712655-80-4. Researches the origins of the King Arthur myth, concluding that Arthur was an historical fifth-century warlord from the English Midlands.
- The Shakespeare Conspiracy (with Martin Keatman). Century, 1994. ISBN 978-0-712658-83-6. Examines the evidence concerning the private life of William Shakespeare, and proposes that the playwright worked as a spy for the Protestant government of Queen Elizabeth I.
- Robin Hood: The Man behind the Myth (with Martin Keatman). Michael O’Mara, 1995. ISBN 978-1-854799-96-8. Suggests that the legendary outlaw may have been a composite character based on three separate historical figures.
- The Search for the Grail. Century, 1995. ISBN 978-0-712675-33-8. Proposes that the medieval Grail romances where based on the legend of a jar that was said to have belonged to Jesus’ follower Mary Magdalene.
- Act of God. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1998. ISBN 978-0-283063-14-5. Investigates the biblical accounts of the Exodus, concluding that the plagues of the Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea were real historical events caused by a volcanic eruption.
- The Marian Conspiracy. Sidgwick & Jackson, 2000. ISBN 978-0-283063-41-1. Examines the historical evidence concerning the life of the Virgin Mary and proposes that the true location of her tomb was kept secret by the Vatican.
- The Moses Legacy. Sidgwick & Jackson, 2002. ISBN 978-0-283073-15-1. Explores the origins of Judaism by examining the historical and archeological evidence concerning the period of the Old Testament.
- Alexander the Great: Murder in Babylon. Virgin Publishing, 2004. ISBN 978-1-852271-34-3. Investigates the mystery of Alexander’s death, concluding that he was poisoned by his wife Roxanne.
- The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant. Bear & Company, 2004. ISBN 978-1-591430-39-1. An account of the author’s search for the biblical Ark of the Covenant by following a trail of clues purportedly left by the Knights Templars during the Middle Ages.
- Merlin and the Discovery of Avalon in the New World. Bear & Company, 2005. ISBN 978-1-591430-47-6. Proposes that the Arthurian Merlin was based on an historical figure who sailed to America a thousand years before Columbus.
- The End of Eden. Bear & Company, 2007. ISBN 978-1-591430-69-8. Advocates that a comet impact around 1500 BCE was responsible for the simultaneous collapse of various civilizations around the world.
Documentaries and television appearances
Phillips has worked twice with British TV personality Tony RobinsonTony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
and appeared in his documentaries Robin Hood: Fact or Fiction (2003) and The Real Da Vinci Code (2005), and with historian Michael Wood: In Search of Myths and Heroes: King Arthur (2005). He has made two guest appearances on Britain’s Channel Four Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
show: The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant (2004), and King Arthur: The True Story (2005). His investigations featured in two documentaries on the National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
: The Hunt for the Lost Ark (2005) and Is it Real?: King Arthur (2007). Phillips’s search for the lost Ark was the subject of an episode of the Travel Channel and History Channel’s Legend Hunters series (The Ark of the Covenant, 2007) as was his investigation into the Grail legend (The Holy Grail, 2004). Phillips’s search for the Holy Grail formed part of the Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
documentary Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest about real-life Indiana Jones type researchers which accompanied the release of the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008. His research into the Grail and Camelot legend featured in the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
’s Weird Travels 2006 series (Weird Travels: The Quest for the Holy Grail). And his investigations into the secret life of William Shakespeare and the Grail legend formed part of the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
’s Puzzles of the Past 2001 series (Master Spies and Holy Relics).