History Memes

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Symbolism is a funny thing (media.piefed.social)

submitted 4 weeks ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social

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[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I don’t think I have ever heard anybody claim that the Illuminati was democratic or secular. In fact my grandpa was convinced of the opposite in a rather bigoted way.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 25 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

The meme is saying that the actual Illuminati were secular and democratic, but are seen in the modern day as a shadowy, oppressive cabal

[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Fun fact, the downfall of the Illuminati was when one of their couriers carrying banned books and letters on democracy and such was struck by lightning and killed.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Geeeeeeeetouttaheah! Really?

[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

https://bitterwinter.org/the-origins-of-the-bavarian-illuminati/

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

In his work of over seven hundred pages, Le Forestier gives an account of his exploration of German archives, where almost everything was preserved with Teutonic precision. When a member of the Illuminati of Bavaria, the Catholic priest Johann Jakob Lang (according to another spelling “Lanz,” 1735–1785), died struck by lightning on July 10, 1785, the police drew up, and archivists preserved, even an exact inventory of what was in his pockets. So fastidious was Le Forestier’s work that later historians have been able to add only a few details, although they have not always accepted his interpretations.

I think it’s using him as an example of how and why we know so much about them, not necessarily their downfall. But it is interesting!

[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

Part of the contents of his pockets was a member list. It led to a lot of arrests.

I found part 9 of the article series, which has links to the rest.

https://bitterwinter.org/illuminati-and-political-controversy-from-jefferson-to-trump/

I've only read up to part three on that site, but it matches what I've found elsewhere.

[–] cjoll4@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

I had no idea the Illuminati were a real group. I thought they were just some abstract boogeymen. Shows how ignorant I am. :(

[–] king_comrade@lemmy.world 10 points 4 weeks ago

Google the Bavarian Illuminati and enjoy the rabbit hole. They were mostly a bunch of nerds frustrated with the free masons and just wanted to trade books that were banned by the church.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 2 points 4 weeks ago

They were a pretty minor group, but they were real!

[–] cmbabul@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

Obligatory Behind the Bastards plug on the History of the Illuminati

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

It was a secret society with a bunch of magical rituals to trick people into learning about democracy, because it being illegal wasn't enough to make people interested