A Dive Into The Secret Societies With The Most Intriguing Origins

For years, many of us have thought of secret societies as the things that only exist in stories. However, they are much more a part of our reality than many people realize. Have you ever wondered how they came to be? Taking a dive into the secret societies with the most intriguing origins goes to show just how some things get their start in this world.

While it might feel like they are nothing more than fiction, secret societies have been around for hundreds of years - and it doesn't look as though they're going anywhere any time soon. Sometimes, it's all about who you know if you want an invite of your own.

Skull and Bones has seen plenty of famous faces come and go

Yale University is said to be home to the secret society that is Skull and Bones. It's said Skull and Bones was founded in 1832, and there have been plenty of theories about the organization ever since, with a lot of the fascination coming from the fact the members meet somewhere called The Tomb and the sinisterness of the group's name to start with. Then there's the fact that several prominent figures have allegedly come from Skull and Bones, including CIA agents, judges, presidents, and politicians. Now, 15 new members are chosen on Tap Day each year, but every other ritual and rule is a well-guarded secret.

The Knights Templar had some incredibly strict rules for every member

One of the most famous secret societies to ever exist is none other than The Knights Templar. After all, it was formed back in 1119 with the idea that they could protect any Christian pilgrims who were making their way to the Holy Land. The name itself even comes from their headquarters that used to be found in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, but it wasn't long before The Knights Templar grew to become some of the wealthiest and most influential people of the time. Medieval times were filled with talks of the group, who even created what many consider to be the first international banking system. Even though The Knights Templar were hugely influential, all the members were expected to live humble lives, laid out in a code called the Latin Rule. Living as vegetarians and never being intimate were just two of the rules, which also included no shoelaces, eating off the floor if they misbehaved, and having to ask permission before they could adjust their stirrups.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was supposedly formed by occultists

After it was founded in 1887, The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn intrigued a lot of people through the name alone. It's said that the original founders were three English occultists who were once Freemasons before they set up their own secret society. One of the biggest differences from the get-go was the fact that women could join. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn also have their own initial process that sees people dress in headdresses and elaborate tunics like Egyptian pharaohs. One member was even allegedly chained to a cross during her initiation.

Freemasons allegedly have a special initiation process for all new members

It might be a secret society, but the Freemasons are still one of the most talked-about groups in the modern world. After all, it's thought that members live in lodges all across the world. Time has lost the true origins of the Freemasons, but it's believed that modern Freemasonry comes from practicing stonemasons who built cathedrals and castles throughout the Middle Ages. The Master Mason is the highest title you can earn from the three primary degrees of Freemasonry, followed by Fellow Craft and Entered Apprentice. Apparently, everyone who joins this secret society has to go through the same initiation since the formation of the group, which includes being presented in a blindfold with a noose around your neck, the left half of your chest exposed, and a trouser leg pulled up. Of course, each comes with its own deep meaning, such as representing darkness, no shackles, that someone is a male, and someone's ignorance.

Taking a dive into the secret societies with the most intriguing origins might not reveal all of their secrets, but it goes to prove how many hidden groups there could be out there in the world - each with its own mission, purpose, and story.