Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones is a secret society at Yale University. It is said to be the first, established in 1832. By the late 1800s, the most prestigious of these societies were Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, Wolf's Head, Book and Snake and Berzelius. Fifteen members are chosen during their junior year by existing members.

Overview of the Story

It is said that members are forbidden from revealing affiliation, although they are permitted to wear Skull and Bone pins in public. Lists of purported members are readily available and may be located with a simple internet search, though none of these seem particularly credible. Rituals of Skull and Bones are said to take place in the organization's campus building which is called the Tomb, adjoining Jonathan Edward College. A skull, named Geronimo, but probably unrelated to the historical personage of that name, is kept in The Tomb. No particular religious affiliation is said to be required for membership.

Given the power and prominence of the supposed members, and the superficial obscurity of the societies (the question is raised would you be reading this if they were truly secret or obscure?), the societies are frequently included in similarly founded conspiracy theories.

Members then purportedly go on to highly successful careers in education, banking, law, industry, and government. A large proportion of those listed have gone on to important positions in the intelligence community, particularly in organizations like the CIA.

No one except their members can substantiate what happens at Skull and Bones rituals. Some of the claimed descriptions of them are reminiscent of Satanic practices.

The self-proclaimed 'only' video of a purported society ritual, taken by journalist Ron Rosenbaum, shows hooded, masked figures participating in what looks like an initiation rite. It is reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project, the Roswell Incident (later claimed to be the work of a music video producer) and scores of other home-made scary films and audio recordings produced to frighten and amaze the gullible. Again, it may or may not be genuine.

The conspiracy theories and stories surrounding Skull and Bones was the subject of a fictional film The Skulls, which has had at least two sequels and rather mixed reviews on Amazon.

See also

• Fraternity, Freemasonry, List of conspiracy theories
• Myth, Urban Legends
• Falsifiability

External links

• Alleged Video of a Skull and Bones ritual taken by Ron Rosenbaum
• A list of reputed members is posted here:[1]
• May 2000 Atlantic Monthly article by Alexandra Robbins, George W., Knight of Eulogia
• Video of Bohemian Grove Ritual, as well as photographs of alleged Skull and Bones members involved in ritual. Video taken by Alex Jones

Further Reading

• Secrets of the Tomb by Alexandra Robbins (ISBN 0-31-672091-7)

• America's Secret Establishment by Antony C. Sutton

Referenced By