The Inverted Masonic Tower: The Well of Initiation

The mysterious system of underground tunnels in the Quinta da Regaleira palace and park complex, built at the beginning of the last century in the Portuguese municipality of Sintra, supposedly serves as mystical transitions from light to darkness. The central structure is considered to be the well of Initiation, the entrance to which is guarded by the chthonic guards of penumbra, representing the world of penumbra.

According to legend, in a mysterious well 27 meters deep, resembling an inverted tower, Masons performed initiation rites. The initiation ceremony traditionally ended at the bottom of the pit, where an eight-pointed star is depicted. The spiral staircase encircling the well with outlandish railings overgrown with moss symbolizes the circles of heaven or hell - depending on the direction of movement. The exit from the mystical well is possible through a stone door leading to an underground tunnel.

The Well of Dedication is located in the Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra, Portugal. Made by human hands, this unusual well got its name because the initiation rites of Masons were held in it.

It is a 27-meter spiral staircase going deep into the mountain. The staircase has 10 levels, which are supported by carved stone columns.

These levels symbolize the 10 circles of hell, 10 circles of purgatory and 10 circles of paradise, which Dante described. There are 15 steps in each flight.

The well itself is built on the unity of opposites, that is, the underworld is opposed to heaven, heaven is hell, this world is otherworldly.

When a person descends to the bottom of the well, it is as if he goes through a certain rite of cognition of his soul.

The lower a person sinks to the bottom, the darker it becomes.

But the compass in the well, drawn on top of the Knights Templar cross, always points to the east. This means that a person goes to the light.

After a little wandering in the dark, we still come out into the light.

The entrance to the well of Initiation is guarded by the guards of the otherworld.

Opposite the entrance to the well there is a "Divine Terrace", which is protected by two ziggurat towers - these are cult structures resembling truncated pyramids, on the upper tier of which there was a sanctuary.