Since the dawn of human civilization, there have been those who believed themselves to be superior, of higher grade, or otherwise “chosen” or “appointed” amongst their fellow man.

These elites have drawn together to form societies, often in secret, and usually with the thought of taking their rightful place as the leaders or masters of those they saw as beneath them.

Of course, secret societies have not always been necessarily evil, some have been benevolent, but for the most part, they have one thing in common. a need to master.

Whether the secret society is religious, political, or merely social, it has several things in common with other secret societies (the very things that define them), according to Alan Axelrod, author of The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders.

It is exclusive, allowing only those who are “chosen,” “special,” or otherwise superior.

It will have secrets, knowledge, or mythical understandings which can only be gained by being a member of the society.

Finally, it will show strong inclination to favor its members over outsiders, with those inside working (often) against those without.

David V. Barrett, author of “Secret Societies. From the Ancient and Arcane to the Modern and Clandestine” furthers this thought with more detail.

In Barrett's view, the common characteristics involve the rituals, graded progression of enlightenment, and slow transformation of the initiate into the enlightened.

This view takes into account most of the more ancient of these groups. Finding out info on ancient secret societies is often a trip through time as current societies de-morph into earlier incarnations and those into even earlier ones and so forth.

INFO ON ANCIENT SECRET SOCIETIES. TODAY'S SECRET SOCIETIES AND THEIR ANCIENT ROOTS

Many of today's secret societies lay claim to roots in such ancient societies as Atlantis, Lemuria, Egypt, and others. The Freemasons of Europe