The Order of the Solar Temple, or simply the Solar Temple, was a new religious movement and secret society, often described as a cult, notorious for the mass deaths of many of its members in several mass murders and suicides throughout the 1990s. The OTS was a neo-Templar order, claiming to be a continuation of the Knights Templar, and incorporated an eclectic range of beliefs with aspects of Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, and New Age ideas. It was led by Joseph Di Mambro, with Luc Jouret as a spokesman and second in command. It was founded in 1984, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Swiss police found the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple, who had died in a cult mass murder-suicide.
On October 5, in the year 1994, Swiss police found the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple, who had died in a cult mass murder-suicide. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of October 5, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on October 5, 1994 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 20 September 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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