Product Description

Who were the mysterious medieval Knights Templar?

What is the special Templar symbolism in some of the Grail romances?

Did the Templars find the lost treasures of Jerusalem, and if so, what happened to them?

Why were they arrested and tortured in 1307? And why, a year later, did some imprisoned Templars create unusual carvings on the walls of Chinon Castle tower--images which are still undeciphered today?

How does their mythos and its meaning live on today?

The powerful Knights Templar, the famed monastic warriors of the Crusades, have long been shrouded in mystery. They were believed to conduct mystical rites, guard the Grail, and possess the lost treasures of Jerusalem. They were also bankers to kings and popes, trusted diplomats, farmers, business executives and navigators.

In this important new book on the history of the Templars, medieval historian Dr. Karen Ralls presents the unfolding drama of the Templars through time, examining the many beliefs and theories about their presumed powers and knowledge. Drawing on both academic sources (Part One) and selected popular sources (Part Two), a solidly-researched, up-to-date perspective is provided. This book also examines important lingering questions about the events preceding the official founding of the Order, the trial of the Templars, the Ark of the Covenant, excavations under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the burning of Grand Master Jacques de Molay, the Champagne fairs, women Templars, Gothic cathedrals, the 'Jolly Roger' flag symbolism, importance of Our Lady, alchemy, Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, various New World theories, and much more.

Other features include an extensive Bibliography, and four appendices--a detailed Chronology of Events (1118-1571), a list of Grand Masters, information on Templar sites, and rare illustrations and photographs of the stone carvings, artifacts and regalia relating to Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. The result is a riveting read and a vital contribution to the history of the Templars and their enduring legacy today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74032 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
A Templar tour-de-force...In this work Dr. Ralls has created an important bridge between these two extraordinary and long-lived themes. -- from the FORWARD, by John Matthews

A concise and easy-to-read survey of two richly symbolic and enduring aspects of the Middle Ages -- Renaissance Magazine (Fall 2003)

A factual history of the medieval Templar Order...Informative and readable excursion into the ever-fascinating world of quest -- Caduceus magazine (UK; June 2003)

A practical history of the Templars...this book is a 'must' for those interested in the western mysteries -- Chev. Robert Brydon, Rosslyn Chapel Museum exhibition owner and Templar archivist, Edinburgh

An open-minded look at the history, influence and mysteries of the Knights Templar...can be usefully read by anyone interested -- Freemasonry Today magazine, Summer 2003 issue

Fair, open-minded yet responsible...If you're looking for the one indispensable book about the Knights Templar, this is it. -- from the Back Cover-- by Robert Ellwood, Prof. Emeritus, Religion, University of Southern California

Fascinating!...steers a middle course between dry scholarship and extravagent speculation, with real insight into the Templar and Grail traditions. -- Scientific and Medical Network Journal, UK, 2003

From the Black Madonna...to the Ark of the Covenant..it's all in this book...Fascinating! -- Avalon Magazine, Glastonbury, Summer 2003 issue

It is quite the most readable, factual book about the Templars I have ever seen...Maj. Gen. Sir Roy Redgrave -- Knights Templar International OSMTH journal,June 2003 issue

Lays to rest some of the wilder stories about the Templars, but there are still plenty of mysterious connections left. -- Quest magazine of Magical Heritage, London, No.134, June 2003

About the Author
KAREN RALLS, PhD, FSA Scot, medieval historian and Celtic scholar, was Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Deputy Curator of the Rosslyn Chapel Museum exhibition for six years before moving to Oxford to continue with specialist research in 2001. She lectures worldwide, leads tours to Templar and Celtic sites, speaks at conferences, and has appeared on numerous TV documentaries, including the Discovery Channel. Originally from the USA, Dr. Ralls is founder-Director of Ancient Quest. Her books include THE QUEST FOR THE CELTIC KEY (2002), INDIGENOUS RELIGIOUS MUSIC (2001), and MUSIC AND THE CELTIC OTHERWORLD (2000)

Customer Reviews

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! A tribute to the Knights Templar
Having read books by various authors about the enigmatic Knights Templar and the ever mysterious Grail, each asserting a different spin of the so-called "facts" or proposing a particular pet theory, I was thrilled to get my hands on one book that not only provides carefully documented yet easy to read facts, but also shows us (to quote from the author)"how to distinguish between fact, sensationalism, and honest, informed speculation. This book aims to make the acedemic material accessible, as well as to take a fresh, up-to-date look at a selection of theories." Dr. Ralls' unique interdisciplinary approach makes for an informative and enlightning read about a historical era shrouded in legend, mystery and international intrigue. I found the extensive Bibliography very helpful, in addition to the Chronology of Events during the time of the Templars! I was also impressed by the heartfelt "tribute" to the Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, at the end of the Introduction, as well as the unusual information about the Black Madonna, the Jolly Roger pirate flag symbolism, and the mysterious beginnings of the Order. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Evocative and compelling
So much of the literature on the Templars is either dry and cynical or so wild that you don't know what to believe. This book strikes exactly the right balance, and it's extremely readable and evokes the whole extraordinary period, and the mystery too. It is authoritative enough to be trustworthy, but interested in the myth and the legends as well. It really is the best introduction to the subject I've read.

Fascinating and evocative yet balanced
Written by an academic medieval historian, this is one of the best history books on the Knights Templar to come out for some time -- it is balanced (many academic but also some popular sources used, but carefully) and thoughtful, yet still manages to be readable and very intriguing. An ideal combo. The sources are reliable, so this author simply does not need to resort to mere sensationalism, which is so often the case with books on the Templars. The material on Scotland is great, especially the chapter on the enigmatic carvings of Rosslyn Chapel, a place that was also featured in the novel The Da Vinci Code. I would have liked a bit more on medieval Templar naval strategies and warfare and the Jolly Roger, but overall, if you are looking for a solid, reliable book that still has compelling research, admitting that there are still some important unanswered questions about the 'White knights' of the Crusades -- it's a valuable reference book to have around, plus a great read!