An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar

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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 255.7913 EAN: 9781594771170 ISBN: 1594771170 Label: Destiny Books Manufacturer: Destiny Books Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 192 Publication Date: 2006-09-18 Publisher: Destiny Books Release Date: 2006-09-29 Studio: Destiny Books
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Editorial Reviews: A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive look at the mysterious history of the Order of the Knights Templar • Presents the myths and historical truths of the Knights Templar, the elite warrior army of the pope who were destroyed as heretics some 700 years ago • Examines the evidence of the Templar connections to the Assassins and the Cathars • Includes more than 170 period illustrations and contemporary photos of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem Despite the increasing scholarship devoted to the study of the Templar order, founded in 1119, the mystery surrounding the Templars endures. Secret societies from the Freemasons to the Ordo Templi Orientis claim descent from this religious order of warrior-monks. As the private army of the pope, the Knights Templar were initially established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land but grew to become one of the most powerful organizations in the Middle Ages. With period illustrations from manuscripts from the Crusades, interpretive romantic paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary photos by Steven Brooke and others of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem, James Wasserman, author of the bestselling The Templars and the Assassins, provides a fascinating history of the Order and the many mysteries and legends that surround it. Wasserman presents the evidence for the Templar connection to mystical Islamic organizations such as the Assassins as well as their ties to “heretical” groups such as the Cathars, who were targeted by a crusade in southern France to expunge the challenge they presented to the orthodoxy of their time. In addition to providing an overview of the Templars’ actions during the Crusades, Wasserman revisits the trial and the charges leveled against them, showing how the Order was ruthlessly crushed. He also explores the nature of the treasure they left behind, which has fueled popular imagination for centuries.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: OK in general. Very good if you like pictures with your history. Comment: Mr. Wasserman has no doubt spent countless hours researching the Knights Templar. He is a member of an occult society (which is somewhat built along the lines of the Templars) and provides interesting insight in to the Templar mystery, but in reality, this is just a picture book surrounding a brief summary of the templar history. The problem is that pictures, especially where medieval/dark ages history is concerned, are very affected; that is to say that the depictions were created under the watchful eye of a Inquisition that was out of control, a Papacy that was on the defensive following the Templar trial debacle. Now, had the illustrations been accurate, this may be worth the purchase price, but since the drawings are all based on artistic impression, creative license, political or personal bias, and seperation by time, what you end up with is a book that places pictures in your mind when you should really be taking the information and creating your own ideas, concepts and images with your own mind. A noble effort and worth the read for any Templar lover, but still just a picture book with some history thrown in for good measure. If you are a student of the Templars, as I am, you can probably live without this book in your library. If you are new to the subject, be careful because I would hate for preconceived notions to enter your mind as you are just starting to study a subject that is rich in culture, history, people, geography and politics. The subject of the Templars, their rise, fall and eventual destruction involves much political, religious, personal and monetary backstory that must be understood to truly appreciate the consequences. Just be careful as you peruse the pictures, but do take note of the history because Mr. Wasserman is a very good compiler of information on this and many other topics. He is a definitely a talented researcher. Customer Rating: Summary: An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar Comment: Well illustrated with clear and concise text. Not an in-depth analysis but useful for further reading on closely related topics. Customer Rating: Summary: Little is duplicated, here. Comment: Plenty of books have been written about the Templar order founded in 1119, but the mystery surrounding them continues. Author James Wasserman is a thirty-year member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, has written other books on the topic, and here provides a history of the Order and its legends and mysteries. From images of Crusades manuscripts to interpretive paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries and modern photos of former Templar places in Europe and Jerusalem, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR makes the most of visuals from all centuries and is a recommended pick for any new age collection, even those who already have several books on the topic. Little is duplicated, here. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch Customer Rating: Summary: Thank You Comment: Thank you Mr.Wasserman for this gift to Templar enthusiasts. This addition to his published works cannot go with out notice. It contains a detailed history of the Templars as well as the largest collection of photos, paintings, and etchings, which visually chronicle an amazing section of history. For those groups that claim descent from these brave Knights, An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar, will serve to benefit their knowledge of this history and enrich their understanding of these group's foundation. Customer Rating: Summary: If I had only one book about the Knights Templar... Comment: Hats off to Mr. Wasserman! I have read over a dozen treatments of the Knights Templar and Mr. Wasserman's books set the standard that I measure the others against. His research is meticulous. His history of the Templars begins with background on the founder and follows through to the fateful Friday the 13th when the Knights were imprisoned and their property seized and the ensuing torture and sham trials endured by these Knights. "The Illustrated History" offers no fairy tales, myths, or undocumented rumors. This is the history of the Order as documented by them and both their European and Arab enemies. The term "Illustrated" hardly begins to describe the number (over 160 - about one image per page) of images in this book. I can't imagine the scores of hours it would take an individual reader to research and locate so many images of the Knights Templar, their enemies, their properties, and their battles. This book easily has more images than any ten other books I have read on the Templars. Images range from 13th and 14th century paintings through Paul Kirchner's drawings and Vere Chappell's contemporary photographs of many important sites. Finally, two full page maps put the reach of the Knights and the distances involved in the Crusades into startling perpsective. Mr. Wasserman offers detailed background on the geopolitical climate in the Holy Lands during the centuries the Templars battled for and protected sacred sites in the name of the Pope. I suspect many readers will see similarities to today's geopolitical struggles in Arabia and Persia. If I had only one book about the Knights Templar in my library, "An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar" is the one I would want. No one will regret buying this book for themselves or as a gift. Take advantage of amazon and get this book and "The Mystery Traditions" too! I can't believe so much value is so affordable here! More Reviews