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Knights Templar Encyclopedia [Paperback]

Karen Ralls (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 15, 2007
This book presents the fascinating history behind the most famous military religious Order of the Crusades--the Knights Templar. Written by leading Templar authority and medieval historian Dr. Karen Ralls, this sourcebook of hundreds of entries features a wealth of information on the key Templar people, places, events, symbols, organization, daily life, beliefs, economic empire, and trial.

The Knights Templar Encyclopedia provides a comprehensive view of the facts about this powerful medieval Order,  A to Z.  Meticulously gleaned from scholarly sources over a period of sixteen years, the encyclopedia covers key areas about the medieval Order itself, and also, other major medieval topics of increasing interest today and how they specifically relate to the Knights Templar -- i.e.,  the Grail,  the Black Madonnas,  King Arthur, Templar sites, Rosslyn Chapel,  key Templar symbolism, seals, and relics, Gothic cathedrals,  Mary Magdalene,  the Jolly Roger flag, alchemy,  Freemasonry,  the Guilds, chivalry, stained glass, Bernard of Clairvaux,  the origins of the Order,  Templar archives,  Assets, Treasuries, Loans, Maritime trade and ports, Farms,  Feast days, to name but a few entries.  Several key Appendices are included:  a Templar Chronology of Events;  a list of Grand Masters; a list of Popes during the time of the medieval Order;  a list of the charges against the Templars;  key Templar Sites;  and  Illustrations.  In addition, a special 'Recommended Reading' section, from scholarly sources,  under specific subject headings to further aid the reader, is also included.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"offers both general readers and specialists alike a remarkable source work on the famous medieval military order.  The essential guide to the people, places, events, and symbols of the order." --Letchworth's Masonic Books,  London

"...a very useful resource...the Appendices alone are worth the price of the book...I can heartily recommend this fine effort by an enthusiastic authority in Templar studies." --M. Snell, Medieval History, About.com

"... a remarkable source work on the famous medieval military order.  Scholarly and authoritative, Dr Ralls' treasury of Templar tradition is highly recommended" --Professor Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, University of Exeter UK

"....thoroughly researched...a fascinating source of detailed knowledge and very user-friendly... highly recommended." --Kate Gooch, Editor, Avalon Magazine, UK

"...accessible...It does work together well and the bibliography is excellent...As a general reader, or to get you under way, it has much to commend it." --Stephen Andrews, The Templar Booklet, UK

From the Back Cover

"Karen Ralls gives us the basic known facts about Templar history...If you're looking for the one indispensable book about the Knights Templar, this is it."
---Robert Ellwood, professor of Religion Emeritus, University of Southern California, in praise of The Templars and the Grail



"The Knights Templar Encyclopedia offers both general readers and specialists alike a remarkable source work on the famous medieval military order.  Scholarly and authoritative, Dr Ralls' treasury of Templar traditions is highly recommended."
---Professor Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke,  Professor of History,  University of Exeter (UK)


Who were the medieval Knights Templar?  How is their name connected to Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem?  What does their red cross symbolize?  Why were they suddenly arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307?  What unusual relics or Grail did they harbor?

A first of its kind, Knights Templar Encyclopedia presents in convenient, readable, A-to-Z format, the fascinating history behind the most famous military religious Order of the Crusades -- the Knights Templar.  Written by leading Templar authority and medieval historian Dr Karen Ralls, this authoritative sourcebook of hundreds of entries features a wealth of information on the key Templar people, places, events, symbols, organization, daily life, beliefs, economic empire, trial, and more. This indispensable resource is for the general reader and specialist alike -- for anyone, in fact, who is interested in the history and legacy of the powerful Knights Templar (1119-1312).

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: New Page Books (April 15, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1564149269
  • ISBN-13: 978-1564149268
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Whatever our chosen paths, we are all on a quest. History, local traditions, and visiting historical sites can often enlighten and assist us on this journey. I write my books for all of you, as we mutually step back in time and explore what history has to offer us today -- "Quest on"! All best wishes, Karen

Karen M. Ralls, PhD, medieval historian and world religions and spiritualities scholar, obtained her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, followed by six years as Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer (Univ. of Edinburgh, Celtic Dept.) and Deputy Curator of the Rosslyn Chapel Museum art exhibition (1996-2001) prior to relocating to Oxford, England, where she continues her specialist research,media/TV/film outreach, and music projects. A member of The Chalice Well, Rosslyn Chapel (Scotland), and Gatekeeper Pilgrimage Trusts (UK), the American Academy of Religion, and the British Association for the Study of Religions, Dr Ralls has appeared on major American, British and European TV documentaries for History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, BBC Channel 4, etc., and has completed a specialist Medieval and Renaissance art history course at the renowned Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London.

Often widely recognized for her groundbreaking work, Dr Ralls is an international lecturer, conference speaker, noted author, historical and sacred sites tour guide, and workshop/retreat/events presenter. As Medieval Editor, she has also written a column for Sacred History, an American magazine for general readers whose debut issue was selected in 2006 by Library Journal as one of the "Top 30 new US periodical releases". Originally from the USA, Dr Ralls' books include The Templars and the Grail (Quest Books), The Knights Templar Encyclopedia (Career Press), Music and the Celtic Otherworld (Edinburgh University Press & Palgrave/Macmillan), Quest for the Celtic Key (Luath, Edinburgh); Indigenous Religious Music (SOAS Musicology Series, UK), and more. Also a musician (flute, Celtic harp), Karen has a Facebook Author Page and her award-winning website is http://www.ancientquest.com




*some of the TV documentaries include:

Medieval Mysteries (2010)

The Quest: The Greatest Knight of All (Vol III - part of the Knights Templar Quest DVD Series, Classic Media/Shepperton Studios, UK. "Presented by Dr Nick Barratt of the BBC TV flagship programme 'Who do you think you are', and featuring the eminent medieval Templar historian Dr Karen Ralls and others, this Volume III DVD of the series investigates the specific history, legends, and mysteries surrounding the medieval Knights Templar." 2 discs; running time 110 min.'s (2008)

Quest for the Lost Ark (History Channel, BBC 4) (2008)

Looking for a Grail Legend (DVD); with Dr Karen Ralls (at Rosslyn Chapel), Prof. Ronald Hutton, John Matthews, Jude Currivan, Maddy Prior, etc. (UK production, 2007)

Mysteries of the Freemasons (National Geographic, 2006)

Medieval Pilgrimage - A Sacred Journey (2006)

Secret History of Religion: Knights Templar (Curtis Productions, Chicago; National Geographic) - a 'special Thank You' to Dr Karen Ralls (2006)

Decoding the Past: The Templar Code (History Channel; 2005)

Beyond the Da Vinci Code (History Channel; 2005); The Da Vinci Code Decoded (History Channel; 2004)

Quest for the Holy Grail (UK); filmed at Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland; (Discovery Channel, 2003)

 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Ray of Light on the Templar Enigma, April 25, 2007
This review is from: Knights Templar Encyclopedia (Paperback)
Confused about all the speculation & stories centered around the secret society known as the Knights Templar? Do you want to sort out the fact and fiction of Mary Magdalene and The Holy Grail? Find it hard to know just who to believe in all the so-called "codes" & "ancient mysteries?" Were the Templars guilty of witchcraft, Satanism & homosexuality as charged by The Church? Do you want FACTUAL history of the Templars presented in one well-written & engrossing format? Would you like a real encyclopedia of the subject that reads like an exciting novel?

Then get this book.

Inside you will find information about the history of not only the mysterious & romantic Templars, but also that of the Cathars, the journey of mystical relics, Gnostic sects & their persecution by The Church, the floor plans of the famous Rosslyn Chapel, Agnes Dei, and much, much more.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ENCYCLOPEDIA is a gem of investigative reporting & analysis, in contrast to which other books of similiar genre should be compared. It is a fully engaging & intelligent work.

The Secret History of Freemasonry: Its Origins and Connection to the Knights Templar
Holy Blood, Holy Grail
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Opening the Ark of the Covenant: The Secret Power of the Ancients, the Knights Templar Connection, And the Search for the Holy Grail
Bloodline of the Holy Grail: The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed
The Stone Puzzle of Rosslyn Chapel: The Truth behind its Templar and Masonic secrets
Rosslyn and the Grail
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
The Gnostic Gospels: Including the Gospel of Thomas The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (Sacred Wisdom)


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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy To Use Reference on the Knights Templar, April 16, 2007
By 
Alan S. Glassman "pleromata" (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Knights Templar Encyclopedia (Paperback)
When Dr. Ralls asked me to submit a few of my past photos for inclusion in her latest book, I had no idea she was working on an encyclopedia of the Knights Templar. However, I was delighted to see and read the final product of her research. It is at once both an excellent reference about the Knights and an easily readable narrative of who they were, their historical activities, places, and symbols.

While I first found myself reading the book from cover to cover, I now use it to look up specific subjects relating to the Templars. I find the guide very thorough for that purpose, and, as an experienced traveler, I find especially valuable Appendix E, the Selected List of Templar Sites. While Dr. Ralls' Bibliography is quite complete, as an avid researcher I particularly appreciate her inclusion of a section on Recommended Reading of books and articles organized by subject.

Karen Ralls is no stranger to the study of the Order of the Temple. When I decided to travel 4 years ago to England, Scotland, and France to study the sacred architecture for which the Knights are responsible, I was told to contact Dr. Ralls. I found she had not only been past deputy director of the Rosslyn Chapel Museum exhibition, but that she had been lecturing on medieval history at Oxford University. And, that's where I met up with her.

Also being a stickler for accuracy and details, Karen and I talked the same language. I got many good tips from her on where to concentrate my efforts in my own search, and I subsequently enjoyed reading her book The Templars and the Grail. Keep in mind that all this was before the arrival of the Da Vinci Code novel and movie. Dr. Ralls put me way ahead of the game, so to speak, and was instrumental in encouraging me to follow through on my lecture circuit about the meanings behind the art, architecture, and symbols of the Templars.

The Knights Templar Encyclopedia is a fitting culmination of many years of scholarly work by a fine academic historian. As I have, I think you will find it an enjoyable read as well as a stepping stone to your own further quest for knowledge about the mystical Knights of the Temple.

While this book is a milestone in the efforts of Dr. Ralls, we certainly know it will be followed by many other significant contributions from her in this field of study.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide on the Templar trail!, April 18, 2007
By 
Mara Freeman (California / Wales) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Knights Templar Encyclopedia (Paperback)
Dr Ralls is an engaging and reliable source of information on the subject all too prone to modern myth-making. In lively and readable prose, she leads us on the trail of the Templars via solid historical evidence that avoids the marshes of speculation. Along the way, she offers us fascinating glimpses into related windows of 12th century culture and religion, including the Holy Grail, the Black Madonna and Alchemy. An excellent resource!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hierarchical statutes, official papal recognition, new knighthood, datum optimum, secular knights, medieval stonemasons, pilgrim badges, military religious order, full knights, specific saints, mason brothers, crusader states, other religious orders
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Knights Templar, Grand Master, Holy Land, Bernard of Clairvaux, Mary Magdalene, Recommended Reading, Middle Ages, Order of the Temple, Our Lady, Templar Rule, Organization of the Templar, Black Madonna, Agnus Dei, Blessed Virgin Mary, Simon Brighton, Jacques de Molay, Council of Troyes, Hugh de Payns, Knights Hospitaller, Pope Clement, Order of Christ, True Cross, Second Crusade, Song of Songs, Castle Pilgrim
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