Wow... Neato!

[entitled]

From THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, London

First Knights Templar are discovered


April 10, 2006

LONDON: The first bodies of the Knights Templar, the mysterious religious order
at the heart of The Da Vinci Code, have been found by archaeologists near the
River Jordan in northern Israel.

British historian Tom Asbridge yesterday hailed the find as the first provable
example of actual Knights Templar.

The remains were found beneath the ruined walls of Jacob's Ford, an overthrown

castle dating back to the Crusades, which had been lost for centuries.

They can be dated to the exact day -- August 29, 1179 -- that they were killed
by Saladin, the feared Muslim leader who captured the fortress.

"Never before has it been possible to trace their remains to such an exact time
in history,' Mr Asbridge said. "This discovery is the equivalent of the Holy
Grail to archaeologists and historians. It is unparalleled."

 

[Guest]

 

[entitled]

Link please? This is cool!

i don't have one, unfortunately. The blurb was sent to me via email.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Awesome!!!

 

[Colleen Thomas]

From THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, London

First Knights Templar are discovered


April 10, 2006

LONDON: The first bodies of the Knights Templar, the mysterious religious order
at the heart of The Da Vinci Code, have been found by archaeologists near the
River Jordan in northern Israel.

British historian Tom Asbridge yesterday hailed the find as the first provable
example of actual Knights Templar.

The remains were found beneath the ruined walls of Jacob's Ford, an overthrown

castle dating back to the Crusades, which had been lost for centuries.

They can be dated to the exact day -- August 29, 1179 -- that they were killed
by Saladin, the feared Muslim leader who captured the fortress.

"Never before has it been possible to trace their remains to such an exact time
in history,' Mr Asbridge said. "This discovery is the equivalent of the Holy
Grail to archaeologists and historians. It is unparalleled."

I'm suspicious of any arecheologist who uses the hly grail as an example. Even more so of one who thinks he can offer a conclusive date for the death of human remains.

It sounds like a naeto find, but there sure a re a lot of red flags in that snippet.

 

[entitled]

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18761160-5001027,00.html

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

But have they found Jacques de Molay?

Anyway, the idea of finding dead knights is pretty cool. Nice to compare reality with legend.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm suspicious of any arecheologist who uses the hly grail as an example. Even more so of one who thinks he can offer a conclusive date for the death of human remains.

It sounds like a naeto find, but there sure a re a lot of red flags in that snippet.

Generally speaking, I agree with you but in this case, the Battle of Jacob's Ford was an historical event with a very precise date. The assumption is made that the knights died during the battle or right after it.

I have to agree about the red flags though. Surely, the remains would have been found long ago, since this would seem to be an obvious place to look for relics.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Threadjack warning:

Incidentally, I once wrote a satirical poem, poking fun at knights and chivalry. I believe that I was 17 at the time.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Generally speaking, I agree with you but in this case, the Battle of Jacob's Ford was an historical event with a very precise date. The assumption is made that the knights died during the battle or right after it.

Archeologists, tend not to make assumptions like that. For very good reason, they end up looking foolish tot heir peers if they jump the gun.

The bodies may well be of those who died defending the place. They could just as easily be the bodies of a work detail that was sent to recover bodies months later and had a wall collapse on them. It's even possible they are the bodies of men who survived the combat and perished years later, but asked to be burried with their comrades. That isn't such an uncommon desire among soldiers, you still get survivors of the Arizona who have their ashes interred with their ship mates.

The point I was making is, it's unprofessional to make such grandiose claims, even when you're reasonable sure you are right. If radio carbon dating indicates the bodies are two centrueis younger than he anticpates and probbly died there in a bedouin ambush, unrelated to Saladin or the orginal battle, he's going to look a might big fool.

 

[Aurora Black]

Holy hell!

 

[Guest]

"They can be dated to the exact day -- August 29, 1179 -- that they were killed by Saladin, the feared Muslim leader who captured the fortress."

How exactly? Was one clutching a day by day calendar?

 

[Guest]

..............

 

[Boxlicker101]

Herr is a link I have googled. Apparently the fort was not finished at the time of the attack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jacob's_Ford

 

[Guest]

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[gauchecritic]

From the diary of Simon De Beaufort

Wednesday August 28, 1179.

Gerard says we have to give back that piece of wood we found but we can keep the cup. (Hurrah).

Guy's mail is rusting and I'm not surprised, he probably got the lot for an ox and half, including the cuirass.

It's all gone very quiet outside.

Thursday August 29, 1179.

Gerard took me aside after Matins and told me he thinks we ought to...

 

[Boxlicker101]

From THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, London

First Knights Templar are discovered


April 10, 2006

LONDON: The first bodies of the Knights Templar, the mysterious religious order
at the heart of The Da Vinci Code, have been found by archaeologists near the
River Jordan in northern Israel.

British historian Tom Asbridge yesterday hailed the find as the first provable
example of actual Knights Templar.

The remains were found beneath the ruined walls of Jacob's Ford, an overthrown

castle dating back to the Crusades, which had been lost for centuries.

They can be dated to the exact day -- August 29, 1179 -- that they were killed
by Saladin, the feared Muslim leader who captured the fortress.

"Never before has it been possible to trace their remains to such an exact time
in history,' Mr Asbridge said. "This discovery is the equivalent of the Holy
Grail to archaeologists and historians. It is unparalleled."

I find it hard to believe that these were the only bodies of Templars ever to be found. The order was around for hundreds of year and was a force in Europe and the Middle East. They fought many battles, winning some and losing some. I'm sure that many of them eventually retired and, after dying of natural causes, were buried in cemetaries.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I find it hard to believe that these were the only bodies of Templars ever to be found. The order was around for hundreds of year and was a force in Europe and the Middle East. They fought many battles, winning some and losing some. I'm sure that many of them eventually retired and, after dying of natural causes, were buried in cemetaries.

I thought the knights were hunted down & exterminated. Or was that just in england?

 

[Guest]

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