A collection of archival photographs that reveals the forgotten heart of a great cosmopolitan city. Using vintage photographs from the second half of the nineteenth century and first half of the twentieth, this book brings to life the world of that vanished Alexandria, that was the prosperous gateway between Egypt and the world.
An indispensible guide to the fact, myth and mystery of Dan Brown's Inferno
The first history of the legendary knights since the Vatican momentously released the records of their trial and exoneration Who were the Templars? What was the secret of their wealth and power? Why did the pope and the king of France act to destroy them? The Knights Templar were founded on Christmas Day 1119, on the very spot in Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified. A religious order of fighting knights, the Templars defended the Holy Land and Christian pilgrims in the decades after the First Crusade. Legendary for their bravery and dedication, the Templars became one of the wealthiest and most powerful bodies of the medieval world—until they were condemned for heresy two centuries after their foundation, when the order was abolished and its leaders were burned at the stake. In The Templars, renowned historian Michael Haag investigates the origins and history, the enduring myths, and the soaring architecture of an enigmatic order long shrouded in mystery and controversy. The hand of the Templars, many believe, can be found in everything from Cathar heresy to Masonic conspiracies, and the Knights Templar still inspire popular culture, from Indiana Jones to Xbox games, to the novels of Dan Brown.
In 1187, nearly a century after the victorious First Crusade, Saladin captured Jerusalem. The Templars, headquartered on the Temple Mount, were driven from the city along with the Frankish population.The fall of Jerusalem was a turning point, the start of a narrative of desperate struggle and relentless loss. In little more than a century Acre would be destroyed, the Franks driven from Outremer, and the Templars themselves, reviled and disgraced, would face their final immolation.Michael Haag's new book explores the rise and fall of the Templars against the backdrop of the Crusader ideal and their settlement venture in Outremer. Haag argues that the Crusader States were a rare period when the population of Palestine had something approaching local rule, representing local interests - and the fall of Jerusalem to Saladin was a disaster. He contends that the Templars, as defenders of the Crusader States, were made scapegoats for a Europe whose newfound nationalism caused it to withdraw support for the Crusader venture. Throughout, he charts the Templars' rise and fall in gripping narrative, with their beliefs and actions set in the context of their time.
The Knights Templar, established on Christmas Day 1119 in Jerusalem, were a valiant religious order of knights committed to protecting the Holy Land and Christian pilgrims following the First Crusade. Renowned for their courage, they amassed significant wealth and power, becoming pivotal defenders against the escalating Muslim military efforts to reclaim control over Christian territories. Their legacy is marked by both their martial prowess and their role in the medieval socio-political landscape.
The recent TV award winning adaption The Durrells left its fans with questions: What happened to the family - and what took them to Corfu in the first place? This book has the answers
Mary Magdalene is a larger figure than any text, larger than the Bible or the Church; she has taken on a life of her own. She has been portrayed as a penitent whore, a wealthy woman, Christ's wife, an adulteress, a symbol of the frailty of women and an object of veneration. And, to this day, she remains a potent and mysterious figure.In the manner of a quest, this book follows Mary Magdalene through the centuries, explores how she has been reinterpreted for every age, and examines what she herself reveals about woman and man and the divine. It seeks the real Mary Magdalene in the New Testament and in the Gnostic gospels where she is extolled as the chief disciple of Christ. It investigates how and why the Church recast her as a fallen woman, it traces her story through the Renaissance when she became a goddess of beauty and love, and it looks at Mary Magdalene as the feminist icon she has become today.
Renowned historian Haag investigates the Knights Templar--their origins and history, the enduring myths, and the soaring architecture of this enigmatic order long shrouded in mystery and controversy.
Dan Brown’s thriller The Da Vinci Code has created an extraordinary Christian controversy, with its sub-plots of the sacred feminine in religion, the bloodline of Christ, the legend of the Holy Grail, and the role of sects like Opus Dei within the church. This updated second edition explores and explains the context of the novel, from how the early Christian Church ''edited'' The Bible to the true history of the holy grail and to what art historians make of Leonardo Da Vinci''s symbolism in the Last Supper and other works. There is a brand-new chapter on the making of the eagerly anticipated Da Vinci Code movie, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard. The guide includes information on all the Da Vinci Code sites in Paris, Rome, Jerusalem, New York, London and Edinburgh. There are reviews of Da Vinci Code sources and a glossary of everything from the Templars to the Fibonaccci Sequence. Whatever you think of Dan Brown’s novel, this Rough Guide has the key to help you understand the world it inhabits.
Focusing on both well-known landmarks like the Pyramids and the Sphinx and lesser-known gems, Haag provides an in-depth exploration of Egypt's rich history and culture. This comprehensive guide invites readers to discover the diverse attractions and hidden treasures of this captivating country.