The Knights Templar was an order of wealthy and pious warriors who fought in the crusades. The order existed for 200 years, and their legend lives on in documentation and in imagery. One of the most mysterious examples of that imagery is the Templar seal, used to stamp and identify correspondence sealed with wax. The stamp, pictured above, shows two knights sharing one horse. What is the significance of this symbol?
The symbol has been interpreted in many ways. It could signify the Templar's vow of poverty, portraying knights having to share a steed. Or it could mean brotherhood, as in carrying each other. Or it could be a symbolic representation Christ being with them. Or it could be a subtle indication of homosexuality. Or possibly a combination of any of these, or something that no one has considered before. To really know, you'd have to ask a Knight of the Templar order, and they've been gone for more than 800 years. Read about the seal of the Knights Templar and how it has been interpreted at the Conversation.
(Image credit: Hinterkappelen)
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