The Enduring Legacy of Knights Templar in Popular Culture: From Dan Brown to Assassin’s Creed
If you are familiar with popular culture, you must have come across frequent references to the Knights Templars – an order of knights that has caught the fancy of the masses, as evidenced by the numerous books, movies, and video games that feature them. From Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code to Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, the Knights Templars have left an indelible mark on our collective imagination.
The Story of the Knights Templars
Before we delve into their impact on popular culture, let’s go back in time and understand who the Knights Templars were. Founded in 1119 by a group of knights, the Order of the Templars was initially created to protect Christian pilgrims visiting the holy sites in Jerusalem. They soon became an influential military force, whose members swore vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Their success in battle and the vast wealth they accumulated soon made them the target of envy and greed. Misconstrued rumors and allegations of blasphemy and heresy led to the downfall of the order, and they were eventually disbanded, with its members executed or imprisoned.
The Rise of Knights Templar in Modern Culture
Despite their controversial end, the Templars’ legacy lives on in modern pop culture. The reasons behind their enduring popularity are varied: some may be intrigued by the mystic secrecy surrounding the order, while others may be drawn to their legendary fighting skills and heroic acts.
In popular literature, the Knights Templars have been depicted in countless ways: as protectors of ancient secrets (as in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code), as guardians of the Holy Grail (in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), or even as immortal beings with mystical powers (in Anne Rice’s Memnoch the Devil).
Movies and TV shows have also contributed to the templar hype, with depictions ranging from serious historical dramas to tongue-in-cheek comedies. Some notable examples include the 2005 movie Kingdom of Heaven, which explores the conflict between Muslims and Christians in the crusader era, or the 2019 action-adventure series Knightfall, which centers around the life of a templar knight in the 14th century.
The knights have also made their way into the video gaming world, appearing in numerous titles such as Assassin’s Creed, where they serve as a powerful and mysterious enemy faction that the player must confront and overcome.
How the Templar Legacy Continues To Fascinate Us
While the Knights Templars’ influence on modern culture may seem overwhelming, it is undeniable that their legacy endures today. The fascination with the Knights Templars is a testament to the power of myths and legends and the allure of secret societies and the unknown.
The enduring legacy of the Knights Templars serves to remind us of our fascination with our past, and the stories that we tell ourselves about our history. It allows us to tap into our imaginations and to envision worlds beyond our own, where we can be both hero and villain, fighting against oppression and injustice.
In conclusion, the legacy of the Knights Templars in popular culture remains strong, with numerous books, movies, and video games continuing to reference them today. Their enduring impact on our collective imagination is a testament to their historical significance and the role they have played in shaping our understanding of the world around us. It is likely that their legend will continue to fascinate and inspire for years to come.
