| Legends are important to many of the world's | | | | They succeed but the kingdom falls into disarray, |
| people and to society in general. Legends give us | | | | with demoralized citizens and quarrelling knights. |
| powerful and benevolent figures to look up to and | | | | So, Merlin tells Arthur to send the Knights out to |
| deviously intelligent malevolent figures to condemn | | | | find the Holy Grail, which could save Camelot. |
| (or to secretly admire). The trouble with legends, | | | | They never bring the Grail back to Camelot, and |
| however, are the details. Since many of our | | | | they apparently all die or go mad...but the Knights |
| oldest legends--the really good ones--have been | | | | Templar continued their Quest for the Holy Grail. |
| verbally passed down over centuries, the details | | | | Were the Knights of the Round Table and the |
| and juicy bits get lost in the cacophony of bards. | | | | Knights Templar the same group of knights? If |
| The Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the | | | | so, this is one of the major places that legend lost |
| Round Table, or as I like to say, The Legend of | | | | the details. |
| Excalibur and the Knights Templar. | | | | By taking a look at physical evidence in addition to |
| As the legend goes, King Arthur is the son of | | | | historical evidence, we can get a better idea of |
| Uther Pendragon and Igraine. He was taken from | | | | the situation. During his life, Uther Pendragon |
| his father by Merlin who raised him along with | | | | possessed a sword that was famous in battle. |
| Kay. Uther dies and the kingdom was without a | | | | The main design on the pommel was a stylized |
| king. So, a tournament was held and Arthur, | | | | cross. Not the Christian Cross, but a cross of |
| acting as Kay's squire, forgets Kay's sword. He | | | | equal lengths like a plus sign. This design can also |
| runs to retrieve it, but comes across The Sword | | | | be found on King Arthur's sword Excalibur and the |
| in the Stone instead. Not knowing the legend | | | | Templar Knights Sword. Lancelot's dagger also |
| behind the sword, Arthur grabs it and runs back | | | | carries this design, though it is much more |
| to Kay. Kay notices that it is not his sword, but | | | | discreetly shown. Is it a coincidence that this |
| the famed Excalibur Sword. After much ado, | | | | design continues to show up on various swords, |
| Arthur is made King. | | | | shields, and helmets throughout medieval history? |
| After awhile, Arthur runs into some trouble with | | | | Is there a possibility that the Knights of the |
| his kingdom, and decides to form the Knights of | | | | Round Table fostered the Knights Templar whose |
| the Round Table to help fight off the Saxons. | | | | legend continues on for hundreds of years? |