Monday 19 February 2024

Temples of the Grail Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Temples of the Grail - The Search for the World's Greatest Relic by John Matthews and Gareth Knight, published by Llewellyn Publications, $24.99

Three medieval texts are freshly examined and given new and interesting perspectives by specialists, John Matthews, author of over 100 books on Arthur and Grail legends, and Gareth Knight, who has written over 50 books on Western mystery traditions, including that of Arthur and the Grail studies. 

This is no dry academic book but one that provides new depth perceptions into these ancient enigmas. This book majors on aspects of oral and written traditions of the Grail throughout the text, including the Grail Castle, the Grail Family, the Grail Hallows, the Grail Island, and the Grail King. Sections include: an examination of 

Joseph of Arimathea (and his sword), Albrecht von Scharfenburg, Chretien de Troyes, Jerusalem, Norway, the Lay of Odee, the Letter of Prester John, Robert de Boron, Wolfram von Echenbach, The Throne and Ship of Solomon. Aspects covered are: the Mysterious Vessel, sacred space and the nature of temples and holy places, the Hebrew Grail, the Christian Grail, the Church of the Grail,  the Earthly Paradise, gardens and traditions of sacred land, secret family trees,  the Tabut, Karlstein, the association of St Thomas (known as Didymus the twin), the Prison and the Stable, the Divine Mirror, the lineage of the Grail Guardian Knights of the Swan (descendants of Sone), and a detailed description of Ch III of the Vision of Titurel poem by Albrecht and the first English translation of the Sone of Nansay. Insights from architecture and symbolism have not been forgotten. 

As one would expect from John Matthews and Gareth Knight - these are new paths on the Grail quest and the authors take us there with wonderfully researched revelations, expressing the transformative power of the Quest. 
Grail afficionados will love this! 
Review by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk


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