Knights Templar in Lebanon
Knights Templar in Lebanon

The Knights Templar owe a huge debt of gratitude to the people of Lebanon during their day, and to the Phoenicians who came before them. 

It all began with Solomon’s Temple, for which the Phoenician king of Tyre provided masons, cedar and gold. The Knights Templar named themselves after this temple, taking it as their foundation. Closely related to the Templars were the Freemasons, who also traced their traditions and heritage to Solomon’s Temple. The Masons even use that temple as the model for their lodge rooms.

When the Knights Templar were formed in 1119 AD, they discovered half the people in Lebanon were Christians like themselves. They came to rely heavily on the people of that ancient society for support. Lebanese customs and practices were absorbed by the Templars, along with many Lebanese men who became members of the Order. When those knights wanted to became the international bankers of Europe, they developed an even greater dependence on Lebanese expertise.

As more and more threads linking these societies come into view, they become woven into a tapestry showing the remarkable story of Lebanese influence on Europe and the world.

Updated September 30, 2023

Further information

If you would like to experience a deep look into the lives of the Knights Templar, Masons and Phoenicians, the book Sworn in Secret is recommended. It is deeply researched but also a highly readable exploration.

Going beyond the few traditionally-cited facts, this authoritative work also draws from interviews with leading experts on-site in the lands where these people lived. Many intriguing details are uncovered which give us clues regarding their secretive practices.

Sworn in Secret

You can take a look inside this book. See the first pages here.