Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem |
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Corbel bearing the cross of the order of the Hospitallers
St. John's Church of the Hospitallers, Acre Crusader period, 13th century Stone, painted H: 50; W: 35; D: 29 cm Israel Antiquities Authority Accession number: IAA 1999-2152 |
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The Hospitium was a hospital and hostel built in Jerusalem by merchants from Italy. It gave its name to the first order of knights established in the Holy Land: the Hospital of St. John (the Baptist). The original aim of this order was to care for the sick and needy, but over time it came it became a powerful military force. Troops of Hospitallers dressed in black capes with eight-pointed crosses became part of the crusader army. Publications: Rozenberg, S. (ed.), Knights of the Holy Land: The Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1999 Exhibition: Knights of the Holy Land: The Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Weisbord Pavilion, 1999 Digital presentation of this object was made possible by: The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir |
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