The first history of the legendary knights since the Vatican momentously released the records of their trial and exoneration

Who were the Templars?
What was the secret of their wealth and power?
Why did the pope and the king of France act to destroy them?

The Knights Templar were founded on Christmas Day 1119, on the very spot in Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified. A religious order of fighting knights, the Templars defended the Holy Land and Christian pilgrims in the decades after the First Crusade. Legendary for their bravery and dedication, the Templars became one of the wealthiest and most powerful bodies of the medieval world—until they were condemned for heresy two centuries after their foundation, when the order was abolished and its leaders were burned at the stake.

In The Templars, renowned historian Michael Haag investigates the origins and history, the enduring myths, and the soaring architecture of an enigmatic order long shrouded in mystery and controversy. The hand of the Templars, many believe, can be found in everything from Cathar heresy to Masonic conspiracies, and the Knights Templar still inspire popular culture, from Indiana Jones to Xbox games, to the novels of Dan Brown.

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Eminent Egypt chronicler, Michael Haag, takes you on a journey down the Nile, past Cairo's fine medieval architecture and gleaming skyscrapers to the extraordinary temples of Luxor and Karnak and the breathtaking tombs at the Valley of the Kings. Explore this captivating and alluring region with this illuminating and dependable guide.

* Includes in-depth cultural and historical backgrounds
* Contains practical travel advice and easy-to-use maps
* Hand-picks the best places to stay and eat
* Recommends the top sites for each region.

"In a class of its own" -The Daily Telegraph...

Dan Brown's new thriller "The Lost Symbol" is the biggest global publishing phenomenon since his runaway bestseller "The Da Vinci Code". The new adventures of mystery-solving Professor of Symbology, Robert Langdon have attracted huge global interest and fresh controversies concerning Dan Brown's ideas, characters and thoughts on mythology and history. "The Rough Guide to The Lost Symbol" traces all the debates concerning religion and secret societies and the views of historians on Dan Brown's plots and ideas. It casts an eye on the locations of the book and how you can visit them and explains how "The Lost Symbol" connects to Brown's previous work and other books. Whether you are a Dan Brown fanatic, sceptic or agnostic there is no doubting the excitement generated by his exciting stories all of which are explored in this guide. This new "Rough Guide" has the key to understanding "The Lost Symbol"....

Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, Egypt's opulent New Kingdom capital. It encompasses the spectacular temples of Luxor and Karnak on the east bank of the Nile, and on the west bank the vast necropolis, which includes the Colossi of Memnon, the famed Ramesseum, Queen Hatshepsut's magnificent funerary temple, and the Valley of the Kings, riddled with royal tombs, among them the fabled resting place of Tutankhamun. The splendor and profusion of pharaonic monuments at Luxor justifies its reputation as the greatest outdoor museum in the world.

Reaching beyond Luxor, this book also covers all the major sites of Upper Egypt, including Abydos, Dendera, Esna, Edfu, and Kom Ombo. Special attention is given to Aswan, one of the most beautiful places in Egypt, with its nearby island temple of Isis at Philae. The climax of this informed and richly illustrated book comes with the remarkable temples at Abu Simbel, with their colossal figures of Ramesses II and his lovely wife Nefertari cut from the living rock....