It’s no secret that secret societies are more popular than ever. With the success of The Da Vinci Code book and movie, secret societies, conspiracy theories, and all things Templar have become a favorite topic for people of all ages. If you’re looking to get the inside scoop on the mystery and history of the Knights Templar and their secret society, the newly published, first edition of The Templar Code For Dummies (Wiley; June 2007; 384 pages) is for you. This no-nonsense guide reveals the meaning behind the cryptic codes and secret rituals of the medieval brotherhood of warrior monks known as the Knights Templar. The Templar Code For Dummies is for those who have a genuine interest in the Templars, as well as the millions of people whose interest was sparked after reading or watching The Da Vinci Code and want to know more about the Knights Templar and other secret societies. The Templar Code is more than an intriguing cipher or a mysterious symbol – it is the Code by which the Knights Templar lived and died, the Code that bound them together in secrecy, and the Code that inspired them to nearly superhuman feats of courage and endurance. This intriguing guide covers such topics as: • Who the Knights Templar were and the meaning behind their cryptic codes and secret rituals • Their meteoric rise during the Crusades, and their death just 200 years later in the fires of the Inquisition -- how they rose so high and fell so far and why there is so much interest in them today • The surprising part the Templars have played in some of the most important historic events of the past seven centuries, including the French Revolution, the birth of groups such as the Freemasons among others, and even the American Civil War • The Templar connections to myths and legends that appear in The Da Vinci Code, including the quest for the Holy Grail, the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, and the shadowy Priory of Sion • The Da Vinci Code’s version of Opus Dei and the Catholic church’s relationship with women--a hotly debated topic now-- with special emphasis on the Templar connection Plus, ‘Ten Candidates for the Site of the Holy Grail’ – from Takt-i-Taqdis in Iran to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; ‘Ten Absolutely Must-See Templar Sites’ like Temple Mount in Jerusalem and Tomar Castle in Portugal; and ‘Ten Places That May be Hiding the Templar Treasure’ such as Bornholm Island in Denmark and Washington D.C.’s own curious Rosslyn Chapel. And a handy “Cheat Sheet” includes a ‘Templar Who’s Who’ explaining insider terminology, a list of Templar architecture terms and meanings, and key Templar milestones dating back to 1000 B.C.