Justin E. Griffin – författare

The existence of the Holy Grail has long been debated, and many of these debates focus on the intellectualized or psychological aspects of it. This work explores the events that gave rise to the legend of the Holy Grail and pays special attention to the texts that form the body of the legend, as well as historical facts about the life of Christ, the Crusades, and the fall from grace of the Knights Templar. The book examines the legitimacy of the claims made by several present-day believers and also introduces a new theory of multiple grails (and the evidence supporting this theory), which, the author believes, answers many of the otherwise unanswered questions surrounding the Holy Grail.

By the 12th century, European literature was rich with tales of a procession carrying a group of objects closely tied to the Passion of Christ--the Holy Grail, the lance that pierced Christ's side, the sword used to behead John the Baptist, and a dish from the Last Supper. While legends of the quest for the Holy Grail continue to grip the popular imagination, the other relics, once closely associated with the Grail legends, receive little mention. Still, the overlooked Grail Hallows, as they are called, have a rich symbolic history, winding through the ages--and leading in some surprising directions.This exploration of the forgotten relics of the Grail Procession examines the body of evidence hinting at their authenticity, and traces their history as symbols, from the early days of Christianity, to Celtic mythology, to "the foggy wastelands inhabited by history's outcasts," to the suits of the modern tarot. The oral histories and a possible sourcebook that informed the earliest known stories are discussed. Illustrations and photographs of relevant locations and objects, including the cards of the tarot, further illuminate the story. An appendix gives a timeline of the Hallows' history, and there is a bibliography and an index.