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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
This huge medieval castle stands in the mountains of Western Syria. It was one of the greatest castles to be built in the 12th Century.
The Krak des Chevaliers, or Krak of the Knights, began as a fort called the Hish el-Akrad: "Castle of the Kurds." Christian Crusaders seized it form their Muslim enemies in 1109, and then rebuilt it. Using forts in the East as a model, they made an outer "curtain wall" protecting inner stronghold, with tall linked towers.
The Krak's defenders could stand at slits in the top of the outer wall and its towers to fire arrows or hurl stones at attackers below. From holes in the wall, they could pour hot pitch onto their enemies' heads.
The Krak was one of the most important castles for defending the borders of the states set up by Christian Crusaders. The Knights Hospitallers held it from 1142 to 1271.
The Krak des Chevaliers, or Krak of the Knights, began as a fort called the Hish el-Akrad: "Castle of the Kurds." Christian Crusaders seized it form their Muslim enemies in 1109, and then rebuilt it. Using forts in the East as a model, they made an outer "curtain wall" protecting inner stronghold, with tall linked towers.
The Krak's defenders could stand at slits in the top of the outer wall and its towers to fire arrows or hurl stones at attackers below. From holes in the wall, they could pour hot pitch onto their enemies' heads.
The Krak was one of the most important castles for defending the borders of the states set up by Christian Crusaders. The Knights Hospitallers held it from 1142 to 1271.
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