Expert: Maria - 4/6/2007

Question
Can you translate to Englist the phrase "Signvm Militie Templi"?

Answer
Hello,

“Signvm Militie Templi”  which is engraved on Knights Templar’s Ring means:“Sign  of soldiers of the Temple”.

Note that the Latin noun “signum” is used  both in the sense of a “seal”/ “signet”/ “sign” and as “symbol”/ “emblem”/” insignia of membership”.

In fact this finger ring  was the characteristic sign of the  Knights Templar, an order founded in the twelfth century in Jerusalem during the aftermath of the First Crusade. Their duty was then that of protecting pilgrims on the dangerous roads between Jaffa, where they landed on the coast of Palestine, and Jerusalem.

Finally I must point out that at the beginning the  Knights Templar  were named “Order of Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon” as they wanted  to protect this temple.

Best regards,
Maria
_____________________________________________
-SIGNVM (nominative neuter) = sign

-MILITIE = of soldiers. Note that  MILITIE stands for the classical form MILITIAE, genitive case of MILITIA meaning ‘soldiers’.

-TEMPLI (genitive of TEMPLUM, temple)= of the Temple