With almost 100% certainty one can say that no member of the Knights Templar order ever wore a ring similar to this one. Primarily because the Knights Templar had very strict rules regarding their appearance and wearing jewelry of any kind was just not acceptable. The only use for this sort of ring, in my opinion is to be a prop in a movie that features some secretive organization that claims strong Templar ties. If so, this one is not so bad. The exact inscription seen here was used in a great deal of Knights Templar seals.
Knight Templar rings
Masonic ring inscriptions
I can imagine there will be added interest in all things Masonic after Dan Brown’s new book. How about a little excursion into masonic ring inscriptions?
As the novel would have us believe there is some level of freedom in the inscriptions one chooses to have engraved, there are, however, some traditional inscriptions:
P.D.E.P – (on Masonic Templar rings) stands for Pro Deo et Patria – For God and the Country
In Hoc Signo Vinces (Templar Motto, going back to Emperor Constantine) – With this sign thou shall conquer.
Deus Meumque Jus – (on Inspector General rings, i.e. 33rd degree) – God and my Right.
Virtus junxit, mors non separabit – (14th grade) Virtue has united (us), death shall not part (us). Curiously, I have seen this inscription quoted with the comma after mors and it just does not make much grammatical sense that way.
Ordo ex chao – Order out of chaos.
Knights Templar rings: the joys of eBay
There is a big market for antique rings. Some of them, just like ancient coins are quite cheap, and the condition varies greatly. It is highly amusing to read the descriptions. though:
Ancient Medieval Knight’s
Crown Shield Ring!
Surely, they have some kind of certificate of authenticity proving that the ring in question really belonged to a) a Knight b) who participated in a Crusade.
It is much harder, however, to find a ring that even pretends to be a Templar ring. Primarily because there is so much masonic stuff, totally obscuring anything that could actually be valuable as a medieval object.
