Part 1

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This castle held by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, today a major tourist attraction, lies in western Syria. It was the most powerful of all Crusader castles. The exhibit shows the last phase of the siege laid by Mamluk sultan Baybars in March 1271. The southwestern tower of the outer castle has been undermined and is about to collapse allowing the enemy to approach. While Muslim attackers and Crusader defenders are set to engage in fighting, pilgrims and country people are seen fleeing into the inner castle. The model manages to present the situation in an interesting way avoiding however the depiction of any bloodshed.

Historically, at the end of one month’s siege, the castle was abandoned by the Knights of St. John, the Muslims allowing them unhindered departure under a promise of safe conduct.

The view of this exhibit is from the rear right into the inner castle opened up on this side, as well as into the 2,000- people capacity dormitory, the entrance hall, the knights’ great hall and the kitchen.

Measurements: base 6m x 6m ( 18ft x 18ft ), c 2.30m ( 7.5ft ) tall; on a scale of 1/25.
2,000 handcrafted figurines of Christian and Muslim participants.

Exhibition at the Archaeological Museum in Frankfurt on the Main (Germany)

Exhibition at the Museum of the National Geographic Society
in Washington D.C.

Engrafing of the Rey on the South Eastern side of the Crac created by interns

Similar perspective of the modell, but in the condition of the 13th century

South Eastern side of the Crac

Western side of the Crac

A scene of occupation with underminings

Attackers in waiting position

Sultan Baibars is issuing his orders surrounded by his life guards

and he commands to sound the storm

Fotos: Bernhard Siepen

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