Noblet deniers - Templar crosses?

teomat

• #1

Hello all,
Just a random question whilst flicking through my Noblet deck (and apologies if I've got this wrong!) - but why do the deniers have templar crosses on them?

 

le pendu

• #2

Hi teomat!

Good question!

I wonder how common this design really was? Is it just the templars that used it? Sorry I can't be of much help, I'm not familiar with the history of the symbol.

Here's and example with the 7 Coins.

 

Moonbow

• #3

I've always thought of this type of cross as being the Maltese cross. That could be because I am a lacemaker and Maltese lace is identified by incorporating this cross.

I thought the Templars cross was red, or is the colour not relevant?

 

Major Tom

• #4

Moonbow* said:

I've always thought of this type of cross as being the Maltese cross.

Click to expand...

Me too.

But wasn't Malta the Templar's stronghold?

 

le pendu

• #5

It's interesting that wikipedia gives these as examples:

For the Maltese Cross
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_cross
It seems that it's important to have an indent in each side, making it into an 8-pointed star.

Noblet's cross seems to be basically a Cross Pattée
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_pattée
which is associated with crusades as well as the Knights Templar and other groups through history.

on the Knights Templar page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templer
they show a similar cross.. but much straighter than the Cross Pattée.

 

memries

• #6

My husband was a Knight of Malta and I have his cross. It is just like the Wikipedia entry.

 

mac22

• #7

I agree with Le Pendu I believe it's a Cross Pattée.

Mac22

 

firecatpickles

• #8

When I first saw it I immediately thought of the Iron Cross, aka Cross Pattée.

 

teomat

• #9

Thanks for all your responses. I'm afraid I'm woefully ignorant when it comes to history, and I just assumed the cross was a templar cross. Never knew there were so many varieties and that they all can be associated with many different groups.

Even so, why is there a cross on the deniers anyway? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think any other Marseille decks have such a design?

 

firecatpickles

• #10

Noblet uses it because it is present in the Vieville:

See http://www.tarot-history.com/Jacques-Vieville/index.html