Athlit An Ancient Crusader Cemetery By Sir Knight Michael S. Franck
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long the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about twenty kilometers south of Haifa, are the remnants of Athlit cemetery, a Crusader and pilgrim burial ground that dates back to the 13th century. About 1,700 tombs occupy Athlit, located along the beach and within walking distance of Chateau Pelerin, a fortress built in the spring of 1218 by the Knights Templar. The fortress was in a strategic location to consolidate Crusader strongholds and to protect convoys, dignitaries, and pilgrims traveling from Akko (Acre). This past February, 2020, I explored Athlit’s ancient cemetery while visiting my son who is a graduate archeology student at the University of Haifa. As a hobby, I have studied hundreds of cemeteries in the United States and Europe, but I had not seen a burial ground (the size of a football field) like Athlit that is so abandoned and dilapidated. The passage of time and spray from the nearby ocean knight templar
has eroded most of the monuments that lie flat on the ground. In one area of the cemetery were graves and skeleton parts in open sight. Fortunately, those skeletons were later reburied after our visit. What’s most interesting about Athlit are the gravestones decorated with stylized patterns of crosses and icons, indicating the status and profession of
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