What does this tell us about the Crusades?
By Gracyn Benck '23
We do not know whether the So Called Crusader's Bowl was taken home by a crusader. Still, during the crusaders' time in cities like Cairo, they had an urge to take home objects that represented their travel and their commitment to the mission. A small bowl would have been convenient in that it could travel long distances without breaking. If it was brought home by a crusader, this bowl could have functioned as a direct link to the Holy Land.
For the crusaders, remembering and maintaining a connection to the Holy Land was vital. These objects provided that last physical link to the Holy Land after the Crusades had ended. Christian patrons still had a strong craving for connection to the local culture in the Holy Land despite their lack of control over it.