What does this tell us about the crusades?
The roundel with Amazons on horseback tells us that some medieval viewers were still interested in images of strong female warriors. Perhaps these images of fierce women inspired some women who either went on Crusade or who lived in Crusader kingdoms.
In addition, this silk medallion suggests that the cross cultural interactions and exchanges that occurred during the Crusades extended all the way into Egypt and Syria and crossed religious boundaries. For instance, some very similar silks show a tiny cross at the top and bottom of the roundel's circular frame, while other examples of similar silks show motifs associated with Islamic cultural contexts. It appears as if this roundel's iconography showing two Amazons on horseback was in use for many years and in different religious and cultural contexts.
