Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas recently proposed that extreme duress, such as severe torture, might cause the human body to excrete in the sweat a certain blend of chemicals that could react with the cotton fabric of the shroud, leaving a dark spot where the cotton touches the skin.
They also believe the image on the shroud is that of Jacques De Molay, the leader of the Knights Templar who was executed in 1307. It seems a strange suggestion, the kind a conspiracy theorist might put forward, but the argument does have a couple of compelling supporting facts. The carbon dating of the fabric would suggest a late 13th century origin. Secondly, the shroud was first presented in 1357 in Turin by the family of Geoffrey de Charney, another Templar who was executed along with de Molay.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2004-04-06 09:18 pm (UTC)They also believe the image on the shroud is that of Jacques De Molay, the leader of the Knights Templar who was executed in 1307. It seems a strange suggestion, the kind a conspiracy theorist might put forward, but the argument does have a couple of compelling supporting facts. The carbon dating of the fabric would suggest a late 13th century origin. Secondly, the shroud was first presented in 1357 in Turin by the family of Geoffrey de Charney, another Templar who was executed along with de Molay.