It is unfortunate that many people today have the notion that the famed sixteenth century French seer was a prognosticator of doom and gloom, since the majority of modern books, tabloid articles, television specials, and movie videos made about his prophecies have focused primarily on his more dire forebodings. The truth is, Nostradamus also gave quite a number of very positive predictions about the year 2000 and beyond.
In essence, what Nostradamus did in his prophetic messages was to set a mirror before us, showing us the different pathways we can take that already exist within us. Which of his prophecies we choose to fulfill remains up to us.
Here are a few samples of his verses for the years 1999 to 2001:
Saturn moving from Sagittarius through Aquarius (1988 to 1994),
Will be at the high point of its exaltation (a time when choices need to be made), After that comes epidemics, famine, death by military action (war), When the century and millennium will find their renewal (2001). 1,16.
The year 1999, July,
Through the sky will travel a great King of terror, He will be the King of the Mongols (Genghis Khan) returned, Against everyone, he will inflict Mars (war) to his advantage. X, 72.
Now contrast these predictions with the events foretold in the next two verses, for the exact same time frame:
All things shall be set into a new order of the ages, The new century and millennium (2001) will see an opening to a new way, Those who have hidden behind masks of lofty power will be utterly changed, Few will be found who shall remain in leadership. 11,10.
Mars and Jupiter conjoined,
In Cancer (next occurrence, June 2002), an end to all forms of warfare will be realized, A new King will be anointed (enlightened, or born), One who will bring Peace to the Earth for a very long time. Vl, 24.
It would appear that the French prophet was giving us a choice of someone who will help us enter the new millennium, one who will be either a taskmaster or a teacher, a King of Terror or a King of Peace. However, even the prediction that the King of Terror, the Mongol Genghis Khan, will soon return may not be as bad as it looks. At this writing, Chicago commodities broker Maury Kravitz has announced he believes he has found the location of Genghis Khan's lost tomb and is preparing a multimillion-dollar expedition to travel to Outer Mongolia to unbury the remains of the thirteenth century warrior. Could this be what Nostradamus really meant by the Khan's return?
According to the French seer, the year 2000 will not see the end of the world; instead, it may exemplify either a time of trouble or a time of transformation, depending upon how we wish to enter the millennium. After that, Nostradamus prophetic visions actually forecast events for the 21st, 23rd, 32nd, 54th, and 86th centuries.
Timeline of Nostradamus' Life
1503 December 14Michel de Nostredame born atSt-Remy-de-Provence, allegedly at noon.
1501 September 2Michel's father, Jaume, enrolled as notary of St-Remy.
1510 July 8 Jaume recorded as 'notary and merchant'.
1517 March to June Jaume recorded as 'notary and scribe'.
1518 June/July Michel's brother Bertrand baptised.
1519(?) Michel starts his studies at Avignon.
1520 Plague sweeps Provence, the university closes, Nostredame commences nine years of wandering and medicinal research, eventually becoming an apothecary.
1522 February 19 His brother Jean baptised.
1523 April 27 His brother Antoine baptised.
1529 October 3 Nostredame enrols in the student body of the Medical Faculty at Montpellier. October (?) He is expelled from the student body again on the grounds that he has been an apothecary and, as such, has been rude about doctors. October 29 Having presumably got himself reinstated, he enrols in the Medical Faculty itself to study for his doctorate.
1530 September 17 The ex-monk and scholar François Rabelais joins him at the Montpellier Medical Faculty to take his baccalaureate.
1531 June Having gained his degree, Rabelais leaves again.
1531-3 Nostredame travels in the south-west, sets up practice alongside Jules Cèsar Scaliger at Agen and marries Henriette d'Encausse.
1532 Rabelais publishes Pantagruel.
1533 Rabelais publishes Pantagrueline prognostication.
1534 Rabelais publishes Gargantua.
1535 After losing his wife and two children to an epidemic, Nostredame quarrels with Scaliger, is engaged in litigation with his wife's family, provokes the interest of the Inquisition of Toulouse with an unwise remark and leaves Agen for a new period of wandering 'through many lands and countries'.
1540 His father Jaume and uncle Pierre, originally of Jewish ancestry, officially naturalised as Frenchmen.
1540 Michel's brother Bertrand marries Thomime Rousse.
1544 Michel studies the plague and its treatment at Marseille under the eminent physician Louis Serre.
1545 His brother Jean recorded as a lawyer at Aix-en-Provence.
1546 His brother Hector marries Anthonete Morguete.
1546 June Nostredame summoned to Aix to fight a major plague outbreak. Summoned to Salon-de-Provence to fight a further outbreak there, he seemingly meets his future second wife.
1547 Summoned to Lyon to combat an unidentified epidemic, he quarrels with local physician Philibert Sarrazin, who apparently retires in disgust to nearby Villefranche. February Michel's father Jaume dead. Michel's brother Jean becomes official Solicitor, then Attorney to the Parlement of Provence at Aix. November 11 Nostredame, back in Salon, marries Anne Ponsarde, known as Gemelle ('the Twin').
1548 Nostredame leaves for Italy, where he is eventually seen in Venice, Genoa and Savona.
1549 Still in Italy, possibly heading south for Sicily.
1550 Back in Salon, Nostredame publishes his first annual Almanac as Nostradamus. His brother Antoine recorded as official tax-collector at St-Remy.
1551 Nostradamus's second annual Almanac published. His first child Madeleine born.
1552 April 1st His cosmetics manual and cookbook, the Trait‚ des fardemens et confitures finished, but not published. His Almanac for 1553 published in Lyon.
1553 Almanach for 1554 published in Lyon. Nostradamus supplies facetious Latin inscription for new public fountain at Salon.
1554 March 10 He observes falling meteorite and writes to the Governor of Provence about it. April 1st He reaches Century I.42. Two-headed infant brought from nearby Senas for his inspection. Two-headed kid brought from nearby Aurons for his inspection. Almanac for 1555 published in Lyon. His first son Cèsar born.
1555 His Trait‚ des fardemens et confitures published by Volant of Lyon. April 30 Royal privilige for first edition of Propheties granted. May 4 First edition of Propheties (first 353 verses) published by Bonhomme of Lyon and Roux of Avignon. May 20/ Having been summoned by Queen Catherine de Mèdicis for July 27 consultation, Nostradamus passes through Lyon on his way to the court in Paris. August 15 Arrives in Paris and is allegedly escorted by High Constable Anne de Montmorency to the royal castle of St-Germain-en-Laye. After an attack of gout, he is dispatched to Blois to examine the seven royal children: allegedly reports back that 'All your sons will be kings'. September/ Having allegedly been advised that he is about to be investigated October by the Paris justices, he hurriedly returns to Salon.
1556 His brother Bertrand starts building works at the Mas de Roussan, just to the west of St-Remy. Inscription over doorway at Turin claims that 'Nostradamus stayed here'. July 27 Nostradamus signs legal document investing 200 crowns in Adam de Craponne's local canal-project. First edition of Propheties republished in Avignon. The Trait‚ published in Paris and Lyon. October (?) Almanac for 1557 published in Lyon and Paris.
1557 Almanac for 1557 republished in Paris. March 14 Nostradamus in middle of writing to King Henri II the dedicatory letter to the final section of his Propheties. July Almanac for 1558 published in Lyon. Italian translation of Almanac for 1558 published in Milan. His brother Antoine Attorney for the town of St-R‚my. Nostradamus's free translation of Menodotus's Paraphrase de Galen published by Du Rosne of Lyon. His Trait‚ republished in Antwerp. September 6 Second edition of Propheties (first 642 verses) published by Du Rosne of Lyon. November 3 The seer's second son, Andr‚, born. November 13 Pirated version of second edition of Propheties (first 639 verses only) published under the name of Du Rosne of Lyon, with a notable decline in quality.
1558 Almanac for 1558 republished in Lyon and Antwerp. une 27 Nostradamus finishes dedicatory letter to King Henri II to accompany the now-completed thousand prophecies. His brother Antoine one of three consuls for St-R‚my. His translation of Menodotus's paraphrase of Galen published by Du Rosne of Lyon. Last three Centuries published by De Tournes of Lyon. October (?) Almanac for 1559 published in Lyon. Pirated edition of 1559 Almanac published in London. Nostradamus's second daughter Anne born.
1559 Two official English translations of the 1559 Almanac published in London. August His Les Significations de l'Eclipse qui sera le 16 Septembre published in Paris and, in translation, in London. His Paraphrase de C. Galen republished by Du Rosne of Lyon. December Marguerite de Valois, on her way back from the funeral of her brother King Henri, arrives at Salon and is welcomed in words composed by Nostradamus. A consultation ensues.
1560 Almanac for 1560 translated and published in Germany. Nostradamus invests 200 more crowns in Craponne's canal. Trait‚ des fardemens republished by Volant of Lyon. October/ Almanac for 1561 published in Paris and, in translation, in November London. December William Fulke publishes a violent denunciation of Nostradamus in England in the course of his Antiprognosticon.
1561 April 14 Nostradamus temporarily leases a house in Avignon to avoid peasant disturbances in Salon. July 15 He returns with his family to Salon. The Propheties plagiarised by Barbe Regnault of Paris. Le Remede tres utile contre la peste..., an extract from his Trait‚, published in Paris. Nostradamus, summoned to Turin, predicts a son for Duke Emmanuel Philibert and Marguerite de Valois, as well as the Duke's death 'when a nine precedes a seventh'. Sixains possibly started. September Diane, Nostradamus's youngest daughter, born. October (?) Almanac for 1562 published in Lyon and Paris. October 31 He writes to Jean de Morel in Paris, at last repaying him debts incurred during his Paris visit of 1555. December 16 Having published his 1562 Almanac without the required authorisation from a bishop, he is arrested by his friend Claude de Tende, Governor of Provence, thrown into jail at Marignane, but then quickly released again.
1562 February 4 He replies to the Canons of Orange, advising them how to recover their lost treasures and enclosing a horoscope. February 13 He invests 100 more crowns in Craponne's canal. Almanac for 1563 published in Lyon and Avignon and, in translation, in Italy.
1563 English translation of Almanac for 1564 published in London.
1564 October 17 The young King Charles IX and his mother Catherine de M‚dicis, reaching Salon on their two-year progress through the country, are welcomed by Nostradamus and entertain him and his family at the castle. October 18(?) He 'spots' the future Henri IV among the vast royal retinue and, after examining the boy for tell-tale moles and birth-marks, prepares his horoscope. October (?) Almanac for 1565 published in Lyon and, in Italian translation, in Genoa. November (?) Summoned for further royal consultations at Arles, he recommends the proposed marriage of Charles to Elizabeth of England, is awarded 300 crowns and appointed Councillor and Physician in Ordinary to the King, with a pension to match.
1565 Almanach for 1565 republished in Lyon. Anne Ponsarde, Nostradamus's wife, invests 100 more crowns in Craponne's canal. November Almanac for 1566, published in Lyon, predicts a 'strange transmigration' for July 1st. December 21 Nostradamus writes to the Queen in his capacity as Royal Councillor, predicting some auspicious piece of good fortune for the kingdom.
1566 Almanac for 1566 published in Italian and English. English translation of Almanac for 1566 published in London. June 15 Royal privilŠge granted for publication of the 1567 Almanach. June 17 Nostradamus, mortally ill with dropsy (oedema), draws up his will, leaving everything (including cash amounting to 3444 crowns and 10 sous) to his wife in trust for his children. June 20 He adds a codicil bequeathing his 'magic' ring and astrolabe to Cèsar and some furniture and effects to Madeleine. June 30 (?) He writes in Latin 'Death is close at hand' on a copy of Jean Stadius's recently-published astronomical tables. July 1st He tells his secretary Chavigny 'You will not see me alive at sunrise.' July 2 Nostradamus is found dead and almost cold in his room: subsequently buried in the local Franciscan chapel with full civic honours. October (?) Almanac for 1567 published in French, Italian and English.
1501 September 2Michel's father, Jaume, enrolled as notary of St-Remy.
1510 July 8 Jaume recorded as 'notary and merchant'.
1517 March to June Jaume recorded as 'notary and scribe'.
1518 June/July Michel's brother Bertrand baptised.
1519(?) Michel starts his studies at Avignon.
1520 Plague sweeps Provence, the university closes, Nostredame commences nine years of wandering and medicinal research, eventually becoming an apothecary.
1522 February 19 His brother Jean baptised.
1523 April 27 His brother Antoine baptised.
1529 October 3 Nostredame enrols in the student body of the Medical Faculty at Montpellier. October (?) He is expelled from the student body again on the grounds that he has been an apothecary and, as such, has been rude about doctors. October 29 Having presumably got himself reinstated, he enrols in the Medical Faculty itself to study for his doctorate.
1530 September 17 The ex-monk and scholar François Rabelais joins him at the Montpellier Medical Faculty to take his baccalaureate.
1531 June Having gained his degree, Rabelais leaves again.
1531-3 Nostredame travels in the south-west, sets up practice alongside Jules Cèsar Scaliger at Agen and marries Henriette d'Encausse.
1532 Rabelais publishes Pantagruel.
1533 Rabelais publishes Pantagrueline prognostication.
1534 Rabelais publishes Gargantua.
1535 After losing his wife and two children to an epidemic, Nostredame quarrels with Scaliger, is engaged in litigation with his wife's family, provokes the interest of the Inquisition of Toulouse with an unwise remark and leaves Agen for a new period of wandering 'through many lands and countries'.
1540 His father Jaume and uncle Pierre, originally of Jewish ancestry, officially naturalised as Frenchmen.
1540 Michel's brother Bertrand marries Thomime Rousse.
1544 Michel studies the plague and its treatment at Marseille under the eminent physician Louis Serre.
1545 His brother Jean recorded as a lawyer at Aix-en-Provence.
1546 His brother Hector marries Anthonete Morguete.
1546 June Nostredame summoned to Aix to fight a major plague outbreak. Summoned to Salon-de-Provence to fight a further outbreak there, he seemingly meets his future second wife.
1547 Summoned to Lyon to combat an unidentified epidemic, he quarrels with local physician Philibert Sarrazin, who apparently retires in disgust to nearby Villefranche. February Michel's father Jaume dead. Michel's brother Jean becomes official Solicitor, then Attorney to the Parlement of Provence at Aix. November 11 Nostredame, back in Salon, marries Anne Ponsarde, known as Gemelle ('the Twin').
1548 Nostredame leaves for Italy, where he is eventually seen in Venice, Genoa and Savona.
1549 Still in Italy, possibly heading south for Sicily.
1550 Back in Salon, Nostredame publishes his first annual Almanac as Nostradamus. His brother Antoine recorded as official tax-collector at St-Remy.
1551 Nostradamus's second annual Almanac published. His first child Madeleine born.
1552 April 1st His cosmetics manual and cookbook, the Trait‚ des fardemens et confitures finished, but not published. His Almanac for 1553 published in Lyon.
1553 Almanach for 1554 published in Lyon. Nostradamus supplies facetious Latin inscription for new public fountain at Salon.
1554 March 10 He observes falling meteorite and writes to the Governor of Provence about it. April 1st He reaches Century I.42. Two-headed infant brought from nearby Senas for his inspection. Two-headed kid brought from nearby Aurons for his inspection. Almanac for 1555 published in Lyon. His first son Cèsar born.
1555 His Trait‚ des fardemens et confitures published by Volant of Lyon. April 30 Royal privilige for first edition of Propheties granted. May 4 First edition of Propheties (first 353 verses) published by Bonhomme of Lyon and Roux of Avignon. May 20/ Having been summoned by Queen Catherine de Mèdicis for July 27 consultation, Nostradamus passes through Lyon on his way to the court in Paris. August 15 Arrives in Paris and is allegedly escorted by High Constable Anne de Montmorency to the royal castle of St-Germain-en-Laye. After an attack of gout, he is dispatched to Blois to examine the seven royal children: allegedly reports back that 'All your sons will be kings'. September/ Having allegedly been advised that he is about to be investigated October by the Paris justices, he hurriedly returns to Salon.
1556 His brother Bertrand starts building works at the Mas de Roussan, just to the west of St-Remy. Inscription over doorway at Turin claims that 'Nostradamus stayed here'. July 27 Nostradamus signs legal document investing 200 crowns in Adam de Craponne's local canal-project. First edition of Propheties republished in Avignon. The Trait‚ published in Paris and Lyon. October (?) Almanac for 1557 published in Lyon and Paris.
1557 Almanac for 1557 republished in Paris. March 14 Nostradamus in middle of writing to King Henri II the dedicatory letter to the final section of his Propheties. July Almanac for 1558 published in Lyon. Italian translation of Almanac for 1558 published in Milan. His brother Antoine Attorney for the town of St-R‚my. Nostradamus's free translation of Menodotus's Paraphrase de Galen published by Du Rosne of Lyon. His Trait‚ republished in Antwerp. September 6 Second edition of Propheties (first 642 verses) published by Du Rosne of Lyon. November 3 The seer's second son, Andr‚, born. November 13 Pirated version of second edition of Propheties (first 639 verses only) published under the name of Du Rosne of Lyon, with a notable decline in quality.
1558 Almanac for 1558 republished in Lyon and Antwerp. une 27 Nostradamus finishes dedicatory letter to King Henri II to accompany the now-completed thousand prophecies. His brother Antoine one of three consuls for St-R‚my. His translation of Menodotus's paraphrase of Galen published by Du Rosne of Lyon. Last three Centuries published by De Tournes of Lyon. October (?) Almanac for 1559 published in Lyon. Pirated edition of 1559 Almanac published in London. Nostradamus's second daughter Anne born.
1559 Two official English translations of the 1559 Almanac published in London. August His Les Significations de l'Eclipse qui sera le 16 Septembre published in Paris and, in translation, in London. His Paraphrase de C. Galen republished by Du Rosne of Lyon. December Marguerite de Valois, on her way back from the funeral of her brother King Henri, arrives at Salon and is welcomed in words composed by Nostradamus. A consultation ensues.
1560 Almanac for 1560 translated and published in Germany. Nostradamus invests 200 more crowns in Craponne's canal. Trait‚ des fardemens republished by Volant of Lyon. October/ Almanac for 1561 published in Paris and, in translation, in November London. December William Fulke publishes a violent denunciation of Nostradamus in England in the course of his Antiprognosticon.
1561 April 14 Nostradamus temporarily leases a house in Avignon to avoid peasant disturbances in Salon. July 15 He returns with his family to Salon. The Propheties plagiarised by Barbe Regnault of Paris. Le Remede tres utile contre la peste..., an extract from his Trait‚, published in Paris. Nostradamus, summoned to Turin, predicts a son for Duke Emmanuel Philibert and Marguerite de Valois, as well as the Duke's death 'when a nine precedes a seventh'. Sixains possibly started. September Diane, Nostradamus's youngest daughter, born. October (?) Almanac for 1562 published in Lyon and Paris. October 31 He writes to Jean de Morel in Paris, at last repaying him debts incurred during his Paris visit of 1555. December 16 Having published his 1562 Almanac without the required authorisation from a bishop, he is arrested by his friend Claude de Tende, Governor of Provence, thrown into jail at Marignane, but then quickly released again.
1562 February 4 He replies to the Canons of Orange, advising them how to recover their lost treasures and enclosing a horoscope. February 13 He invests 100 more crowns in Craponne's canal. Almanac for 1563 published in Lyon and Avignon and, in translation, in Italy.
1563 English translation of Almanac for 1564 published in London.
1564 October 17 The young King Charles IX and his mother Catherine de M‚dicis, reaching Salon on their two-year progress through the country, are welcomed by Nostradamus and entertain him and his family at the castle. October 18(?) He 'spots' the future Henri IV among the vast royal retinue and, after examining the boy for tell-tale moles and birth-marks, prepares his horoscope. October (?) Almanac for 1565 published in Lyon and, in Italian translation, in Genoa. November (?) Summoned for further royal consultations at Arles, he recommends the proposed marriage of Charles to Elizabeth of England, is awarded 300 crowns and appointed Councillor and Physician in Ordinary to the King, with a pension to match.
1565 Almanach for 1565 republished in Lyon. Anne Ponsarde, Nostradamus's wife, invests 100 more crowns in Craponne's canal. November Almanac for 1566, published in Lyon, predicts a 'strange transmigration' for July 1st. December 21 Nostradamus writes to the Queen in his capacity as Royal Councillor, predicting some auspicious piece of good fortune for the kingdom.
1566 Almanac for 1566 published in Italian and English. English translation of Almanac for 1566 published in London. June 15 Royal privilŠge granted for publication of the 1567 Almanach. June 17 Nostradamus, mortally ill with dropsy (oedema), draws up his will, leaving everything (including cash amounting to 3444 crowns and 10 sous) to his wife in trust for his children. June 20 He adds a codicil bequeathing his 'magic' ring and astrolabe to Cèsar and some furniture and effects to Madeleine. June 30 (?) He writes in Latin 'Death is close at hand' on a copy of Jean Stadius's recently-published astronomical tables. July 1st He tells his secretary Chavigny 'You will not see me alive at sunrise.' July 2 Nostradamus is found dead and almost cold in his room: subsequently buried in the local Franciscan chapel with full civic honours. October (?) Almanac for 1567 published in French, Italian and English.
Biography
Michel de Nostredame (1503-66), later known as Nostradamus, was one of the leading lights of the late French Renaissance. A Jewish-French contemporary of Paracelsus and England's Dr John Dee, he was (from 1530) at medical college with Rabelais and much admired by the poet Ronsard. As a physician he came to specialise in the Plague, on which he was recognised as one of the foremost experts: in his 'Traité des fardemens', though, (see below) he frankly admits that none of his cures actually had much effect on the disease - not even the bleeding that some commentators insist that he never used. He was also famed as a mathematician and astrologer. On his semi-retirement in around 1550 he turned to writing. Apart from a highly popular cookbook (actually, a 'Treatise on Cosmetics and Conserves') and a number of academic works, his main fields were astrology (with which, as a contemporary doctor, he was of course already fully conversant) and prophecy. This brought him into great public prominence, and he became particularly influential at the French court. He also invested heavily in local public works - notably the irrigation of the vast Plaine de la Crau just to the west of his adopted home-town of Salon-de-Provence, a scheme whose results (like his house in the town) can still be seen today. Twice married, he had two children by his first wife Henriette d'Encausse (all three died) and six by his second.
World War III
Nostradamus' prediction on WW3:
"In the year of the new century and nine months, From the sky will come a great King of Terror... The sky will burn at forty-five degrees. Fire approaches the great new city..."
"In the city of york there will be a great collapse, 2 twin brothers torn apart by chaos while the fortress falls the great leader will succumb third big war will begin when the big city is burning"
- NOSTRADAMUS
He said this will be bigger than the previous two. 2001 is the first yearof the new century and this is the 9th month. New York is locatedat the 41st degree Latitude.
Again, a very few words actually written by Nostradamus — lines drawn from two separate quatrains — have been rendered out of context and supplemented with made-up lines by person(s) unknown to make them seem relevant. The result, again, is pure bunk.
"In the year of the new century and nine months, From the sky will come a great King of Terror... The sky will burn at forty-five degrees. Fire approaches the great new city..."
"In the city of york there will be a great collapse, 2 twin brothers torn apart by chaos while the fortress falls the great leader will succumb third big war will begin when the big city is burning"
- NOSTRADAMUS
He said this will be bigger than the previous two. 2001 is the first yearof the new century and this is the 9th month. New York is locatedat the 41st degree Latitude.
Again, a very few words actually written by Nostradamus — lines drawn from two separate quatrains — have been rendered out of context and supplemented with made-up lines by person(s) unknown to make them seem relevant. The result, again, is pure bunk.
Did Nostradamus Predict the Tragedy?
'In the City of God there will be a great thunder'
Nostradamus, the most famous astrologer who ever lived, was born in France in 1503 and published his barely scrutable collection of prophecies, "The Centuries," in 1555. Each four-line verse (or "quatrain") purported to foretell world events far into the future, and ever since Nostradamus' time devotees have claimed his work accurately predicted wars, natural disasters and the rise and fall of empires.
With all due respect to true believers, Nostradamus couched his "prophetic" verses in language so obscure that the words can be, and have been, interpreted to mean virtually anything. Inevitably, ponderous tracts will be written in the coming months and years extracting "proof" from the works of Nostradamus that he foresaw the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11, 2001 — such exegeses-in-hindsight have appeared in the wake of every modern catastrophe — but, thanks to Internet hoaxers, we needn't wait months or years for the he-told-you-sos to begin.
"Spooky" quatrains purportedly describing the events of 9/11 with amazing specificity were already circulating within hours of the first jetliner crash — completely bogus quatrains, as it turned out. It wasn't a question of whether or not they accurately predicted anything; Nostradamus simply didn't write them.
The first foretold "a great thunder" in "the City of God":
"In the City of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb", The third big war will begin when the big city is burning"
- Nostradamus 1654
Let's interpret. Assuming "the City of God" is New York City, then the "two brothers torn apart by Chaos" must be the fallen towers of the Word Trade Center. The "fortress" is obviously the Pentagon, the "great leader" succumbing is the United States of America and "the third big war" can only mean World War III.
Spooky, right?
Wrong.
Let's apply a little intellectual honesty. What earthly (or unearthly) justification could there possibly be for characterizing New York City as "the City of God?" Why refer to the twin towers as "two brothers" when a far more apt word like "buildings" or "monuments" — or even, egad, "towers" — is at hand? Granted, "fortress" accurately describes the Pentagon, but by what stretch of the imagination could one assert that the United States "succumbed" to the 9/11 attacks?
Anyway, quibbling over words is futile, given that Nostradamus didn't even write the passage. He died in 1566, nearly a hundred years before the date of attribution. The quatrain in question is nowhere to be found in his entire published oeuvre. In a word, it's a hoax.
More precisely, its attribution to Nostradamus is a hoax. The passage was lifted intact from a Web page (since deleted from the hosting server due to overwhelming post-9/11 traffic) containing an essay written several years ago by college student Neil Marshall entitled "A Critical Analysis of Nostradamus." Marshall invented the quatrain to demonstrate — quite ironically, in light of its subsequent misuse — how a Nostradamus-like passage can be so cryptically composed as to lend itself to myriad interpretations.
An interesting variant of the faux Nostradamus prophecy turned up in the soc.culture.palestine newsgroup on September 12 under the heading "They followed his prediction":
In the City of God there will be a great thunder,Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb''The third big war will begin when the big city is burning'- Nostradamus 1654
...on the 11 day of the 9 month that...two metal birds would crash into two tall statues...in the new city..and the world will end soon after"
"From the book of Nostradamus"
Again, while the text boasts all the pomp and musty vagueness of Nostradamus' actual writings, it cannot be found in whole or in part anywhere in "The Centuries." This, too, is an Internet hoax, an elaboration on Neil Marshall's invented quatrain.
A third variant is "spookier" yet:
Subject: Re: Nostradamus
Century 6, Quatrain 97
Two steel birds will fall from the sky on the Metropolis.
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude. Fire approaches the great new city
(New York City lies between 40-45 degrees) Immediately a huge, scattered flame leaps up. Within months, rivers will flow with blood. The undead will roam earth for little time.
This, it turns out, is not entirely fake, but rather an imaginative revision of an actual verse from "The Centuries." The authentic passage is usually translated from the French as follows:
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude, Fire approaches the great new city Immediately a huge, scattered flame leaps up When they want to have verification from the Normans.
As you can see, Nostradamus made no mention of "two steel birds" in the original text, nor did he predict that "the undead will roam the earth." As to the geographical location of New York City, it is found at exactly 40 degrees, 42 minutes, 51 seconds north latitude, so, while it isn't false to say that it lies "between 40-45 degrees," it is imprecise, as well as an obvious, misleading ploy to make what Nostradamus really wrote ("The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude") seem applicable to the events of September 11.
Nostradamus, the most famous astrologer who ever lived, was born in France in 1503 and published his barely scrutable collection of prophecies, "The Centuries," in 1555. Each four-line verse (or "quatrain") purported to foretell world events far into the future, and ever since Nostradamus' time devotees have claimed his work accurately predicted wars, natural disasters and the rise and fall of empires.
With all due respect to true believers, Nostradamus couched his "prophetic" verses in language so obscure that the words can be, and have been, interpreted to mean virtually anything. Inevitably, ponderous tracts will be written in the coming months and years extracting "proof" from the works of Nostradamus that he foresaw the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11, 2001 — such exegeses-in-hindsight have appeared in the wake of every modern catastrophe — but, thanks to Internet hoaxers, we needn't wait months or years for the he-told-you-sos to begin.
"Spooky" quatrains purportedly describing the events of 9/11 with amazing specificity were already circulating within hours of the first jetliner crash — completely bogus quatrains, as it turned out. It wasn't a question of whether or not they accurately predicted anything; Nostradamus simply didn't write them.
The first foretold "a great thunder" in "the City of God":
"In the City of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb", The third big war will begin when the big city is burning"
- Nostradamus 1654
Let's interpret. Assuming "the City of God" is New York City, then the "two brothers torn apart by Chaos" must be the fallen towers of the Word Trade Center. The "fortress" is obviously the Pentagon, the "great leader" succumbing is the United States of America and "the third big war" can only mean World War III.
Spooky, right?
Wrong.
Let's apply a little intellectual honesty. What earthly (or unearthly) justification could there possibly be for characterizing New York City as "the City of God?" Why refer to the twin towers as "two brothers" when a far more apt word like "buildings" or "monuments" — or even, egad, "towers" — is at hand? Granted, "fortress" accurately describes the Pentagon, but by what stretch of the imagination could one assert that the United States "succumbed" to the 9/11 attacks?
Anyway, quibbling over words is futile, given that Nostradamus didn't even write the passage. He died in 1566, nearly a hundred years before the date of attribution. The quatrain in question is nowhere to be found in his entire published oeuvre. In a word, it's a hoax.
More precisely, its attribution to Nostradamus is a hoax. The passage was lifted intact from a Web page (since deleted from the hosting server due to overwhelming post-9/11 traffic) containing an essay written several years ago by college student Neil Marshall entitled "A Critical Analysis of Nostradamus." Marshall invented the quatrain to demonstrate — quite ironically, in light of its subsequent misuse — how a Nostradamus-like passage can be so cryptically composed as to lend itself to myriad interpretations.
An interesting variant of the faux Nostradamus prophecy turned up in the soc.culture.palestine newsgroup on September 12 under the heading "They followed his prediction":
In the City of God there will be a great thunder,Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb''The third big war will begin when the big city is burning'- Nostradamus 1654
...on the 11 day of the 9 month that...two metal birds would crash into two tall statues...in the new city..and the world will end soon after"
"From the book of Nostradamus"
Again, while the text boasts all the pomp and musty vagueness of Nostradamus' actual writings, it cannot be found in whole or in part anywhere in "The Centuries." This, too, is an Internet hoax, an elaboration on Neil Marshall's invented quatrain.
A third variant is "spookier" yet:
Subject: Re: Nostradamus
Century 6, Quatrain 97
Two steel birds will fall from the sky on the Metropolis.
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude. Fire approaches the great new city
(New York City lies between 40-45 degrees) Immediately a huge, scattered flame leaps up. Within months, rivers will flow with blood. The undead will roam earth for little time.
This, it turns out, is not entirely fake, but rather an imaginative revision of an actual verse from "The Centuries." The authentic passage is usually translated from the French as follows:
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude, Fire approaches the great new city Immediately a huge, scattered flame leaps up When they want to have verification from the Normans.
As you can see, Nostradamus made no mention of "two steel birds" in the original text, nor did he predict that "the undead will roam the earth." As to the geographical location of New York City, it is found at exactly 40 degrees, 42 minutes, 51 seconds north latitude, so, while it isn't false to say that it lies "between 40-45 degrees," it is imprecise, as well as an obvious, misleading ploy to make what Nostradamus really wrote ("The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude") seem applicable to the events of September 11.
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