Physician and astrologer of the 16th century Michel Notrdam is known throughout the world as Nostradamus.
Did the great soothsayer know how to look into the future, or is his accurate predictions just a myth?
The prophecies of Nostradamus had a huge impact on Europeans. He was born 500 years ago, but his vague predictions are still impressive, studied and interpreted. A particularly heated debate erupted over them towards the end of the 20th century. waiting for the millennium.
Despite the popularity and numerous interpretations of the prophecies of Nostradamus, much in them is simply misunderstood and greatly exaggerated. True, some forecasts are surprisingly accurate, but there are many more that are indistinct and are adjusted by modern authors for a variety of events, depending on the conjuncture.
Who is who?
Contemporaries praised Nostradamus long before he became a prophet. Michel Notre Dame was born in Provence on December 14, 1503, into a family of French Jewish baptisms. At first he was taught by his grandfather, including Hebrew and Latin. Michel continued his education in Avignon, and then graduated from medical school at the University of Montpellier. Everywhere mentors noted the young man's phenomenal memory.
At first, Nostradamus distinguished himself as a good doctor, especially during the plague epidemic in the south of France. He cured hundreds, if not thousands of people, and with methods that were significantly different from the generally accepted ones. For example, he did not resort to the widely practiced bloodletting. However, medicine at that time was so imperfect that any doctor, who, by chance or thanks to his talent, saved many patients, was rumored as a magician and wizard.
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Then Nostradamus settled in Salon de Provence and got married. Ironically, his wife and children soon died of the plague - the famous doctor was unable to help them. A few years after this tragedy, he compiled an almanac of predictions for 1550. The book became a bestseller, and the aspiring prophet began to compose the famous "Centuries" - volumes, each of which contained quatrains (quatrains) with mystical visions of the future. Their release, which began in 1555, brought the author real fame, and despite accusations of witchcraft, he was invited to the court by Henry II, where, by order of his wife Catherine de Medici, he compiled horoscopes for members of the royal family, and then became their son's physician. King Charles IX.
Meeting with the swineherd. Is it true or not?
They say that during a short stay in Italy, Nostradamus suddenly stopped in front of an unknown young swineherd, bowed and called him "Your Holiness." This act of the prophet surprised everyone, but after his death it became clear that the meeting was fateful. The young man's name was Felice Peretti. In 1585 he became Pope Sixtus V.
Modern readings
Why is there so much noise around the court astrologer? Let us analyze two of his predictions, translated and interpreted by Stewart Robb in his "Prophecies of Nostradamus about world events" and Henry Roberts in "The Complete Collection of Prophecies of Nostradamus."
The first concerns the era of Hitler: “After defeating the violent language, the seduced mind will calm down and rest. The bloody emperor will make a speech before the battle, and the tongue will burn the flesh and bones. " Robertson explains: “Adolf Hitler was known for his eloquence, which led to the crematoria of Nazi Germany. Gloomy but true."
The second prophecy of Nostradamus is even darker: “In the seventh month of the year 1999, the great king of terror will descend from heaven to resurrect the great king of Angolmua. At this time, Mars will reign by right. Stewart Robb considered this a clear indication of Armageddon, awaiting humanity in 1999. Considering that the appointed date had passed, Nostradamus was mistaken, but at least with the timing.
In both cases, the possibility of various interpretations is obvious. Critics point out that almost all prophecies, thanks to their uncertainty, any of us, by connecting the imagination, will be able to tie to the known events of the past. This is reminiscent of horoscopes in newspapers: a set of common banal phrases is applicable to the everyday vicissitudes of most readers.
Nostradamus was a good doctor, was he a great prophet? To check this, you will have to wait almost a millennium: despite the horrors of 1991, he appointed the end of the world only for 3797.
Thus, the admirers of the diviner still have a lot of work to do. The demand for mysticism is unlikely to dry up, and, getting acquainted with the current world news, it will be necessary to select the appropriate quatrains "Century" for them - good, there are almost a thousand quatrains.
Favorite medieval subjects were Armageddon and the end of the world. There is a painting by Hans Memling, which is located above the altar of the cathedral in Gdansk. It is about the great earthly and heavenly battle between the forces of good and evil, anticipating the second coming of the Savior.
Maxim NECHAEV