Dan Brown’s Interpretation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper
Brighton, MA
In his bestselling book, The Da Vinci Code, author Dan Brown made some very interesting comments. Most memorable was his interpretation of The Last Supper. In it, his character asserted that the painting showed the Holy Grail. Upon inspection, however, it was revealed that there was not a single cup on the table. He also made the argument that the painting, which traditionally was viewed as depicting thirteen men, included a discrepancy. It was asserted that the figure to the right of Jesus was indeed, in fact, a woman. More specifically, it was argued that she was Mary Magdalene.
He noted that the individual and Jesus seemed to be “joined at the hip” and that they were dressed as “mirror opposites.” He also noted the negative space between them formed the ancient symbol for a female, and that together the two formed the letter “M” signifying “matrimony” or “Magdalene.”Mr. Brown was, apparently, the first to ever interpret the work in this way. He went on to quote from the Gnostic Bible. He started with The Gospel of Philip,
And the companion of the Saviour is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?”
For those who went to Christian school, where emphasis was placed on the New Testament, specifically the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the quote from the above book, much less its existence, was a surprise. The portrayal of Jesus was that of a mortal man-not God in the flesh. Dan Brown went further in support of his theory by quoting from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene herself,
And Peter said, “Did the Saviour really speak with a woman without our knowledge? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?”
And Levi answered, “Peter, you have always been hot-tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like an adversary. If the Saviour made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Saviour knows her very well. That is why he loved her more than us.”
How would Leonardo Da Vinci be aware of the Gnostic Books in the 16th Century? According to Dan Brown, and prior to him the book Holy Blood Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, Da Vinci was the Grand Master of a secret society known as The Priory of Sion. One translation of the society’s name is, “House of Heaven.”
The following list was given:
PRIEURE DE SION-LES NAUTONIERS/GRAND MASTERS
JEAN DE GISORS 1188–1220
MARIE DE SAINT-CLAIR 1220–1266
GUILLAUME DE GISORS 1266–1307
EDOUARD DE BAR 1307–1336
JEANNE DE BAR 1336–1351
JEAN DE SAINT-CLAIR 1351–1366
BLANCE D’EVREUX 1366–1398
NICOLAS FLAMEL 1398–1418
RENE D’ANJOU 1418–1480
IOLANDE DE BAR 1480–1483
SANDRO BOTTICELLI 1483–1510
LEONARDO DA VINCI 1510–1519
Many academics have stated that the above list is a fabrication of Pierre Plantard. In 2013, the author of this article attempted to examine the original documents known as Les Dossiers Secrets at La Bibliothèque National in Paris. The librarian stated,
Je ne peut pas le trouver. Je n’ai jamais ce problème pendant vingt ans à la biblothèque.
It was very bizarre. If the documents are fabrications, why can’t they be examined thoroughly to include radiocarbon dating?
Holy Blood, Holy Grail stated,
“The gospels don’t say anything about Jesus being married, or do they?” It then went on to quote the Gospel of John,
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her. Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants,
Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three furkins apiece.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants who drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but though has kept the good wine until now.
The author of this article has attended numerous church services: Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Born Again, and Mormon. Alas, the above books were never quoted much less mentioned. For Christians, the largest religious group in the world, by far, at 2.2 Billion, the above quoted texts are no doubt considered non-canonical. Despite no churches recognizing the validity of the books in the Gnostic Bible, does that make than any less more authentic than the currently accepted 66 or 73 books?
