About doomsday scenarios, fake prophecies and the benefits of sanity
Allegorical painting "The Tree of Life"
In the previous article (“Forces and signs of fate. Prophets, politicians and generals ”) we gave four tips to potential prophets and soothsayers and spoke about the predictions that politicians and generals received. At the beginning of this article we will talk about predictions not to people or even countries, but to planet Earth and all of humanity.
"End of the world"
Jose Gutierrez Solana. End of the world
The tradition of predicting all kinds of disasters to our poor planet, and even death, has been going on for thousands of years. The most famous of these predictions is the Apocalypse of the Apostle John.
Three Beasts of the Apocalypse
So Pope Sylvester II didn’t trifle either, and he predicted not a fire and not someone’s death, but the end of the world. And he inadvertently called it the exact date: January 1, 1000. Thus, he provoked a wave of panic throughout Europe, part of the population of which fasted and prayed, while others, apparently not hoping for salvation, on the contrary, started all the hardest. The end of the world did not come, and the disappointed Romans expelled the pontiff (and also Emperor Otto III) to Ravenna the following year. Later, Sylvester still returned to his duties, but the upheaval undermined his health, and he died in 1003.
Sylvester II, portrait in the Basilica of St. Paul, Rome
Another pope, Innocent III (who initiated the Albigensian Wars and organized the IV Crusade - the "Latins" was then captured by Orthodox Constantinople), "calculated" the new date of the End of the World: 1284 - 666th after the advent of Islam. Until the date indicated by him, this pope wisely did not live.
Pope Innocent III
In Russia, many expected the end of the world in 1492 - the seven thousandth from the creation of the world, since it was believed that our world was created by God for exactly 7 thousand years.
At the turn of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, apocalyptic sentiments spread widely in Italy. Botticelli presented his painting “Mystical Christmas” to the public:
“I, Sandro, painted this picture at the end of 1500, in a difficult time for Italy, after half the time predicted in the 11th chapter of the Revelation of St. John, in the second cup of anger from the Apocalypse, when Satan was given power over the Earth for three seconds half a year. "
That is, the end of the world was expected in 1504.
Sandro Botticelli Mystical Christmas
In England, the Great Fire of London, which was raging from September 2 to 5, 1666 goals, was considered the harbinger of the End of the World - and again they did not guess.
Great fire of London, engraving
Children's Song London's Burning
The well-known Tommaso Campanella predicted the collision of the Earth and the Sun in 1603.
The French astronomer Camille Flamarion at the beginning of the 1910th century already knew that a collision of the Earth and the Sun was unlikely, but he really wanted to shuffle something around his home planet. He chose comet Halley, which was supposed to fly in XNUMX. He reported that she would either collide with the Earth, destroying all life, or poison everyone with poisonous gases from her tail.
Alexander Blok wrote to his mother:
“Its tail, consisting of a synergist, can poison our atmosphere, and all of us, having reconciled before death, will sweetly fall asleep from the bitter smell of almonds on a quiet night, looking at a beautiful comet.”
Rogues in the USA (worthy heirs of Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker, the heroes of O. Henry) immediately began to sell the "antidote."
Such a comet Halley was seen in March 1986
Mark Twain, who was born in the year of the previous appearance of this comet (1835) in 1909, said that he would be disappointed if he did not die at her next visit. The comet did not disappoint him - he died.
Igor Severyanin wrote in the poem Sextin:
"A hunch - more languid than a comet,
Unknown but visible everywhere
Listen to what the omens say
About a painful, painful star ...
The end of the world hidden in the star -
The secret mission of the comet ...
I see death coming in the star ...
She is coming, she is already everywhere! ..
Hello to the punishing star. ”
Unknown but visible everywhere
Listen to what the omens say
About a painful, painful star ...
The end of the world hidden in the star -
The secret mission of the comet ...
I see death coming in the star ...
She is coming, she is already everywhere! ..
Hello to the punishing star. ”
In general, the horror is creepy, but when nothing happened, many were disappointed.
And after 9 years, another “misfortune” happened - the "parade of planets", and the American astronomer and meteorologist Albert Port told everyone that for this reason the sun must certainly explode. December 17, 1919, making sure that our star remained unscathed, Port found the strength to bring a public apology. It is hard to believe, but in 1999 some also expected some disasters from the next "planet parade" on May 5th.
On January 1, 2000, the funniest end of the world was appointed of all possible: on this day all the computers on Earth had to go crazy and plunge the recklessly trusted humanity into chaos. Someone on this scam made good money.
On December 21, 2012, very many expected the end of the world predicted by the many-wise Maya Indians, who were too lazy to continue their calendar beyond this "sinister" date. Smart earned money by making films, opening courses on survival in the conditions of the apocalypse, building underground bunkers and selling tickets to ready-made ones. Stupid, as usual, paid for all this.
The unfulfilled prediction of the “end of the world” is also attributed to the popular now blessed Matron of Moscow:
“Without war, everyone on Earth will die. And it will be in 2017. "
It should have happened as follows:
“At sunset, all people will fall to the earth, and at sunrise they will rise, and the world will be different. And great tribulations await the people, which they have not yet experienced. ”
Currently, officials of the Russian Orthodox Church deny the authenticity of this prophecy, claiming that Matron was simply misunderstood.
Two truly terrible cases are knocked out of this series of curious expectations of the Apocalypse.
In the spring of 1997, the public in the United States and around the world was shocked by the mass suicide of members of the Sky Gate sect, who believed that a spaceship was hiding in the tail of comet Hale-Bopp, which they were supposed to "plunge into." To this end, 39 people gathered at the Santa Fe Ranch (California) took a drug from the barbiturate group, which, for the sake of fidelity, was washed down with vodka.
In October 2007, 35 people from the Gorniy Jerusalem sect left for a shelter dug by them in the ground near the village of Nikolskoye in the Penza Region in order to survive the end of the world caused by the fall of the comet Armageddon, unknown to science. The leader of this sect, Pyotr Kuznetsov, remained on the surface. He was arrested on November 16, declared mentally ill and hospitalized. The leadership of the sect passed to 82-year-old Angelina Rukavishnikova. In February 2008, a fire broke out in the dungeon; in March, the roof partially collapsed. Since March 29, the "recluses" began to take turns to the surface, the last of them left the "shelter" on May 16, 2008. During this time, 2 people died in the dungeon.
In total, from 2008 to 2020, various “prophets” planned 12 “doomsday”. Draw your own conclusions.
The next “doomsday” we will safely survive in 2021 - the inversion of the Earth’s magnetic poles is “assigned” to this date. And there, and the end of the world according to Newton is not far off - in 2060. Those of us who survive will have fun. In 2061, Halley’s comet also flies again, adds fumes. And in 2080, our children and grandchildren will once again be convinced that Nostradamus is a worthless prophet: they will not wait for the “global flood” predicted by him: “Most of the land will go under water, on the rest people will die of thirst.”
"I did not say that!"
It must be said that attributing false predictions to dead celebrities or distorting quotes is a very common practice.
Most often, the prophecies of Nostradamus are faked, because, despite an extremely small percentage of guessing, the authority of this astrologer remains high. Numerous forecasts are still written on his behalf in retrospect. The first Centuri fakes appeared in France in 1649 - the enemies of Cardinal Mazarin “predicted” his fall:
"Sicilian Nizaram (which will
In high esteem), but then he gets bogged down
In the quagmire of civil war ...
One night, Gaul will be disturbed.
Great Croesus horoscope predicts
Saturn’s position that his power will be expelled. ”
In high esteem), but then he gets bogged down
In the quagmire of civil war ...
One night, Gaul will be disturbed.
Great Croesus horoscope predicts
Saturn’s position that his power will be expelled. ”
Nizaram here is an anagram named Mazarin.
Do not disdain the fake texts of Nostradamus today. Here is one example of such fraud:
“Thunder will strike in God's city,
and two brothers will be torn apart by chaos,
While the fortress can withstand
the great leader will surrender
The third big war will begin
when the big city lights up. ”
and two brothers will be torn apart by chaos,
While the fortress can withstand
the great leader will surrender
The third big war will begin
when the big city lights up. ”
Guess what it is about? If not, here's another one for you:
“On the 11th day of the 9th month
two metal birds will collide
with two tall statues
In a new city
And soon after that the end of the world will come. ”
two metal birds will collide
with two tall statues
In a new city
And soon after that the end of the world will come. ”
Well, September 11th and in New York City ...
The first pseudo-shot was written as a joke by Canadian student Neil Marshall and placed in his work, A Critical Analysis of Nostradamus. The author of the second wished to remain anonymous, but it is known for sure that this verse is not in any of the collections of real quatrains of Nostradamus.
Nostradamus is not the only "victim". Another example of this kind is Paracelsus, to which many divination is also attributed. Here are some of them that allegedly refer to Russia:
“A new huge state will appear on the mainland. It will occupy almost half of the Earth. This state will last a whole century and it will happen in 400 years. ”
“Muscovy will rise above all states. Not with her hand, but with her soul she will save the world. ”
“In Muscovy, about which no one had ever thought of as a country in which something great could happen, great prosperity would shine on the humiliated and rejected. They will conquer the sun. "
“There is one people that Herodotus calls hyperboreans. The current name of this people is Muscovy. You can not trust their terrible decline, which will last many centuries. Hyperboreans are experiencing a great decline, and a huge prosperity. "
"In the very country of Hyperboreans, about which no one ever thought of as a country in which something great can happen, the Great Cross, the Divine Light from the mountain of the country of Hyperboreans will shine on the humiliated and rejected, and all the inhabitants of the earth will see it."
“They will have three falls and three elevations”
“Muscovy will rise above all states. Not with her hand, but with her soul she will save the world. ”
“In Muscovy, about which no one had ever thought of as a country in which something great could happen, great prosperity would shine on the humiliated and rejected. They will conquer the sun. "
“There is one people that Herodotus calls hyperboreans. The current name of this people is Muscovy. You can not trust their terrible decline, which will last many centuries. Hyperboreans are experiencing a great decline, and a huge prosperity. "
"In the very country of Hyperboreans, about which no one ever thought of as a country in which something great can happen, the Great Cross, the Divine Light from the mountain of the country of Hyperboreans will shine on the humiliated and rejected, and all the inhabitants of the earth will see it."
“They will have three falls and three elevations”
Quentin Matsays. Portrait of Paracelsus
Everything is just wonderful, isn't it? The only problem is that these prophecies are contained in the book “Oracles”, which is not mentioned anywhere in the list of works of this doctor and scientist. It suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the XNUMXth century, apparently, then it was written.
In the West, Lenin is often credited with words that actually became Goebbels' calling card:
"Lies said often enough become true."
But Goebbels also edited this phrase a little: the source is the novel “The Crown of Life” written in 1869 by the little-known English writer Isa Blagden:
“If a lie is printed often enough, it becomes quasi-true, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes a symbol of faith, a dogma, and people will die for it.”
Isa Blagden
And in our country, Lenin is attributed a gruesome phrase: "Every cook is able to rule the state." Meanwhile, in the original, it sounds as follows:
“We are not utopians. We know that any laborer and any cook are not capable of immediately taking control of the state. ”
(The article "Will the Bolsheviks hold state power.")
Now it's time to get back to the advice of potential prophets and soothsayers. In a previous article, we already made four valuable recommendations, line five.
“Without sucker, life is bad”
Fifth rule: soothsayers should avoid talking to skeptics. The fact is that in the process of divination or fortune-telling, a kind of programming or self-programming occurs, which can have both positive and negative effects on the fate of a person. Predictors act (often against their will) on the subconscious of the person who has trusted them. As a result, an overly gullible client begins to adjust his fate to the received prophecy. A good prognosis can push a person to action. Failures are forgotten, and success is remembered for a long time. On the other hand, an unfavorable forecast may force one to abandon the implementation of the planned plans, or to implement them insufficiently vigorously, with the expectation of an imminent collapse and failure, even if the chances of success are very high.
So, during the war with the Persians, the Spartans received the following prophecy: either their king would die in battle, or - the state. They were sensible and pragmatic people, and therefore, after conferring, they came to the very logical conclusion that finding a new king in exchange for the murdered one was not a problem at all. And against the huge Persian army they sent Tsar Leonid to Thermopylae at the head of three hundred hoplites and thousands of pereks.
Monument in Thermopylae
Termopil’s position was simply excellent (there was no open battle, contrary to popular belief - the Greeks built a wall in the narrowest place where only one wagon could pass), and if Sparta sent all her troops to it, a Persian military campaign , that year ended, not having time, as it should, to begin. A military maneuver along a goat’s path causes a condescending smile: blocking this mountain path was even easier than blocking the passage itself. But Leonid was required not to win, but to die in battle. He coped with the task. At the decisive moment, he even sent several thousand allies (according to various estimates, their number ranged from 3500 to 7000 people!), Which could prevent him from doing this. And only when the Persians went around them, the Spartans lined up the phalanx and entered into an open battle, in which all but one died (this is described in the article This is Sparta! Part II (Ryzhov V.A.)).
And here is how astrologers “helped” Khorezmshah Al Al-Din Mohammed II.
Rashid ad-Din reports that, having learned about the movement of the Mongols to Khorezm, he, extremely worried, turned to astrologers who told him that the location of the stars was extremely unfortunate for him, and, “until the ill-fated stars pass, from caution can not proceed to any case directed against the enemies. "
Khorezmshah had at his disposal an army three times the size of the Mongol army, his son, Jalal ad-Din, as subsequent events showed, was a brilliant commander, perhaps the only one in the whole world capable of fighting on equal terms with Genghis and any of his four "Dogs". But Muhammad after receiving such a forecast completely lost heart. Rashid ad-Din tells:
“In Samarkand ... he walked over the moat and said:“ If every soldier throws his whip out of the army that opposes us, then the moat will fill up at once! ”
Subjects and the army from these words of the Sultan became discouraged. "
Subjects and the army from these words of the Sultan became discouraged. "
Further - even “more fun”:
"The Sultan set off on the road to Nahsheb, and everywhere he went, he said:" Get out yourself, because resistance to the Mongol army is impossible. "
Jalal ad-Din, who begged to entrust him with an army, promising to destroy the Mongol army in an open battle (the vast majority of chroniclers are sure that this was entirely possible), Muhammad accused of childishness.
Khorezm fell, and the main reason for the defeat of this rich and strong state was the absurd and cowardly behavior of the Shah.
"Extraction of the stones of stupidity." Allegory of Jan van Hemessen
And Tamerlan demonstrates a completely different model of behavior in a similar situation. Before the battle of Delhi, astrologers informed him of the unfavorable position of the stars. Timur shrugged and scornfully said:
“What a great importance is the coincidence of the planets!” I will never postpone the execution of the one for which I took the necessary measures. ”
He did not change anything in his plans, sent troops into battle and won the battle.
Tamerlane
And sometimes a superstitious ruler has a wise adviser, who can turn any not too good omen into a favorable one. Genghis Khan as such was a talented Khitan Yelyu Chu-tsai. In the Chinese source "Yuan Shi" ("History (dynasty) Yuan ”) it is reported that in the summer of 1219, before going to Khorezm, on the day of the“ sprinkling of the banner, ”heavy snow suddenly fell and snowdrifts appeared. Genghis Khan mistook this abnormal snowfall for a bad sign, but Yeluy reassured him, declaring with the cleverest air:
"The breath of Xuan Ming (the deity of winter) at the height of summer is an omen of victory over the enemy."
Eluy Chu-tsai, adviser to two Mongol khans - Genghis Khan and Ugadei. Monument in the city of Jinzou
The mysterious decision of Ivan IV to cede his throne in 1575 to the great-grandson of the Great Horde Khan Simeon Bekbulatovich remains a mystery.
Simeon Bekbulatovich. Portrait of an unknown Polish artist, late XNUMXth - early XNUMXth century
Often they try to explain this act by tyranny or by some sophisticated mockery of the boyars forced to serve the Tatar. But, firstly, outwardly, Ivan himself cringed at the new “tsar” no less than the others, “traveled simply, like a boyar, in shafts” (S. Solovyov), and turned to Simeon in full accordance with the protocol adopted in those days: “Tsar Grand Duke Semion Bekbulatovich of all Russia Ivanets Vasiliev with his children, with Yvanets and Fedorets, they beat the brow.”
Secondly, service to the direct descendant of Genghis Khan in those days could not be considered shameful in Russia: the origin from Genghis was considered royal, from Rurik - princely. There are cases when natural Rurikovich tried to ascribe to themselves the origin of the Tatar "princes".
There is a version that, temporarily giving up the throne, Ivan IV tried to deceive fate: the court astrologer, allegedly, predicted the king an imminent death. But, seeing that the Tatar was not going to die, he regained his crown, appointing Simeon as Grand Prince of Tver.
Strong-willed people don’t turn to interpreters - they themselves will come up with the necessary explanation for any “sign of fate”.
Guy Julius Caesar during one of the campaigns fell, leaving the ship. He did not wait for everyone around to yell about a bad omen, and shouted loudly for everyone to hear: “You are in my hands, Africa!”
J. Bellini. Fortune
Just a delightful answer Caesar received from the priest, who conducted a purification sacrifice on the eve of the Battle of Farsal. When asked if he noticed signs of a successful outcome of the battle, the priest answered:
“You can answer this question better than me. The gods announce a great change, therefore, if you believe that the present state of affairs is favorable for you, then expect failure, but if it is unfavorable, expect success. ”
An amazing and very unexpected sanity, isn't it?
And when the haruspex declared to Caesar about the unfortunate sign - supposedly the animal that he had killed did not have a heart, our hero answered:
“Everything will be fine, if I wish so.”
Here is another example from Roman history: the court astrologer of Tiberius predicted that Caligula would rather ride on horseback through the Bay of Bai (5 km long) than become emperor. Having come to power, Caligula, in spite of this astrologer, ordered the construction of a bridge across the bay: large ships were anchored in two rows, an earth cover was poured on top. True, due to the shortage of cargo ships, then there were problems with the transport of bread to Rome, but the arrogant astrologer Caligula was shamed twice: he became the ruler of Rome and rode through the strait indicated by him.
Caligula, bust. New Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
Paradoxical as it may seem, it must be admitted that so many events in world history really could not have happened if they had not been predicted.
Here, for example, is how Titus Flavius Vespasian literally pushed to power.
When Vespasian performed the duties of aedile, Caligula, angry at the neglect of timely cleaning of the streets, ordered him to put dirt on the bosom of the senatorial toga. And what do you think? Someone explained to Vespasian that this mud is a symbol of the Roman land, which, over time, will all fall into his bosom: the whole state will fall under his protection and patronage.
One of the reasons for the First Judean War, Guy Suetonius Tranquill calls the prophecy that has spread throughout the country that the world is destined to rule a native of Judea. It turned out that all Jews, except one, misunderstood the prophecy. Priest Joseph bin Matityahu, one of the two survivors in the Yotopat fortress (the rest of her defenders killed each other, in order not to be captured, on his advice), explained to the commander who captured the fortress that he, Vespasian, would be this person who came out of Jews to become a Roman emperor. And the quick-witted Joseph eventually became a Roman citizen, a wealthy landowner, and the author of several historical works.
Vespasian Roman Dinar (doesn't smell)
John Winston Reconstruction of the portrait of Josephus Flavius
However, skeptics and people with a strong will do not follow the “instructions” of a soothsayer or fortuneteller, greatly spoiling their statistics and scaring away customers. But such is always a minority. If the installation of a predictor is sometimes performed even by people with large inclinations, then what about an ordinary person?
Imagine that the boy was predicted at birth that he would become famous on the battlefield. And parents from an early age at every convenient and inconvenient case tell him about it. While teaching him various useful things in military affairs. Most likely, over time, he himself will believe in all this. And, when he grows up, he will go to the battlefield - to be glorified, as prescribed. Most likely, he will die, or end his life as a poor disabled person. But, if something works out, he will certainly tell the descendants about a successful prediction. And if he had been predicted that he would glorify a local university? Most likely, his life would have gone in a different scenario.
But it’s better to not go to fortune-tellers, astrologers and “psychics” in general: why should some charlatans and scammers allow themselves to be manipulated?
Fatum Julius Caesar
A little more about Caesar. The title of the king who destroyed him was assigned to him because of the prediction contained in the Sibylline books. According to this prophecy, only the king can win a victory over Parthia (on the campaign against which Caesar was going to). And therefore, the Senate endowed Caesar with this title, but with the caveat: he was appointed king only in relation to the provinces and allied states. In Rome and on the territory of Italy, Caesar, as before, remained emperor (honorary title, not position) and dictator (temporary position). But some then had serious suspicions that for Caesar this was only the first step to the “real” tsarist power: they were afraid that after the victory, taking advantage of the increased popularity, he would proclaim himself king of Rome. And therefore, a conspiracy was organized against Caesar. The famous “Beware of the Ides of March” addressed to him was not a prediction, but a warning of an informed person. Everything else - an incomprehensible rumble at night, flashing skies, birds falling on the Forum, and other delirium such a sensible person like Caesar should certainly have been scorned. Yes, and hardly anyone in Rome before the assassination of Caesar associated these events with his name. Then we remembered - after all, the gods could not not warn them about the death of such a man! Or maybe they came up with it - to enhance the dramatic effect and the "red words".
In reality, Caesar knew that the enemies were preparing an assassination attempt (not from soothsayers, but from more serious people), but he refused bodyguards and told friends:
"It is better to die once than to constantly expect death."
And when asked what kind of death he considers the best, Caesar answered: "Sudden."
Shot from an American film Julius Caesar, 1953. In the role of Caesar - Louis Calhern
Our story is not over yet. In the following articles, we will talk about the methods of divination available to everyone, “prophetic” dreams, continue the story of all kinds of soothsayers, and try to find out how to use their talents to benefit the homeland and society.
To be continued ...
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