( source)ĭescription of Murray Hill Place, the new headquarters of Opus Dei in New York.Īccurate. The Louvre's security system uses real cameras and movement detection. Large museums rely on containment security instead.įalse. Most of the security cameras in the Louvre are fake. True, if referring to the long history of Christianity in France that is still embedded in culture and traditions, alongside the fact that France is now one of the least religious countries. This was a popular urban myth about 20 years ago, but the Louvre states there are 673 and the architect's office says 698.Ī crux gemmata is a cross with 13 gems, an ideogram for Christ and his 12 apostles.Ĭhristianity in France is not so much a religion as a birthright (in reference to the police chief wearing a cross). This has always been a hot topic among conspiracy buffs.įalse. The Louvre pyramid has 666 panes, an explicit request of Mitterand. See The Louvre Pyramids and The Da Vinci Code. Mitterand was obsessed with being a patron of the arts, but it doesn't seem he was particularly obsessed with Egyptian things. Although Mitterand commissioned the great restoration project, the pyramid was I.M. There are 35,000 works of art in 60,000 square meters of exhibition space ( ).įrançois Mitterrand, who commissioned the Louvre pyramid, was obsessed with all things Egyptian.įalse. It would take about 5 weeks to appreciate the 65,300 pieces of art. The Louvre is the longest building in Europe the plaza is a million square feet in area the entire perimeter is 3 miles long. Orgiastic rituals were once held at the Arc du Carrousel. The Jardins des Tuileries doesn't refer to tulips, but a clay mine for making roof tiles. The Discipline of self-whipping is a real practice, but it is not really a "heavily knotted rope" - it is a smaller rope that can easily fit in one hand. Some Opus Dei members practice "The Discipline" - whipping themselves on the back with a heavily knotted rope. Maybe not this exact phrase, but Escriva did say ""Blessed be pain. "Pain is good" was a mantra taught by Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei who died in 1975. ODAN, on the other hand, says "Not one former numerary member has told ODAN in its 14 years of existence that they were not compelled to use the cilice and discipline." Opus Dei says this is done only by a minority and does not cause injury ( ). Some Opus Dei members wear a cilice, a spiked belt around the thigh, to remind them of Christ's suffering and curb the desires of the flesh. The study of symbols usually falls within "iconography," "semiology," or "religious art." ( ref) There is an academic field at Harvard called "Religious Symbology."įalse - it isn't even a word. The list isn't completely exhaustive, but covers virtually all claims of interest. The claims of the book are listed in the order in which they appear. Click links for references and further information. Below is a chapter-by-chapter guide to what's true, what's false, and what might be true in The Da Vinci Code.