The Secret Supper

Couple of months back i read a book called " The Secret Supper" by Javier Sierra, i found some interesting fact about , specially how the sculptors and painters assigned zodiac signs to the 12 apostles.
This novel's theme is Leonardo's 'The Last Supper' and the seating arrangements of the apostles,very interesting.Most secret societies in olden days viewed this particular painting as some sort of hidden message,even today people are wondering about the seating arrangement and the way apostles were grouped.

Javier Sierra brings the old Rome in front of our eyes , specially the cities design and church's activities on those times. The novel starts with Father Agostino Leyre, a Dominican Inquisitor and expert on the interpretation of secret messages was sent by Pope Alexander VI to anonymous letters  warning heresy in Milan in 1497.The letter has the following poem as a clue for heresy.How Agostino solves these puzzles is the story of this novel.

" Count its eyes
but look not on its face
The number of my name
you shall find on its side
Observe and give to others
the result of your observation.
Truth."

As Agostino started to understand the hidden meaning behind the above poem, he encountered many things which were unusual at that time like
1)Why were neither Jesus nor any apostles given a sanctifying halo?
2)Why were some of the disciples turning their backs to Jesus?Those three apostles at the right corner.
3)Why is Peter concealing a knife?
4)Why there is a knot at the both end of the table? etc..

Fr.Agostino after solving some part of it , encounters these group of letters "Mut,Nem,A,Los,Noc".
He tried to put these letters for Latin names of Apostles.

Apostle Name	Latin Name	Meaning
Bartholomew	Mirabilis	He who is Miraculous
James the Less	Venustus	He is full of Grace
Andrew	Temperator	He who Prevents
Judos Iscariot	Nefandus	The Abominable One
Peter	Exosus	He who Hates
John	Mysticus	He who knows the Mystery
Thomas	Litator	He who Placates the Gods
James the Elder	Oboediens	He who Obeys
Philip	Sapiens	He who Loves High Matters
Matthew	Navus	He who is Diligent
Judas Thaddeus	Occultator	He who Conceals
Simon	Confector	He who Fulfills

If we take the first letter in the Latin name , it will come as "Mut,Nem,A,Los,Noc", if we reverse it, surprise!!
                         Mut,Nem,A,Los,Noc  = CONSOLAMENTUM

No need to explain that word. Leonardo da vinci haven't followed what other painters did.For e.g Nicola Sementovsky Kurilo attributed zodiac signs for 12 apostles.Below is the last supper with Zodiac signs for apostles.

      

Apostle Name	Zodiac Sign
Bartholomew	Pisces
James the Less	Aquarius
Andrew	Capricon
Judos Iscariot	Scorpio
Peter	Sagittarius
John	Libra
Thomas	Virgo
James the Elder	Leo
Philip	Cancer
Matthew	Gemini
Judas Thaddeus	Taurus
Simon	Aries

This story is gripping , the dialogues between Leonardo da vinci and his disciples were wonderful,the plot is far better than other novels which deals with heresy.The whole takes place while Leonardo was started painting  'The Last Supper' at Santa Maria delle Grazie at Milan.Leonardo used the monks as model for each apostles.
Some interesting information:
Lady Grammar's motto :Praedicatio,applicatio,continentia (Preaching,Dedication&Containment)
Leonardo's motto at the time:"Lege,lege,relege,ora,labora et invenies"(Read,read,reread,pray,work and thou shalt find)
St.Bernard's quote "God is length,width,height and depth"

This book is worth reading, its more interesting than 'Da Vinci Code'.

About author:
Official site
Wiki
this book's official site

Software Tools -1

I found the following tools/sites very interesting and very useful.

What search engine Spiders see

  This is a free service which allows you to see what is going on in your site like search links,word counts, meta tag...etc.. and its free for basic features.

.Fontifier 

This lets you use your own handwriting for the text you write on your computer,it seems to be a very interesting site , i can imagine my own handwriting on a computer screen, even specially in my presentation awesome, try it.

FavIcon

    Another free site to create your own icon, specially the favicons, i tried it, satisfied with its features.

PhoneSpell

    Very interesting site , enter your phone number to get words and phrases related to it.. im wondering how people are thinking  like this, great idea. I tried with my phone number got something very interesing.

Virtual Board

   very very useful site specially if you arrange or attend meeting very often. In this site you can write,draw ..etc and send a link or email to your friend and you can also print it.

Document Maker

  You can create calendars,graph papers ,even sudoku and print it.Very nice site.

Abraham Lincoln's Letter to his Son's Teacher

This is one of the best letter a father can write to his child's teacher.I really liked this, since i too love to write letters(but not like this), its sad that nowadays parents concentrate only on academics when they contact teachers.

Lincoln’s Letter to his Son’s Teacher

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!

~ Abraham Lincoln

Source : Licoln's letter to his son's teacher
click here to read in Tamil

The girl who kicked the hornet's nest

The third and the last book of the series "Millennium".Another gripping and thrilling novel by Larsson.The story is about the "section" , a secret group which deals with spies and other national security issues."Zala" was shot dead by old man ,Blomkovist and Salander have to find who he is and whats his intention.Salander was hospitalized and he get help from Blomkovist sister , the doctor and the cleaner so that she will be in contact with outside world specially with Blomkovist.Blomkovist's sister who is a advocate ,appears in court on behalf of Salander.Neidermann was escaped after killing two policemen,now the police is looking for him also with other convicts.Many twists and turns in this story ,atlast Blomkovist able to find the truth and Salander was set free but since Neidermann was still not yet captured, she was little scared ,as she went to check her property she found Neidermann there and somehow she was able to kill him with other gangsters.

Steig Larsson deserves all the praise he is getting now, as this trilogy proves if the story is strong ,it will sell. He had unique way of telling each and every character's thoughts.I felt very sad that this wonderful author is not around to complete his ten book series.

So far "Millennium" is the best trilogy i read.Have to write a full details of these books soon.