Unraveling the Myth: Did Nostradamus Really Predict 9/11?

The Prophecies of Nostradamus: A Closer Look

Nostradamus, born in 1503, crafted his prophecies in a deliberately obscure manner, possibly to avoid persecution by the religious authorities of his time. His writings have since been linked to virtually every major historical event, with varying degrees of plausibility.

The September 11th Connection

In the aftermath of the tragic September 11th attacks, a particular "prophecy" attributed to Nostradamus circulated widely, suggesting he had foreseen the events:

In the City of God there will be a great thunder,
Two brothers torn apart by Chaos,
while the fortress endures,
the great leader will succumb,
The third big war will begin when the big city is burning
- Nostradamus 1654

However, this verse is not only historically inaccurate—Nostradamus died in 1566, not 1654—but it was also revealed to be a modern creation. A student at Brock University in Canada crafted it in the 1990s to demonstrate how easily a Nostradamus-like prophecy could be fabricated.

Variations and Misinterpretations

Several variations of this fabricated prophecy emerged, each adding elements to make the connection to the 9/11 attacks seem more convincing. For instance, references to "the 11th day of the 9 month" and "two metal birds" crashing into "two tall statues" were added to create a false narrative of prediction.

The Real Quatrains of Nostradamus

While Nostradamus did write about fires, wars, and turmoil, none of his authentic quatrains specifically mention the events of September 11th. The quatrains are often general enough that they can be interpreted in countless ways, leading to their use in predicting a wide array of events, from comets to calamities.

The Numbers Game: A Hoax Exposed

In the wake of the attacks, some individuals attempted to draw connections between the flight numbers of the hijacked planes and the dates following the tragedy. This numerological approach was quickly debunked as a baseless hoax. The flights were chosen by the terrorists based on practical considerations such as fuel load, security vulnerabilities, and timing, not for any symbolic significance.

Conclusion: Separating Fact from Fiction

The allure of Nostradamus's prophecies lies in their mysterious and open-ended nature. However, when it comes to the September 11th attacks, there is no credible evidence to suggest that Nostradamus predicted the specific events of that day. The prophecies have been co-opted and manipulated to fit the narrative of foresight, but upon closer examination, they hold no relevance to the actual occurrences.

Additional Resources

For those interested in exploring the life and works of Nostradamus further, the following resources provide factual information and critical analysis:

• Nostradamus FAQ: An excellent resource for information about Nostradamus.
• False Prophecies: A factual debunking of various Nostradamus prophecies related to the internet.
• About Urban Legends: A concise explanation of the facts surrounding Nostradamus and his supposed predictions.
• Nostradamus: A Critical Analysis: A thorough article examining the Nostradamus prophecies and the origin of the false September 11th "prophecy.