Opinions are divided on Nostradamus; between those who say he was a genius who foresaw the future, and those who say he wrote bad poetry that could be applied to any old cataclysmic event.
Regardless of whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, experts are still discussing his writings five centuries after he lived. Virgin Media casts an eye over some of his predictions and wonder: could they still come true?
Nostradamus´ early life
For most of his life Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566) was a doctor who specialised in helping victims of the plague (including members of his own family) and he wrote several textbooks on the subject. Nostradamus’ most famous writing was his Prophecies, a book containing encoded predictions about the future.
What he has already got right
Nostradamus wrote his predictions in verse and code words, leaving actual dates so vague that it’s impossible to tell when his predictions might happen.
Critics say this invalidates his work but fans point to his successful predictions such as Hitler (he writes of a “child of Germany” called Hister) and even 9/11 (where “the towers around the New City” are said to “shake”).
So what else might be in store for us?
Zombie apocalypse
Nostradamus’ Prediction: Full on zombie apocalypse (possibly blighting the 2012 Olympics).
What he wrote: "Appearing at the time of the great games of slaughter: Not far from the age of the great millennium, when the dead will come out of their graves."
What it could mean: That thousands of zombies will take over the planet. Could the “great games” not far from the “age of the great millennium” mean the 2012 Olympics will be the start of this zombie apocalypse?
A plague that kills thousands
Nostradamus’ Prediction: Shortly before the arrival of the third Antichrist a plague causes the death of two-thirds of the world’s population.
What he wrote: "Then there shall ensue the most terrible pestilence, made even more awful by the famine that shall precede it."
What it could mean: It would be fair to say that Nostradamus saw a pretty bleak future and as if antichrists and the lurgy weren’t enough, he believed there would be a famine to contend with as well.
Experts have suggested that the plague could be connected in some way to a nuclear or chemical war. Or, did he predict the pneumonic plague that has recently killed three people in China?
The arrival of the third Antichrist
Nostradamus’ Prediction: The Arrival of the third Antichrist will cause quarter of a century of turmoil.
What he said: "And after the Antichrist shall come the Prince of Hell... There shall be even more terrible wars and battles, and towns, cities, castles and all other buildings shall be burnt, sacked and destroyed (basically there will be hell on earth)."
What it could mean: Many scholars have attempted to pinpoint the identity of the third Antichrist (the first two being widely agreed as Napoleon and Hitler), with many suggesting Saddam Hussein, or even George Bush. Whoever it is, it sounds like we will know about it when he (or she) arrives.
A great flood
Nostradamus’ Prediction: A great flood will come after the arrival of the third antichrist.
What he said: Then, because of great floods, the memory of things contained in these instruments will suffer incalculable loss, even letters. This will happen to the Aquiloners [the Northern People] by the will of God.
What it could mean: "So much investigation is put into the identity of the third antichrist because it would mean that many of Nostradamus’ predictions would become clear."
Here, it would help us pinpoint exactly when we could expect the great floods that he predicted will wash away the memory of things before it.
World War III
Nostradamus’ Prediction: World War III
What he said: "One year before the Italian conflict, Germans, Gauls, Spaniards for the fort: The republican schoolhouse will fall, There, except for a few, they will be choked dead."
What it could mean: "The Italian conflict Nostradamus talks about is a gigantic war that takes in pretty much every nation on earth. The trigger for all this is the Republican Schoolhouse falling."
With Obama and the Democrats currently in office in the US, could this be the Republican fall he meant? If so the “naval battles” and “great uproar” Nostradamus mentions could be about to begin...
Great British floods
Nostradamus’ Prediction: More flooding in store for Great Britain and England.
What he said: "The Great Britain including England Will come to be flooded very high by waters."
What it could mean: Anyone who saw the terrible impact from the 2007 floods that left thousands of families across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire homeless might be tempted to say that England has already been “flooded very high by waters”. However, meteorologists say that even worse floods are likely to hit the UK.
The Pope is killed by a Frenchman
Nostradamus’ Prediction: The Pope is assassinated by a Frenchman
What he said: "The Roman sceptre shall be struck by the 'Cock'".
What it could mean: This prediction is unusually precise with a specific set-up of the planets carefully described ("Saturn and Mars in Leo"), so if there was ever a circumstance where the "Roman sceptre" (the pope) is attacked by a "Cock" (Nostradamus' code for Frenchman) then we can check the star charts and tell whether Nostradamus was right or wrong.
A golden age of peace
Nostradamus’ Prediction: Finally, A Golden Age of Peace
What he said: "After this has endured for a long time, there will be a golden age… Then a universal peace will commence between God and man."
What it could mean: After all the cities running red with the blood of innocents we’ll probably need a bit of a rest and, fortunately, that’s exactly what Nostradamus says is in store shortly after the third antichrist is defeated.
So if you can survive the zombies, floods and wars you should be in line for a good bit of peace and quiet.
The final Curious © phrase:
“I figure lots of predictions is best. People will forget the ones I get wrong and marvel over the rest”
(Alan Cox)
