Top 10 Mistakes in The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown's bestselling thriller, The Da Vinci Code, released in 2003, stirred significant controversy and critique. Critics highlighted numerous inaccuracies in the novel's portrayal of European art, history, architecture, and geography. Despite the author's assertion in the book's introduction that all elements, except the modern characters, are factual, this list outlines the most glaring errors.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper

The claim that Mary Magdalene is seated beside Jesus in Leonardo’s iconic The Last Supper is widely rejected by art historians. With twelve disciples (including Judas) present, her inclusion would require one to be absent. The figure to Christ’s right, adorned in blue and red, is commonly recognized as John the Apostle. During the Renaissance, John was typically portrayed as a youthful, beardless figure with long hair, often appearing delicate or “effeminate.” This stylistic choice reflects Leonardo’s training in the Florentine School, known for its tradition of depicting young males with soft, almost feminine features.

2. Priory of Sion

The depiction of the Priory of Sion as an age-old group tied to goddess worship is inaccurate. The real “Priory of Sion” was established in 1956 by Pierre Plantard, Andre Bonhomme, and others, not in 1099 as the book states. It was named after a French mountain, not the biblical Mount Zion. Les Dossiers Secrets, a document linked to the group, was forged by Philippe de Cherisey for Plantard. Plantard later confessed under oath that the entire narrative was a fabrication.

3. Opus Dei

The portrayal of Opus Dei as a monastic order serving as the Pope’s “personal prelature” is misleading. In reality, Opus Dei has no monks; its members are primarily laypeople, with celibate lay members referred to as numeraries. The organization advises its lay members to steer clear of practices that might appear extremist to outsiders. Silas, the fictional “Opus Dei monk” who commits murders, uses a cilice and engages in self-flagellation. While some Opus Dei members do practice voluntary mortification, a tradition dating back to at least St. Anthony in the 3rd century and observed by figures like Mother Teresa and Padre Pio, critics argue that Brown sensationalized and exaggerated these practices. The injuries described on Silas could not result from typical cilice use.

4. Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel plays a significant role in the novel’s climax, but many of the book’s claims about it are inaccurate. For instance, Brown asserts that the Chapel was constructed by the Knights Templar and features a six-pointed Star of David carved into its floor, though no such star exists. Reports suggest Dan Brown did not visit the Chapel until after publishing The Da Vinci Code, relying instead on secondary sources. Another claim is that “Rosslyn” derives from “Rose line,” with a line extending from France passing through the Chapel. In truth, the name originates from Celtic words: “ros” (promontory) and “lyn” (waterfall). Regarding the “secret code” Brown mentions, father-son duo Thomas and Stuart Mitchell have demonstrated it is likely a musical composition. They decoded the music, which can be heard here. It remains to be seen if Dan Brown will honor his promise of a reward for its decryption.

5. Issues with Paris

Numerous assertions about Paris’s Church of Saint-Sulpice are contested. Although a brass line runs north-south within the church, it is unrelated to the Paris Meridian, which lies approximately 100 meters to the east. This line functions as a gnomon, serving as a sundial or calendar to indicate solstices and equinoxes. Additionally, there is no historical evidence of an Isis temple ever existing on the site. The claim that Paris was founded by the Merovingians (Chapter 55) is incorrect; the city was established by Gauls as early as the 3rd Century BC. Known as Lutetia under Roman rule, it was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, leaving behind significant ruins like an amphitheater and public baths. The Merovingians did not ascend to power until the 6th century AD, by which time Paris was already centuries old. The novel also inaccurately states that the Centre Pompidou’s top is visible from the Arc du Carrousel (Chapter 3). Furthermore, Versailles is incorrectly described as northwest of Paris, when it is actually situated about 25 kilometers west-southwest of the city center.

6. The Vatican

The novel frequently asserts that the Vatican was the epicenter of power in the early Catholic Church, even suggesting it suppressed Gnostic texts in the 4th century. However, until the Renaissance, the papal residence shifted between locations such as St. John Lateran, Anagni, and Avignon. The Vatican Hill in Rome did not become a center of official power until the 15th century. In the 4th century, it was merely a church and cemetery by a roadside. Additionally, St. Peter’s is mistakenly called a cathedral; it is actually a church, the second largest globally, spanning 5.7 acres.

7. Mary Magdalene

The assertion that Mary Magdalene belonged to the tribe of Benjamin is contested by historians. Neither the Bible nor ancient texts mention this connection. Magdala’s location in northern Israel, far from the southern territory of Benjamin, further undermines the claim. Paul, a known Benjamite, never referenced this supposed lineage. In France, Mary Magdalene is venerated as a saint, with a cave in Provence’s Sainte-Baume mountains believed to be her dwelling and burial site, attracting numerous pilgrims.

8. Gnosticism

The novel asserts that Gnostic Gospels, such as those attributed to Thomas, Philip, Mary Magdalene, and the recently uncovered Judas, are older, less altered, and more reliable than the four canonical Gospels. However, with the exception of Thomas, these texts were written between the 2nd and 4th centuries, while the canonical Gospels are widely believed by scholars to originate from the 1st or early 2nd century. A character in the story claims the term “heretic” was coined after the Nicene Council (325 AD) to oppress Gnostics. In reality, St. Irenaeus used “heresy” to describe Gnostic teachings in the 2nd century, long before the Church had the political influence to persecute anyone.

9. Geography

The novel’s plot involving the “Albino Monk” being arrested in France, imprisoned in Andorra, and escaping to Spain reveals a lack of basic geographical research. It is implausible for someone detained along the French coast to be held in Andorra, a separate jurisdiction hundreds of kilometers away in the Pyrenees. Additionally, after the Temple Church scene in London, the protagonists take the tube from Temple Station to King’s College, despite King’s College being closer to the Temple Church than to Temple Station. A tube ride would have taken them farther from their destination. In Chapter 104 (Rosslyn Chapel), Brown claims the chapel lies on the same north-south meridian as Glastonbury, which is incorrect. Rosslyn Chapel is at longitude 3:07:13 west, while Glastonbury Tor is at 2:42:05 west, indicating confusion between geographic and magnetic north.

10. Miscellaneous Errors

Albinos often suffer from severe vision impairment, with many being legally blind. This makes it highly improbable for Silas, an albino, to become a skilled marksman or even drive a vehicle.

The book incorrectly states that the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in “the 1950s.” In reality, the first scrolls were found in 1947, with further discoveries continuing until 1956.

During his lecture on the Divine Proportion, Langdon claims that the ratio of male to female bees in a hive always adheres to this proportion. This is incorrect, as the ratio can vary significantly and often exceeds the Divine Proportion.

In the book, Brown refers to the Gnostic gospels discovered in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945 as “scrolls.” In reality, they were codices—bound pages resembling books.

Note: I would not recommend reading this book, as it may diminish your intellectual understanding. However, if you seek a well-researched and comprehensive exploration of the topics covered in The Da Vinci Code, I highly recommend Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco, the author of The Name of the Rose. You can purchase it here.

The New York Times aptly summarizes this list: “[The Da Vinci Code is] Dan Brown’s best-selling guide on how not to craft an English sentence.”

Technorati Tags: Books, da vinci code