nostradamus
Nostradamus
Vocabulary
| joust | astrology | appointment (2) |
| fame | publish | better known as |
| series | prophecy | take him seriously |
| verse | predict | nevertheless |
| vague | contend | open to interpretation |
| seem | foresee | rise/rose/risen |
| tenet | defeat | appear (2) |
| fate | physician | tournament |
| bleak | in-store | wake-up call |
| doom | veracity | assassination |
| rather | detractor | wake-up call |
| occult | proponent | in hindsight |
| gloom | mankind |
Michel de Notredame, better known as Nostradamus (1503-1566), was a French astrologer and physician.
Nostradamus was born on December 14, 1503, in St.-Remy, in southern France. As a young man, he traveled the countryside researching herbal remedies and worked as an apothecary. He then earned a doctor’s degree in 1532, and became a professor at the University of Montpellier.
After a visit to Italy, Nostradamus began to move away from medicine and towards the occult. Through astrology and various “occult sciences”, he wrote down his vision of the future. In 1555, he published Les Propheties, a book which contains a series of prophecies in verse.
At this time, he also became an adviser to Catherine de Medicis, wife of King Henry II of France.
The turning point in Nostradamus’ life came in 1559, when the king died in a jousting tournament in a manner he had predicted.
The veracity of Les Propheties gained him an appointment as court physician to King Charles IX of France.
Proponents of Nostradamus contend that he foresaw many other historical events such as the French Revolution, the rise and fall of Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, and World War II. Other writings appears to describe the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the attack on the World Trade Towers in New York.
His detractors however say these events were linked to his prophecies in hindsight, and that they are rather vague and open to interpretation
Nevertheless, a central tenet of Nostradamus’ works is that although his predictions tend to spell doom and gloom for mankind, they also serve as a wake-up call — a warming of what’s in store if humanity continues down their current path . . . but if they change their ways, they can have a brighter future.
Questions
1. Nostradamus was a prophet only. True or false?
2. How did he express his prophecies or predictions?
3. Did he live a lonely and obscure life?
4. When did Nostradamus become renowned (famous)? What had happened?
5. His predictions exact and specific. Yes or no?
6. Was Nostradamus a real prophet, was he fake or it depends on who you ask?
A. Do you know of any other prophets (in your country)?
B. In your town, city or country, have there been major predictions for the future?
C. What are some of your prophecies or predictions for the future?
D. Are there any lessons from these prediction?
