On September 28, 2016  one month before the US release of the movie Inferno based on Dan Brown’s novel, the latest in the Robert Langdon series was announced.

Global publishing phenomenon Dan Brown, author of the #1 international blockbusters Inferno and The Da Vinci Code, has written his latest Robert Langdon thriller titled Origin which will be released on September 26, 2017. It will also be available as an ebook and as an audio book.

In keeping with his trademark style, Brown interweaves codes, science, religion, history, art and architecture into this new novel. Origin thrusts Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon into the dangerous intersection of humankind’s two most enduring questions, and the earth-shaking discovery that will answer them.

With a mock cover noting that the real one is still be revealed, the teaser will surely attract attention to the date and the theme.

(Curiously on Dan Brown’s own webpages the publication date is given as October 3, 2017, even with a picture of the mock cover featuring 9.26.17. The Facebook page for Origin does, however, give the September date.)

What is the significance of 9.26.17?    9+2+6=17? 7.1629?

Chris Diak has suggested that 9/26 is the 269th day of the year, any year that isn’t a leap year. Also 9+2+6=17. 

Mehmet Fırat Aramacı (mhmtfrtrmc@gmail.com) has pointed out that the Battle of Warns between Holland forces and the Frisians took place on September 26, 1345. The battle is commemorated on the Red Cliff.

(Curiously on Dan Brown’s own webpages the publication date is given as October 3, 2017, even with a picture of the mock cover featuring 9.26.17. The Facebook page for Origin does, however, give the September date. On March 16, 2017 Amazon announced the revised publication date of 10.03.17). Such dates are almost invariably chosen with some veiled significance, so this new date means beginning the search again. It is important in Dutch history and still officially celebrated as a holiday.

What are the “two most enduring questions”? Is there a god? Is there an afterlife? Or to paraphrase the Baltimore Catechism;  Who made me? (God made me.)  Why did  God make me?

And what “earthshaking discovery” could possibly provide an answer?

On Dan Brown’s Facebook page in the fall of 2016 we find the seal below. It’s meaning is someone concealed by it being upside down. When turned 180° it reveals the goetic seal of Astaroth, according to the Dutch demonologist, Johann Weyer (Weir) in his work is De Praestigiis Daemonum et Incantationibus ac Venificiis (On the Illusions of the Demons and on Spells and Poisons, 1563), Astaroth is the twenty ninth demon. The Lemegeton or Lesser Book of Solomon offers the seal borrowing on Weyer’s work. My thanks to Dr. Cis van Heertum for identifying the seal.

TAROT

As part of the publication campaign, a contest for a limited edition cover was announced. The first winner was James Matuszak using a model based on the art of the Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian. Mondrian was also influenced by the spiritual science of Theosophy of Madame Blavatsky and the Anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner (as was the Russian artist Vasilij Kandinsky).

© Thomas R. Beyer (2016).

One thought on “Origin?

Leave a Reply