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The Last Supper painting, by Leonardo Da Vinci, bas been decoded. Learn more …
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A hypothesis about the relationship between the 12 apostles from The Last Supper and the 12 signs of the zodiac was put forward as early as in 1955 in Nuovo Trattato Completo di Astrologia Teorica e Pratica (New Complete Treatise on Theoretical and Practical Astrology) by Nicola Sementovsky-Kurilo.
A book entirely devoted to this topic is Magia e Astrologia nel Cenacolo di Leonardo (Magic and Astrology in Leonardo’s Last Supper) by Franco Berdini published by Editalia 1982, in which The Last Super was described based on a precise astrological and numerological order making reference to the Pythagorean astrology and Kabbalah. It seems to be a wrong assumption.
A number of publications detecting hidden meanings have appeared recently, with The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown in the lead… Mary Magdalene, the Holy Grail, a lost child… It is a positive yet controversial evidence of the great emotions this work is still evoking… of its popularity…
The relationship between The Last Supper and the zodiac is clear. But did the Painter really have mystical deliberations in mind? His works show that he was a researcher, mathematician, biologist, constructor, painter, art theoretician… a truly ‘free mind.’ Maybe the genius in the history of our civilization.
The is also no sign that he was particularly interested in astrology. So, where do the signs of the zodiac come from? Let’s focus on the order placed. An important and responsible topic; a tough one. A 5x9m refectory wall, an empty wall; what to start with? Today, fascinated with the entirety of Leonardo’s painting, we are not aware how serious this creative task was. He needed a plan how to determine the composition and manage it later on.
The Plan
12 apostles, 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac; four seasons, four groups of apostles. A distant Jesus — the Sun — the most important. In the center, a closed cycle of nature from spring to winter — the inevitable end. A year, according to the logic of nature, starting with spring — with birth — a bridge covering the entire earthly life of Jesus. Leonardo rejects here the idea of the calendar year. He rejects also the idea of months, turning to the sky map, constellations symbolized by the signs of the zodiac. We definitely cannot accuse him of an excess of humbleness.
A commotion among the Apostles, a variety of reactions to Jesus’ words expressed with mathematical precisions using zodiac symbolism. The unhindered freedom in arranging the figures using an astrological key — fascinating. The artistic effect — brilliant. An ostensible, logical chaos; a festival of gestures, a hand pantomime. Pay attention to the hands in the painting.
Gemini — two hands like in the mirror; Sagittarius hit with an arrow — a symbol; Scorpio’s stinger pulled out in defense; Judas — Cancer ready to attack, lurking in mud; Virgo — an Apostle with a delicate, female beauty — a symbol of Mary Magdalene? Possibly! A lying Lion is turning his head lazily, worried; outraged Aquarian is spilling water from a pitcher involuntarily. There must have been a pitcher in his hand! Hands imitating the movement of fish, Pisces — a fisherman — Saint Peter?
The identities of the figures presented in the painting are still being debated. Did Leonardo attribute zodiac characteristics to them? Is it Peter on the right? Maybe there is Aries on the left — the short-tempered Paul. The most important Apostles at the ends of the table would balance the composition.
This is a task for insightful researchers, experts in the field.
Okay, that’s all. I would just like to encourage you to analyze this painting once more. Following in the footsteps of such a brilliant mind is a real pleasure; a proven pleasure.
