Purported ancient prophecies of disasters circulate as fabricated or altered texts

Evidence

Although Nostradamus’s quatrains are notoriously obscure and hence subject to multiple interpretations, the many post–September 11 verses in circulation were either alterations of existing texts or fabrications. The idea that the attacks had been foretold centuries ago seemed briefl y to convert chaos into order. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 773

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader pattern of how fraudulent prophetic texts get manufactured in moments of crisis, echoing chapter 2’s discussion of millenarianism and chapter 10’s MJ-12 documents. — connects to: Apocalyptic prophecy was repurposed by substituting fresh enemies into old texts; Fake ancient Egyptian lore diverted early Egyptology into occult dead ends — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing: The Orientalists…, 114

Broader Connections

• Apocalyptic prophecy was repurposed by substituting fresh enemies into old texts #expands (0.95)
• Fake ancient Egyptian lore diverted early Egyptology into occult dead ends #exemplifies (0.75) — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 114