When you look at a five dollar note, do you see the hidden message? Have you realised that the fountain in your local park has a hidden meaning that you would have never expected? Are you missing the symbolic gesture every time you cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
Doctor Julian Droogan, Australia’s own expert and historian in religious myths and symbols, says that the world of Hollywood isn’t too far from the truth, with cryptic symbols and hidden messages scattered throughout Australian cities – just like in Ron Howard’s film Angels & Demons.
“Usually relegated to the world of make believe and Hollywood film sets, symbols shrouded in hidden meaning and historical context can actually be found throughout Australian cities and the outback,†said Doctor Droogan. “More often than not the signs are right in front of us, linking to a mysterious history thought long forgotten.
“Take the five dollar note for example, you use one every day with no thought to the images or symbols hidden in the design. In actual fact, if you look closely, the symbols all tie back to notions of power and ancient gods,†he added.
“This is an example of the most intriguing types of symbol, those that are coded messages referring to themes from the ancient world. These types of symbols, which tie us to our past and fascinate us with their mythical origin, are the symbols that the character Robert Langdon follows across Rome in Angels & Demons. These are the symbols that you can find scattered throughout Australian cities without realising it,†said Droogan.
Another example of these coded symbols is the Egyptian Obelisk in Hyde Park Sydney, which features a bronze pyramid that ties its placement in Sydney to the ancient societies of the Illuminati (as featured in Angels & Demons) and the Masons (who have a key role in Dan Brown’s new novel).
The Sydney Harbour Bridge itself is also a hidden symbol. Not only is it a symbolic link between two sides of the cities, it is also a symbol of divide – a split between two tribes, those on the north side of the bridge and those on the south.
For additional insight into symbols and historical myth, Doctor Julian Droogan takes yearly study tours through the archaeological and religious sites of India and the Mediterranean for the Centre for Continuing Education, at the University of Sydney.
Latest Comments