terms。 Of course； the Vatican； in keeping with their tradition of misinformation； tried very hard to suppress the release of these scrolls。 And why wouldn't they？ The scrolls highlight glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications； clearly confirming that the modern Bible was piled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda—to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base。〃
〃And yet；〃 Langdon countered； 〃it's important to remember that the modern Church's desire to suppress these documents es from a sincere belief in their established view of Christ。 The Vatican is made up of deeply pious men who truly believe these contrary documents could only be false testimony。〃
Teabing chuckled as he eased himself into a chair opposite Sophie。 〃As you can see； our professor has a far softer heart for Rome than I do。 Nonetheless； he is correct about the modern clergy believing these opposing documents are false testimony。 That's understandable。 Constantine's Bible has been their truth for ages。 Nobody is more indoctrinated than the indoctrinator。〃
〃What he means；〃 Langdon said； 〃is that we worship the gods of our fathers。〃
〃What I mean；〃 Teabing countered； 〃is that almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false。 As are the stories about the Holy Grail。〃
Sophie looked again at the Da Vinci quote before her。 Blinding ignorance does mislead us。 O！ Wretched mortals； open your eyes！
Teabing reached for the book and flipped toward the center。 〃And finally； before I show you Da Vinci's paintings of the Holy Grail； I'd like you to take a quick look at this。〃 He opened the book to a colorful graphic that spanned both full pages。 〃I assume you recognize this fresco？〃
He's kidding； right？ Sophie was staring at the most famous fresco of all time—The Last Supper—Da Vinci's legendary painting from the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie near Milan。 The decaying fresco portrayed Jesus and His disciples at the moment that Jesus announced one of them would betray Him。 〃I know the fresco； yes。〃
〃Then perhaps you would indulge me this little game？ Close your eyes if you would。〃
Uncertain； Sophie closed her eyes。
〃Where is Jesus sitting？〃 Teabing asked。
〃In the center。〃
〃Good。 And what food are He and His disciples breaking and eating？〃
〃Bread。〃 Obviously。
〃Superb。 And what drink？〃
〃Wine。 They drank wine。〃
〃Great。 And one final question。 How many wineglasses are on the table？〃
Sophie paused； realizing it was the trick question。 And after dinner； Jesus took the cup of wine； sharing it with His disciples。 〃One cup；〃 she said。 〃The chalice。〃 The Cup of Christ。 The Holy Grail。 〃Jesus passed a single chalice of wine； just as modern Christians do at munion。〃
Teabing sighed。 〃Open your eyes。〃
She did。 Teabing was grinning smugly。 Sophie looked down at the painting； seeing to her astonishment that everyone at the table had a glass of wine； including Christ。 Thirteen cups。 Moreover； the cups were tiny； stemless； and made of glass。 There was no chalice in the painting。 No Holy Grail。
Teabing's eyes twinkled。 〃A bit strange； don't you think； considering that both the Bible and our standard Grail legend celebrate this moment as the definitive arrival of the Holy Grail。 Oddly； Da Vinci appears to have forgotten to paint the Cup of Christ。〃
〃Surely art scholars must have noted that。〃
〃You will be shocked to learn what anomalies Da Vinci included here that most scholars either do not see or simply choose to ignore。 This fresco； in fact； is the entire key to the Holy Grail mystery。 Da Vinci lays it all out in the open in The Last Supper〃
Sophie scanned the work eagerly。 〃Does this fresco tell us what the Grail really is？〃
〃Not what it is；〃 Teabing whispered。 〃But rather who it is。 The Holy Grail is not a thing。 It is； in fact。。。 a person〃
CHAPTER 56
Sophie stared at Teabing a long moment and then turned to Langdon。 〃The Holy Grail is a person？〃
Langdon nodded。 〃A woman； in fact。〃 From the blank look on Sophie's face； Langdon could tell they had already lost her。 He recalled having a similar reaction the first time he heard the statement。 It was not until he understood the symbology behind the Grail that the feminine connection became clear。
Teabing apparently had a similar thought。 〃Robert； perhaps this is the moment for the symbologist to clarify？〃 He went to a nearby end table； found a piece of paper； and laid it in front of Langdon。
Langdon pulled a pen from his pocket。 〃Sophie； are you familiar with the modern icons for male and female？〃 He drew the mon male symbol and female symbol 。
〃Of course；〃 she said。
〃These；〃 he said quietly； 〃are not the original symbols for male and female。 Many people incorrectly assume the male symbol is derived from a shield and spear； while the female symbol represents a mirror reflecting beauty。 In fact； the symbols originated as ancient astronomical symbols for the planet…god Mars and planet…goddess Venus。 The original symbols are far simpler。〃 Langdon drew another icon on the paper。
〃This symbol is the original icon for male；〃 he told her。 〃A rudimentary phallus。〃
〃Quite to the point；〃 Sophie said。
〃As it were；〃 Teabing added。
Langdon went on。 〃This icon is formally known as the blade； and it represents aggression and manhood。 In fact； this exact phallus symbol is still used today on modern military uniforms to denote rank。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Teabing grinned。 〃The more penises you have； the higher your rank。 Boys will be boys。〃
Langdon winced。 〃Moving on； the female symbol； as you might imagine； is the exact opposite。〃 He drew another symbol on the page。 〃This is called the chalice。〃
Sophie glanced up； looking surprised。
Langdon could see she had made the connection。 〃The chalice；〃 he said； 〃resembles a cup or vessel； and more important； it resembles the shape of a woman's womb。 This symbol municates femininity； womanhood； and fertility。〃 Langdon looked directly at her now。 〃Sophie； legend tells us the Holy Grail is a chalice—a cup。 But the Grail's description as a chalice is actually an allegory to protect the true nature of the Holy Grail。 That is to say； the legend uses the chalice as a metaphor for something far more important。〃
〃A woman；〃 Sophie said。
〃Exactly。〃 Langdon smiled。 〃The Grail is literally the ancient symbol for womanhood； and the Holy Grail represents the sacred feminine and the goddess； which of course has now been lost； virtually eliminated by the Church。 The power of the female and her ability to produce life was once very sacred； but it posed a threat to the rise of the predominantly male Church； and so the sacred feminine was demonized and called unclean。 It was man； not God； who created the concept of 'original sin；' whereby Eve tasted of the apple and caused the downfall of the human race。 Woman； once the sacred giver of life； was now the enemy。〃
〃I should add；〃 Teabing chimed； 〃that this concept of woman as life…bringer was the foundation of ancient religion。 Childbirth was mystical and powerful。 Sadly； Christian philosophy decided to embezzle the female's creative power by ignoring biological truth and making man the Creator。 Genesis tells us that Eve was created from Adam's rib。 Woman became an offshoot of man。 And a sinful one at that。 Genesis was the beginning of the end for the goddess。〃
〃The Grail；〃 Langdon said； 〃is symbolic of the lost goddess。 When Christianity came along； the old pagan religions did not die easily。 Legends of chivalric quests for the lost Grail were in fact stories of forbidden quests to find the lost sacred feminine。 Knights who claimed to be 〃searching for the chalice〃 were speaking in code as a way to protect themselves from a Church that had subjugated women； banished the Goddess； burned nonbelievers； and forbidden the pagan reverence for the sacred feminine。〃
Sophie shook her head。 〃I'm sorry； when you said the Holy Grail was a person； I thought you meant it was an actual person。〃
〃It is；〃 Langdon said。
〃And not just any person；〃 Teabing blurted； clambering excitedly to his feet。 〃A woman who carried with her a secret so powerful that； if revealed； it threatened to devastate the very foundation of Christianity！〃
Sophie looked overwhelmed。 〃Is this woman well known in history？〃
〃Quite。〃 Teabing collected his crutches and motioned down the hall。 〃And if we adjourn to the study； my friends； it would be my honor to show you Da Vinci's painting of her。〃
Two rooms away； in the kitchen； manservant Rémy Legaludec stood in silence before a television。 The news station was broadcasting photos of a man and woman。。。 the same two individuals to whom Rémy had just served tea。
CHAPTER 57
Standing at the roadblock outside the Depository Bank of Zurich； Lieutenant Collet wondered what was taking Fache so long to e up with the search warrant。 The bankers were obviously hiding something。 They claimed Langdon and Neveu had arrived earlier and were turned away from the bank because they did not have proper account identification。
So why won't they let us inside for a look？
Finally； Collet's cellular phone rang。 It was the mand post at the Louvre。 〃Do we have a search warrant yet？〃 Collet demanded。
〃Forget about the bank； Lieutenant；〃 the agent told him。 〃We just got