Are there are any other theories on the woman in The Last Supper other than the Da Vinci Code one?

Question

I'm half way through the book so no spoilers please!

http://gallery.euroweb.hu/art/l/leonardo/05copies/7lastsup.jpg

http://gallery.euroweb.hu/art/l/leonardo/05copies/7lastsup.jpg

Answer 1

That figure has always been interpreted as the Apostle John.

See the link below for many many examples of the Apostle being portrayed as he was in Da Vinci's painting.

Answer 2

Maybe "the woman" is just who history (up until DiVinci Code) as always said "she" was the apostle John.

If you study church tradition, the apostle John lived the longer of any of the disciples, at least until the year 95 AD. His gospel was written about 90-95 AD, and the book of Revelation at least 95 AD (when the persecution that imprisoned him where he wrote the book began) to as late as 115 AD.

Because he lived so long, it is held that he was very young when he traveled with Jesus. So John is normally pictured as a young, thin, beardless youth, just like in DiVinci's painting. That has been the tradition for 2000 years.

But lets say the figure is Mary -- then were is John? The picture is one disciple short if that is Mary. There are 12 disciples plus John. So who is the missing one?

Remember that DiVinci painted this picture 1300 years after the facts. He has them sitting at a "modern" table, not the low "oriental" style table used by the Jews at the time Jesus lived. The meal is taking place in the daylight (look out the windows) not after dark like the Bible says. They are eating leavened bread and fish if you look at the dishes. The Last Supper was a Passover meal with unleavened bread and lamb. Shall I continue?

The picture is not an accurate portrayal any of the other events of the Last Supper, so why would DiVinci (assuming somehow he knew all this about Jesus and Mary when nobody else did) put this one correct fact into the picture? Makes no sense.

DiVinci Code is a page turner, and held my interest to the end. (No, I would give it away). But the number of inaccuries in the book is laughable. Many of date, facts, etc. that are quoted in the book are wrong. It is a work of fiction, nothing more.

Answer 3

The theory used in the Davinci Code is very loosely based on a real theory. This theory however was debunked years ago. It is still a great read. What you should really do is write all of your questions down and research them when you are finished with the book. It will greatly broaden your horizons.
Edit:
As an after thought, I went out and bought a copy of The Last Supper by Davinci after reading that book as a reminder that things are not always so simple as they might seem on the surface. It hangs over my desk. Good luck.

Answer 4

even if da vinci meant for it to be a woman, it doesn't mean there was a woman at the last supper. da vinci wasn't a big fan of christianity (catholicism) and may have just been poking fun at them.

Answer 5

Its A Painting, Not Video Footage

Answer 6

that book is a really good thriller
but please
it is full of inaccuracies and
it's not to be read as history or truth

Answer 7

What Morganie_xo said - couldn't have said it better myself :)