When I studied “The davinci code ” and ” Angels & Demons”, it showed me a different world and I understood that how many possible humans believes and Cultures and religions in two different Places in the word are so familiar to each others. I mean pagans and Old Persian symbols and legends are very similar.
In highlands in west of Iran and east of Iraq and north east of Turkey that named Kurdistan are living peoples with independent peoples named Kurd that are from ancient Arians I live in this place and have few reasons that seen and studied by myself about these familiars with pagans in Europe that Brawn said in this book.
In ancient Iran have been religions named “Mehr adore” mehr is son. This religion after fall of Persian empire by Arabs in 6th century A.D for being safety from Moslems troops with new apparent are changing in Islam styles in order to ” Truth mans” this sect are still living in Iran .
Iranians after Arabs attacks fire – temples names to Islam saints (in your discourse ” conversion motion”). These are some factors that may interest for you:
1 – Dual worshiping (god be named “ahoora” and evil be named “ahriman”) was in ancient Iran. And now is in “Zoroaster” religion.
2 – There was a life tree (lotus) that was named “Anahita” as venues that was rain goddess. in my city is an ancient temple that named ” Anahita temple” from about 2 century A.D. in it’s stones are several sign of we have few female saint in before Islam and so in Islam as ” Fatima” sign of jasmine flower are for her .
3 – In “Zoroaster” religions we have “farvhar” sign that moved from ancient religions, sign is pointing to third worshiping and have symmetries in parts. This sign is in a many of ancient place and now Iranian young fashion peoples are wearing like necklace.
4 – Sign of thumb finger in Iran is the same of middle finger sing for western people as revile.
5 – Jasmine flower is Iranian religion daughter of Mohammad. In several holy place in my country “holy female” are daughters of saints. Those remind me “Sofia” and pigeon is sign of innocent angels.
6 – Iranians believe of seven angels like you said. Number of 7 for Iranians is holy number.
7 – Halo of saints in old religions and Islam are the same of Christians.
8 – In Iran history in 9th century “Hasan Sabah” revolutionist with his disciples are living in North Mountains of Iran. They named “Hasshashions”. Said they were inebriate when want suspend their enemies.
9 – ” devil adores” are living in western mountains of Iran and Kurdistan.
This fact that I said is small part of detailed information that about links between history and legends of Western history that Brawn as nice as described by his books