Oberto Airaudi
Oberto Airaudi | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1950 Balangero, Italy |
| Died | June 24, 2013 (aged 63) Aval (Cuceglio), Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names | Falco (Hawk) |
| Occupation(s) | Cult leader, founder of Federation of Damanhur, former insurance agent |
| Years active | 1975–2013 |
| Organizations | Federation of Damanhur |
| Known for | Founding the Federation of Damanhur, directing the construction of the Temples of Humankind |
Oberto Airaudi (29 May 1950 – 24 June 2013) was an Italian cultist, who founded the Federation of Damanhur. Airaudi also went by the name of Falco (Hawk), based on the Damanhur practice of adopting animal names. He was born in Balangero, near Turin, Italy.
In 1975, Airaudi and a group of about 25 other people founded the Federation of Damanhur, a New Age commune and eco-village. Beginning in 1978, Airaudi directed construction of the underground facility the Temples of Humankind. Initially in secret, the Temples became public knowledge in 1992, when a former member sued to regain his possessions from the group. Prior to founding the community, he had worked as an insurance agent.
Airaudi died in the Damanhur community of Aval (Cuceglio) of colon cancer after it metastasized to his liver.