"Silas" (real name is Simon) is the antagonist in The Da Vinci Code, and is extremely evil in his nature. Silas, being an Opus Dei follower, is instructed by The Teacher to locate the Holy Grail, killing whoever is needed to be killed in order to find it. He is a self described phantôm esprit. In the film adaptation, Silas is portrayed by Paul Bettany.