THE ANCIENT (LOST) CITY OF PETRA IN JORDAN Oleh Unknown Pada: most unique information, 2:39 AM No comments

THE ANCIENT (LOST) CITY OF PETRA IN JORDAN

It is believed that the ancient, mysterious and hauntingly beautiful site of Petra in Jordan has been inhabited (in one way or another) for approximately 9000 years although its existence was kept secret from the modern West until 1812, when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt “rediscovered it” and revealed its magnificence to the world.  Petra - Jordan was designated a World Heritage Site in 1985 and it has been described as “One of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage”, by UNESCO.  In Arab tradition, Petra is the place where Moses struck a rock with his staff and water came forth, and where his sister, Miriam, is buried. The word Petra (as with Peter) means “rock” and is derived from the Greek and Arabic language. It is a wonderfully appropriate name as this ancient city is literally carved from the rose-red sandstone hills and outcrops. Although Petra in jordan is most commonly associated with the Nabataeans, it has been occupied by many different tribes and nations over the millennia.  The true mystery of Petra (the lost city) is just how little is known about its history although this is likely to change as each year new studies and excavations slowly reveal the secrets of the place. Evidence of Neolithic habitation of jordan and Petra in the form of six ascending rows of dwellings has been discovered near Baida and suggests that it may be one of the oldest recorded known sites of human habitation in the world. It has proven impossible to accurately identify when the history of Petra began in Jordan. Tradition has it that the first recorded people to live in the area were the cave-dwelling Horites. It is believed that the Edomites settled in the region during the first millennium B.C.  There is a reference in the Bible that they were one of the nations that refused to permit the wandering Jews lead by Moses to enter their lands. The Edomites undertook a complete and systematic takeover of the region (Jordan) and established a stronghold that included the plains of the Umm al Biyarah plateau. The archeological remains of many dwellings that date from the 7th century B.C. have been found in the area.  In addition, the remains of cisterns for the collection of rain water dating from this time indicate that the occupants were already experimenting with the water management systems that were to become so important to the success of Petra, the city, in the future centuries.  The nation of Edom is known to have existed back to the 8th or 9th century BC.  The Old Testament dates it back several centuries further. Recent archaeological evidence may indicate an Edomite nation existed as long ago as the 11th century BC, but the topic remains controversial. (It is worth noting that in keeping with the mysterious origins of Petra, the American Museum of Natural History (website) contradicts the belief that Petra in Jordan was also Edom. A quote from their website on Petra states: "Petra's location in the Holy Land of Arabs, Christians and Jews added enormously to its allure. Some writers identified Petra — wrongly — with ancient Edom, cursed in the Old Testament for having barred Moses and the Israelites. In long-abandoned Petra, many visitors saw powerful confirmation of the prophet Jeremiah's words: "Edom shall be a desolation and every one that goeth by it shall be astonished.") During the 4th century B.C. a new nation emerged in the region – The Nabataeans.  Little is known about the origin of these people but it is believed that they were part of a migration from the south of the Arabian Peninsula.  This group progressively took control of what is today southern Jordan and established a sophisticated trading network with Petra as their Capital City. As their power grew, the Nabataeans quickly gained control of the trade routes from the Red Sea to the coast of the Mediterranean. No one is precisely sure what goods were being moved but it is likely to have been incense, myrrh, spices, gold and copper as well as precious stones and even some slaves.  It is recorded that in 312 B.C. the ruler of Syria, Antigonus I Monophthalmus ("the One-eyed"), who had succeeded Alexander the Great, initiated two great attacks on Petra.  The first was led by Atheneus and the second by his own son Demetrius.  Both military campaigns failed.  The almost impregnable rocky defenses of Petra and the determination of the Nabataeans won the day.  At the height of their power not only did Petra possessed the advantages of a natural fortress but controlled the main commercial routes which passed through it to Gaza in the west, to Bosra and Damascus in the north, to Aqaba and Leuce-Come on the Red Sea, and across the desert to the Persian Gulf. Unfortunately, not a great deal is known about the Nabataeans of Jordan although there are references and hints to be found in the history texts. The first mentions a Nabataean King Harith or Aretas and dates from the third century B.C. and refers to the sanctuary that he provided for the High Priest Jason of Jerusalem when Antiochus confirmed Menelaus, the brother of Simon the Benjaminite in his place and thus forced Jason into exile. A more accurate timeline of the Nabataean kings can be established from 100B.C. onwards based on the appearance of more written references. The Roman general, Pompey, appears to have conquered the Nabataeans in 64 - 63 BCE.  Fortunately for Petra he believed that there were benefits to keeping an independent Nabataea that could operate as a buffer zone against the desert tribes. The power and prestige of the Nabataean kingdom in now modern Jordan reached its peak during the rule of Harith III Philodermus (84-56 BC) and Harith IV (9bc – 40A.D), Malik II (40-71 AD) and Rabbel (71-106 AD).  Still, even as the Petra City expanded the first signs that independent Nabataean rule was under threat were emerging.  From the North the influence of the Roman Empire was growing more powerful. In the South new trade routes were being discovered and developed that would bypass Petra and even Jordan. Some historians and environmental experts believe that this was also a period of noticeable climate change.  Petra had always been relatively dry and had developed a sophisticated system of aqueducts and water storage cisterns both to provide water and to protect the city from flash-flooding but now things were changing.  At a time when the successful city demanded more water - there was less rain.  The city of Petra had always depended on importing food but with the decline in trade it needed to find ways to provide its own.  This theory is supported by evidence of intense agricultural efforts by the Nabataeans which can still be seen in Southern Jordan and the Negev.  In this climate of change, the Nabataean kingdom still managed to resist the final absorption of their nation into the Roman empire and survive the growing economic hardships. With the death of Rabel II in 106, the power of the Nabataeans became precarious.   The Roman Emperor Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus) already famous for his military success in conquering the Dacia nation ruled by King Decebalus in 106 A.D. pushed further east and finally conquered Nabatea in 107 A.D.  Trajan ordered the governor of Syria, Cornelius Palma, to make Nabatea (Jordan) into a Roman province with the capital at Bosra. For the Nabataeans it was the end of their power and they began to decline as a nation although life for the average citizen probably went on as normal.  The short-lived province of Arabia Petraea was formed and although Petra was no longer the capital of the region it appears to have continued to grow and do well under its new rulers and was even awarded the title of metropolis or mother-city.  Even if it lacked true power, Petra still wielded tremendous influence in the region.  For example, when Emperor Hadrian visited it in 130 A.D. he was so impressed with its magnificence and aura of mystery that he renamed it Hadriana Petra (Sometimes now referred to as Adriana Petra.  Even as the Nabataeans declined the city experienced an influx of new people from Roman, Greek, Arabic and Semitic origin.  This mixing of cultures must have made Petra a remarkable and lively place and is perhaps the reason why it continued to flourish for some time to come.  It is during this period that many of the great monuments were constructed. However, Roman rule of the region was under constant threat and during the rule of Emperor Alexander Severus (222 – 235 A.D.) Just when the city of Petra was at the peak of its new power the first major disaster appears to have struck Jordan.  Many historians attribute this to an invasion by the neo-Persian Sassanid Empire.  Coinage stopped being minted and there is suddenly no more new and sumptuous tombs being built.  The final decline of Petra had begun.  One can only imagine and speculate what it must have been like as year-on-year fewer traders came to Petra as the city of Palmyra drew away the Arabian merchants.  As time passed the city would have perhaps taken on a rundown appearance.  A person can just imagine the remaining civic leaders talking over their food and debating when they too should leave.  Records show that Petra in Jordan did continue to be a successful city and a centre of religion. Christianity had certainly well established itself in Petra by the 4th century A.D. – 500 years after the Petra had become an important trade center. Athanasius of Alexandria (293 – 373 A.D.) mentions a bishop of Petra named Asterius. At least one of the rock tombs (The Tomb of the Urn) was used as a church. A second and more damaging disaster seems to have struck the rock city in the form of a series of powerful earthquakes.  The city had already had a history of tectonic spasms as it sits near the boundary of the Arabian plate but this quake was significantly more damaging than those that had come before. The date of this event is said to be May 19, AD 363 A.D. and is based coins found in the ruins and the testimony of Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem in a letter he wrote.  According to the Bishop more than half of Petra (Reqem) was destroyed including Qasr Al Bint (House of the Daughter), The Colonnaded Street, The South Temple and the rock Amphitheatre.  Much more dangerous to the remaining citizens of Petra was the damage that the quake did to water system of the city.  Had the quake occurred earlier in the history of Petra the city may have rebounded fully but the slow decline of the past century and the loss of its status as a trading centre had broken the will of the people to completely rebuild their rock fortress. There are claims that “large Christian Churches carved from the rock ” were still being built and used during the early Byzantine era in Petra as late as 450 A.D. but although this comes from a reputable source the datelines don’t quite match up.  What appears to have happened is that further Earthquakes repeatedly struck the city and the region; each one causing successive damage. It is believed that an Earthquake more devastating that the one that wrecked the city in 363 AD struck in the year 551 AD.  By all accounts it ruined the rock cut city and further damaged the partially repaired water management systems. A person can only speculate what happened next.  Did the remaining citizens quietly gather their belongings and, as a column of refugees, depart together for other cities or did they drift away over the years as it became obvious that without the water system and significant trade the city of rock was finally finished. Most scholars believe that the power of the Byzantine Empire appears to have shielded the area from Muslim expansionism for some time but during 629 – 632 A.D. the Islamic conquest of the region (now Jordan) appears to have swept away the last vestiges of Christianity in Petra.  Records and references to Petra become increasingly scarce and it is accepted that by 700 A.D. the city of rock that had once housed 20,000 people was deserted except for the Bedouin and the flocks they tended. Finally it seems that history forgot Petra. The ruins of the city (and the region of Jordan) were briefly occupied during the First Crusade by Baldwin I of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and remained in the control of the Franks until 1189 A.D. - who called it the Moyse Valley. (Château de la Valée de Moyse or Sela).  However the Crusaders true seat of power in the area was the magnificent Castle of Montreal (Mount Royal) or “Shobak” as it is known today, some 16 miles from Petra. Petra appears again in History during the late 13th century when the ruins of the Rock City became a place of curiosity during the Middle Ages and were visited by the Sultan Baibars (Baybars) of Egypt. For the following 600 years Petra becomes a forgotten City.  No doubt people new of its existence and according to Bedouin tradition it remained occupied by nomadic desert people and occasionally visited by Islamic explorers and travelers.  However, as far as Europe was concerned – it had slipped from memory to become no more than another legendary place in a mysterious world. Petra in Jordan was once again brought to the attention of the West by an explorer by the name of Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.  During his time in Syria he had visited Palmyra, Damascus and Lebanon but was intrigued with the stories of a ruined and ancient city forbidden to foreigners.  Pretending to be indifferent to Petra he persuaded his guides to take him though the Wadi supposedly on route to another destination and thus in 1812 became the first European to see the city and the tombs for hundreds of years.  He died in 1817 but his book - Travels in Syria (Jordaan) and the Holy Land (1822) - compiled from his papers revealed the existence of Petra to the western world. Today Petra in Jordan is described a “wonder of the world” and visited by increasing numbers of tourists.  Still largely undeveloped (and protected) it is possible for a visitor to reach into the sand and stones and pick up a shard of pottery or a fragment of carved sandstone. It is worth noting that it is strictly forbidden for any archeological remnants to be removed from the site. As we said earlier, the real mystery of Petra (Reqem / Sela / Rock / Jordan) is how little is known of its history and the nations that lived there.  Hidden under the sands and rocks are still undiscovered tombs.  As recently as 2003 a new series of rock cut tombs were discovered under the Treasury.  The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has recognised the importance of this great archeological site and is making concerted efforts to protect and preserve it for future generations as well as making accessible to an often awestruck public. The following pages are a pictorial tour of Petra in Jordan and although there are 30 images, it is probably less than 10% of what there is to see.  If you are thinking of visiting this incredible place then give yourself at least two to three full days and stay in a hotel close to the entrance to save wasted traveling time. All images of Petra in Jordan are our own originals and are subject to Aquiziam.com copyright. We do grant permission for these images to be used worldwide for projects associated with any educational institution on the understanding that they must be credited to Aquiziam.com with an appropriate hyperlink. The same permission applies to any registered charity that raises funds for the protection and preservation of Petra. Under no circumstances should these images be used for commercial gain or redistributed via any other website.

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WEIRD SKULL ARTEFACTS Oleh Unknown Pada: most unique information, 2:35 AM No comments

WEIRD SKULL ARTEFACTS

For centuries, perhaps even millennia, people have been finding weird skulls and strange artefacts that they cannot easily explain.  These range from gold coins embedded in coal to complicated tools such as the Antikythera Mechanism.  The same is true for skull bones and there have been many discovered that challenge the perception of human evolution.  The fairly recent archaeological discovery of miniature human bones on the Indonesian Island of Flores has lead to the establishment of a new, if contentious, species of human – Homo Floresiensis.  In South America scientists have revealed many strange bones and elongated skulls and in North America a small foundation has been established to study the mysterious Starchild Skull.  As with any somewhat controversial topic the subject matter attracts strong views from those who support the associated findings and those that dispute them.  This page is an introduction to some of the weird skull artefacts and bones that have been revealed as well as some of the debate that surrounds their authenticity. THE WEIRD ANDOVER VAMPIRE SKULL (New) There have been several reports of vampire skulls being unearthed with the most recent taking place in Venice, Italy.  During the first quarter of 2009 a team of archaeologists were excavating a mass burial pit on the island of Lazzaretto Nuovo when they unearthed a female skull with a slab of rock forced into her mouth.  This was a typical burial for a suspected vampire and was supposed to prevent the creature rising from the dead.  The skull and associated bones were in keeping with a normal human physiology and displayed none of the physical characteristics associated with the modern perception of vampires.  However, a more intriguing story is that of the Andover Skull.  The information is sketchy but the basis of the story is that at sometime during the 1950’s a newly married couple, Mr F and Mrs B Morris, moved to Andover Massachusetts in the USA.  WEIRD ANDOVER VAMPIRE SKULL Is this weird and vertically elongated Skull the one from Andover? Real or Hoax - We're not sure but it's a fantastic picture. They were disappointed to discover the house they had purchased had not been fully emptied and that the attic remained stacked with books, broken furniture and other such possessions.  A year or so after moving in Mrs Morris finally decided to empty to attic and, in the process, found a heavy wooden box which had been nailed shut.  That evening her husband opened the box with a claw-hammer and together they discovered a large and disturbing skull. It had unusually big eye sockets and several pieces of the bone cranium were broken.  There were strange carvings on the front left of the skull but the most interesting part of the discovery were its canine teeth which were strangely elongated.  Overall the skull was larger than an average human’s and had a distinctive domed forehead.  Mr Morris glued the skull fragments together and apparently kept it in his study where he would show it to curious friends and visitors.  After some months Mrs Morris became distressed by its presence and insisted that it be reburied as she had convinced herself that it was demonic or at least the skull of a powerful Indian medicine man.  Instead, he allegedly took the skull to a nearby Museum of Archaeology which specialised in Native American history. (If you have any more information on this skull we’d appreciate hearing from you. Please e-mail: content@aquiziam.com) THE STARCHILD SKULL Cranium of the Starchild widely available on the internet Note the close set eyes and low retinal nerve. Discovered in el Paso THE STARCHILD SKULL Of all the skulls featured here, the “Starchild” is probably the most controversial one discovered if only because of its widespread publicity.  In brief, the original skull, which is estimated to be 900 years old,  was discovered by an American teenage girl near the Copper Canyon district of Sierra Tarahumara in the south west of Chihuahua State, Mexico. After her death in 1990 the skull came into the possession of El Paso residents, Ray and Melanie Young in 1998.  They sought the advice of Mr. Lloyd Pye who is often described as a researcher into the alternative. Shortly afterwards he established the Starchild Project to better understand the skull. There is no doubt that the skull is real.  The bone is thinner than average and although it appears to belong to a four or five year old child the cranial capacity is 1600cc which is 200cc more than your average adult human.  DNA testing has revealed that it has both the X and Y human chromosome which seems to indicate that it is human.  However, proponents of alternate theories suggest that it could be the child of a human-alien hybrid itself. According to the Starchild Project they refute that the DNA from both parents was easily identified and suggest that the father's DNA was something other than ordinary. Two distinct schools of thought regarding the specimen have emerged.  One group see it as evidence of various theories ranging from alien-human hybrids to proof of an alternative evolution.  The other group believe that the skull is nothing more than a natural deformity possibly caused by brachycephaly, Crouzon syndrome or some other natural genetic mutation.  Both groups’ present compelling evidence and it is definitely worth understanding both sides of the story before making up your own mind.  QUEEN NEFERTITI - A VERY WEIRD SKULL The image to the right is from the limestone carving called the "Relief of a Royal Couple" and is believed to depict Nefertiti an Egyptian queen and is from the 18th Dynasty circa 1330BC. It is on display in the Altes museum in Berlin - Germany. Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaton the Egyptian Pharaoh who strangely forced many social and religious changes on his subjects including the concept of Sun or Star worship.  It would seem that Nefertiti was exceptionally beautiful and had many otherworldly qualities including a significantly elongated skull.  In all artworks she is either shown with an elaborate headdress or with a elongated skull.  Apparently this characteristic was inherited by her daughters who are depicted in the same manner. For many years Egyptologists have dismissed this attribute as artistic license but it has become ever more obvious and accepted that the ancient artists depicted their subjects as they really appeared.  If this is true then the Egyptian queen not only had a very unusual cranial structure but it was at least 50% larger than that of the average human being thus ruling out simple head-binding practices. QUEEN NEFERTITI Queen Nefertiti - 18th Dynasty - 3300 years old Please note the elongated head and neck. This has fueled speculation that there may be some truth in the “Seeded World Theory”.  In brief this theory suggests that billions of years ago “life” was introduced to worlds that had a suitable environment to support it.  This life all shares a similar DNA structure and that from time-to-time civilisations emerge with the technological capability to visit these seeded worlds and update the genome through the deliberate introduction of compatible DNA.  It seems farfetched but not impossible and it would explain so much.  After all, there is still no solid science to explain how and why the universe actually exists at all. (Yes ... this is actually true. Feel free to do the deep research yourself.) If the depictions of Nefertiti are accurate then this woman was probably very smart and certainly not your average person.  We’ll leave you to work out your own conclusions. ELONGATED INCA SKULLS Weird elongated Inca skull discovered in Peru possibly created by head binding - quite common. WEIRD ELONGATED INCA SKULLS The harsh fact is that the human brain and skull has increased faster in size than the female pelvis. Incredibly fast! Put simply, the average human baby’s head is now too big and requires extreme physical contortion and rotation to achieve a natural birth.  (Of all the facts that we present you on the Aquiziam website – this is the one that is the most important. Evolution does not usually make this kind of mistake.  Currently one in three children born in Canada and the United States is delivered via Caesarean section. How could this have happened?) Giving birth is an extremely painful episode for most women and is almost unique to humans.  Most other creatures on this planet do not seem to experience the same degree of discomfort.  This is an extremely important clue to the origin of our species that is embarrassingly overlooked by most of the scientists that study evolution. Still, as a result, life has ensured that foetal skulls are soft and pliable to allow them to pass through the bony ring of the pelvis and the vaginal canal.  It is not uncommon for children to be born with cone shaped heads that quite quickly readjust to the appropriate shape. However, in many ancient cultures it became the practice to bind the infant’s head with cloths and wooden slats for a period of between six months to one year to create a shape that was socially acceptable and tribally recognisable.  In a sense it was a primitive ID card that said you belonged to the “pick-your-name” tribe for now and forever.  This practice resulted in a wide variety of misshapen cranial structures that still baffle modern science particularly as in some cases the volume of the brain-chamber has also been increased. This practice may have also stimulated some unforeseen side-effects. By changing the geometry of the skull it may have been possible to change the functioning of the brain.  Today it would be considered extreme to carry out this practice and as a result it is almost never done.  We cannot tell what psychological changes it might have created.  Did it increase intelligence?  Did it stimulate paranormal abilities?  Did it emulate an entity that was perceived as a God? There must have been some benefit or it would not have been carried out in the first place.  Archaeologists have discovered many dozens of elongated skulls from both Egypt and South America.  Interestingly, these regions both had a fascination with the construction of pyramids, the stars, calendars, mummification and death. Both societies also had complex agricultural secrets and a powerful priesthood.  We don’t know what this means and are reluctant to add yet another theory but it should make you stop and think – if only for a moment. HOMO FLORESIENSIS In 2003 a team of researchers decided to explore and conduct excavations in the Liang Bua Cave on the Island of Flores which is part of the Indonesian chain.  To their surprise they quickly discovered the almost complete skeleton of a tiny hominid (ancient human). The height of the adult female skeleton was approximately 3 ft 6 in and displayed many characteristics that indicated that a new species of human had been located.  This was reinforced by the simultaneous discovery of tools and artefacts consistent with the size of skeletons.  There were also indications that the “little People” had used fire and had hunted a range of now extinct animals including giant rats and miniature elephants known as Dwarf Stegodon.  The cranium has a sloping forehead and no specific bone-based chin although it does have human-like teeth and all indications are that it walked upright. Although there is still some controversy over whether Homo Floresiensis in a new species or is just a variation of modern humans or perhaps Homo Erectus, there is no doubt that a strange population of human-like creatures once lived on the island. HOMO FLORESIENSIS Homo Floresiensis or Flores man. A weird find that may rewrite the archeological record. In fact, according to local legends there still references to tribes of “little people” that live deep in the forests.  The skull is much smaller than that of a modern human but the prefrontal cortex is still the same size as modern human beings indicating a high degree of intelligence and self-awareness.  Many researchers into Homo Floresiensis go to great lengths to explain that these people were not pygmies or dwarfs they were something unique.  As such, they have been given the nickname – hobbits – after the famous Halfling folk from the Lord of the Rings trilogy written by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954). THE CRYSTAL SKULLS The weird Crystal Skull on display in the British Museum. Discovered by Eugène Bobaneird. THE CRYSTAL SKULLS Whilst most of the serious scientific community agree that the crystal skulls on display in various museums and private collections are not pre-Columbian artefacts and were made between the 18th and 19th centuries, there may be some deeper aspects that remain uncertain. To start with, scientific testing is based on the body of knowledge available at the time of the test. For example, should a new (and similar) skull be discovered in a well documented excavation it would provide the scientific community with a new perspective to consider? The most common challenge to the authenticity of the skulls is the evidence that they appear to have been made with fairly modern tools which were not available to the Aztec pre-Columbians.  However, this also makes the assumption that simply because they have not been found such tools they never existed. A simple study of paleontology clearly shows that all the fossils ever found probably represent less than 0.1 percent of the bio-diversity that has existed in the past. Still, it is probably likely that the skulls of which we are aware are best viewed as modern creations.  However, there has also been some speculation that these crystal skulls were all modeled on an earlier skull that was remarkably detailed and that had been taken from the body of a fallen god.  It is this theme that is explored in the very popular film released in 2008 “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”  Given the trade in real and fake pre-Columbian artefacts that emerged in the 1870’s and 1880’s it is possible that such a skull existed or the story was a popular myth amongst traders in central and South American antiquities.   Whatever the true origins of the crystal skulls they remain on display in respectable museums and continue to fascinate people. WEIRD SKULLS WITH HORN(S) There are numerous accounts of human beings with horns.  Unfortunately, many of them are poorly documented and even worse, the possession of the artefacts has been mismanaged to the extent that the records become very questionable.  Still, there is definitively a powerful socio-genetic memory of human-like creatures with horns and they are usually depicted as evil or at the very least, powerful and destructive. Satan is the most obvious example but many demons, giants, biblical creatures, shamans, witch doctors, the Minotaur and (possibly) mythical creatures such as dragons all had horns.  The unicorn is the exception ... although it is also said to have a fascination with young virgins which is a bit odd when you think about it.  The main source of the belief in real horned skulls comes from an entry in the book, Mysteries of the Unexplained published by Readers Digest in the 1990’s.  The section refers to the discovery of a number of skulls that clearly had horns projecting above their eyebrows.  Basically, the skulls were supposed to have been found by reputable people in a burial mound in Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, in 1880.  Unfortunately, the original story was exaggerated by the press who confused a statement about individuals that had been buried with deer horns.  It was 1916 after all.  WEIRD SKULLS WITH HORN(S) Fake picture of a weird horned skull. Still the belief persists and who knows the truth? The story re-emerged on the internet as early as 1996 and has been the mainstay of the horned-skull belief for well over a decade.  There are also many references on the internet to a horned-skull on display in the London Museum.  Well ... we went there and looked for it and couldn’t find it.  Maybe it’s in a secret room. The picture to the right and above is a fake.  It’s quite a good fake and we fully expect to find it at the heart of some horned-skulls proof a few years from now.  Still, it’s a fake created with the help of Adobe Photoshop. It’s also worth noting that “freak shows were once a popular form of entertainment and unfortunate people with rare skull deformities (such as The Elephant Man) were displayed to the general public.  Unscrupulous carnival owners would have amazing artefacts manufactured and horned skulls were popular.  If you sift through the internet you will find quite a few pictures and descriptions of people with horns.  Unfortunately, it is very hard to know if they too are real or not.  We’ve included this section on horned skulls not because there is significant proof of their existence but because so many people truly seem to believe that they have existed at some point in the past. GIANT SKULLS The skull of a large neanderthal alongside a contemporary human skull - a giant indeed. GIANT SKULLS Over the years archaeologists and explorers have discovered many unusually large skulls that have intrigued scientists from around the world.  These giants may have simply been human anomalies or may represent a branch of anthropology that remains a mystery.  It is worth noting that there are various medical conditions that can cause “Giantism” or more correctly, Gigantism. Pituitary Gigantism is the most common and is caused when the when an excess of growth hormone is released during puberty.  However, skulls from people afflicted with this condition tend to display characteristics that can fairly easily identify this as the cause.  Some of the giant skulls discovered are also simply explained as being those of the Neanderthal species of human beings (Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis) that became extinct approximately 15,000 years ago.  Still, there are other skulls that defy such simple analysis.   Two cases stand out and are worth mentioning even though one may well be a hoax.  The first is the Lovelock cave find.  In 1911 a team of guano miners, who where excavating the cave, began to unearth various Native American bones and remains. Archaeological teams were brought in and over the next 15 years various mummies and skeletal remains were discovered. From various bones, and particularly the femurs, it was concluded that the average height of the buried skeletons was ten feet tall.  Many of the bones were sent to scientists and educational institutions and over the course of time have become lost.  However, some of the finds, including a giant skull, can still be viewed at the Humboldt Museum in Winnemucca in the state of Nevada. The second case refers to the discovery of a truly giant skeleton by an oil exploration team in Saudi Arabia in 2002.  Apparently this being was 25ft tall and had a skull that was nearly 5ft in length.  According to internet rumour the find was hushed-up by the Saudi authorities who immediately distributed fake photos through a Photoshop competition that created such confusion that nobody really has any idea whether this was a real occurrence or a hoax.  However, it is important to note that Bedouin legend does make reference to such a race naming them as being of the Aad or Hood nation.   (If you’re interested in finding out more about this skull and skeleton simply Google “Saudi Arabia Giant Skeleton” and decide for yourself.) Legends of weird giants are common in almost every part of the world.  They range from those of merely tall people to truly gigantic beings that can move mountains. (Shrewsbury Giant) This is clearly a shared belief-memory that deserves more investigation.  At the time of writing the tallest, scientifically recorded, man was Robert Pershing Wadlow who was 9ft 11in.  His skull was 36% larger than that of his father.  Another recent giant was Anna Haining Bates who reached 7.5ft in height and had a cranial capacity 22% larger than her father.  Records indicate that she was extremely intelligent.

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THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS? Oleh Unknown Pada: most unique information, 11:37 PM No comments

THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS?

The mystery of the lost city of Atlantis still captures the imagination of millions. Was it real or just myth. Here are the basic facts. Lost civilizations really still exist. New discoveries are happening even as you read this. Places like the Nazca Lines Google Earth can now be clearly seen. New cities have just been found in the Amazon. Just because we haven't found Atlantis doesn't mean we never will. If you are genuinely interested in the story of Atlantis then the only place to start is the source - the writings of Plato and the stories of Timaeus and Critias. POSEIDON - GOD OF THE SEA - FATHER OF ATLANTIS An Atlantean symbol of power and kingship When you remove the gods, the parables and the sociological interpretation from the text you are left with the following key points. Solon (638 BC–558 BC) was a famous Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and Lyric poet who allegedly heard the story of Atlantis from Egyptian priests that he was visiting that claimed that the Athenians had forgotten their true history because from time-to-time their civilization had been largely destroyed by catastrophes. The Egyptian priests referred to the “Declamation of Heavenly Bodies”, meaning meteorites, which cause devastation on the planet. -----The Egyptian priests understood that from time-to-time there were serious natural catastrophes that involved fire and water (from which they had been largely immune). They attributed these to the actions of the Gods A war once took place between the Athenians and the Atlanteans The Athenians apparently came from Athens. The Atlanteans apparently came from an island beyond the pillars of Hercules (Straights of Gibraltar) The war took place 9,000 years before the time of writing which was approximately 2,500 years before today – so in effect 11,500 years ago. Atlantis was allegedly an island greater in size than Libya and Asia combined. Atlantis was eventually destroyed by an earthquake. The Athenian Gods were at peace with each other. The story had been forgotten by the Athenians because of a great deluge whereby only the illiterate people of the mountains had survived. Solon inferred that the event took place before the time of Theseus. At the time the Athenians ruled a land from the Isthmus (of Corinth) to the heights of the Cithaeron (a mountain range in what is today central Greece) and Parnes. Oropus was the boundary on the right and the river Asopus the boundary on the left. The Athenian land was fertile and able to support a great army. Many floods had taken place during the 9,000 years prior to the recording of the story. Many of the cliffs surrounding this (Athenian) land had been eroded and fallen into the sea. Many of the woods that once existed have disappeared. The land was less eroded and less rainfall was swept into the sea. The climate was more temperate. The Acropolis was larger and surrounded by soil and not the outcrop of rock it is now. They had Gymnasia. There were once more springs that disappeared after an earthquake. The Athenians were healthy, beautiful people that were well prepared for war. Poseidon was patron and God of Atlantis. (God of the sea and earthquakes) Atlantis was an Island with a small mountain at its centre with fertile plains surrounding it. The central mountain had rings of water surrounding it. Water flowed from underground - some hot, some cold. Crops flourished in the fertile soil. Poseidon’s first child (born on Atlantis) was named Atlas and the ocean around the Island was named Atlantic. From beyond the Pillars of Hercules the lost city of Atlantis controlled islands and lands as far as Egypt. They had extensive trade with other countries. Orichalcum (an unknown red coloured metal or alloy possible a mixture of copper and gold) was common on the Island. The Island was well forested. There were a great number of elephants on the Island. The Island had chestnut trees. The City / island existed long enough for many rulers / kings to develop it. The lost city of Atlantis had a canal from the sea to an inner lagoon. Three kinds of stone, one red, one black and one white were quarried on the Island of Atlantis. They used brass to cover their dwellings and brass, tin and orichalcum to cover the outer walls of their cities. Poseidon’s temple at the centre had a barbaric appearance and the roof (interior) was made of Ivory. In the temple there was a statue of the god in a chariot. The lost city of Atlantis made use of private and public baths and then saved the water for use on their fields. The later docks had Triremes and many naval supplies. The Island had cliffs on most sides but was otherwise a plateau with a small mountain at its centre and mountains to the North. The North of the Island had high and beautiful mountains. The plain featured a circular ditch (canyon) of such size (a 100 ft in depth) that it could not have been manmade. The military had war chariots. They benefited from winter rains. Their shields were small. The land was divided into ten kingdoms each with its own city. No King was to ever make war on another Atlantean King. This rule lasted for a great time but in the end the Kings became victim to mortal desires and sins. That’s it. These are the key points. The remainder of the story as recorded by Plato is lost.  The Pyramids of Egypt Athens Plato So, what this means is that everything else that you have ever read, that is not a direct translation from the Hellenic (Greek), is either made-up, psychically received or conjecture. For the full transcript of the original document, click here. While it is unlikely that the lost city of Atlantis ever existed as a single place, the description presented by Critias is remarkably precise for a narrative. Plato himself asserts that Atlantis is a real place.

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WHERE IS ATLANTIS?! Oleh Unknown Pada: most unique information, 7:10 PM No comments

"Beyond the Pillars of Hercules and within the Ocean of Atlas there lies Atlantis - rich in wisdom, power and wealth." Atlantis Where? What? Atlantis, according to Plato (Critias & Timaeus) was beyond the the Pillars of Hercules or the Straits of Gibraltar. If we are to take the story literally then Atlantis is definitely not in the Mediterranean. (Sorry all you Santorini enthusiasts.) So, what do we know about Atlantis? It was an island, probably smaller than Southern Italy. It was somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean but close enough for its ships to to pass the Straits of Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean. COULD THE CANARY ISLANDS HAVE BEEN ATLANTIS? All the evidence based on the original texts indicate that the Canary Islands are the location for Atlantis. There is evidence that they may have been very much larger in the past. Also - before the end of the last ice age the sea levels would have been much lower. It’s civilisation originated towards the end of the last Ice Age. Later, it had significant trade with other nations. There were elephants (imported?) and chestnut trees. It was close enough to Africa to be able to dominate the lands of Libya. Orichalcum could be mined on the island. It was probably volcanic. It was destroyed by an earthquake (volcanism). If we accept that Plato’s description is accurate and don’t tamper with the story of Atlantis to make it fit other possible locations then we need to look for a volcanic island (or the remains of one) in the Atlantic beyond the straights of Gibraltar but close enough to North Africa for it to have been able to control the coastal lands of Libya up to the borders of Egypt. If we faithfully follow this description we do find an actual place. We find the volcanic Canary Islands. Quite a great deal of Plato’s description matches this location. They are volcanic, on the ancient but disputed trade route to the Americas, were once considerably more fertile than they are today, are still unstable and have unusual (if limited) ruins. Pliny the Elder (AD23 - 79) reports the Canary Islands were uninhabited in the time of Hanno the Navigator (c. 600 BC), but nevertheless contained the ruins of buildings. “He (Juba II) said that in this island there are traces of buildings; that while they all have an abundant supply of fruit and of birds of every kind, Canaria also abounds in palm-groves bearing dates and in conifers; that in addition to this there is a large supply of honey, and also papyrus grows in the rivers,” From the Translation of The Natural History of Pliny the Elder by H. Rackham, first published 1942, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press. Even so, where is the conclusive evidence? Well it may well be on the bottom of the sea between (and to the south) of the islands that may be all that remain of the northern mountains described by Plato. One theory regarding Atlantis that has been put forward is that as recently as 10,000 years ago some of the Canary Islands, as we know them today, were actually linked together (or more likely surrounded) by an unstable plateau or rim of volcanic rock (basalts) and soil that had built up over the 60,000 years of the previous ice age. (Remember, sea levels were lower). The Pyramid of Guimar Mount Teide - Tenerife Plato Also, the geological record (above) clearly shows that from-time-to-time; fairly large parts of these islands have collapsed into the sea leaving significant debris surrounding them. The theory suggests that as sea levels rose, the underlying rock of the rim plateau became saturated with water and increasingly unstable. Finally, when a severe earthquake occurred, this landmass literally vibrated itself into a fluid state and sank away to be dispersed in the ocean currents. If you want to see this happen then take some beach sand and place it a container as a flattened cone. Fill the container with water until at least two thirds of the original sand is saturated. Now place a model building on top and then vibrate the container. See what happens. Why does this theory about Atlantis have some credence? The answer lies in Plato’s description of what remained after the collapse of Atlantis. He refers to a huge layer of mud that blocked the passage of ships. “One ‘slope anomaly’, the S1 (175 Ma) anomaly, has also been identified between the easternmost islands and the African continent. The continent-ocean boundary is characterized by the presence of a 10-km-thick layer of sediments.” José Mangas Viñuela, Departamento de Física-Geología, Edificio de Ciencias Básicas, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that again we find a consistency between the evidence and Plato’s account. To ensure objective study it should also be mentioned that the water between the islands is deep and so the concept of a single linked island is unlikely. However, not even the scientists seem to agree on many geological aspects of these islands – particularly their formation and erosion. Let’s be clear! It is not our intention to persuade you that the Canary Islands are the location of Atlantis or that Atlantis ever truly existed as described by Plato. What we have tried to do is demonstrate, through a process of Literary Forensics, that many of the key points of Plato’s account do stand up to a fair degree of scrutiny. However, some do not. Plato refers to significant trade between the Atlanteans and other nations. Trade means records and none have ever been found. No trace of Elephants or their remains have ever been found on the Canary Islands although they were said to exist in abundance on Atlantis.. Gold and copper has been discovered in nearby Morocco but not on the Canary islands. Still, we’re open to updated information if you have any. The Verdict: It’s fair to say that we are really divided on this one. The safe verdict would be to state that as there is still no “concrete” or undisputed “physical” evidence then Atlantis is probably a myth created by a man who had a superb understanding of the natural history and geography of his time. He most likely did so for the purpose of promoting and presenting his views regarding utopian societies. He may well have used the records of travellers such as Hanno the Navigator to “work-backwards” to locate his Atlantean land and to establish his facts. The less-safe verdict is that Plato has provided a remarkably consistent account that actually provides a location precisely where he says it will be. He supplies very few details that can be proven wrong and does provide many references that are absolutely correct. Of particular importance is the sheet of mud that would have existed if the (possible) land mass linking or surrounding the Canary Islands had been vibrated away. The real question that should be asked is this: If the account of Timaeus and Critias was meant to be used just for the purpose of expounding a theory then why so much detail and why not a more elaborate and fanciful description. Why go to so much trouble to get the details correct? Thank you for reading our account of the Lost City of Atlantis. Perhaps as archaeology discovers more of our ancient history we will find more convincing evidence, or perhaps even proof, that that this remarkable myth is actually real. What a story that would be.

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ATLANTIS REAL OR MYTH? Oleh Unknown Pada: most unique information, 7:02 PM No comments

Was it real or is it just a myth? So many attention seekers have exaggerated or distorted the story that it has become synonymous with a "Fantasy" or an impossible quest. Real or Myth? Could Atlantis have existed as an actual country?  The answer could be yes.  Is it likely that Atlantis really existed exactly as described in Plato’s writings? The answer is likely to be no. Before we explore the possibility of an Atlantean civilization it is important to appreciate that many scholars believe that Plato’s description of his conversation with T & C was only ever a way of introducing the concept of a utopian society. A VERY LIKELY LOCATION FOR ATLANTIS To find Atlantis it is sensible to use a system that cross references what we know from the original source. An island (or part of one) that was near Gibraltar, sunken in the sea, was warm and had had access to rough gold. A society that collapsed because it failed to adhere to its moral and founding principles. But … intriguingly, there is more to this story than some skeptics would have people believe. (Just remember this – non-mainstream theories that don’t conform to popular academic thinking rarely get college or university grants.  Professional scientists would rather lose a limb than have their reputations called into question. Atlantis? let's not go there.) The only way to assess the validity of the story of Atlantis is through Literary Forensics.  This is a process that examines each key point and determines how well it stands up to historical record (proof) and scientific evidence.   Before you give up reading this section let us say that if the evidence was overwhelmingly against Atlantis, we wouldn’t have bothered compiling these pages. The best place to begin is also the most startling and often overlooked.  Plato refers to the following text: “Thereupon one of the (Egyptian) priests, who was of a very great age, said: O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man among you. Solon in return asked him what he meant. I mean to say, he replied, that in mind you are all young; there is no old opinion handed down among you by ancient tradition, nor any science which is hoary with age. And I will tell you why. There have been, and will be again, many destructions of mankind arising out of many causes; the greatest have been brought about by the agencies of fire and water, and other lesser ones by innumerable other causes.”  (Plato - 360 BC -Translated by Benjamin Jowett) Whether the Egyptian priests referred to in the writings ever existed, Plato (Timaeus) clearly understands that the Earth, this small blue planet, is periodically subjected to intense natural disasters involving fire and water.  That he understood and recognised this fact is absolutely not in question and it shows an incredible appreciation of natural science that doesn’t become apparent again for almost 2,000 years.  He accepts, as do his companions, that catastrophic flooding is more common than most people alive today would like to admit. He also refers to the fact that the climate has changed and refers often to deluges and floods powerful enough to destroy coastal cities as well as references to cliffs and buildings having been eroded into the sea.  For this claim there is significant archaeological evidence and Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea does indeed have underwater ruins and at least one often visited submerged city.  (See, for example, The Lycean city of Kekova, Naukratis, Thera and Santorini.) According to Graham Hancock, author of Underworld; (since the last ice age) “More than 15 million square miles of habitable land were submerged underwater, resulting in a radical change to the Earth’s shape and the conditions in which people could live.” Another reference: “To coordinate the explorations of his skin-diving friends, Gargallo has organized the Mediterranean Institute of Underwater Archaeology. In his apartment off Rome's Piazza, di Spagna, he has a map of Italy and Sicily with coloured pins indicating the site of 20 to 30 ruins known to his skin-divers. There is a big underwater city near Venice. Another, off Mondragone, north of Naples, runs along the bottom for nearly three miles.” (Time Magazine -1959) This also shows that contrary to what “global warming” experts would have people believe, the Earth’s climate has been continuously changing (warming) without the help of man. Many experts believe we are actually living in an ice age and this pleasant enough climate we enjoy is just a warm interglacial period. Geological evidence has confirmed that the last Ice Age completely finished only 10,000 years ago.  So again, Plato is accurate in his statements. So, let’s for the moment, assume that the description of Atlantis is both literal and accurate.    If so, then Atlantis existed 11,500 to 9,300 years ago towards the later period of the last ice age.  This is highly significant because sea levels would have been dramatically different than they are today. According to geological studies, sea levels have risen 130 metres or 400ft in since the last Ice age.  Also, it rules out any northern locations for the city as they would certainly not had the temperate climate described by Plato. (However, places that are extremely hot today would have been just pleasantly warm.) “Church and White (2006) found a sea-level rise from January 1870 to December 2004 of 195 mm, a 20th century rate of sea-level rise of 1.7 ±0.3 mm per yr and a significant acceleration of sea-level rise of 0.013 ± 0.006 mm per year per yr.” However, for the past 6,000 years (a few centuries before the first known written records), the world's sea level has been gradually approaching the level we see today. (Wikipedia 2007) If this is so, and there is no reason to doubt it, then a considerable amount of land that is now underwater would have been habitable.  Now we start to see some evidence that the context of Plato’s writings about Atlantis stand up to historical fact. The Sunken town of Kekova Underwater Ruins - Greece Tidal Cliffs - Unstable The Island The Island of Atlantis, as described by Plato, is often perceived to be huge, the size of Asia and Libya (North Africa) combined.  Published satellite imaging of the underwater regions of the world clearly indicates that no such land mass ever existed. (Still, this is not a perfected science and as recently as 2004, new underwater mountain ranges were being discovered)  More relevant is the fact that any earthquake powerful enough to completely destroy all evidence of this Island, one at least the size of modern Australia, would have effectively ended 95% of all life on earth. (If not through the quake itself then through the ensuing volcanic activity.)  So is this description of Atlantis wrong?  Well no – not actually.  The answer lies in the ancient Greeks appreciation of the size of the world and the way they thought about it.  Two factors need to be considered.  Firstly, the world was that which was occupied by people and thus not the vast empty landmasses in between such as the Sahara. (Robertson and Vincent - 2004) Secondly, the further away from Greece the landmass, the less certain they were of its exact size.  So in effect it is reasonable to conclude that Atlantis may not have been as big as it appears to be described.  This is not an error on the part of Plato – he was recording facts as he understood them.  The error is modern mans with his vastly superior understanding of the geography of this world. What of the description of the Island Atlantis?  Several key points stand out.  The Island has a small central mountain (cone) surrounded by ripples or water filled depressions.  There are many fissures, not manmade, in the ground. There are lakes surrounding this cone.  Hot and cold springs are evident. The lands surrounding this central mountain are very fertile. There are cliffs at the edge of the sea. This is a very clear, consistent and accurate description of a volcanic island.  The central cone could be an ancient (dormant) volcano.  Hot springs are definite indications of geothermal activity. Lands surrounding volcanoes are often very fertile - just look at the fields surrounding Naples and Mount Vesuvius.  Finally, volcanic islands, particularly those of the Atlantic often have steep cliffs where they meet the sea. The critical aspect of this description of Atlantis is not just what it describes – rather it is the fact that the components are consistent with each other.  In other words, it sounds like the depiction of a real place rather than one conjured from the imagination.  More importantly, Plato did not have easy access to the Internet or the Encyclopedia Britannica to check his facts – he wrote them as he understood them.  This makes this description even more remarkable.

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