Little Foot is a fantastic find, as are the Naledi fossils. But is it necessary to erect new species of Australopithecus or Homo, and to declare that new human ancestors have been found, or that the story of human evolution needs to be rewritten? Some australopiths had larger front teeth, or thicker enamel, or longer legs, or more divergent big toes, or ... : apparently there were a lot of related Plio-Pleistocene australopith-like species or populations in South Africa, and possibly still others will be discovered, but most likely, none of them was a direct human ancestor, google e.g. "Ape and Human Evolution 2018 biology vs anthropocentrism" or "Not Homo but Pan naledi? 2018 Verhaegen".
The original Earl of Cornwall was created after 1066, the title being revived a number of times after. The Duchy of Cornwall, which still exists, was created in 1337. I notice the chough on the Earldom Charter, which may be an important factor as its still on the Duchy of Cornwall emblem. Whatever the other bird is, it looks dead.
Subtlety saying that flat-earthers are “uneducated” is quite humorous. Your ignorance is astounding. I feel sorry for people that read this and think that you know what your talking about. Deceiving is wrong, we all know this, but when you do it out of stupidity, it’s far worse.
I have lived for some years in an Athens suburb near Penteli, and I have visited the cave on a few occasions, as I have also spoken with locals about the supposedly strange phenomena. The use of the cave as a hideout by the outlaw Davelis is not plausible, because at that time the quarry was still in use and usually the workers were spending the night in the cave. It is true that in the '70s two tunnels were constructed for military purposes, but due to ecologists' reaction and the ending of the cold war they were abadoned. The "antigravity" road nearby, it is proven to be (as in other similar cases) an optical illusion, and recent mesurements using GPS elevation readings have confirmed it. I myself have checked for the presence of ionising radiation in various places in the cave, but there was none. Maybe, natural pressure on the semi-marble walls of the cave could occasionaly create some electric field disturance, but this has yet to be proven. According to locals, many of these myths have originated from illegal marble hunters up to the '80s, to discourage the presence of strangers. It is true though that the cave, because of its reputation, still attracts occult worshipers during the night. Balanos' book in the '80s provoked a wave of interest for the cave, and consequently many fictional tales emerged. There is however something worth seen near the cave, and this is the beginning of the stone paved road used for the transport of the marbles that have built Acropolis in the 5th ce BCE.
Just think of the possibilities inherent in Hancock’s scenario. Possible? Anything’s possible – well maybe. I’m not sure any logic would suffice to convince Jack that his interpretation of the Bible is incorrect. Barry gave it a valiant try.
I don’t understand using the Bible as the ultimate authority on any subject. Aside from the fact that any version used in this era is composed of a long string of translations and consequent variations from the original, it is complicated by the seemingly endless variety of interpretations. Look hard enough, and one can find an “authority” that would support almost any interpretation imaginable, including an Earth that’s only 6000 years old.
Interesting idea indeed and not so far-fetched. Ancient Babylonians were kind of obsessed by Astronomy and Astrology and many of myths or cylinder seal art can be interpreted as cosmography.
One comment though. Lugalbanda was not ruler after Gilgamesh, but he was his father. And ruled before him. All the sheep mythology is more focused around Dumuzi, shepherd and spouse of Inanna.
Judging by Plato's Drinking Party (the Symposium) the god Eros is praised with the example of boy love, but there is awareness that the father of the boy might object. There is a simple answer. Young women carried to seed of the family, exogamy being the human norm. Because preventive birth control was little used, especially at the beginning both parental families had the satisfaction of grand children who had family protection. In Afghanistan today young boys are essentially hired or bought from poor or less fortunate families to occupy the less prestigious role. Wealthy aristocrats therefore impregnated their married or slave girls as much as possible to meet their family obligation and have sons. Young woman lose some of their attractiveness in bearing many children, but young boys have less visible damage. Man-boy love was also rationalized for warfare. This left young women to take of children, and to guard the hearth. As in Afghanistan today the higher male status can penetrate the younger, poorer male without disgrace but not vice versa. In the Symposium Socrates refuses the offered love of Alcibiades, the sexual adventurer who also betrays Athens later. Because women we more powerful than they are always said to be, they allowed male penetration of younger and poorer males, since it meant no offspring. I agree that the sheer act of sex was not very important, EXCEPT when it mean female penetration. Male-female sex is normally negotiated with bridal prices, etc., while male-male penetration is not. The key is to ensure the offspring. Socrates, who speaks last, emphasizes HAVING CHILDREN as the meaning of eros. The Afghani parallel are striking. In these cultures it is the family that is always seriously interested, while male-male contact is for pleasure only. Socrates also appeals to his own female "guru" who tells him the secret of having children for love.
Regarding Ancient Greece as a "gay paradise:" This notion was a new one to me. I'd never encountered it in my education and reading and, indeed, references to homosexuality and/or homosexual activity in Ancient Greece that I encountered sounded creepy and exploitative. Never-the-less Google did acknowledge that people had said such a thing. But are you sure you aren't arguing against a notion that few informed people have anymore?
As to homosexual activity in Ancient Greece: There's a brief reference in Book I of Plato's Republic that seems difficult to take other than a tacit and casual admission to homosexual activity and all I can do is hope that the "young men" being referred to were indeed that.
That's just one writer, though, and of course I could be taking the reference the wrong way. However, writer Jason Colavito, in response to this very article, has cited Ancient Greek texts with many, many more examples of acts that we'd consider "homosexual" in nature. So, it's not just Plato. And what these texts allude to should not be anyone's idea of "paradise."
Regarding the Alexander the Great movie, and its role in the perception of Alexander as gay: The film you spoke of I believe was in 2004. I remember scholarly speculation about Alexander's sexuality way before then so for you to suggest this notion exists because of the film seems odd.
Regarding a gay identity in Ancient Greece: All I can say here is that there seems to be a debate in the literature as to when and where exactly such an identity can be formed. One piece that comes to mind immediately is a scholarly paper presentation that was posted to Youtube: "Holding it Straight: Sexual Orientation in the Middle Ages (22 Oct 2013)." It's not about Ancient Greece but it does date the formation of such an identity way earlier than you do. So like many things I'd suggest this issue is the subject of scholarly discussion, rather than a settled issue.
Finally, regarding ancient sexuality in general: It seems more-supportable to say that, as writer Jason Colavito pointed out in response to this piece: "Ancient sexuality was complex, often contradictory, and, to our modern mores, frequently disturbing and unethical." Not a gay paradise, or any kind of paradise, to be sure.
I wonder why the author does not talk about a glaring omission: the island of Lesbos and the poet Sappho? Her works praising the erotic love of women were destroyed by later invaders and religions leaving only a few fragments, but our term for a woman who loves women today- lesbian - survives..
I found the article by Alicia McDermott interesting and if in any thoughts have been given to compare it to the Voynich Manuscript, a codex written inthe 15th century?
Very interesting stuff... however the article would be better (even earth shattering) if backed up by dating the bones. Please don't tell me that all of these discoveries have been lost!
All the people inflicted with the GENETIC diseases known as gigantism and dwarfism would beg to differ. They may not be skyscraper tall humans, but 8-10 feet tall isn't out of the question. Compared to a 5 foot average human of that era that is a giant. As the stories are told around the fire, boasting kicks in and all of a sudden 10 feet becomes 12 then 15 and next thing you know....
20% of the Neanderthal DNA genome is present in the Homo Sapien DNA, of which, it makes up 2 -4 %
Modern_dna = (0.96 x HSdna) +( 0.04 * (Ndna x 0.20 ) )
The Santuario de Chimayo has its own "miraculous" dirt (likewise not endorsed by the Church but a matter of belief on the part of ordinary folk) which long predates the good father's grave although how he could have announced the sanctity of his own burial place is a wee bit confusing. Certainly the whole area surrounding Chimayo is unlike Ireland but altogether beautiful.
Seems they probably placed the golden wigs on their statues. Look how they are cut out around the heads. No purpose to have wigs for healthy women. Maybe we're not supposed to see them as golden haired.
Here you can navigate quickly through all comments made in any article sorted by date/time.
Very informative and concise, I enjoyed your article. Thank you
Have you noticed that humbaba looks a lot like the picture in the codex gigas?
Little Foot is a fantastic find, as are the Naledi fossils. But is it necessary to erect new species of Australopithecus or Homo, and to declare that new human ancestors have been found, or that the story of human evolution needs to be rewritten? Some australopiths had larger front teeth, or thicker enamel, or longer legs, or more divergent big toes, or ... : apparently there were a lot of related Plio-Pleistocene australopith-like species or populations in South Africa, and possibly still others will be discovered, but most likely, none of them was a direct human ancestor, google e.g. "Ape and Human Evolution 2018 biology vs anthropocentrism" or "Not Homo but Pan naledi? 2018 Verhaegen".
The original Earl of Cornwall was created after 1066, the title being revived a number of times after. The Duchy of Cornwall, which still exists, was created in 1337. I notice the chough on the Earldom Charter, which may be an important factor as its still on the Duchy of Cornwall emblem. Whatever the other bird is, it looks dead.
What are they trying to hide?
Subtlety saying that flat-earthers are “uneducated” is quite humorous. Your ignorance is astounding. I feel sorry for people that read this and think that you know what your talking about. Deceiving is wrong, we all know this, but when you do it out of stupidity, it’s far worse.
I have lived for some years in an Athens suburb near Penteli, and I have visited the cave on a few occasions, as I have also spoken with locals about the supposedly strange phenomena. The use of the cave as a hideout by the outlaw Davelis is not plausible, because at that time the quarry was still in use and usually the workers were spending the night in the cave. It is true that in the '70s two tunnels were constructed for military purposes, but due to ecologists' reaction and the ending of the cold war they were abadoned. The "antigravity" road nearby, it is proven to be (as in other similar cases) an optical illusion, and recent mesurements using GPS elevation readings have confirmed it. I myself have checked for the presence of ionising radiation in various places in the cave, but there was none. Maybe, natural pressure on the semi-marble walls of the cave could occasionaly create some electric field disturance, but this has yet to be proven. According to locals, many of these myths have originated from illegal marble hunters up to the '80s, to discourage the presence of strangers. It is true though that the cave, because of its reputation, still attracts occult worshipers during the night. Balanos' book in the '80s provoked a wave of interest for the cave, and consequently many fictional tales emerged. There is however something worth seen near the cave, and this is the beginning of the stone paved road used for the transport of the marbles that have built Acropolis in the 5th ce BCE.
There are similar machining marks in the cavities at Petra and at many megalithic quarries.
Just think of the possibilities inherent in Hancock’s scenario. Possible? Anything’s possible – well maybe. I’m not sure any logic would suffice to convince Jack that his interpretation of the Bible is incorrect. Barry gave it a valiant try.
I don’t understand using the Bible as the ultimate authority on any subject. Aside from the fact that any version used in this era is composed of a long string of translations and consequent variations from the original, it is complicated by the seemingly endless variety of interpretations. Look hard enough, and one can find an “authority” that would support almost any interpretation imaginable, including an Earth that’s only 6000 years old.
Interesting idea indeed and not so far-fetched. Ancient Babylonians were kind of obsessed by Astronomy and Astrology and many of myths or cylinder seal art can be interpreted as cosmography.
One comment though. Lugalbanda was not ruler after Gilgamesh, but he was his father. And ruled before him. All the sheep mythology is more focused around Dumuzi, shepherd and spouse of Inanna.
Judging by Plato's Drinking Party (the Symposium) the god Eros is praised with the example of boy love, but there is awareness that the father of the boy might object. There is a simple answer. Young women carried to seed of the family, exogamy being the human norm. Because preventive birth control was little used, especially at the beginning both parental families had the satisfaction of grand children who had family protection. In Afghanistan today young boys are essentially hired or bought from poor or less fortunate families to occupy the less prestigious role. Wealthy aristocrats therefore impregnated their married or slave girls as much as possible to meet their family obligation and have sons. Young woman lose some of their attractiveness in bearing many children, but young boys have less visible damage. Man-boy love was also rationalized for warfare. This left young women to take of children, and to guard the hearth. As in Afghanistan today the higher male status can penetrate the younger, poorer male without disgrace but not vice versa. In the Symposium Socrates refuses the offered love of Alcibiades, the sexual adventurer who also betrays Athens later. Because women we more powerful than they are always said to be, they allowed male penetration of younger and poorer males, since it meant no offspring. I agree that the sheer act of sex was not very important, EXCEPT when it mean female penetration. Male-female sex is normally negotiated with bridal prices, etc., while male-male penetration is not. The key is to ensure the offspring. Socrates, who speaks last, emphasizes HAVING CHILDREN as the meaning of eros. The Afghani parallel are striking. In these cultures it is the family that is always seriously interested, while male-male contact is for pleasure only. Socrates also appeals to his own female "guru" who tells him the secret of having children for love.
Another fantastic article
I agree with your comment. Most of the rest of these comments are balderdash
Regarding Ancient Greece as a "gay paradise:" This notion was a new one to me. I'd never encountered it in my education and reading and, indeed, references to homosexuality and/or homosexual activity in Ancient Greece that I encountered sounded creepy and exploitative. Never-the-less Google did acknowledge that people had said such a thing. But are you sure you aren't arguing against a notion that few informed people have anymore?
As to homosexual activity in Ancient Greece: There's a brief reference in Book I of Plato's Republic that seems difficult to take other than a tacit and casual admission to homosexual activity and all I can do is hope that the "young men" being referred to were indeed that.
That's just one writer, though, and of course I could be taking the reference the wrong way. However, writer Jason Colavito, in response to this very article, has cited Ancient Greek texts with many, many more examples of acts that we'd consider "homosexual" in nature. So, it's not just Plato. And what these texts allude to should not be anyone's idea of "paradise."
Regarding the Alexander the Great movie, and its role in the perception of Alexander as gay: The film you spoke of I believe was in 2004. I remember scholarly speculation about Alexander's sexuality way before then so for you to suggest this notion exists because of the film seems odd.
Regarding a gay identity in Ancient Greece: All I can say here is that there seems to be a debate in the literature as to when and where exactly such an identity can be formed. One piece that comes to mind immediately is a scholarly paper presentation that was posted to Youtube: "Holding it Straight: Sexual Orientation in the Middle Ages (22 Oct 2013)." It's not about Ancient Greece but it does date the formation of such an identity way earlier than you do. So like many things I'd suggest this issue is the subject of scholarly discussion, rather than a settled issue.
Finally, regarding ancient sexuality in general: It seems more-supportable to say that, as writer Jason Colavito pointed out in response to this piece: "Ancient sexuality was complex, often contradictory, and, to our modern mores, frequently disturbing and unethical." Not a gay paradise, or any kind of paradise, to be sure.
-An Anonymous Nerd
I wonder why the author does not talk about a glaring omission: the island of Lesbos and the poet Sappho? Her works praising the erotic love of women were destroyed by later invaders and religions leaving only a few fragments, but our term for a woman who loves women today- lesbian - survives..
I found the article by Alicia McDermott interesting and if in any thoughts have been given to compare it to the Voynich Manuscript, a codex written inthe 15th century?
Very interesting stuff... however the article would be better (even earth shattering) if backed up by dating the bones. Please don't tell me that all of these discoveries have been lost!
All the people inflicted with the GENETIC diseases known as gigantism and dwarfism would beg to differ. They may not be skyscraper tall humans, but 8-10 feet tall isn't out of the question. Compared to a 5 foot average human of that era that is a giant. As the stories are told around the fire, boasting kicks in and all of a sudden 10 feet becomes 12 then 15 and next thing you know....
20% of the Neanderthal DNA genome is present in the Homo Sapien DNA, of which, it makes up 2 -4 %
Modern_dna = (0.96 x HSdna) +( 0.04 * (Ndna x 0.20 ) )
The Santuario de Chimayo has its own "miraculous" dirt (likewise not endorsed by the Church but a matter of belief on the part of ordinary folk) which long predates the good father's grave although how he could have announced the sanctity of his own burial place is a wee bit confusing. Certainly the whole area surrounding Chimayo is unlike Ireland but altogether beautiful.
Seems they probably placed the golden wigs on their statues. Look how they are cut out around the heads. No purpose to have wigs for healthy women. Maybe we're not supposed to see them as golden haired.
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