Talk To An Expert

 

Stellar Ingenuity and Spectacular Blunders of Humankind
Wednesday May 17, 2023 12:30pm EST
by Scott Edwin Williams
Stellar Ingenuity and Spectacular Blunders of Humankind

Since the pre-dawn darkness of mankind’s history, some Eureka moments of human ingenuity light-up and fast-forward our evolutionary track. However, let’s face it, mankind has also not been that successful, it has had some spectacular blunders. Psychology recognises humor as one of the most mature defence mechanisms humans have – the ability to laugh at themselves – and armed with this stance, we travel along the road of evolution of our species.

Early hominids came up with tools, the wheel, fire and language and … humor, and did the agricultural revolution happen because men needed beer, not food? The Egyptians certainly perfected the art of overindulging in beer, and the Romans bettered them in their symposiums with wine. Both ‘spirits’ ended up on the floor.

Following the Neolithic muscle-men jocks who went out hunting, we have the Sumerian, Egyptian and Chinese nerds to thank for writing. Who was the world’s first comic book superhero? Gilgamesh of course! The Indian mathematicians introduced zero into calculations. Rahmagupta’s Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta - understandably abbreviated to BSS - combines mathematics and astronomy and we can literally count our lucky stars for the Hindu-Arabic system. The Mayan mathematical system allowed mathematicians, astronomers, and engineers to figure out complex calculations. The enduring nature of their engineering feats speaks volumes for their mathematical ability and as a bonus it probably helped them calculate the number of hearts they cut out of chests as well.

Humankind has always feared death. The Egyptians had an obsession with death, so they paid much attention to cheating death. Mummification was not for the squeamish and the quality of life for a soul resurrected into brainless biltong, was not something to look forward to. Throw in some magical potions, charms and chants and with a heavy heart they met Anubis in the Underworld to have it weighed against a feather. In Mesoamerica lives were sacrificed to save lives. But various civilizations used varied methods: People were beheaded, drowned, garroted, burned at the stake, poisoned, crucified, and buried alive, so before we become judgmental towards the Mesoamerican penchant for human sacrifice, let us remember they gave us chocolate!

Chinese Emperor Qin Huang searched far and wide for the elixir of life and as a back-up plan had 8,000 mud soldiers armed and ready in his tomb to accompany him on his journey to the Afterlife, but his tomb is boobytrapped to blow whoever opens it to smithereens. Talking of a spectacular send-off, the Chinese invented gunpowder and a minor functionary named Wan-Hu saw the potential for rocket powered flight. Strapping himself to a chair powered by 47 fire arrows, he then had 47 assistants simultaneously light the fuses. When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, there was no chair and no Wan-Hu. The sky is the limit when it comes to stupid ideas.

The Olmecs gave us ball-games, just a pity that someone’s head could be the ball; the Greeks gave us gymnasiums - although most sports were practiced in the nude and not in gyms; and the Romans gave us professional sporting arenas where gladiators chopped each other up, to the delight of the crowds. A fun day was had by all. Humans – you have got to love them!

Scott Edwin Williams takes the Mickey out of the human race’s spectacular flaws, but puts the Superman back into its greatest achievements.  Scott’s approach, flavored with scintillating wit and dark humor may not curry favor with the dogmatic, but it is served to the open-minded by an intelligent observer, who manages to evoke empathy and hope for the human spirit (and spirits).

 

Join Ancient Origins Premium for the In-Depth Interview

 

 Scott Edwin Williams is an optimistic smartass, writer, humorist, and history nerd. His fascination with humanity’s lightbulb moments began as a child while watching the first moon landing. The rest is… history. Scott splits his time between writing and making learning fun for his students. His offbeat style is the result of his obsession with the past, coupled with a deep love of the absurd. What else would you expect from an Australian who claims descent from a chicken thief and a bigamist? He lives in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of Lightbulb Moments in Human History From Cave to Colosseum

 

 

In-depth Interviews are available to our Gold Members. (It’s easy and quick to become a Gold Member – get immediate access to interviews, webinars, free eBooks, exclusive content, and so much more!)

As a Gold Member, you get to submit your questions or points in advance. In-depth Interviews are pre-recorded, and then are available to watch at a time that’s easy and convenient to you.


Become a member to view more OR login here
Rejoice: The Love Affair of Egypt’s Golden Couple Akhenaten and Nefertiti
Tuesday February 21, 2023 4:00pm EST
by Dr Colleen Darnell
Rejoice: The Love Affair of Egypt’s Golden Couple Akhenaten and Nefertiti

“The noblewoman, great of praise, lady of charm, united with joy! That Aten rises is to give to her praise; that he sets is to double her love. The great king’s wife, his beloved, mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt, lady of the Two Lands, Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, given life forever and ever,” reads an inscription in the tomb of Mahu. Perhaps Akhenaten recited to Nefertiti: “I shall kiss [her] in the presence of everyone, that they might understand my love. She is the one who has stolen my heart—When she looks at me it is refreshment.”

The blurring of distinctions between ritual and daily life through acts of tenderness seen so prominently in the art of Akhenaten and Nefertiti is not always confined to royalty, as one learns from a genre of ancient Egyptian literature that has been rightly called “love poetry.”  Reading these poignant compositions makes the men and women of ancient Egypt come to life—these poems were recited, and it is easy to imagine a love-struck teenager courting their beloved with these very texts. 

Akhenaten and Nefertiti are the cynosure of love: a god and goddess whose union maintains the world itself, and two people whose love catapults them into the heavenly realm. 

In this February month of love, Dr Colleen Darnell discusses not only the great love affair of Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti and the intimacy displayed between the golden couple and their children, but also the genre of Love Poems in Ancient Egypt

 

Join Ancient Origins Premium for the In-Depth Interview

 

Dr. Colleen Darnell is an Egyptologist and the former Marilyn M. and William K. Simpson Associate Professor of Egyptology at Yale University who has published widely in pharaonic history, religion, and literature. Her most recent book, co-authored with her husband Professor John Darnell is Egypt's Golden Couple: When Akhenaten and Nefertiti Were Gods on Earth (St. Martin's Press, 2022).  In 2018 she published (also with John Darnell), The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books, the first complete English translation of the hieroglyphic texts within the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In Imagining the Past: Historical Fiction in New Kingdom Egypt, Dr. Darnell identified four stories that belonged to a genre of historical fiction written by the ancient Egyptians themselves. In 2013, she curated an exhibit at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, "Echoes of Egypt: Conjuring the Land of the Pharaohs," that examined Egyptian revival motifs from antiquity to the present.  She directed the Moalla Survey Project, an archaeological expedition in Upper Egypt that made several important discoveries, including a second millennium BC Nubian cemetery and a late Roman settlement.


Become a member to view more OR login here
Wonderful Things: Waking Tutankhamun
Friday December 16, 2022 9:00am EST
by Ted Loukes
Wonderful Things: Waking Tutankhamun

“Wonderful things”, the words spoken by Howard Carter on November 26, 1922, when Lord Carnavon asked him what he was seeing as he gazed upon the interior of Tutankhamun’s tomb for the first time. The words express the endless astonishment felt in the presence of this 3,300 year old treasure, which still captures the imagination today.

Who was the boy king, behind the dazzling golden death mask, that has come to epitomize Egyptian archaeology? His father, Akhenaten, was dubbed a heretic, his mother, possibly the most beautiful Nefertiti, but little is known about the boy who became king at the age of nine and died at the age of 19.  His successors, Ay, who married his widowed queen, and step-sister, Ankhesenamun, followed by the general, Horemheb, almost completely erased his name from history, until the discovery of his tomb by Carter.

It took Carter over 10 years to catalogue the more than 5,000 artifacts found in the tomb. It was only three months later on February 17, 1923, that he unblocked the doorway to the innermost burial chamber and came face to face with the shrines surrounding Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus. The lid was only raised on February 24, 1924, revealing three more coffins. The last lid of the golden coffin was only raised in October 1925, revealing the now famous golden mask. But the implication was greater, for it covered the mummified face of the king!

Since his discovery Tutankhamun’s mummy has suffered several scientific analyses and scans, even linking his DNA to his family.  Questions needed to be answered – was the King murdered as there was certainly motive for it?

The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb also sparked questions about the curse of the tomb, as well as the more recent controversy regarding the elimination of the names of the Egyptian archaeologists and workers who participated in the excavation.

Ancient Origins author and tour leader, Ted Loukes discusses the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, as well as the history of the boy king in this Interview, as a prelude to the tour he will be leading to Egypt from 24 February to 10 March 2023.

 

Join Ancient Origins Premium for the In-Depth Interview

 

Ted Loukes is an independent researcher in the field of ancient civilisations. Born in the sixties, he has been on a voyage of discovery for over forty years, questioning man's origins by digging through ancient texts, inscriptions, myths and legends. He moved to South Africa in 1990 and set up home in Johannesburg, appropriately just a few kilometres from the Cradle of Humankind. His particular fascination with Ancient Egypt began in 1972 with a visit to the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition, held at the British Museum. His book Moses and Akhenaten: Brothers in Alms grew from a single page blog post to a two and a half year project that incorporated two field trips to Egypt itself. He is also the author of Forty Days in Egypt in the Time of Corona, the result of getting stranded as the world went into lockdown.

 


Become a member to view more OR login here
What Business Can Learn From Ancient Bushmen
Wednesday October 26, 2022 1:00pm EST
by Coenie Middel
What Business Can Learn From Ancient Bushmen

DNA studies of the Bushmen date to over 22, 000 years. Somehow, this culture found a balance between sustainability, their environment, hunting, gathering and living, that made them unbelievably successful and enduring. All aspects of life are interconnected, not considered in isolation but as part of the whole. The world is believed to be an integral whole and indigenous knowledge incorporates all aspects of life - spirituality, history, cultural practices, social interactions, language, and healing.

Join Coenie Middel as he discuss the balance between indigenous knowledge, modern science and technology. Doing more, with less and sharing how businesses can learn from the wisdom of the Kalahari Bushmen. “I am not saying that we should trade our modern life for something simpler or tech-free, however, what can we as business owners and bigger organizations draw from the ancient wisdom of the Kalahari Bushmen?”

In Bushmen culture there is no gender-inequality. In fact all things all equal in nature, including plants, animals and humans.  Decisions are taken by mutual consensus, as there are no leadership hierarchies.  There is no place for egotistical behaviour, as they live in harmony with their environment and a collective memory is passed on to younger generations.

Burn-out has just been recognized as a major mental health threat by the World Health organization. The Bushmen’s diet and relaxed lifestyle has protected them from stress-related illnesses. Although their culture is over 22,000 years old, the Bushmen are masters at adaption and incorporate sustainability into their survival secrets.

 

Join Ancient Origins Premium for the In-Depth Interview

 

As the founder of Middel & Partners one of the most inspiring accountancy practices in the world, Coenie Middel expanded his business interest and creates virtual reality, augmented reality and mobile apps and games through his media and technology companies. He is the chairman of companies Middel & Partners, Talent Plantation, MocapSA, Dondoo Studios, Createcinteractive, Tixsa, Left Post Productions, Oxyg3n. He spent months living with the Bushmen, learning their skills and secrets.

 

 


Become a member to view more OR login here
The Women of Mycenae Clytemnestra, Cassandra, Elektra
Thursday August 25, 2022 9:00am EST
by Jennifer Saint
The Women of Mycenae Clytemnestra, Cassandra, Elektra

In Homer’s epic Iliad, except for Helen, the women in the Trojan War are mostly relegated to backstage roles, as opposed to the heroic deeds of the warrior kings. Whether the Trojan War was fictional or not, history tells of Bronze Age queens, who were as fierce as their male counterparts in battle and even more competent in ruling their kingdoms in the absence of kings.  Personified in fictional characters, the scope of a Mycenaean queen (Clytemnestra), a Trojan princess and prophetess (Cassandra) and a Mycenaean princess (Elektra) draws the curtain to reveal the psyche and circumstances of the hardships, drama and heartache these women had to endure during the war and the conniving tactics they had to apply to survive post war traumas.

Several universal themes such as human sacrifice, rape, slavery, murder, loss of loved ones, abdicating power, revenge and meddling gods emerge as the women had to battle misogynism, male privilege and domestic violence in their male dominated worlds. It was a time of transition when age-old fertility goddesses had to step aside for vengeful warrior gods, reflected in the day-to-day existence of the living.

Their stories are set against the backdrop of the curse on the House of Atreus, ancestor of Agamemnon, where human sacrifice still taints the descendants; the fickle god Apollo who blessed a Trojan princess with prophesy, but also cursed her to know the downfall of her beloved city and royal family, and not being believed, the common fate of rape and slavery of the conquered women and the vengeance of a daughter whose name is immortalized in a psycho-analytical term describing the root of matricide. Like their men and husbands, the women were not all pure and virtuous, but fallible as even the fickle gods did not set examples of morality. Yet they displayed the spiritual bravery and had their voices heard in trailblazing acts of defiance.

Author Jennifer Saint introduces each of these women, Queen Clytemnestra, Princess Cassandra and Princess Elektra, to the audience telling the Bronze Age narrative from a royal woman’s perspective.

--

Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. She read Classical Studies at King’s College in London and was a high school teacher for 13 years. Jennifer Saint is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her debut novel, ARIADNE, was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2021 and was a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards Fantasy category in 2021. ARIADNE tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of Ariadne - the woman who made it happen. In her latest novel ELECTRA, (2022) she tells the spellbinding story of three of the women, Queen Clytemnestra wife of Agamemnon and sister to Helen of Troy; Princess Cassandra of Troy, prophetess and later slave and Princess Elektra, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, who avenges her father’s death by committing matricide. Jennifer lives in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.

                                 


Become a member to view more OR login here
Petroglyphs of Pohnpei Legacies of the Motherland of ancient Mu
Wednesday July 13, 2022 9:00am EST
by Carole Nervig
Petroglyphs of Pohnpei Legacies of the Motherland of ancient Mu

“There were hundreds of shapes and symbols on the phallic rock, some familiar, but the majority not. These new motifs were certainly more complex than the glyphs upon the well-known rock outcrop nearby. Most of the designs were sophisticated, completely unlike the simple yet elegant stick figure petroglyphs found throughout Polynesia. Until this moment of discovery, there were no other known petroglyphs on Pohnpei and exceedingly few in all of Micronesia.”

While residing on the small Pacific island of Pohnpei in the 1990s, author Carole Nervig discovered that a recent brush fire had exposed hundreds of previously unknown petroglyphs carved on gigantic boulders. This overgrown megalithic site, now called Pohnpaid, was unknown even to Pohnpei’s state historic preservation officer. The petroglyphs were unlike others from Oceania, so Nervig began investigating and comparing them with petroglyphs and symbols from around the world.

Carole discusses how the archetypal symbols of the Pohnpaid petroglyphs have exact counterparts in other ancient cultures and universal motifs throughout the world, including the Australian Aborigines, the Inca in Peru, the Vedic civilization of India, early Norse runes, and Japanese symbols. She provides evidence that Pohnpaid is closely related to--yet predates--neighboring Nan Madol and shows how Pohnpaid was likely an outpost of the sunken Kahnihmueiso or a tribute by its survivors or descendants to honor it demise.

Discussing the archaeo-astronomical function of the Pohnpaid stones, Carole examines how many of the glyphs symbolize celestial phenomena and clearly reveal how their creators were sky watchers with a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, geophysics, geomancy, and engineering. She shows how the scientific concepts depicted in the petroglyphs reveal how the civilization of Mu and/or its descendants, had a much deeper understanding of the living Earth than we do.

Combining archaeological evidence with traditional oral accounts, Carole reveals Pohnpaid not only as a part of a geodetic network of ancient sacred sites and portals but also as a remnant of the now submerged but once enlightened Motherland of Mu.

Join Ancient Origins Premium for the In-Depth Interview

Carole Nervig has spent more than four decades researching Micronesian traditional culture and oral history as well as the sacred sites of Micronesia and Hawai’i. She first moved to Micronesia as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1969. In the 1990s she discovered a previously unknown megalithic site, Pohnpaid, on the Micronesian island of Pohnpei. Creator of the Nan Madol Foundation, she now lives in Ecuador. She is the author of The Petroglyphs of Mu. Pohnpei, Nan Madol and the legacy of Lemuria.

 

Seeking Answers?

Get your questions in before July 11!

We will ask the expert for you.

In-depth Interviews are available to our Gold Members. (It’s easy and quick to become a Gold Member – get immediate access to interviews, webinars, free eBooks, exclusive content, and so much more!)

As a Gold Member, you get to submit your questions or points in advance. In-depth Interviews are pre-recorded, and then are available to watch at a time that’s easy and convenient to you.

This Interview will be available to watch from July 14.


Become a member to view more OR login here
The Royal Lineage Of Jesus, Izates Manu King Of Edessa, King Of The Jews And Contender For Emperor Of Rome
Wednesday June 22, 2022 9:45am EST
by Ralph Ellis
The Royal Lineage Of Jesus, Izates Manu King Of Edessa, King Of The Jews And Contender For Emperor Of Rome

The Bible tells Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, who was impregnated by the Holy Spirit and he grew up as the son of a simple carpenter in Galilee. Yet he became revered as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savour and a whole new religion was built up around him. There is more than enough evidence within the Gospels and Talmud to demonstrate that Jesus’ family were actually wealthy, educated and influential characters within Judaean society. But since these texts have obviously been manipulated and amended, one must look beyond this deliberate obfuscation to uncover the truth.

In about 4 AD, a royal Parthian family of Edessa (modern Sanlurfa), was exiled to Rome and finally settled in Bethanya [Bethany], in eastern Syrio-Judaea – the village Jesus entered upon his return to Judaea according to the Bible.   Queen Helena and her son Izates Manu VI brought with them into exile 500 cavalry and 100 relations and retinue, a history which tallies with Josephus’ accounts of the 'biblical family' (of Jesus of Gamala) maintaining their own military forces. Members of this exiled royal family were not only directly related to Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, but also to Emperor Julius Caesar of Rome, and to King Phraates IV / Agbarus V of Parthia (or Persia). In other words, this family was hugely influential, relatively unknown, suddenly impoverished and, in addition, uniquely related to all three of the major empires of this era.

A prince of this family could also have been a threat to the rule of the Roman emperors and the Parthian kings, because it was possible that this new prince (Jesus/ Izates Manu, with his sister-wife Mary Magdalene from Bethany) could have united the entire Roman and Parthian empires into one single, united kingdom. This was a family that would have been deemed worthy a visit by the Parthian Magi – who were seeking a royal heir - and likely to have educated its sons in Egypt – Joseph and Mary, Jesus Biblical birth parents fled to Egypt. This was indeed a family that could have made Herod (the tetrarch) fear for his position, sufficient for him to want to eliminate all the male (royal) children of Syrio-Judaea.

What was the political landscape of Rome, Parthia and Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth? Who were his ancestors, including his parents, and does he fit the profile of a royal contender for the throne of Rome, eventually occupied by Vespasian – why was Jesus, the King of Edessa written out of history? Many questions sparking many debates are: Did he marry Mary Magdalene and who was she? Why would the son of a carpenter be bedecked in a royal purple cloak and what about his capability to perform miracles for example feeding the multitude of 5,000 with a few fish and loaves of bread? Is there actually a likeness of him?

Ralph Ellis started as a software engineer, but moved into the equally technical spheres of mineral surveying, aviation, and palaeoclimatology, but always maintained and built upon the archaeological interests and research of his father. As a historian, Ralph has toured the Mediterranean for more than three decades searching for secular similarities and parallels between the apparently disparate disciplines of history and theology. And the research has been very fruitful with many new fundamental discoveries being made, mostly in Egypt, resulting in 13 books. Ralph has also sought to understand the design of the megalithic monuments from a purely scientific and engineering viewpoint. Nevertheless, his lateral analysis of the likely possibilities for the design of these great monuments is still very novel and highly provocative. He has also launched a series of lectures under the banner of Ralph Ellis Illumination on YouTube and his own channel Patreon.

His latest book: Shards of Illumination is a compilation of questions and answers most asked on his

Facebook page.


Become a member to view more OR login here
The Islamophiles, Half-Heathen Kings, Sons of Satan, Excommunicated by the Pope
Wednesday May 25, 2022 5:00pm EST
by Dr Marion Dolan
The Islamophiles, Half-Heathen Kings, Sons of Satan, Excommunicated by the Pope

The descendants of Tancred of Hauteville, a Norman Lord, became crusaders who conquered Jerusalem from the Saracens and later became the kings of Europe and Holy Emperor of the Roman Republic, yet this bloodline is known for producing rebel rulers, who broke the rules, and defied the Popes, who called them a Half-Heathen King and Son of Satan.

Upon their return from Jerusalem, sons of Tancred of Hauteville, Roger I de Hauteville and his brother Robert Guiscard, conquered parts of the wealthy, fertile island of Sicily in the 11th century. Roger I had established his palace and administration center on the city’s highest hilltop, reconstructing the fortified citadel of the Muslims, whom he had defeated. After his death his young son Roger II expanded the territory and on Christmas Day 1130 at his capital city, Roger II was formally crowned by an emissary of the pope as the first King of Sicily.

During his youth in Palermo, Roger’s mother ensured that he was well-educated by Greek and Muslim tutors and spoke the three languages that prevailed on the island: Latin, Greek and Arabic. Roger possessed superior intelligence along with a compelling drive that he applied to developing his inherited and newly-won territories into a wealthy and sophisticated cosmopolitan kingdom of prestige and culture. It was said that “he accomplished more in his sleep than others did when awake.” Roger II established a well-organized, ecumenical government and included Islamic, Jewish and Christian officials in highly-trusted positions.

Roger lived in the splendor of a Muslim caliph, complete with eunuchs and a royal harem of concubines and he wore long Muslim robes of silk trimmed in gold, which earned him the moniker of the Half Heathen King. He commissioned Al Idrisi to compose the Tabula Rogeriana, a map of the world.

Roger II’s grandson, Frederick II, called the Wonder of the World, Stupor Mundi, outshone his magnificent grandfather. He was crowned King of Sicily at the age of three. Like his maternal grandfather King Roger II, he too was called ‘half-heathen’, more a Saracen sultan than a Christian king. When traveling the Frederick was escorted by his turbaned Saracen bodyguards brandishing burly beards and carrying fearsome scimitars; his impressive Teutonic knights and a menagerie of exotic animals. He also had a harem, like his grandfather. Frederick’s paternal grandfather was Frederick I Barbarossa (Red Beard), Duke of Swabia and Holy Roman Emperor and through this bloodline Frederick became King of the Germans. Through his marriage he became King of Jerusalem. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Honorius III in 1220, at the age of 26. His titles included King of Sicily, Germany, Italy, Burgundy, Cypress, Jerusalem, and of course Holy Roman Emperor.

As Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II felt compelled to lead a crusade. Excommunicated twice by the Pope, Frederick did not waiver from his resolve and he eventually succeeded in leading the only bloodless crusade, and secured Jerusalem. In defiance of the Pope, he crowned himself in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in 1229, wearing Roger II’s ceremonial cloak. The Pope declared him a Son of Satan.

Marion DolanDr. Marion Dolan received her BS, MFA and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in medieval manuscripts, minoring in medieval architecture and history of astronomy. Dr Dolan is retired from the University of Pittsburgh where she was an adjunct professor in the history of art and architecture and lectured for the Osher Lifelong Learning program at Carnegie-Mellon University for many years. Now an independent scholar, she continues her research on the transmission of astronomical knowledge and teaches art history at the NSU Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, where she also serves as a docent .She is the author of Astronomical Knowledge Transmission Through Illustrated Aratea Manuscripts, Decoding Astronomy in art and Architecture and The Monk and the Antichrist: A Novel of Passion in the Middle Ages


Become a member to view more OR login here
The Deceptocene Era: Challenging Mainstream History
Wednesday April 6, 2022 11:00am EST
by Ralph Ellis
The Deceptocene Era: Challenging Mainstream History

With a following of thousands, author and historian Ralph Ellis needs no introduction. In an era of fake news and deception, Ralph Ellis tackles a selection of academic deceptions and burning topics that have mesmerised, but also misled students and audiences for ages.  In this interview we focus on two of the most provocative enigmas, that elicit lively debates.

Are these academic deceptions the result of intentional deceit or sheer incompetence? To be sure there are any number of incompetent scientists, historians and clerics, says Ralph, but much of this is due to deliberate falsification and fraud. The world is awash with duplicity and deceit, and it is time to break through the deception.

Dating Constructions On The Giza Plateau

Mainstream Egyptologists have traditionally estimated the age of the pyramids of Giza to circa 2500 BC, the Fourth Dynasty. The Great Pyramid of Khufu for example is dated due to the tombs of Khufu’s daughter and vizier beside the Great Pyramid and pottery dating to that period. Yet there are no hieroglyphs inside the pyramids, nor have any bodies actually been found in these supposed tombs of the pharaohs, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Theories have been formulated regarding star shafts embedded in the pyramids, water erosion and astronomical alignment. Who built them, and did the engineers who built them have knowledge of a map of the earth, and how could they know this without spotting it from space? What is the secret of the Sphinx?

Who Was Jesus

The Bible tells Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, who was impregnated by the Holy Spirit and he grew up as the son of a simple carpenter in Galilee. Yet he became revered as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savour and a religion was built up around him. What was the political landscape of Rome, Parthia and Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth? Who were his ancestors, including his parents, and does he fit the profile of a royal contender for the throne of Rome, eventually occupied by Vespasian – why was Jesus, the King of Edessa written out of history? Many questions sparking many debates are: Did he marry Mary Magdalene and who was she? Why would the son of a carpenter be bedecked in a royal purple cloak and what about his capability to perform miracles for example feeding the multitude of 5,000 with a few fish and loaves of bread? Is there actually a likeness of him?

The Deceptocene Era: Challenging Mainstream History

Ralph Ellis started as a software engineer, but moved into the equally technical spheres of mineral surveying, aviation, and palaeoclimatology, but always maintained and built upon the archaeological interests and research of his father. As a historian, Ralph has toured the Mediterranean for more than three decades searching for secular similarities and parallels between the apparently disparate disciplines of history and theology. And the research has been very fruitful with many new fundamental discoveries being made, mostly in Egypt, resulting in 13 books. Ralph has also sought to understand the design of the megalithic monuments from a purely scientific and engineering viewpoint. Nevertheless, his lateral analysis of the likely possibilities for the design of these great monuments is still very novel and highly provocative. He has also launched a series of lectures under the banner of Ralph Ellis Illumination on YouTube and his own channel Patreon.

His latest book: Shards of Illumination is a compilation of questions and answers most asked on his

Facebook page.


Become a member to view more OR login here
Hinduism: An Ancient Multi-facetted Cosmology
Wednesday March 16, 2022 2:00pm EST
by Steve Martin
Hinduism: An Ancient Multi-facetted Cosmology

A sweeping look at the ancient cross-cultural flows that worked to shape the long legacies of the major religions, right up to our contemporary moment. Primarily grounded in examining the Sumerian, Akkadian, Greek, Egyptian, Pagan, and biblical origins of various religious figures, practices, and beliefs, but drawing on a wide array of mythologies that stretch beyond this, author Steve Martin makes a compelling case for the shared origins of the world's great religions, arguing that by reincorporating many previously excommunicated spiritualities and atheisms, Hinduism manifested itself as the complex, multi-faceted cosmology it is today.

Hinduism boasts of having the oldest surviving texts, but those texts are not followed anymore. When comparing Hinduism’s oldest text to its more recent texts, there are subtle, but distinct, differences, which indicate a progression in the religion. Early Hinduism appears to have been nearly identical to most other religions at that time. Likewise, cultural influences appeared around the world parallel to Egypt’s fifth dynasty. As we go back, we see that ancient deities were not always personifications of elements of nature, and for a long-time, certain animals were universally identified with God. Another animal, the serpent, appears to have eventually become a personification of one element of nature. One deity was worshipped by one name at a funeral and by another name at a wedding. The ancient world largely referred to kings and ancestors as gods.

Mesopotamian rulers left their mark far and wide. One such mark is the appearance of pyramids and burial mounds that seem to follow paganism. One unique tradition, anciently known to be practiced in Egypt and Greece was also practiced in India, at least, up to the last couple centuries. Some of the earliest Greek creation myths were used by the biblical apostles to identify with Jesus. Prior to the fifth century BC, astrology was used very different from how it is commonly used now. Throughout history, we see religion and astrology repeatedly being manipulated for the purpose of increasing power by kings and priests. China appeared to be religiously isolated from the rest of the world for a long time but was eventually affected by outside influences. Early Chinese religion helps to connect the dots among the other religions of the world. We later see Hinduism integrating many different religions from all over the world.

Stephen Martin

Stephen Martin is a theology major working in automotive electronics who has long nurtured an interest in world religions and Hinduism in particular. Equipped with his background in religious studies and a strong desire to better understand his Hindu coworkers, Martin spent time studying the Vedas, the most ancient Hindu texts, along with a plethora of other rich academic sources on the topic, to flesh out his comprehensive study on the matter. He is the author of Retaliation of the Cursed A Historical Investigation of The Origins of Worship, World Religion, Mythology, Paganism, Astrology and Atheism, and Their Contributions Leading to Modern Hinduism.


Become a member to view more OR login here

Pages

Ancient Origins Quotations