Source: Smithsonian
Saturday, June 14, 2014
(Video) This Wasn't Supposed to be a Sphinx
Source: Smithsonian
Saturday, June 7, 2014
The Sumerian King List still puzzles historians after more than a century of research
Out of the many incredible artefacts that have been recovered from sites in Iraq where flourishing Sumerian cities once stood, few have been more intriguing that the Sumerian King List, an ancient manuscript originally recorded in the Sumerian language, listing kings of Sumer (ancient southern Iraq) from Sumerian and neighbouring dynasties, their supposed reign lengths, and the locations of "official" kingship. What makes this artefact so unique is the fact that the list blends apparently mythical pre-dynastic rulers with historical rulers who are known to have existed.
The first fragment of this rare and unique text, a 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet, was found in the early 1900s by German-American scholar Hermann Hilprecht at the site of ancient Nippur and published in 1906. Since Hilprecht’s discovery, at least 18 other exemplars of the king’s list have been found, most of them dating from the second half of the Isin dynasty (c. 2017-1794 BCE.). No two of these documents are identical. However, there is enough common material in all versions of the list to make it clear that they are derived from a single, "ideal" account of Sumerian history.
Among all the examples of the Sumerian King List, the Weld-Blundell prism in the Ashmolean Museum cuneiform collection in Oxford represents the most extensive version as well as the most complete copy of the King List. The 8-inch-high prism contains four sides with two columns on each side. It is believed that it originally had a wooden spindle going through its centre so that it could be rotated and read on all four sides. It lists rulers from the antediluvian (“before the flood”) dynasties to the fourteenth ruler of the Isin dynasty (ca. 1763–1753 BC).
The list is of immense value because it reflects very old traditions while at the same time providing an important chronological framework relating to the different periods of kingship in Sumeria, and even demonstrates remarkable parallels to accounts in Genesis.
The ancient civilisation of Sumer
Sumer (sometimes called Sumeria), is the site of the earliest known civilization, located in the southernmost part of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, in the area that later became Babylonia and is now southern Iraq from around Baghdad to the Persian Gulf.
By the 3rd millennium BC, Sumer was the site of at least twelve separate city states: Kish, Erech, Ur,Sippar, Akshak, Larak, Nippur, Adab, Umma, Lagash, Bad-tibira, and Larsa. Each of these states comprised a walled city and its surrounding villages and land, and each worshiped its own deity, whose temple was the central structure of the city. Political power originally belonged to the citizens, but, as rivalry between the various city-states increased, each adopted the institution of kingship.
The Sumerian King List, records that eight kings reigned before a great flood. After the Flood, various city-states and their dynasties of kings temporarily gained power over the others.
Sumer’s mythical past
The Sumerian King List begins with the very origin of kingship, which is seen as a divine institution: “the kingship had descended from heaven”. The rulers in the earliest dynasties are represented as reigning fantastically long periods:
After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years.
Some of the rulers mentioned in the early list, such as Etana, Lugal-banda and Gilgamesh, are mythical or legendary figures whose heroic feats are subjects of a series of Sumerian and Babylonian narrative compositions.
The early list names eight kings with a total of 241,200 years from the time when kingship “descended from heaven” to the time when "the Flood" swept over the land and once more "the kingship was lowered from heaven" after the Flood.
Interpretation of long reigns
The amazingly long tenure of the early kings has provoked many attempts at interpretation. At one extreme is the complete dismissal of the astronomically large figures as “completely artificial” and the view that they are unworthy of serious consideration. At the other extreme, is the belief that the numbers have a basis in reality and that the early kings were indeed gods who were capable of living much longer than humans.
In between the two extremes is the hypothesis that the figures represent relative power, triumph or importance. For example, in ancient Egypt, the phrase “he died aged 110” referred to someone who lived life to the full and who offered an important contribution to society. In the same way, the extremely long periods of reign of the early kings may represent how incredibly important they were perceived as being in the eyes of the people. This doesn’t explain, however, why the periods of tenure later switched to realistic time periods.
Related to this perspective is the belief that although the early kings are historically unattested, this does not preclude their possible correspondence with historical rulers who were later mythicised.
Finally, some scholars have sought to explain the figures through a mathematical investigation and interpretation (e.g. Harrison, 1993).
Relation to Genesis
Some scholars (e.g. Wood, 2003) have drawn attention to the fact that there are remarkable similarities between the Sumerian King List and accounts in Genesis. For example, Genesis tells the story of ‘the great flood’ and Noah’s efforts to save all the species of animals on Earth from destruction. Likewise, in the Sumerian King List, there is discussion of a great deluge: “the flood swept over the earth.”
The Sumerian King List provides a list of eight kings (some versions have 10) who reigned for long periods of time before the flood, ranging from 18,600 to 43,200 years. This is similar to Genesis 5, where the generations from Creation to the Flood are recorded. Interestingly, between Adam and Noah there are eight generations, just as there are eight kings between the beginning of kingship and the flood in the Sumerian King List.
After the flood, the King List records kings who ruled for much shorter periods of time. Thus, the Sumerian King List not only documents a great flood early in man’s history, but it also reflects the same pattern of decreasing longevity as found in the Bible - men had extremely long life spans before the flood and much shorter life spans following the flood (Wood, 2003).
The Sumerian King List truly is a perplexing mystery. Why would the Sumerians combine mythical rulers with actual historical rulers in one document? Why are there so many similarities with Genesis? Why were ancient kings described as ruling for thousands of years? These are just some of the questions that still remain unanswered after more than a century of research.
References:
The Sumerian King List – University of Oxford Great Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology: The Sumerian King List – by Bryant G. Wood The Sumerian king list: translation - The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature The Sumerian King List - by L.C. Geerts Reinvestigating the Antediluvian Sumerian King List – by R. K. Harrison The Sumerian King List – by Thorkild Jacobsen (The Oriental Institute of the University of California)
Source: AO
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Metropolitan Museum releases thousands of ancient images to public domain
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has just announced the release of more than 400,000 high-resolution digital images into the public domain from its world-renowned collection, according to a news release in Art Daily.
The now freely available images include thousands of ancient figurines, reliefs, paintings, manuscripts, and other artifacts spanning a period of 10,000 years, and covering all the great civilizations of our ancient past, as well as hundreds of cultures across the globe.
The new initiative called Open Access for Scholarly Content (OASC), means that images may be downloaded directly from the Museum’s website for non-commercial use without permission from the Museum and without a fee. OASC was developed as a resource for students, educators, researchers, curators, academic publishers, non-commercial documentary filmmakers, and others involved in scholarly or cultural work. Prior to the establishment of OASC, the Metropolitan Museum provided images upon request, for a fee, and authorization was subject to strict terms and conditions.
“Through this new, open-access policy, we join a growing number of museums that provide free access to images of art in the public domain. I am delighted that digital technology can open the doors to this trove of images from our encyclopedic collection,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Here we feature just a tiny sample of the magnificent collection now available to the public.
This fragment is an example of the exceptional mosaics created throughout the Early Byzantine world in the first half of the sixth century. The rod that she holds, the measuring tool for the Roman foot, identifies her as a personification of the abstract concept of "Ktisis," or Foundation, and symbolizes the donation, or foundation, of a building. Personifications of abstract ideas, as developed by the Stoic philosophers, remained popular in the Early Christian era.
The palace rooms at Nimrud were decorated with large stone slabs carved in low relief, with brightly painted walls and ceilings and sculptural figures guarding the doorways. The throne room contained narrative scenes commemorating the military victories of Ashurnasirpal, while in other areas of the palace were protective figures and images of the king and his retinue performing ritual acts. On this relief slab the king Ashurnasirpal II wears the royal crown, a conical cap with a small peak and a long diadem. He holds a bow, a symbol of his authority, and a ceremonial bowl. Facing him, a eunuch, a "beardless one," carries a fly whisk and a ladle for replenishing the royal vessel. The peaceful, perhaps religious character of the scene is reflected in the dignified composure of the figures.
The well-known fresco at Knossos of a leaping bull was one of at least three similar scenes. The figural portion is framed at top and bottom by elaborate borders of overlapping variegated rock patterns between narrow bands with dentil patterns. There is no evidence to support the restored rock pattern at the sides. Two white-skinned females and a red-skinned male engage the bull, which is rendered in a flying gallop. Bull sports had a long history in Minoan art stretching back to the third millennium B.C. When this reproduction was first exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum it was identified as a circus scene. More recently, scholars have suggested that the scene represents ritual practices, perhaps symbolizing human domination over nature. The original is in the Archaeological Museum of Herakleion, Crete.
This mandala, or ritual diagram, is conceived as the palace of the wrathful Chakrasamvara and his consort Vajravarahi, seen together at the center of the composition. These deities are important to the Newar tradition of Nepal as well as in Tibet, embodying the esoteric knowledge of Buddhist texts, the Yoga Tantras. The central divinities are surrounded by six goddesses, each set on a stylized lotus petal that forms a vajra—a feature that suggests an early date for this work. Framing the mandala are the eight great burial grounds of India, each of which is presided over by a deity beneath a tree. The cemeteries are appropriate places for meditation on Chakrasamvara and are emblematic of the various realms of existence. The lower register contains five forms of the goddess Tara as well as a tantric adept to the left and two donors on the right. This mandala is one of the earliest large-scale paintings to survive from Nepal.
Reproduction of the "Ladies in Blue" fresco. Emile Gilliéron fils, 1927. Original on painted plaster (ca. 1525–1450 B.C.).
This group of three women was originally restored by E. Gillieron, pere on the basis of other fragments of frescos excavated before 1914 at Knossos. This copy reproduces the few fragments of burnt and abraded original fresco, represented as slightly offset from the restoration, and shows the extent to which the Gillierons recreated the scene. The original is in the Archaeological Museum of Herakleion, Crete.
View the entire collection here.
Source: AO
Sunday, May 18, 2014
ISIS Destroys 3000 Year-old Assyrian Artifacts in Syria
The Assyrian archaeological artifacts were illegally excavated from the Tell Ajaja site.
Looting of Assyrian artifacts was also carried out in Iraq soon after 2003 by Al-Qaeda, which sold the artifacts to finance its operations. The looting occurred at the Baghdad Museum (AINA2003-04-19) as well as archaeological sites which were left unguarded as a result of the collapse of the government of Saddam Hussein (AINA 2005-02-17).
Source: AINA
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Egyptologists discover unusual structure with a possible early depiction of Jesus
The tomb is located in the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus at Al Bahnasa, approximately 160 km south of Cairo. Previous digs in ancient city of Oxyrhynchus have unearthed temples dedicated to Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife, but the exact nature of the latest discovery has left the experts baffled but excited.
The crypt was discovered inside an unusual underground structure measuring 8 x 3.75 metres, the purpose of which researchers are unsure about. The subterranean stone structure was found in very good condition with walls fitted with niches were statues probably stood. Although the research team does not know what it was used for, its “importance seems unquestionable”, according to head of the expedition, Josep Padró, who has spent over 20 years excavating sites in the area. One possibility, according to Padró, is that it is an Osireion or Serepeum (temple of the god Serapis, the Hellenised form of Osiris).
The excavation of the structure involved a massive effort to remove very heavy debris (more than 45 tonnes), in a meticulous operation overseen by an architect and an engineer. The researchers believe the debris was placed there purposely, possibly to protect the tomb from looters.
The team had to remove more than 45 tonnes of debris. Credit: La Vanguardia.
The research team believes the burial chamber belonged to a priestly family and a scribe, based on the discovery of an inkwell still full of ink. “The walls are covered with 5 or 6 layers of paint, the last corresponding to the time of the early Coptic Christians,” said Padró. It “could be a very primitive image of Jesus Christ, similar to those found in Roman catacombs, while not ruling out that it could correspond to a Saint.”
If found to be an image of Jesus, which may be established following translations of Coptic inscriptions located around the image, it would be among the earliest known representations of Jesus.
The oldest known portrait of Jesus, known as ‘The Healing of the Paralytic’, was found in Dura-Eurpos, Syria and dates to about 235 AD. It shows Jesus as a beardless young man of authoritative and dignified bearing. He is depicted dressed in the style of a young philosopher, with close-cropped hair and wearing a tunic and cloak – signs of good breeding in Greco-Roman society. From this, it is evident that some early Christians paid no heed to the historical context of Jesus and visualised him solely in terms of their own social context, as a quasi-heroic figure, without supernatural attributes such as a halo (a fourth-century innovation).
The Healing of the Paralytic: oldest known wall painting depicting Jesus, 235 AD. Image source.
The Egyptian Ministry of Culture is now taking over responsibility for work being carried out at the archaeological site. Currently, the painting remains protected while translations are underway, which will hopefully shed more light on the image and the function of the enigmatic structure.
Featured image: The archaeological site at Oxyrhynchus on the left and the Coptic painting, possibly of Jesus, covered by a protective layer on the right.
Credit: La Vanguardia
Monday, April 28, 2014
Could newly discovered ancient stairs lead to more treasures under Vishnu Temple?
Archaeologists have unearthed a set of three ancient granite steps and building foundations near the northern entrance to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the State of Kerala in India, according to reports in the New Indian Express. The temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is famous for its underground tunnels and the billion-dollar treasure uncovered in its secret vaults several years ago.
“The basement made of brick and laterite stone could be part of the temple complex in the past,” said Archaeology Department director G Premkumar.
Even after three years since the world came to know about the billion-dollar treasure trove in the secret vaults of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the network of underground tunnels leading to the temple complex still remains a mystery, and many are concerned that the state police have not shown any interest in monitoring the subterranean passages in the temple complex, which are clearly a security risk to the priceless treasures laying beneath the temple, as some of the passages may still be functional.
Historians say that the tunnels were built between 12th century and 18th century, during which time the Travancore Kingdom, a former Hindu Kingdom ruled by the Travancore royal family, faced threat from various quarters, including the Mughal invaders, the Dutch and the British East India Company.
The history of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple dates back to 8th century. It is one of 108 sacred Vishnu temples or Divya Desams, the holiest abodes of the Lord Vishnu that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints). The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Vishnu, reclining on Anantha, the hooded Serpent.
In 1750, Marthanda Varma, one of the Travancore kings dedicated the kingdom of Travancore to Lord Padmanabha. Marthanda Varma vowed that the royal family would rule the state on behalf of Lord and he and his descendants would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa (the Servant of Lord Padmanabha). Since then, the name of every Travancore King was preceded by the title Padmanabha Dasa.
Local legend spoke of immense riches sealed within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple by the Travancore kings, and the stories were right. Several years ago, researchers uncovered a remarkable collection of treasures valued at an incredible US$5.3 billion. The treasures include thousands of gold coins, rare valuable gems, precious diamonds, 1,200 gold chains, gold crowns, 400 gold necklaces, more than 2,000 gold ornaments, gold plates, gold chains weighing up to 10.5 kilograms and measuring 18 feet in length, the golden idol of Padmanabha Swamy, 4-foot-tall golden statue of Lord Vishnu studded with precious emeralds, gold staffs, gold utensils, gold umbrellas, 2,500 gold pots and numerous golden rings.
The discovery of the treasures solidified the status of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple as one of the wealthiest temples in India, and the question has been raised as to whether the newly discovered stairs could lead to yet more treasures under the ancient temple.
READ ALSO: Ancient UFO Discovered Under Temple in India.
Source: AO
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The Man Rocks of Mersin Province, Turkey
Adamkayalar (literally "man-rocks") is a site in Mersin Province, Turkey, famous for its rock carved figures. This site lies on the southern slope of the Taurus Mountains, and is several kilometres north of the Mediterranean coast. There are 17 human figures carved into 9 niches. Of these figures, there are 11 males, 4 females, and 2 children. The date of these figures is unknown, although it has been speculated that they were carved between the 4th century B.C. and the 2nd century A.D. Due to the stylistic changes that can be detected in these figures, it has been suggested that they were carved overtime.
Since no literary evidence is available, and there is little epigraphic evidence as well, we might turn to archaeology to aid our understanding of these enigmatic carvings. First of all, one could consider the position of these monuments in the landscape. In ancient times, the valley road that passed through Adamkayalar would have been important in connecting the Mediterranean coast with the hinterland. Therefore, people who passed through Adamkayalar would have seen and been ‘seen’ by these figures. Whoever carved these figures would almost certainly have been powerful individuals in life, and attempted to immortalise their authority by stamping it into the landscape.
Many of these figures depict armed warriors. Perhaps there was an elite class of warriors who controlled this region. Perhaps, that was an idealistic portrayal of the men in power. It is not surprising that the ruling class in this area had to/wanted to be portrayed as tough military men. After all, Cilicia was home to the notorious Cilician pirates. These were the pirates who once kidnapped Julius Caesar, and held him for ransom. They met a sticky end though, when Caesar avenged himself after the ransom was paid.
Perhaps it is this depiction of the family that sets Adamkayalar apart from most other rock carved figures of the Near Eastern region. There are many well-known rock carvings in the Near East, such as that of the Darius I at Behistun and that of the Sassanian kings at Naqsh-i-Rustam. Yet, all these carvings were commissioned by kings for the display of imperial might. While the carvings of Adamkalayar may, to some extent, be a statement of military power, it also shows a softer side, in which the family is represented. It is perhaps this familial scene that connects us to the people depicted in the carvings. It is a shared human emotion, one of sorrow in the face of death, and the belief that our loved ones, though gone, will never be forgotten.
Source:AO
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