More than 4,500 years ago, the Sumerians had created an elevated society with advanced notions in numerous fields. Their kingly heritage includes a well-established writing system, advanced concepts of astronomy and mathematics, unique architecture and arts, together with various cuneiform writings reminding of ancient heroes and demigods.

Among these texts is the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient poem from Summer – “the land between rivers,” that has often been regarded as the earliest surviving great work of literature.

Sumerian as a language almost died out in 2,000 BC, and was mostly used by scholars, similar to how Latin is today. Nobody knows how it was pronounced since it hadn’t been heard in 4,000 years.

With such a wealthy culture, modern man has craved to taste or at least have a glance at how life ran its course in ancient Summer. After identifying some of their traditional instruments and learning this now-defunct language, Canadian artist Peter Pringle has brought to life his version of the Epic of Giglamesh in an epic song. (careful, it gives goosebumps)

What you hear in this video are a few of the opening lines of part of the epic poem, accompanied only by a long-neck, three-string, Sumerian lute known as a “gish-gu-di”.

The location for this performance is the courtyard of Nebuchadnezzar’s palace in Babylon. The piece is four minutes long and is intended only as a taste of what the music of ancient Summer might have sounded like.

Protagonist of the story is Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, and his wild companion Enkidu. Together, they venture on an endeavour to discover the secret of eternal life, but the hero ends up realizing that “…life, which you look for, you will never find, for when the gods created man, they let death be his share, and life withheld in their own hands.” During his journey, Gilgamesh comes across the immortal man Utnapishtim who tells him about the upcoming “Great Flood.”

It’s possible that the myths encountered within depict real events that had happened before the great deluge. The surviving stories were transmitted to the following generations and were eventually put into writing. Thus, the Epic of Gilgamesh could be a fragment of history spouted from the minds of our ancient forefathers that had escaped unharmed after the cataclysmic flood.

In turn, this would transform the mythical creatures and deities from the Sumerian poem into veritable beings that had lived in long-forgotten times, more than 12,500 years ago as accounts of the last glaciation suggest. A world deluge would have wiped out countless breeds of both animals and humans, and those fortunate enough to survived have glued together and further transmitted long-forgotten knowledge of those immemorial times and peoples.

Envisioning the ancient history of humanity in a broader timeline could also explain the tremendous lifespan of some of the Sumerian kings, while the Anunnaki story would make more sense due to the large timetable that pushes the plot closer to the day when gods walked among humans. Since there are no recorded artifacts recovered from those timeworn days, we can only let our imagination and instinct wonder.

In case you’e enjoyed the unique representation of the Epic of Gilgamesh by Canadian artist Peter Pringle, I’ll leave below a remastered version of the epic song. Don’t forget to spread the word about this awesome work of art!

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The ruins of a once-remarkable structure lay just west of the Syrian village of Ain Dara, northwest of Aleppo. It first drew attention in 1955 when a huge basalt lion had been uncovered in the area by chance. It stood there as a proud reminder of an ancient culture, so archaeologists soon started taking interest in it.

The excavation process lasted between 1980 and 1985, and what they had discovered bared resemblance to the biblical Temple of Solomon, although later it proved they were not the same buildings.

The similarities between the ‘Ain Dara’ temple and the temple described in the Bible are indeed striking,” Bible History Daily reported. Both buildings were erected on huge artificial platform (2.5 foot) built on the highest point in their respective cities”

The platform on which the temple stood was guarded on all sides by lions, sphinxes, mountain gods and other mystical creatures with long claws of which only the feet remain, all of them carved from large blocks of basalt.

The temple portico was reachable after climbing a colossal staircase flanked on both sides by a sphinx and two lions. The middle room would then be accessible, followed by the main hall at the end of which stood the inner sanctum ornate with cult statues.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Ain Dara Temple are the footprints (measuring about 1 meter in length) engraved into the rigid stone floor at the entrance of the temple. One pair of footmarks is found on the floor of the portico, while a second footprint stands about 30 feet away, just at the entrance into the main hall.

It would take a considerable leap of 30 feet to reach from one footprint to the other, or just a regular step if performed by a 65 feet tall giant. Historians agree that these markings were not left by real giants walking the Earth in ancient times, but they still pose a mystery that cannot be explained nor understood.

It’s possible that the creators of this temple were responsible for these peculiar carvings, but it’s still to be determined why; also what was their purpose? At first glance, the giant footprints reveal our forefathers notion of giant humanoid beings, and they could stand as a reminder of these ancients who were possibly the deities worshiped in this temple.

The Ain Dara Temple is believed to had been erected at the start of the Iron Age, somewhere between 1300 and 1000 B.C. It was extended by the Syro-Hittites, a group of political entities which emerged after the fall of the Hittite Empire. They became the dominant power in the Eastern Mediterranean region until their demise at the hands of the Neo-Assyrian Empire towards the end of the 8th century B.C.

The heritage left behind can be interpreted in many ways. What seems certain is the opulent cultural influence coming from ancient Mesopotamia, respectively from the Sumerians. Although there’s a millennial difference in the timeline of these peoples, the symbols and statues engraved on the walls of both civilizations carry a strong resemblance.

The giant one meter footprints discovered at Ain Dara temple could be imprints of the gods. These mystic rulers are described by the Sumerian King List as mythical beings from before the Flood and up until the making of mankind. Only a handful of them are officially attested by modern-day history, although their names and kingship appear engraved on the Sumerian artifacts.

It’s possible that the Syro-Hittites carried with them the image of their gods and built temples to honor them. Knowing that an impending demise of their culture was inevitable, they left behind clues reminding of these gigantic rulers and teachers deemed as their makers.

Whatever the case, the Ain Dara temple adds another piece to the puzzle of humanity. Although many aspects cannot be explained with certainty and in an official manner, we can let our intuition guess for us this time. After all, we live our own realities and have out own beliefs.

Written by The Explorer / Photo courtesy: hittitemonuments / References:

1. ancient-origins.net
2. hittitemonuments.com
3. messagetoeagle.com

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Pyramids were a religious trend for ancient civilizations. From Africa to North America, Asia and Europe, these unique structures are spread all across the globe, where various cultures had built them without any apparent connection established between them.

Overall, pyramids shared a similar architecture and were envisioned as religious places of extreme importance, be it as a resting place for a great ruler, or a ceremonial center dedicated to the gods.

Although many of these imposing structures have stood the test of time, we only know of those that had been constructed a few hundreds, sometimes thousands of years ago. However, in recent years evidence has been mounting up in regards to antediluvian civilizations which thrived before the last glaciation or what it has been known as the great flood. It happened more than 14,000 years ago according to most researchers, and it appears that these timeworn peoples were also skilled pyramid builders.

Could this prove that long before the first known organized societies there were others at least on the same advancement level as today? And they were also able to transit the planet?

Proof of these forgotten forefathers stand both the Sumerian King List and the Egyptian pharaohs timeline which remind of their rulers up to a time when the gods first descended upon the Earth. The nearest palpable evidence of antediluvian civilizations are the Bosnian pyramids discovered in 2005, constructions dating anywhere between 12,500 to 30,000 years back. While investigations at this site are well underway, it appears that another startling discovery has been made a bit due est into the land of Romania.

An intriguing mound from the Buzau mountain chain measuring about 1,000 meters from sea level has captivated the curiosity of archaeologists after they stumbled across the remnants of what they presume to be another ancient megalithic pyramid.

As you can see in the above picture, the mountain has all the traits of a pyramid. It measures 300 meters from the bottom, that’s 150 meters more than the Pyramid of Giza and 80 meters more than the Pyramid of the Sun in Bosnia.

Archaeologists climbing the top of the alleged monument have found remnants of ancient megalithic walls consisting of three layers of overlaid stones glued together using clay, a material which provides extensive protection from pluvial waters and it’s also an excellent choice when binding stones.

Probably the most intriguing aspect of the fortification was the thick reddish-brown layer of material composed of mineral oxides which covered the exterior wall of the pyramid. Based on this plaster covering even the cracks between stones, researchers were able to date the structure using a technique known as radiestezia, which yielded gripping results – the stones appeared to be 22 to 25,000 years of age.

I was expecting the results to be around 12,000 years, considering that some of the Sumerian tablets unearthed on our territory mention about King Luana, an antediluvian semi-god that ruled over this land, said Dan Popovici, one of the researchers. “I was astonished when the radiestezic pendant indicated 25,000 years! Although I cannot be 100% sure of this dating, my intuition says this is the right date in time.”

On several places on the side of the mountain, archaeologists stumbled across more brickwork belonging to this forgotten civilization. The stones seem to be artificially cut and the straight lines further indicate the possible use of advanced technology, while the inclined design of the wall hints at its former triangular shape. Could this have been indeed a stepped pyramid?

According to several sources, the communist regime that had once subdued Romania specialized in concealing and destroying all traces of the heritage left behind by the ancient Romanian people. According to several authors, in 1980 the secret services operating under the communist regime had searched out the peak of this mountain where they discovered an altar standing on a flat plateau scarred only by the passing of time.

Two agents allegedly breached through an opening of a portal and were never to be heard again. After collecting all the desired material from atop the pyramid, the communists blew up the altar together with the terrace. The story should be taken with a grain of salt, although evidence of the explosion can be seen upon reaching the peak, while other local accounts vividly remind of this incident from the 80s.

Whatever they found up there we can only guess, but there’s no denial the Buzau Mountains of Romania are full of reminders from the past such as underground dwellings, cave carvings and petroglyphs in a language believed to predate the Sumerian dialect.

It’s no wonder that such influences existed in this part of the world. North-Eastern Europe is also called the Old Europe, entitled this way to depict a pre-Indo-European culture from the Neolithic (around 7,000 BC) with a strong cultural background. It is thought they would exchange knowledge with the ancient Greeks. Unquestionable proof of this stands the clay tablets unearthed at Tartaria, Transylvania, which bear inscriptions belonging to the Vinca, a culture with a writing system predating that of the Sumerians.

They could also reach all the way to Mesopotamia through a landmass substituting what is now the Black Sea. Thousand of years ago this body of salt water was comprised of a series of freshwater lakes. Circa 5,600 B.C. It formed into the Black Sea after the waters of the Mediterranean breached a sill through the Bosphorus strait, but once again this is just a hypothesis.

With so many ancient riddles that are only now being brought to light, it’s no surprise if after a few more years of archaeological breakthroughs we’ll have to rethink the entire history of humanity. The lack of technological means, or better said the limited access to LIDAR technology pushes hard on the shoulders of any archaeologists who wants to prove that our defined timeline has numerous flaws and requires a serious revision.

However, the years to come promise to dramatically lower the costs of underground scanning equipment and so every aspiring archaeologist may become a professional. Looking forward into the future!

Main references: Scribd, Ancient-origins in-text link / Photo credits: Dan Popovici

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So many times we have wondered about humanity’s true origins. Are we a product of the natural laws of evolution? A fortunate dance of particles that assembled into conscious beings able to perform the most amazing tasks? Or we were rather engineered by a greater force, be it God or some other advanced beings we call aliens or deities? Alas, there is also the holographic universe hypothesis which we can only attribute to another influential force that stands beyond our current understanding.

Such scenarios have really made our species confused or even paranoid, but this is also what made us progress. By questioning our very nature we’ve expanded technology ,which in turn is another way of looking at reality and the world we live in. While some find science to provide all the answers, I find reality much too complex to be seen only through this lens. To venture near humanity’s true origins and purpose, we must seek the truth from all perspectives we have at our disposal. As a prime example, let’s search through history and correlate it with science.

Summer is frequently called the cradle of civilization. Archaeologists found vast remains of this ancient culture that stretches back more than 7,000 years, when the Sumerians are believed to had established in Mesopotamia – “the land between rivers.” Here they formed a complex culture with an advanced writing system, magnificent arts and architecture, astronomy and mathematics.

Summer was comprised of many city-states that surpassed the test of time for about 3,000 years, an amazing feat if you look at the rapid shift undergone by human societies today. These cities were also regarded as independent nations and contained public buildings, an advanced water system, markets and workshops, while their surroundings were filled by agricultural landscape and other villages. Until human aversion started to manifest, the political power in their society belonged to the citizens, but because of climate change and human nature they soon turned to the institution of kingship. Nevertheless, the Sumerians left an astounding heritage from which I remind the following:

Sumerian legacy

• One of the earliest known writing system defined by cuneiform inscriptions, where writers made the symbols using a pointed instrument known as a stylus which they pressed on wet clay tablets that were afterwards dried in the sun to preserve the text. Hundreds of thousands of these inscriptions have survived, thus providing a rich understanding of their culture.
• The Sumerians are credited with the first texts of law, a lunar calendar, the sailboat and the plow. Another feat is the creation of a numerical system that’s based on the number 60, a rule that applies even today when measuring seconds and minutes.
• The Sumerian King List, an artifact written in the Sumerian language which sequences all the kings of Summer (ancient southern Iraq,) together with their alleged reign lengths, and the locations of their kingship. What makes this ancient manuscript so controversial is the fact that it encompasses a prolonged dynasty of rulers stretching back to a time just after The Great Deluge (around 10 – 12,000 B.C.), but also before this great mythological event. The list is similar to the Egyptian inscriptions which present a dynasty of pharaohs up until the Gods descended upon the Earth from heavens. However, conventional science doesn’t lend credit to these mystical rulers because no archaeological evidence were found so far.

• The Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem in cuneiform script dating back to the early 3^rd millennium BC. In it’s narrative, the mythological hero-king Gilgamesh, and his half-wild partner Enkidu, partake in an endeavour to seek the secret of immortality. Throughout their adventures, as the epic depicts, the two encounter a great flood that’s extremely similar to the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark, a narration that’s also found in various other cultures.
• Ancient Sumerian texts that depict the origin story of human beings were found inscribed on a tablet in Nippur, a timeworn Mesopotamian city founded more than 7,000 years ago. The story tells of a time before the great deluge when human-like gods descended on Earth to look for gold in order to mitigate their problems. Upon their arrival, they strove to make the area habitable while also mining for the precious mineral. You might know them as the Anunnaki.

Cheesed off because all all the hard labor they had to put, these superior beings decided to create man to work in their stead. Anu, the god of gods, entrusted his son, Enki (or Ea,) and his half-sister Ninki, to engineer this slave race using a god they had slew in order to mix his body and blood with clay. Thus the first human being took shape, in likeness of the gods.

With this achievement, Enki and Ninki took over the role of parents of this new species, and because of the harsh conditions their creation had to endure, the two decided to make a better version of man. Thus, Adapa was made, a fully functional human being that was able to reproduce and question authority.

Because this deed was performed without the approval of neither Enki’s brother, Enlil, nor Anu, a conflict quickly escalated between the gods. Enki and Ninki were banished by their own species, and the human kind was almost destroyed in a great flood. However, the newly created specimens survived with the help of their creators, and managed to flee the world and reproduce.

To understand who these godlike beings were, and how they were similar to human beings, we must search even further in time, as far back as archaeology permits us. In this sense, let’s have a look at one of the ancient cultures that predates the Sumerians.

The Ubaid culture and the reptilian mystery:

In 1919, archaeologists had brought to light numerous pres-Sumerian artifacts depicting a humanoid embodiment of  reptilian creatures. The figurines had elongated heads, almond shaped eyes, long tapered faces and a nose characteristic to lizards. Among the most baffling of statuettes is a reptilian female breast-feeding her suckling. According to archaeologists, this suggests these were no ritualistic objects and their purpose remains an enigma even today.

The site at Al Ubaid is a small mound half a kilometer in diameter located near the Persian Gulf. A variety of male and female figurines were found here, but also at sites of Ur and Eridu. Some of these artifacts wear a bizarre helmet and have some sort of padding on the shoulders. Others hold scepters, probably as a symbol of wisdom, power, or ruling.

It appears that the Ubaid culture originated on the flat alluvial plains of southern Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) around 6,200 B.C. and had spread to the north and gradually replaced the Halaf culture. The heritage left behind by these ancient peoples (Ubaid and Halaf) are as far as archaeology can stretch in time, speaking from a palpable point of view.

Among the numerous baked clay figurines with ornaments and lizard-like heads found at Ubaid sites, other artifacts were left behind, such as pottery with complex designs, clay tokens, pendants and stamp seals depicting various animals.

The first identifiable villages originate from this period and place in time, and these sites are further known to have evolved into towns and monumental buildings, such as Eridu and Uruk of the Sumerians. Who these people were and why they had integrated the reptilian figurines into their culture remains an enigma as of today. If archaeologists will crack this mystery anytime soon remains to be seen, but I’d rather rely on speculation and individual research to get my answers straight.

Piece by piece, humanity’s forbidden history is coming together for those who keep an open mind. What’s actually real might hop us off the boat of rationality, but knowing the truth about our past should offer relief to most of us who seek to understand humanity’s origins.

References:

1. ancient-origins.net
2. metamuseum.org
3. crystalinks.com

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