Echoes of Eternity | Explore the Mystery of Ancient Civilizations
Uncover the secrets of the past, and discover the foundations of our modern world. Experience the grandeur of ancient civilizations.
In our previous introduction post, we discussed the importance of “explore the unknown”. The time has come to move forward.
Introduction:-
In the corridors of time, where long-lost civilizations still echo, lies a realm of wonder and mystery. Welcome to a captivating voyage through human history. We peel back time layers to uncover captivating narratives of ancient cultures and civilizations. Join us on a journey that transcends the present, delving deep into the past to unravel tales of empires, innovations, myths, and marvels.
From Egypt’s majestic pyramids to Mesopotamia’s awe-inspiring legacies, “Rise TV” is your portal to ancient history. As we embark on this expedition of exploration and enlightenment, prepare to be immersed in the fascinating saga of our shared human heritage.
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Reimagining the Ancient History Timeline:-
The traditional view of our history, as presented by mainstream scholars, often begins with the Neolithic Revolution and the rise of agricultural societies around 10,000 BCE. However, alternative historians and researchers have been delving into unconventional narratives that challenge this established framework.
In this article, we will talk about ancient history and civilization in a modern way. From Plato’s Atlantis to Robert Schoch’s dating of the Sphinx, we’ll explore the possibility of an older, more complex history that goes beyond the conventional Neolithic starting point.
The Beginning of Civilization According to Your History Teacher:-
Mainstream scholars often consider the Neolithic Revolution, around 10,000 BC, as the starting point of recorded history. This period marked the transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and the emergence of complex societies. While this framework offers valuable insights, alternative historians propose that there might be more to the story than meets the eye.
Atlantis: A Myth or a Hidden Truth…?
Plato’s writings about Atlantis provide a fascinating glimpse into an alternative ancient history timeline. In his dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias,” Plato describes Atlantis as an advanced civilization that existed over 9,000 years before his time. Critics often dismiss Atlantis as a mere allegory, but alternative researchers suggest that it could be a veiled reference to a lost civilization that predates mainstream history.
In “Critias,” Plato recounts that the ancient Egyptians possessed records going back tens of thousands of years, both in their own history and that of Athens. How could such histories exist when civilization in any form was only supposed to have begun 8,000 years before his time?
Timeline of Ancient Civilizations: From Incans to Greek:-
Ancient civilizations remain fascinating. Instead of rising and declining hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago, these races remain a mystery and contribute to our understanding of how the world came to be.
The timeline of ancient civilizations tracks the evolution of human society while also displaying how prevalent civilization has been since the dawn of humanity. There is still much to learn about the Greeks, Incans, Indus River Civilization, Australian Aboriginals, and other groups from our distant past.
The Incan Civilization (1438–1532 A.D.):-
Peru is an excellent starting point for history buffs. Between 1438 and 1532, the Inca people grew from a small tribe to South America’s largest empire in the pre-Columbian era, with borders that extended into Ecuador and Chile. This expansion occurred swiftly due to the Inca’s bad habit of conquest. They enjoyed eating weaker cultures and quickly became an unstoppable power. The Incas are known as the geniuses who built Machu Picchu, but they accomplished much more.
Civilians received benefits such as freeze-dried food and an efficient mail system. Messengers used an incredible network of roads, and if their endurance is any indication, Incan engineers surely outperformed their modern counterparts.
The curving routes were so well created that numerous passageways still exist today, in good condition. Top-tier hydraulics also equipped towns like Machu Picchu with stone fountains that pumped fresh water from distant springs. However, the Inca Empire’s desire to conquer proved ironic when a more powerful rival sought their territories. The Spanish conquistadors who stepped off their ships and onto South American soil brought a severe case of gold fever, as well as influenza and smallpox.
With the rapid spread of the sickness, numerous people died from infection, and the country was destabilized. With that, a civil war erupted. The Spanish used their superior weaponry and techniques to crush the remaining resistance, and after the last emperor, Atahualpa, was executed, the Incas were history.
The Aztec Civilization (1325–1521 A.D.):-
The origins of the Aztecs remain a mystery. Nobody knows exactly where the Aztecs came from, but they eventually established themselves in the south-central region of pre-Columbian Mexico. In 1325, the enterprising tribe constructed the core of their civilization: Tenochtitlan, a majestic capital city that stood firm until 1521 and still serves as the cornerstone of modern-day Mexico City.
If the Aztecs were a cricket team, they would be all-arounders. Aside from dominating agriculture, art, and architecture, the Aztecs’ political and military prowess earned them approximately 6 million subjects from 500 city-states, each with its area, and many of those conquered paid tribute, which increased the Aztecs’ wealth.
Furthermore, their economy was a thriving beast; on a good day, Tenochtitlan’s marketplace was alive with the activity of 50,000 people seeking a deal. Furthermore, if you recognize the words “coyote,” “chocolate,” and “avocado,” congratulations! You speak Nahuatl, the primary language of the Aztecs. When the end came, it was a sorrowful reminder of the Incas’ destruction. The Spanish landed by ship in 1517, causing illnesses, warfare, and death among the inhabitants.
The Roman Civilization (753 BC — 476 AD):-
Rome, which is traditionally said to have been founded in 753 B.C., began as a tiny settlement. The people who settled along the banks of Italy’s Tiber River then expanded, establishing the most powerful ancient empire ever known. Through battle and trade, the city’s influence spread to Northern Africa, Western Asia, Continental Europe, Britain, and the Mediterranean islands.
Culture is known for its lasting monuments. The Romans built modern tourist attractions such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon using special concrete and paying close attention to detail. When travellers use the Western alphabet to check their calendars or take down their journey details, they also employ two of the greatest legacies left by Roman culture.
But the Roman Empire fell, not because a foreign rabble rushed through the gates; rather, the Roman upper crust struggled over the throne until civil war broke out. Sensing blood, Rome’s foes gathered, and the need to fight them off shattered the once-wealthy culture. The final blow came as a result of the empire’s magnitude. The numerous frontiers could not all be guarded, and the Germanic ruler Odovacar smashed the remnants of the Roman army.
The Persian Civilization (550–331 B.C.):-
A succession of kings established the Persian Empire. The first, Cyrus II, established a tradition of conquering new territories. From 550 B.C. until 331 B.C., the Persians built the largest empire in ancient history thanks to their regal pastime of gathering new regions. Their territory comprises modern-day Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Northern India, and areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
The culture left behind vast ruins, complex metalwork, and priceless gold treasures. Interestingly, they practised “Zoroastrianism,” which is one of the oldest religions still in use today. Cyrus II’s tolerant religious system was most likely responsible for his exceptional behaviour of treating his defeated adversaries with respect rather than harshness.
A subsequent monarch, Darius I (father of the movie-famous Xerxes I from the film 300), built the breathtaking Royal Road, a network that stretched from the Aegean Sea to Iran, connecting various cities via 2,400 kilometres (1,500 miles) of asphalt.
The Royal Road assisted in creating an express postal service and provided control over a large area. However, it was also what brought Persia’s downfall.
The Ancient Greek Civilization (2700–479 B.C.):-
Farmers were the first to create one of history’s most recognizable and memorable cultures. During the Greek Dark Ages, just a few villages worked on the land; by the time Ancient Greece was fully operational in 700 B.C., these villages had expanded into complete city-states.
Competition prompted the hunt for fresh land, and Greece expanded 1,500 city-states from the Mediterranean to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), as well as from the Black Sea to North Africa. The ancient Greek culture was one of pure creativity; they polished the principles and theories of art, technology, science, and literature; they laid the groundwork for the rule of law, the Constitution of the United States, and governments driven by the idea of freedom around the world.
The Grecian age also produced theatre and Homer’s epic writings, the Iliad and Odyssey. Best and most famously, it gave birth to the Olympic Games, in which athletes fought for the ultimate prize — a wreath of olive leaves known as a “Latinos” (winning a crown of greenery and wearing it to thank the gods was a huge deal back then).
The Ancient History of the Great Sphinx:-
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a massive 4,500-year-old limestone statue located near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. The Great Sphinx, measuring 240 feet (73 meters) long and 66 feet (20 meters) high, is one of the world’s greatest monuments. It is also one of the most well-known ancient Egyptian relics, yet the origins and ancient history of the massive construction are still questioned.
What is a Sphinax…?
A sphinx (or sphynx) is a monster with a lion’s body and a human head, with minor variants. It is an important mythological figure in Asian, Egyptian, and Greek mythologies.
In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian who was most often represented as a guy wearing a pharaoh headdress as is the Great Sphinx and representations of the creatures were frequently found in tombs and temple complexes. For example, Upper Egypt’s “Sphinx Alley” is a two-mile boulevard adorned with sphinx statues that connect the Luxor and Karnak temples.
Sphinxes resembling the female pharaoh Hatshepsut indeed exist, including the granite sphinx statue at the Museum of Art in New York and the enormous alabaster sphinx at the Ramessid temple in Memphis, Egypt.
The sphinx was brought from Egypt to Asia and Greece between the 15th and 16th centuries B.C. In contrast to the Egyptian model, the Asian sphinx had eagle wings, was commonly female, and was depicted sitting on its haunches with one paw elevated. In Greek mythology, the sphinx possessed wings and a serpent’s tail; according to folklore, it devours all travellers who fail to solve its riddle.
How old is the Sphinx…?
The most widely accepted explanation regarding the Great Sphinx is that it was created for Pharaoh Khafre (about 2603–2578 B.C.).
According to hieroglyphic inscriptions, Khafre’s father, Pharaoh Khufu, erected the Great Pyramid, the oldest and greatest of the three pyramids at Giza. When Khafre became a pharaoh, he built his pyramid next to his father’s. While his pyramid is 10 feet shorter than the Great Pyramid, it is surrounded by a more intricate complex that includes the Great Sphinx and numerous monuments. The presence of red pigment residues on the Sphinx’s face suggests that the statue was formerly painted.
Given the structure of the pyramids and the Sphinx, some experts believe the Great Sphinx and temple complex served a celestial purpose, resurrecting the pharaoh’s (Khafre) soul by harnessing the power of the sun and other gods.
Mystery of the Sphinx:-
What the Egyptians called the Great Sphinx during its peak remains a mystery, as the term sphinx originated in Greek mythology almost 2,000 years after the statue was created.
It’s also unknown how Egyptians saw the Great Sphinx during the Old Kingdom (c. 2613–2181 B.C.), given that few documents mention the statue. However, Khafre was associated with the god Horus, and the Great Sphinx may have been known as Harmakhet (“Horus on the Horizon”) during the New Kingdom (1570–1069 B.C.). Whatever the circumstances, the statue began to dissolve into the desert landscape during the end of the Old Kingdom, after which it was forgotten for generations.
The writings on a pink marble slab beneath the Great Sphinx’s paws describe how the statue was recovered from the sands of time. According to myth, Prince Thutmose, Amenhotep II’s son, fell asleep near the Sphinx. In Thutmose’s dream, the Harmakhet statue moaned about its state of disorder and made a deal with the young prince: it would assist him to become a pharaoh provided he washed away the sand and restored the statue.
It is uncertain whether the dream came true, but when the prince did become Pharaoh Thutmose IV, he instituted a Sphinx-worshipping cult among his subjects. Statues, artwork, and the assistance of the figure appeared throughout the land, and the sphinx came to represent monarchy and the might of the sun.
Sphinx and Pyramids: What Secrets Lie in the Stones…?
One of the most controversial aspects of the ancient history timeline is the dating of the Sphinx. Most modern scholars think the Sphinx was carved around 4,500 years ago, Robert Schoch, a geologist, has proposed that the erosion patterns on the Sphinx’s body suggest a much older origin, potentially dating back to a time when the region experienced heavy rainfall, around 12,000 to 7,000 years ago.
This challenges the conventional dating of the Sphinx and opens up possibilities for a more ancient civilization that thrived in the distant past, long before the Egyptians we know of.
Similarly, the age of the Great Pyramids of Giza remains a subject of debate. While mainstream consensus attributes their construction to the Old Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt, dating back to around 2,500 BCE, the lack of definitive evidence has left room for alternative theories.
Dating The Pyramids:-
One significant challenge in dating the pyramids arises from the absence of clear inscriptions or inscribed dates within the pyramids themselves. This lack of inscriptions makes it difficult to pinpoint their exact age with certainty. As a result, scholars have had to rely on indirect methods, such as linking the pyramids to known historical figures or events, to establish a rough timeline.
Some researchers propose that the pyramids might be older than conventionally believed, pointing to geological and astronomical evidence. Additionally, theories about advanced civilizations predating recorded history (like Atlantis) have been linked to the pyramids, suggesting that their origins could reach back even further in time.
How Far Back Does Egyptian History Go…?
Ancient Egyptian sources themselves suggest a history that reaches back tens of thousands of years. The Egyptian priest Manetho account of dynastic history goes back an astonishing 36,525 years, according to ancient texts. While mainstream historians often regard these numbers as symbolic rather than literal, they also acknowledge that Manetho’s work is extremely accurate.
He went to great lengths to ensure that the history he was presenting was as truthful as possible. Manetho’s method of grouping the dynasties of Egypt is even still used today. Why suddenly jump from facts to fiction, without any indication?
Hancock’s Vision: A Flooded Ancient Civilization…?
In the realm of alternative historical research, few names shine as brightly as Graham Hancock. Renowned for his groundbreaking work on antediluvian civilizations, flood inundation maps, and the discovery of submerged structures.
Graham Hancock’s research delves into the possibility of a lost civilization that existed around 10,000 years ago and was wiped out by a cataclysmic event, possibly a global flood. This perspective aligns with geological evidence of past climate changes and challenges the notion that human civilization only began to flourish after the Neolithic Revolution.
One of the key elements of Hancock’s research is his utilization of flood inundation maps. These maps are created by overlaying modern topographical data with potential sea-level rises to simulate the geographical changes that could have occurred during ancient times. By examining these maps, Hancock aims to identify submerged landscapes and potential sites of lost civilizations that may have been overlooked by traditional archaeology. And he found some.
Off the coast of India, Hancock and his team have discovered what appears to be man-made structures hidden beneath the sea. The structures were so far down, there is no reasonable explanation for how they could have gotten there; unless they were built at a time when global sea level was much lower.
The last time this happened was during the ice age, long before humans should have had the ability to build much more than a clay hut. If these structures are indeed the remnants of an ancient civilization, they challenge established historical narratives and prompt a reevaluation of the capabilities of past societies.
Conclusion:-
:- The history of ancient cultures, as presented by mainstream scholars, certainly offers valuable insights into the evolution of human societies.
:- But, alternative perspectives throw a wrench into the idea that history begun only 12,000 years ago.
:- From Plato’s accounts of Atlantis to the mysteries surrounding the Sphinx, Pyramids, and the rich history of Egypt, these alternative narratives spark curiosity about the hidden chapters of our collective history.
:- We find ourselves questioning the limits of human achievements and the existence of advanced civilizations that might have flourished thousands of years before our conventional timeline suggests.
:- The pursuit of these alternative narratives reminds us that the story of our past is still waiting to be fully uncovered.
