Snapshots of Serpent Deities: The Water Serpent

By Bethany Youngblood

(Wikimedia commons)

For the Tewa Indians living near the Rio Grande in New Mexico, as well as other Pueblo people of North America, the “mythical” Avanyu was believed to be a very powerful god. According to their ancient religion, this deity can supposedly cause both earthly and supernatural events. Like other serpent deities of ancient North America, the beliefs about Avanyu seem to be similar to those found in Meso-America, leading many archaeologists to lump them together under the same term: “Feathered Serpent”.

Snapshots of Serpent Deities:The Feathered Serpent

By Bethany Youngblood

Quetzalcoatl
http://pigs-in-the-parlor.blogspot.ca/2009/07/uk-quetzalcoatl-headdress-crop-circle.html

Known as “Quetzalcoatl”, “Kulkulcan”, and “Viracocha”, this serpent deity was venerated by the Olmec, the Maya, the Aztec, and even the Inca. As mentioned in our blog post “Serpent Sanctuary”, many names have been used for this deity, but we know it collectively as the “Feathered Serpent” of Meso-America.

Serpent Sanctuary

By Bethany Youngblood

Wikimedia Commons

Cultural similarities are one of the most intriguing aspects of ancient man to study. Common structures such as pyramids, mounds, and stone monuments can be found all over the world; the same goes for artistic talents and technological works of genius. Naturally we find similarities among religions and beliefs as well.

The New Year in the Old Days

By Analea Styles

New Year's Celebration in London, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343000/New-Year-2011-London-sees-New-Year-display-Thames.html

New Year celebrations are some of the oldest traditions and have been observed around the world for thousands of years. The ancient people loved to celebrate just like you and I! Many cultures carefully marked the days and looked forward to their yearly traditions. The early celebrations were marked by astronomical or seasonal indicators such as the arrival of spring or the equinox.

Ancient Aliens: Part One

By Brian Mariani

“Who were they?

Why did they come?

What did they leave behind?

Where did they go?

Will they return?”

These questions whirl towards you, accompanied by an excitingly epic soundtrack, as the History Channel presents the Ancient Aliens TV series with convincing effects. And the audience drinks it in, willingly swallowing the information offered in the documentaries that “examine 75 million years of the most credible alien evidence here on Earth”[i].

Puzzle Pieces: Ancient Flight

By Analea Styles

Ancient carving depicting human flight?
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2005/20050829.htm

In The Genius of Ancient Man we talk about the various puzzle pieces that make up the “big picture” (Chapter 12). Many times the pieces aren’t recognizable at first or don’t seem to fit anywhere; but as we continue to study and learn, we widen our view and sometimes the pieces fall suddenly into place.

Puzzle Pieces: Dragons

By Analea Styles

Dragon sculptures on the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Wikimedia Commons  

In the Genius of Ancient Man we talk about the various puzzle pieces that make up the “big picture” (Chapter 12). Many times the pieces aren’t recognizable at first or don’t seem to fit anywhere; but as we continue to study and learn, we widen our view and sometimes the pieces fall suddenly into place.

Puzzle Pieces: Giants

By Analea Styles

Art by Lindsey Bell
http://lindseybell.deviantart.com/art/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-358926723

In the Genius of Ancient Man we talk about the various puzzle pieces that make up the "big picture" (Chapter 12). Many times the pieces aren’t recognizable at first or don’t seem to fit anywhere, but as we continue to study and learn, widening our view, sometimes the pieces fall suddenly into place.