Busted! Paternity Test looms for King Tut

This one's interesting.  Looks like they're going to be doing a DNA test on King Tut to determine his lineage.  Not sure why we care at this point, but when it comes to King Tut, I'm down for anything. 

Read the full story at Yahoo News

One of the great remaining mysteries of ancient Egypt, the lineage of the boy-pharaoh Tutankhamun, may soon be solved, the country's antiquities supremo hinted on Sunday. Zahi Hawass told AFP he has scheduled a news conference for February 17 in the Cairo Museum to unveil the findings from DNA samples taken from the world's most famous pharaoh.
The announcement will be "about the secrets of the family and the affiliation of Tutankhamun, based on the results of the scientific examination of the Tutankhamun mummy following DNA analysis," Hawass said.
The tomb of the boy king, who reigned from the age of nine and died under as yet unknown circumstances at about 19, was unearthed by British archaeologists in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, causing an international sensation.
In August 2008, Egypt's antiquities authorities said they had taken DNA samples from Tutankhamun's mummy and from two fetuses found in his tomb to determine whether the still-born children had been fathered by the boy king.

Dining in Ancient Egypt

Food supplies were plentiful in ancient Egypt. Egyptians were very much dependent on the yearly flooding of the Nile to produce a fertile land in which famine was rare. Scenes of animal husbandry and butchery, were a fixture on the walls of Egyptian tombs. No less rare, are scemes of fishing and fishermen along with images and hieroglyphs about the preparation of fish for eating, and images of birds and foul being plucked and preserved. In ancient Egyptian art, the preparation of food is a much more popular subject than its consumption. However, lavish banquets were not uncommon especially amongst noblemen. Goose and beef were popular dishes, but were very likely limited to those with the wealth to afford such delicacies. For the common Egyptian family, fish was most likely the chief source of protein.

Once fish were gutted they were often hung to dry or preserved in salt. Fishermen were required to share their catch with Egyptian officials, but could then trade the remaining fish for other supplies. The preparation was the domain of Egyptian women in important domestic duty. A basic Egyptian dining room probably consisted of a low table and chairs. Diners may have seated themselves on the floor. Evidence suggests that the Egyptians referred eating with their hands not with utensils.

Fruits and vegetables were plentiful in Egypt. Leeks, onions, celery, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, beans and lentils were abundant. The Egyptians favored spices like marjoram, coriander and dill to add flavor to their food. They enjoyed grapes, figs, pomegranates, dates and berries. The Egyptians made wine from grapes as well as dates, figs, and pomegranates. Wheat beer was popular and sometimes flavored with fruits. Athenaeus, a Greek scholar who visited Egypt in the third century described Egyptian beer as very strong and an aid in The enjoyment of dancing and singing.  Wineries were most common in the regions of the western desert and the Delta.

Ancient Egyptian life may not have offered the conveniences that many of us enjoy today; however, nourishment was rarely an issue as the lands and the Nile provided a rich variety of meats, vegetables and fruit for the citizens of Egypt.

Howard Carter, Revered Arachaeologist or Thief?

In an article translated from the German language magazine Speigel, the author suggests that Howard Carter and his team made away with a considerable amount of ill-gotten treasure, many of which sit in museums across the Western world today.

Ancient Tomb Robbers?
 
What's known for sure is that the Metropolitan Museum of Art alone contains around 20 objects presumed to have originated from KV 62, Tutankhamun's tomb. These include a small dog made of ivory, a gazelle, rings, a splendid painter's palette, and even two silver coffin nails.
The Brooklyn Museum has in its possession, among other things, a statue of a girl, an ointment spoon, and a blue glass vase. A cat carved from black hematite turned up in Cleveland. The owners release very little information on the disputed objects.

"Nobody likes to talk about these unpleasant things," explains Loeben, the Egyptologist. In England, Carter is known as a brilliant counterpart to Heinrich Schliemann, the German archeologist who excavated ancient Troy. That Carter earned his money through antique dealing, though, is normally hushed up.

The most recent allegations go further. Carter is said to have fudged archaeological facts, leading generations of researchers astray. The focal point of the criticism is Carter's theory that the tomb had been looted multiple times in antiquity.

Thieves broke into the sanctuary "immediately following the burial rituals," Carter wrote. Backed up by corrupt necropolis officials, they ransacked all the tomb's chambers, he claimed, and other bandits later came and stole cosmetic oils.

The archaeologist gave signs of a break-in as proof, saying he had to force his way through a series of doors that had been broken open and then re-sealed by necropolis guards, all in ancient times.

Robbers With a Thing for Small Jewelry
 
Carter described the robbers' destruction in vivid detail. Chests had been rifled through and stoppers pulled from alabaster vases and thrown to the ground, he said. The robbers had torn ornamentation made of precious metals from the furniture and chariots, as well as stealing a 30-centimeter (12-inch) solid gold statue.

That scenario represents the prevailing opinion today. In his standard work "The Complete Tutankhamun," British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves accepts the figure that 60 percent of the tomb's small ornaments and jewelry were lost. But is it true? No independent witnesses were present when Carter first entered the tomb.

It's also clear that he lied on at least a few points. Alfred Lucas, one of Carter's employees, revealed that his boss secretly broke open the door to the burial chamber himself, afterward relocking it with deceptive authenticity using an antique seal, to hide his transgression. That report appeared in 1947, but only in a little-read scientific journal in Cairo. Hardly anyone took notice.

Read the full article here

Ancient Assyrian History Etched in Stone

In Mesopotamia hunting had an important symbolic value. This was especially true in Assyria, evidence by the dozens of artistic depictions of the Royal Hunt in stone relief. The Royal Hunt was an important ritual that established the Kings domain over brute nature, and demonstrated his courage. By participating in the Royal Hunt, the King added to his own prestige and a heroic reputation.  Even though we might expect some exaggeration of the events, the reliefs that have been discovered would suggest a man worthy or rule if he was half as courageous as the reliefs suggest.

These Assyrian wall reliefs also shed light on the ceremonial aspects of the Royal Hunt.  In many of the reliefs discovered by archaeologists, the king is shown offering up animals as a sacrifice to the god Nergal. 
Of all the prey sought out by the King and his royal party, the most prestigious was the lion. Mounted in his chariot, the king would pursue the lion attempting to bring him down with his bow or spear. Once the lion was injured the king would dismount his chariot and finish off the lion with his sword.  It's unclear just how much assistance he might have had in dispatching his prey, given glorification of the king in this art. 

In a relief of Ashurbanipal currently on display in the British Museum, the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal is depicted riding on horseback, bow raised.  He is hunting wild donkeys which at the time were considered a nuisance.  The act of thinning the heard of asses was considered a noble and worthy pursuit for the king.  Ashurbanipal was the last of the great Assyrian kings.  He ruled at the height of the Assyrian empire, but twenty years after his death the empire had fallen.

Other reliefs suggest that the hunting of lions was such a popular sport, that the regional lion population was diminished. Lions were imported in from other regions and release for the purpose of hunting.  This conclusion can be drawn from some Assyria and reliefs that show a lion being released from the cage.

The Meaning of the Buddha's Earth Touching Pose

The Bhumisparsha mudra is translated from Sanskrit into 'earth touching.' A mudra is a motion or gesture of the hands and body to express a feeling.  The Earth Touching mudra is commonly seen in Buddha statues and art.  Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the many different mudras. The earth touching pose is most often seen in statues of Buddha and is also referred to as the 'earth witness' mudra.

To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the ground with all fingers touching. The palm faces inward. It is symbolic of the moment when Buddha summoned the goddess, Shthavara to witness the moment in which he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Occassionally, you may see this mudra referred to as 'Summoning the Earth Goddess to Witness.'

Buddha statues in the earth touching mudra have the right arm resting on the right knee with the fingers of the hand extended downward. The statue shows the Buddha with his left hand resting in his lap with the palm skyward in the meditation mudra (dhyana mudra). The combination of mudras is intended to symbolize the union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra. Buddhist teachings tell the tale of how Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, assumed the earth touching pose to resist against the temptations and distractions of the demon Mara who sought to lure the Buddha from his spiritual life. Mara existed in many incarnations in Buddhist lore, from all powerful, evil creature to impish nuisance. One story tells of how Mara summoned his daughter's to seduce the Buddha and distract him from his spiritual journey. This has parallels to the mythology of other cultures, similar to Greek sirens.

The second of the Five Great Buddhas (Five Dhyani Buddhas), Akshobhya, is depicted in the earth touching pose. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, confidence and determination and the use of the Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of that. The concept of the Five Great Buddhas was an evolution of the Buddhist theology. Initially only two existed, wisdom and compassion.

Akshobhya sits in the Eastern position and is thought to possess the mirror wisdom that converts anger to wisdom. He is associated with the element water which also has reflective properties.

The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome reminder that temptation can be confronted by strength.

Akhenaten, Egypt's First Monotheistic Pharaoh

Distinct for its relaxed atmosphere and sense of intimacy, this Ahkenaten and Nefertiti wall relief portrays Akhenaten and his family seated on casual furniture and facing each other. It depicts the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen never TE enjoying casual play time with their children. In the image, Akhenaten wears his traditional war crown, while Nefertiti is shown wearing her characteristic tall crown and long belted rope.  Above is the sun disk God, Aten, offering his life giving rays to the royal couple. 

This is wall relief is believed to be part of a family altar from the residents of King Akhenaten a Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. He ruled as Amenhotep IV, succeeding his father Amenhotep III.  After becoming Pharaoh, he rejected the established religion and started the cult of the sun disk -- the Aten.  Before his reign, the Egyptians worshiped nearly 2000 gods. The Akhenaten brought the first monotheistic religion to the land of Egypt. He insisted his followers worship only Aten, source of life and light.

The priests of Thebes considered the actions of the Pharaoh heresy, prompting Akhenaten to set up a new court on the east bank of the Nile near what is now Amarna.  The king's power could not be disputed although his monotheistic philosophy was questioned by many. This did not stop the people from following Akhenaten and the nearly 20,000 made their home in Akhenaten el-Armana, a massive city dominated by brilliant art and architecture. Akhenaten's celebration of the Sun God Aten, also brought about changes in Egyptian art. For the first time, Egyptian artists were inspired to create art centered on the celebration of life rather than death.

Stelae - these stone tablet wall release were decorated with paintings and text and often used to commemorate an event. They were crafted both for religious and decorative purposes. It's believed that this relief from around 1353 BC was likely placed in a shrine within a private household.

The relaxed postures and the style in which it was made are radically different from earlier in Egyptian art. Quickly after Akhenaten's reign ended, his influence dwindled. Later pharaohs did their best to erase any traces of his rule and religion. Along with this, much of the art of the period was destroyed as well. This unique relief lives on; however, housed in the Altes Museum in Berlin.

The Greek Statesman Pericles

The bust you see to the left is a replica of a Roman bust of Athenian statesman, scholar and general Pericles.  The Roman version of the Pericles bust is actually a copy of the Greek sculpture that dates back to the fifth century BC. Pericles had tremendous influence over the Athenian assembly. He used the persuasion of speech to initiate such actions as payment for men on jury service and the restricting the definition of Athenian citizenship only to those whose parents were born to Athens. He led the Athenian military against the Spartans along with his many other diplomatic and scholarly achievements. His oration for the soldiers who perished during the Peloponnesian war is considered one of the most eloquent testimonies to the significance of being an Athenian. Pericles' influence extended into the very architecture of Athens, his vision crafting the look of the city. Pericles died in 429 BC from the plague.

Legendary Chinese Ruler's Tomb Discovered

 An 1800 year old tomb has been discovered by Chinese archaeologists. They believe it belongs to the rules tyrant and legendary ruler of the Chinese empire count , it was known as both a sharp military strategist and poet. The tomb was discovered in the central and non-province, near the yellow River not far from the city of and young. Ruled the Kingdom of Wei from the years 208 to 220 AD.  The dig has been in progress for over a year.

Read More about  the Archaelogical Find  at Discovery

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Great Piece on King Tut

This is really good stuff from Heritage Key about KingTut. It discusses the relationship between Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter.  Carter was the archaeologist who discovered King Tut's tomb.  Carnarvon funded the expedition.

If you enjoy a bad burrito, you have this man to thank

Sixty years ago, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer first patented the microwave (January 24, 1950).He got the idea from his work with magnetron tubes used in radar.  While performing experiments with the devices, he realized they were melting the chocolate he had stashed in his pocket.  When some nearby corn become popcorn, they idea was sealed and the microwave was born.  They would sell commercially for over $2000 initially, but now there in nearly every home in America.

Read more momentous discovery anniversaries at Smithsonian.org

The Lost Tomb of Cleopatra

In this video from the Heritage Key channel on YouTube, Dominican archaeologist Kathleen Martinez expresses here belief that she is close to discovering the Lost Tomb of Cleopatra, the last Egyptian Queen.  Martinez has spent ten years researching the possible location of Cleopatra's final resting place and she believes she may have finally solved this riddle.  Martinez was granted two months to investigate the an area outside Alexandria called Taposiris Magna.  That's a blink of an eye in archaeological time, but the team has discovered Greco-Roman artifacts with depictions of Cleopatra that already make the dig a success.  Ultimately, the goal is to unearth the final resting place of Cleopatra and the Martinez's team has been given more time to do so.

Tomb Raiders Ill-Gotten Booty Comes Home to Italy

Representatives of the Italian government have taken possession of two ancient artifacts that have been circulating in the black art market for years.  It's suspected that Giacomo Medici introduced a Corinthian vase into the art market around 1985.  The vase dates back 2,600 years. and is believed to have come from a tomb in the Etruscan City of the Dead.  Also recovered was a fresco painting lifted from an archaeological site near an ancient Pompeii village.  That piece of art is believed to have circulated amongst unscrupulous antiquities collectors for more than 12 years.

Interested in your own legal reproduction of priceless Greek vases and other antiquities?  Check out our wide selection of statues under $50.

An Ancient Christmas Dinner

Ever wonder what a Prehistoric feast might look like?  In this article from Jacqui Wood or Heritage Key, she explores the possibilities of what the Ancient European cultures may have placed at the holiday table.  She suggests that the Celtic Culture was likely to have brought baked trout and simple bean cakes to your feast.  While the Romans dined on wildly exotic meals of sheeps brains all seasoned with intricately prepared sauces and condiments.  Early Christians pallettes were  a bit more aligned with our own today when it comes to holiday treats.  The first Christmas dinners were likely made of cold ham and vegetables, spiced wine and even something akin to a fruitcake.  Who knows, maybe that's still being passed around in your family. 

Read the full article about Ancient Christmas Feasts 

The Case for Neolithic Cannibals...or Maybe Not

A excavation in Herxheim, a 7,0000-year-old archaeological dig site in southwestern Germany is raising questions about cannibalistic activity during the Early Neolithic period.  500 or so remains have been excavated from the site and they show marks and cuts that are indicative of processing before burial.



In Mark Rose's article from Archaeology.org, he explores the contention from Bruno Boulestin and his team in this months issue of Antiquity that  “strong evidence that the site was dedicated to ritual activities in which cannibalism played an important part.”  But others, including Bruce Bower suggest that remains were simply treated before being transported for a proper burial.  Less meat = lighter travel.

Find out more here.

Interested in the Neolithic and Paleolithic periods?  Check out our statues from man's earliest history including the Venus of Willemdorf statue, Venus of Brassempouy, Neolithic Mother Goddess statue and Stonehenge replica.  They're affordable beauty for your home.

Top 5 Gifts for the Even Younger Indiana Jones

Nearly every family has someone on their Christmas list who couldn't be happier than when he's digging in the dirt exercising his inner-Indiana Jones.  I like that kid.  For those looking to put a smile on his face, check out the following gifts that suit the budding archaeologist (or paleotologist).

5.  Lego Indiana Jones 2:  The Adventure Continues ($49.99 on the Xbox 360)

Available on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Nintendo DS this is a must for any would-be Indiana Jones.  It's Legos.  It's Indiana Jones.  Need I say more?  You can pick up the original Indiana Jones Lego adventure NEW at Game Stop for $19.99.

4. Playmobil Egypt

Let your little one rule the Nile with an extensive collection of Egyptian-themed playsets from Playmobil.  Everything from the Pyramids to the Sphinx to Egyptian soliders and grave robbers on camels.  Nice.

3.  Lego Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

It's my second to the last favorite film (just ahead of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).  Chilled monkey brains?  Pass.  But I do like the look of this set which allows you to recreate the mineshaft chase scene.  Could be fun.

2.  A subscription to National Geographic Kids

I takes a special kind of kid to appreciate something like this, but if he's in your family be thankful.  You'll probably be able to borrow money from him someday.

1.  T-Rex 30" Dinorama Cast and Paint Kit

Perfect for the junior paleontologist in your family.  This set allows any kid to enjoy the entire journey a paleontolgist takes from discovery to excavation and then assembly of the skeleton of a T-Rex.  Good times.


 

The Rosetta Stone's Prettier but Lesser Known Cousin

Often referred to as The Persian Rosetta Stone, the Behistun Inscription located in the moutains of Bisotun (modern-day Iran) certainly wins out on looks.  It's part of a carved wall relief which was known as Bagastâna or "the place where gods dwell."  The inscription spans a quarter length of a football field and sits over 100 yards up a steep cliff.  Written in Old Persian, Elamite and Akkadian it enabled the translation of Cuneiform, an ancient script that evolved from Mesopotamia. 

In her article on the Heritage Key, author Paula Veiga considers the influence of the Rosetta Stone and the Behistun Inscription and pits the two against each other in an ancient language steel cage death match. 

Visiting Pompeii in Your Underwear is Now Possible

The World Heritage List is a collection of 890 sites deemed to be of outstanding universal value.  Now you can visit 19 of these historic marvels courtesty of Google's Street View.  Dig the Palace of Versailles in France or chill in the historic town center of Prague all from the comfort of your own home.  My favorite was exploring the ruins of Pompeii.  Nice work Google.

If you're having any trouble navigating.  Look for the path/arrows to move around.  Clicking on the white arrow icon will move your forward from your position.  In the lower left corner, there's a "person" icon that you can position around the street view map.    

The 19 sites are located in Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Street View provides nearly spherical panoramic (360° horizontal and 290° vertical) views taken by cameras mounted on vehicles. Once obtained, these images are overlaid on Google Maps' satellite views - the process can take several months. When the specially-equipped cars cannot reach sites to be photographed, tricycles are used.

Saturnalia, Festivus and Christmas

I've always been a big fan of Festivus.  Who wouldn't appreciate a warm gathering around the aluminum pole followed by the feats of strength and the traditional airing of grievances?  While George Costanza's father's homemade holiday may not have received widespread observance, the ancient Romans had their own holiday similar to Christmas.

Called Saturnalia, it was dedicated to the god Saturn and was celebrated on 17 December and morphed into a week long festival.  This popular Roman festival was marked with merriment and a practice or social role reversal where slaves acted as masters and the masters as slaves, though this was a superficial pretense.  School holidays and exchange of gifts were also part of the rites of Saturnalia.  It's likely this Roman holiday that started around 200 BC had some effect on the ways in which we celebrate Christmas today.

Looking for your own perfect Roman Christmas Present?  The Three Graces statue is a perfect addition to any home.  We also carry a wide selection of Greek statues and art. 

Quetzalcoatl - Aztec God of Intelligence

Quetzacoatl (think ketsal ko atel) was an Aztec god worshiped by Mesoamerican tribes.  His name means Feathered Serpent or Precious Twin.  Quetzalcoatl was a god of creation and giver of lie.  It was held that along with Tezcatlipoca, his counterpart and opposite who rulled the night sky, he created the universe.  Evidence exists of the Mesoamerican cultures worshiping a Feathered serpent deity from the Late Preclassic period (400 BC) through the Postclassic period (1500 AD).  The Aztecs viewed Quetzalcoatl as the god of the winds, the dawn and patron of the merchants, art and knowledge.  He was also seen as the god of the Aztec priests.  Along with Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli, he is the in the upper pantheon of Aztec and Mesoamerican gods.

Check out our collection of Aztec art, solar calendars and bonded stone Mayan wall reliefs.

Paradise Found?

Shangri-La discovered?  While Shangri-La is the creation of author John Hilton in his 1933 novel Lost Horizon, it is based on a Buddhist concept of spiritual paradise known as "Shambhala."  Explorers have discovered a geographic parallel to this paradise inside caves in the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.  Inside the caves, the team of researchers discovered Tibetan Buddhist murals and shrines to Buddha.  These included a 55-panel mural that captured the life of Buddha.  Remains of skeletons and other manuscripts dating back 600 years were also part of the find. These discoveries have obvious parallels to the "hidden valleys" of Buddhism that were the inspiration for Hilton's Shangri-La.

Today the discovery remains at risk of not being preserved.  Looters, earthquakes, erosion and heavy rains all threaten to destroy the caves and the sacred treasures inside.  Many of the manuscripts have been moved for safekeeping, but much of the site remains threatened.  In this preview video from PBS, researchers explore the caves.