The Secret 1,400-Year-Old Mega Tomb Of China's First Emperor

In China, there exists an astonishing place. A burial ground to rival Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, where pyramid tombs of stupendous size are full of astonishing riches. In 221 BC, China's first Emperor united warring kingdoms into a nation that still exists today. To memorialize this achievement, he bankrupted the national treasury and oppressed thousands of workers to build one of the world’s biggest mortuary complexes.

Archaeologists Find Massive 3,000-Year-Old Statue in Cairo Slum

Ramses II expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south. His successors called him the "Great Ancestor."

CAIRO — Archaeologists have found a 26-foot statue submerged in ground water in a Cairo slum that the Antiquities Ministry has hailed as one of the most important discoveries ever.

Experts say it probably depicts revered Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.

The was unearthed near the ruins of Ramses II's temple in the ancient city of Heliopolis, which is located in the eastern part of modern-day Cairo.

"They called me to announce the big discovery of a colossus of a king, most probably Ramses II, made out of quartzite," Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani said in March 2017.

The most powerful and celebrated ruler of ancient Egypt, the pharaoh also known as Ramses the Great was the third of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

He led several military expeditions and expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south. His successors called him the "Great Ancestor."

That year, archaeologists, officials, local residents, and members of the news media looked on as a massive forklift pulled the statue's head out of the water.

The joint Egyptian-German expedition also found the upper part of a life-sized limestone statue of Pharaoh Seti II, Ramses II's grandson, that is 31 inches long.

The sun temple in Heliopolis was founded by Ramses II, lending weight to the likelihood the statue is of him, archaeologists say.

It was one of the largest temples in Egypt, almost double the size of Luxor's Karnak, but was destroyed in Greco-Roman times. Many of its obelisks were moved to Alexandria or to Europe and stones from the site were looted and used for building as Cairo developed.

“It is one of the most important excavations in Egypt,” Dr. Salima Ikram, an archaeologist and professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo who was part of the dig this week told NBC News. She described the new find as “spectacular, the things are astonishing.”

She said the ongoing work at the site is “crucially important because it is basically rescue archaeology of one of the most important religious places in ancient Egyptian history. It is the birthplace of the Sun God and indeed of Egypt and its civilization in terms of Egyptian mythology.”

Experts will now attempt to extract the remaining pieces of both statues before restoring them. If they are successful and the colossus is proven to depict Ramses II, it will be moved to the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum, set to open in 2018.

The discovery was made in the working-class area of Matariya, among unfinished buildings and mud roads.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/egyptia...

Ten Tonnes Of 2,000-Year-Old Copper Coins Unearthed From Ancient Grave

Archaeologists in China have confirmed that the discovery of a staggering 10 tonnes of copper coins in an ancient grave date back to around 2,000 years ago.

The incredible find in an old Western Han Dynasty tomb is now helping to shed light on the life of nobility from ancient times.

Chinese people started using coins as currency in around 1,200 BC, where instead of trading small farming implements and knives, they would melt them down into small round objects and then turn them back into knives and farm implements when needed.

The coins discovered in the tomb date back to around 206 BC - when copper coins replaced the melted down tools.

At the time they were of a very low value and often had holes in the middle so that they could be strung together to create larger denominations.

Around two million of the copper coins were found and are thought to be worth around £104,000 at face value - but a single coin will now sell for thousands of pounds.

The ancient money, which bears Chinese symbols, characters, and a square hole at its centre, were found at a dig site in the city of Nanchang, China.

Along with the tonnes of coins found were also chimes, bamboo slips, and tomb figurines, all of which accompanied deceased nobles of the past when they were buried underground.

The items discovered have promised to help fill in more gaps as historians try to complete the puzzle of ancient Chinese burial customs.

Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ten-tonnes-2-000...

Ancient Cities Discovered Underwater

Are there long lost civilizations beneath the sea? Find out about ancient cities that have been found beneath the depths in this video.

Monsters of Slavic Mythology

The peoples of Russia and various eastern European countries imagined a host of monsters. Many of them have familiar appearances, often resembling other mythical creatures found throughout European and Asian folklore, but there is something unique about the monsters of Slavic mythology that makes them standout in a frightening way. From mischievous nature spirits, to undead abominations, to multi-headed dragons, this program will detail some of the most famous and vile monsters of Slavic mythology!

Intimacy Was More Than We Expected in Ancient Egypt

Step back in time and discover the wild and fascinating world of intimacy in ancient Egypt. From the mysterious rituals of the pharaohs to the everyday lives of the common people, we'll uncover the surprising truths about love, and relationships in one of the most powerful civilizations in history. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be amazed as we delve into the hidden history of ancient Egypt's intimate secrets.

Was Jesus a Magician?

In the following video we will be exploring whether Jesus was actually a magician. Enjoy!

Joe Rogan: Secrets About Ancient Egypt | RE-Dating the Sphinx & Pyramids

Joe Rogan and Graham Hancock discuss geological findings that indicate various megalithic structures in Ancient Egypt are far more Ancient than the 'experts' say they are. This includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, The Great Sphinx, among other smaller pyramids in the area.

The First Monotheistic Religion? - Akhenaten's Religion of Light

Akhenaten's reign as pharaoh of ancient Egypt marked a revolutionary period in the history of religion, as it saw the introduction of what is often considered the world's first monotheistic faith. This radical shift occurred in the 14th century BCE, during the New Kingdom period of Egyptian history.

Akhenaten, initially known as Amenhotep IV, ascended to the throne in a time when the traditional Egyptian religion, with its pantheon of gods and goddesses, was deeply entrenched in the culture. However, early in his reign, Akhenaten initiated religious reforms that dramatically changed the religious landscape of Egypt. He elevated the worship of the sun disk, Aten, above all other gods, effectively diminishing the traditional polytheistic worship.

This new religion, sometimes referred to as Atenism, centered on the worship of Aten as the sole divine power. Unlike the anthropomorphic gods of traditional Egyptian religion, Aten was depicted as a disk emitting rays ending in hands, symbolizing the life-giving and sustaining power of the sun. Akhenaten portrayed himself as the sole intermediary between Aten and the people, a role that previously involved a multitude of priests dedicated to different deities.

Akhenaten's religious reforms went beyond theology; they had profound socio-political implications. He moved the capital from Thebes, a center of worship for the god Amun, to a new city, Akhetaten (modern-day Amarna), dedicated to Aten. This move weakened the powerful priesthood of Amun and centralized religious and political power in the hands of the pharaoh.

Art and literature from this period also underwent significant changes, reflecting the new religious ideology. The artistic style became more realistic and less rigid, breaking away from the traditional stylized form of Egyptian art. Texts and hymns dedicated to Aten, including the Great Hymn to the Aten, reveal a focus on the universal and benevolent aspects of the deity, emphasizing the sun's life-giving force.

However, Akhenaten's monotheistic experiment was short-lived. After his death, his successors, including Tutankhamun, quickly returned to traditional Egyptian polytheism and dismantled much of what Akhenaten had established. The city of Akhetaten was abandoned, and efforts were made to erase the memory of Akhenaten and his monotheistic religion from history, a practice known as damnatio memoriae.

Akhenaten's religious revolution is significant not only for its departure from the established religious order but also for its influence on later monotheistic religions. Some scholars have speculated about possible connections between Atenism and the development of monotheistic traditions in the Near East, including Judaism. Nonetheless, Akhenaten's monotheism stands as a unique and bold foray into monotheistic belief in the ancient world, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of religious expression in human history.

10 Messed Up Things In The Life Of A Roman Gladiator

Even though Ancient Rome was great in theory, it was kind of a mess. Their politics were complicated and often led to fierce rivalries. They were almost always at war with someone, and they had a lot of enemies. But even that isn't as bad as slavery, which happened during this time. Some bad things happened in the lives of Roman gladiators. Roman slaves came from all walks of life, and depending on your skills and who your master was, things could be either bearable or really bad. I'm here to tell you about Roman slaves and what they had to go through, so let's count down the Top 10 Facts Things That Happened In The Life Of A Roman Gladiator.

Ancient Lycian sepulcher discovered in Turkey's Antalya

A 2,400-year-old Lycian sepulcher was discovered during excavations in Turkey's southern Antalya province, near the home of Saint Nicholas of Myra, also known as Santa Claus.

Workers carrying out excavations at private land near Köşkerler neighborhood found the ancient sepulcher and immediately informed authorities upon the discovery.

Nuri Bilgiç, who was operating the construction equipment at the site called gendarmerie forces, who then sought assistance from Demre Lycian Civilizations Museum, Doğan News Agency (DHA) reported.

Museum director Nilüfer Sezgin arrived at the site with a team of three archaeologists and eight workers, who launched excavations to unearth the sepulcher.

The sepulcher measuring five meters in length and four meters in width, is very similar to the sepulchers discovered near the ancient city of Myra, Sezgin said.

She noted that the sepulcher had a single chamber with three lids and was most likely swallowed by alluvium after the Myros streamlet overflew in the sixth century A.D.

Museum officials said that excavations will continue around the site to see if there are any other sepulchers or artifacts.

Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/11...

Skeleton Found in Italy Cave Yields Oldest Neanderthal DNA

These molecules, which could be up to 170,000 years old, could one day help yield the most complete picture yet of Neanderthal life.

The calcite-encrusted skeleton of an ancient human, still embedded in rock deep inside a cave in Italy, has yielded the oldest Neanderthal DNA ever found.

These molecules, which could be up to 170,000 years old, could one day help yield the most complete picture yet of Neanderthal life, researchers say.

Although modern humans are the only remaining human lineage, many others once lived on Earth. The closest extinct relatives of modern humans were the Neanderthals, who lived in Europe and Asia until they went extinct about 40,000 years ago.

In 1993, scientists found an extraordinarily intact skeleton of an ancient human amidst the stalactites and stalagmites of the limestone cave of Lamalunga, near Altamura in southern Italy — a discovery they said had the potential to reveal new clues about Neanderthals.

"The Altamura man represents the most complete skeleton of a single nonmodern human ever found," study co-author Fabio Di Vincenzo, a paleoanthropologist at Sapienza University of Rome, told Live Science. "Almost all the bony elements are preserved and undamaged."

The Altamura skeleton bears a number of Neanderthal traits, particularly in the face and the back of the skull. However, it also possesses features that usually aren't seen in Neanderthals — for instance, its brow ridges were even more massive than those of Neanderthals. These differences made it difficult to tell which human lineage the Altamura man might have belonged to. Moreover, the Altamura skeleton remains partially embedded in rock, making it difficult to analyze.

Now, new research shows that DNA from a piece of the skeleton's right shoulder blade suggests the Altamura fossil was a Neanderthal. The shape of this piece of bone also looks Neanderthal, the researchers said.

In addition, the scientists dated the skeleton to about 130,000 to 170,000 years old. This makes it the oldest Neanderthal from which DNA has ever been extracted. (These bones are not the oldest known Neanderthal fossils — the oldest ones ever found are about 200,000 years old. This isn't the oldest DNA ever extracted from a human, either; that accolade goes to 400,000-year-old DNA collected from relatives of Neanderthals.)

The scientists detailed their findings online March 21, 2015 in the Journal of Human Evolution.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-ne...

The Euphrates River Finally dried up but something Terrible was found!

Since the Euphrates River is on its brink to becoming completely dry, many Christians are keeping a close check on its development.

This is because the Euphrates River is mentioned in the Bible in connection with the fall of four angels after the river has completely dried up. However, very recently, a disturbing footage shows a location that made unusual sounds. It was reported that the location was on the Euphrates River, and the sound came from under the ground that came out through a breach.

The people who lived in the area believed that the voice was the voice of fallen angels that were imprisoned so that they could make a sound like they were asking for help.

What does this mean for people all around the world, and is the prophecy that was written in the Bible coming true? Is it possible that these noises are being made by angels who have been cast down? In today's video, we investigate the mysterious sounds that were captured in a clip that has believers all around the world in a state of shock.