5 Unrelated Prehistoric & Modern Animals That Look the Same

Prehistoric animals, like dinosaurs, are often regarded with more awe as they no longer exist, therefore an aura of mysticism revolves around them. However, thanks to a nifty process in nature called convergent evolution, we may have a better idea, than some would think, on what certain prehistoric beasts really looked like, and sometimes convergent evolution can be so extreme, that it more or less provides us with a window into the past, as seen with these 5 examples!

Filthy Secrets of the Real Assassin’s Creed

Two mysterious, cloaked figures lurk in the shadows, sneaking along dirt roads in 12th century Jerusalem. They’re following an influential politician, an Italian who had just been named King of Jerusalem after a brief victory for the Christians during the crusades. The king’s entourage rounds a corner, and the cloaked men jump out and attack. One of the men is taken out by the guards, martyring himself. The other is captured, while the king eventually succumbs to his injuries.

If you think this sounds like something out of Assassin’s Creed, you’re right. But it also comes straight from the history books.

Today, we’re looking at the Nizari Ismaili (iz-mah-ee-lee), the real-life assassin cult that nearly toppled empires.

Introduction to the the Oxus Civilization / Bactria-Margiana Complex

This program takes a look at the exciting and ancient world of the Oxus Civilization, also known as the Bactria-Margiana Complex, or BMAC for short. It's called by some the 5th great river civilization after those of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and China. The BMAC also has some of the most exquisite artwork from the Bronze Age.

The 5,000-Year-Old Yamnaya Copper Club

This Yamnaya warrior was buried in a kurgan (burial mound) on the steppe with this mighty weapon from prehistoric warfare. Is it the mythical weapon of Indra; the cudgel Vajra? What does it have to do with Hercules and Thor?

We discuss the mythology of the Striker-Thunderer and talk about Yamnaya burial practices and how this image of the Yamnaya warrior inspired my work.

The Indo-European myth of the Striker / Thunderer is seen in the forms of Thor, Herakles, and Indra. He is a thunder god - the sun of the sky father - who strikes with a hammer or an axe or club / cudgel. He makes thunder, sends lightning bolts crashing to earth, and he is a wandering hero who slays the serpent and other monsters.

Elements of the Striker / Thunderer merged with the figure of the sky father in the form of Zeus while the heroic deeds and monster slaying elements found expression in his sons Herakles and Perseus. Thor has a short handled hammer while Herakles famously has his wooden club.

This deity's name amongst the ancient steppe herders may have been Perkwunos meaning 'the Striker' or 'the Lord of Oaks' because of the way lightning tends to strike oak trees. In the most cosmic version of his myth the god uses his celestial weapon to strike down the monster who is holding back the life giving waters.

10 Most Bizarre Creatures Found In Antarctica

From gooey fish with enormous eyes to a mysterious monster that prowls the ice, here are ten of the weirdest creatures ever found in Antarctica. Watch the video and enjoy!

History's Real Life Vampire Vlad The Impaler

Welcome to the strange and gruesome world of Vlad the Impaler, a man known for his love of impaling his enemies and earning the nickname "Dracula." But was he really the bloodthirsty monster that history remembers him as, or was he just a product of a cruel and violent time? Join us as we delve into the life and legend of Vlad the Impaler and separate fact from fiction!

The Αncient Underwater 5,000- Year-Old Sunken City in Greece is considered to be the Oldest Submerged Lost City in the World

We are most fascinated by underwater finds, whether they are the ruins of sunken ships, long-lost cities, or buried relics. The lost city of Pavlopetri, which scientists think is the oldest submerged city in the world, is a great example of the riddles that surround such findings.

Aerial drone photo of the prehistoric settlement of Pavlopetri, a sunken city and archaeological site just below the surface in Peloponnese, Greece. Image Credit: Aerial-motion/Shutterstock

The Peloponnesus region of southern Greece's Pavlopetri is home to Pavlopetri, which is believed to be about 5,000 years old and predates the illustrious heroes of Homer. Pavlopetri is situated just off southern Laconia. Folkion Negris, a geologist, initially recognized it in 1904, but Nicholas Flemming of the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Southampton rediscovered it in 1967. He said the Bronze Age city was submerged in water that was about 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) deep. Then, over the course of six weeks in 1968, Flemming went to the location with a team of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge to survey the massive ruins.

The team created a plan of the city using a grid system and hand tapes, which are used to mark the boundaries of an area to be explored. They estimated that the city covered an area of 300 meters by 150 meters (980 feet by 490 feet) and had at least 15 different buildings, as well as courtyards, five streets, two tombs, and at least 37 cist graves, a small stone-built ossuary used to hold bones. Additionally, they discovered that the underwater city continued southward onto Pavlopetri itself, where the ruins of walls and other artifacts were discovered.

The team also discovered other relics on the seafloor while doing their investigation, including pottery, obsidian and chert blades, and a small bronze figurine that they estimated to have been manufactured between 2800 and 1180 BCE. However, it was discovered that the majority of the structures in the sunken city date to the Mycenaean era, roughly 1650–1180 BCE.

The site at Pavlopetri didn't attract any more attention for about 40 years after that. A five-year initiative to thoroughly investigate the city was launched in 2009 by a team of researchers from the University of Nottingham, the Hellenic Centre for Maritime Research, and the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Greek Ministry of Culture. Through a thorough digital underwater archaeological survey and several underwater excavations, the team aimed to learn more about Pavlopetri's past.

The researchers' investigation led to the discovery of an additional 9,000 square meters (97,000 square feet) of brand-new structures, including a sizable rectangular hall and buildings that flanked a previously undiscovered street. Additionally, they discovered pithos burials, which are sizable potteries used to preserve bodies before inhumation or cremation, and graves with stone linings.

New ceramics were also found, which supported the Mycenaean occupation, and there was evidence that the city had been inhabited from roughly 3000 BCE until 1100 BCE throughout the Bronze Age. The city would have been home to 500 to 2,000 people at this period.

Aspect of a virtual reconstruction of the settlement's possible original layout (ANA-MPA/BRITISH SCHOOL OF ATHENS/STR)

Although the exact circumstances that sent Pavlopetri to the ocean floor remain a mystery, some have theorized that it may have been sunk by an earthquake that took place either around 1000 BCE or 375 CE.

Given that Pavlopetri is the oldest sunken city ever discovered and predates the time when Plato wrote his allegory of the mythical island of Atlantis (which never existed), some have immediately hypothesized that Pavlopetri was the model for his imagined island.

Source: https://www.iflscience.com/pavlopetri-the-...

Jordan River Finally Dried Up and Now something is going Terribly Wrong

A once-flowing river, the symbol of hope and renewal for thousands of years, has dried up completely. And believe it or not, this is not a good thing at all! The Jordan River, which stretches from Syria to Israel and beyond, has finally stopped flowing after centuries of being an essential water source for millions of people. But as we will discover in this video, something terrible is happening now that the river is gone. Get ready for a shocking insight into one of the most significant environmental issues plaguing our planet today: what happens when rivers dry up?

The Jordan River is one of the most important rivers in the world. It is the main source of water for the countries of Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. Millions of people rely on the river for their drinking water. The river has been drying up for years. In 2007, the Israeli government stopped allowing any water to be taken from the river for irrigation. This was done in an attempt to save the river. However, the river continued to dry up. In 2010, only 10% of the river's original flow remained. The situation became so dire that in 2013, the World Bank released a report saying that the Jordan River could completely dry up by 2022. Now, it seems that the worst has come to pass. The Jordan River has finally dried up.

Amazing Ancient Ruins Around The World That You Need To See

The world is littered with ancient ruins of man-made cities and settlements dating back thousands of years. We have compiled for you the ruins that represent the extraordinary achievements of humanity in various cultures and civilizations from South America to Mesopotamia and from Africa to Asia.