Hello again! How did everyone fare this week? I hope all is well with each and every one of you out there. I am fine and excited to write more about dinosaurs (one of my favorite subjects)! So we will get right to the question of the week:
Are there any other reliable resources in addition to the bible where dragons/dinosaurs are mentioned in early history?
Yes there are. We can divide these sources into two groups: written accounts and pictures, carvings, and sculptures etc.. This week we will look into the later.
All around the world we find paintings and carvings on pottery, cave walls and rocks. We also find sculptures in the far corners of our planet that depict dinosaur/dragon like creatures.
For example on the Ishtar Gate, constructed in 576 B.C., entrance to the city of Babylon has an inlaid tile piece of a dinosaur known as Sirrush. Interesting enough, depiction in Babylonian art of this creature was consistent over many centuries. And Sirrush is shown on the Ishtar Gate alongside extant (remember this means living today [as opposed to extinct]) animals such as lions and bulls. (see picture of Sirrush).
From Africa, there is a beautiful mosaic called the Nile Mosaic of Palestrina. It shows Nile scenes from Egypt all the way to Ethiopia. It is thought to be the work of Demetrius, an artist from Alexandria who came to work in Rome. A portion of the mosaic depicts African animals being hunted by native tribesmen. They are pursuing what could only be a dinosaur. “The Greek Letters above the reptilian animal in question are: KROKODILOPARDALIS which is literally translated Crocodile-Leopard. The picture shown here is only a small portion of the massive mosaic. It also contains clear depictions of known animals, including Egyptian crocodiles and hippos.” (Finley, The Light of the Past, 1965, p. 93.) (see picture of crocodile-leopard).
In Indonesian, there is a piece of art, depicting a dinosaur having a striking resemblance to a Corythosaurus and is being hunted by ancient Indonesian people. (Bodrogi, Tibor, Art of Indonesia, plate #10, 1973.) (see picture of corythosaurus)
Another sculpted creature was discovered from the Shang dynasty (B.C. 1766-1122). It shows relief lines in a scale-like pattern, a broad beak, a dermal frill, and a headcrest similar to a Saurolophus dinosaur (see picture of saurolophus).
In Australia, Aboriginal peoples around Lake Galilee and the northern tribes tell of a long-necked creature with a large body and flippers. “Elders of the Kuku Yalanji aboriginal tribe of Far North Queensland, Australia, relate stories of Yarru (or Yarrba), a creature which used to inhabit rain forest water holes. The painting [left] depicts a creature with features remarkably similar to a plesiosaur. It even shows an outline of the gastro-intestinal tract, indicating that these animals had been hunted and butchered.” (CEN Technical Journal, Vol.12, No. 3, 1998, p. 345.) (see picture of Yarru).
Traveling to the western hemisphere, in North America, we also find picture recording (pictographs) of dinosaurs/dragons. Horned and flying serpent figures are found in Native American legends and are often associated with rain and thunder. An example is the Algonquin pictograph of a flying serpent known as Mishipizheu. In the San Rafael Swell, there is a pictograph looking very similar to a pterosaur. (see picture of pterosaur Mishipizheu).
And in the Wupatki National Park. There is a petroglyph depicting a fire-breathing dinosaur/dragon. Though there is no certain way to date such petroglyphs, this carving is thought to be several hundred years old. (see picture fire breathing dragon).
Another fascinating petroglyph of a dinosaur/dragon resembling a sauropod is from the Anasazi Indians (150 B.C. – 1200 A.D.). “Even noted anti-creationists agree that it resembles a dinosaur and that the brownish film which has hardened over the picture, along with the pitting and weathering, attests to its age.” (see pictures Anasazi sauropod).
Journeying down to south America, there are the ica stones. Please look at the pictures of these well carved depictions of dinosaurs/dragons. Take note especially of the markings on the T-rex. Interestingly enough, years after these stones were discovered, dinosaur skin of T-rex was unearthed, and low and behold, it had circular rings on it! Do you know why the people carved the T-rex’s depicting circular rings their hides? I believe it is because those people lived amongst T-rexes.
And I have the bible to back me up. After all, God said he made the land animals and Adam on day six. He then instructed everyone to multiply. And, God saw that two of every kind of land animal came aboard the Ark. Last week we went over many more accounts of dinosaurs/dragons mentioned in the bible. Next week, we will go over ancient written documentation of these remarkable creatures.
Until then, may you all have a safe week, and dream of dinosaurs and dragons!
God Bless and take care,
Willow
Reference:
Dragons, Legends and Lore of Dinosaurs, 2011, Master Books, pgs 3, 5, and 9.
No comments:
Post a Comment