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World Mysteries Map

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Let’s discuss about ancient sites, mysteries and wonders.

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SJ_constantine has posted on World Mysteries Map

Antissa, Lesbos, Greece

Jan, 2023

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Name of mystery

The Cult of Orphius

Description

The cult of Orphism is an ancient mystery sect, shrouded in myth and legend, that is believed to have been founded by the mythical poet Orpheus. Its followers believed in reincarnation and original sin, yet very little is known about the cult's practices and beliefs due to the limited evidence available and the fact that only initiates were ever fully privy to the cult's secrets. Over the last century, however, archaeologists and historians have discovered scraps of evidence that have shed light on the group's mythology and practices. The cult of Orphism raises many questions, the most pertinent of which being who their founder Orpheus was. According to legend, Orpheus was a renowned poet, musician, and prophet from Thrace who could charm and influence all living things, even stone itself, through his musical abilities. While his origins differ slightly in different accounts, the consensus is that he was of Thracian origins and was born near Mount Olympus — possibly in the ancient town of Pimpleia. Orpheus’ mother was the Muse Calliope, while his father is thought by many, including the poet Pindar, to have been the mythological Thracian king Oeagrus or the god Apollo. Perhaps the most famous myth about Orpheus is his descent into the Underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. After Eurydice's untimely death, Orpheus sang a song of grief so moving that both the heavens and the earth learned of his loss. Inspired, Orpheus journeyed to the Underworld to find his love, using his supernatural music to dissuade all obstacles and eventually met with the lords of the Underworld, Hades and Persephone. Hades allowed Orpheus and Eurydice to return to the land of the living, but Orpheus failed to follow the one condition of not looking back at Eurydice until they reached their destination. Orpheus returned to the land of the living consumed by guilt and grief. The final myth about Orpheus deals with his death, and there are different versions each ending the same. Orpheus meets his end at the hands of Maenads, female worshipers of god Dionysus. The Maenads kill him after he rejects their advances, for either he has sworn off love after his failed attempt to save his wife Eurydice or because he rejected all women seeking the company of men only. Though Orpheus never appears in Homer or Hesiod's works, he is referenced by numerous ancient writers such as Strabo, Pindar, and Apollodorus. The Orphic Hymns which form the basis of the Orphic Theogony are attributed to Orpheus, yet the unlikelihood of the mythic Orpheus ever having existed in the first place calls his authorship into question. That said, his legend likely inspired other writers to establish the cult of Orphism, which differs significantly from other religious practices of the time through its belief in Metempsychosis (reincarnation), the concept of original sin, and a strong leaning towards monotheism in their devotion to Dionysus-Zagreus. Orphics adhered to an ascetic lifestyle to avoid further contamination of their souls, and they believed in avoiding harming or bringing injustices to any living soul, thereby avoiding eating meat and beans. Furthermore, there are accounts that they took vows of celibacy, similar to some versions of their founder Orpheus after his failed attempt to save Eurydice. The cult of Orphism is yet another ancient mystery that continues to captivate the modern world, be it through the figure of Orpheus or through their unique beliefs and practices. Although the truth of what happened within the cult remains shrouded in mystery, the scraps of evidence uncovered over the last century can provide some insight into the cult's mythology and practices. The cult of Orphism is an important part of the cultural landscape of the ancient world, and its legacy still lives on today.

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9PG38G22+22

Jan, 2023

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Name of mystery

In 1908, a massive explosion occurred in the Tunguska region of Siberia, Russia. The explosion, which was equivalent to the detonation of around 15 megatons of TNT, flattened over 800 square miles of forest. The cause of the explosion has been the subject of much debate, with theories ranging from a meteorite impact to a UFO crash. Despite numerous investigations, the exact cause of the Tunguska event remains unknown.

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The Tunguska Explosion

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Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate 3512201, Egypt

Jan, 2023

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Name of mystery

The Great Sphinx is a massive limestone statue of a lion with a human head, located near the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The statue is believed to have been built during the reign of the pharaoh Khafre, who ruled Egypt in the 25th century BC. However, some scholars argue that the statue is much older, potentially dating back to the pre-dynastic period of Egypt around 5000 BC. The lack of inscriptions or other evidence has made it difficult to determine the exact age of the Great Sphinx.

Description

The Age of the Great Sphinx

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1 Soho Square, London W1D 3PT, UK

Jan, 2023

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Name of mystery

Voynich Manuscript

Description

What would a book created in an alternate universe look like ? Well , it would look a bit like the Voynich Manuscript. This strange tome dates back to the early 15th century, when an unknown author created a book filled with strange illustrations and an indecipherable code, the nature of which is still to be unlocked. The book, which is named after the Polish-American book dealer Wilfrid Voynich, who bought it in 1912, has been studied by experts for centuries, but no one has been able to decode the text or understand the illustrations which show odd plants and animal life which has never been known to exist. The manuscript is considered to be one of the most mysterious and enigmatic books in the world, and despite attempts at the top code breakers at the CIA, it's true meaning remains a mystery to this day.

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11 Cannon St, London EC4M 9BP, UK

Jan, 2023

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Name of mystery

London Stone

Description

The London Stone dates back to ancient times although the exact date is unknown. The stone, which is a large, unassuming block of limestone, was once believed to be a sacred object, and was said to have been used by the Druids as a place of worship. The stone was later incorporated into the wall of a building in the city of London, where it remained for centuries. In the 19th century, the stone was moved to its current location in Cannon Street, where it remains to this day. The true origins and significance of the London Stone remain a mystery, with some speculating that it may have been a marker for a Roman road, or even a religious relic from a lost civilization.

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Oak Island Nova Scotia B0J 3M0, Canada

Jan, 2023

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Oak Island Money Pit

Description

The famous Oak Island Money Pit dates back to the late 1700s, when a young man named Daniel McGinnis discovered a circular depression on Oak Island, Nova Scotia. The pit was dug deep into the ground and was filled with layers of logs, charcoal, and clay. Many believe that the pit holds a treasure trove of precious metals and jewels, but efforts to uncover its secrets have been met with a series of deadly traps and booby traps. Today the team at Discovery host a show about the money pit now going on 18 seasons. That show has discovered gold flakes and other tangential evidence that leads them to believe there is a lost treasure on the island but up until today the treasure itself is yet to be found.

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Lovelock Cave,Nevada

Dec, 2022

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Name of mystery

The Lovelock Giants

Description

For centuries, legends of a race of giants living in the Lovelock Cave in Nevada have been passed down through generations of the Paiute tribe. These red-haired, white giants, known as the Si-Te-Cah, were said to be vicious, unfriendly and cannibalistic. But were these giants real? Or are they a myth? The first written account of the giants came from Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins, daughter of a Paiute Indian chief. In her book, Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims, she describes the giants as a race of red-haired, white “barbarians” who were driven out by the Paiutes after years of warfare. According to legend, the giants sought refuge in the Lovelock Cave, only to be driven out by smoke created by a fire set at the entrance. The cave is located 20 miles south of modern day Lovelock, Nevada and was once underneath Lake Lahontan, an ancient lake that once covered most of northern Nevada during the last ice age. The cave was discovered in 1886 by John T. Reid, a mining engineer from Lovelock, who was told of the legend by local Indians. Reid was unsuccessful in getting an archeological dig started immediately, but two miners, James Hart and David Pugh, realized the value of guano as an ingredient of gunpowder, and created a company to start digging it out in 1911. A year later a team led by L.L. Loud of the University of California. During the excavation, Loud and his team uncovered thousands of artifacts, including tools, bones, baskets, and weapons. Most notably, 60 average-height mummies were discovered, as well as a sandal measuring 15 inches in length, and a donut-shaped stone with 365 notches carved along the outside and 52 corresponding A second dig took place in 1924 and after finishing the excavations, Loud collaborated on a report that was published in 1929. What Loud found was nothing short of amazing. Approximately 10,000 archaeological specimens were uncovered including tools, bones, baskets, and weapons. According to the report, 60 average-height mummies were unearthed. Duck decoys (among the oldest known in the world with feathers still attached) and a sandal over 15 inches (38 cm) long were excavated. A donut-shaped stone with 365 notches carved along the outside and 52 corresponding notches inside was found, which some scientists believe is a calendar. Interestingly, radiocarbon dating done on follow up visits found vegetable material dating back to 2030 BC, a human femur dating to 1450 BC, human muscle tissue dating 1420 BC, and basketry dating back to 1218 BC. Archaeologists concluded from this that human occupation of Lovelock cave, by this culture, started in 1500 BC. Today's anthropologists call the people who lived in the area the Lovelock Culture with the Period lasting some 3,000 years. Many archaeologists believe that the Lovelock Culture was replaced by Northern Paiutes. The debate regarding the veracity of the claims made regarding the Lovelock Giants has been ongoing for more than a century. Skeptics have argued that chemical staining of the earth after burial is the likely reason why mummified remains have red hair instead of black, like most Indians in the area. A study done at the University of Nevada indicates the “giants” were about six feet (1.83 m) tall, and not up to 8 feet (2.44 m) tall as had been claimed. The discovery at Lovelock Cave is significant in an archaeological context because it is an example of a legend being confirmed by archaeological evidence. Many of the original artifacts found at Lovelock can be viewed at a small natural history museum located in Winnemucca, Nevada. Objects such as the duck decoys are housed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., and the basketry and bones belong to the Nevada State Museum. The mysterious giants of Lovelock Cave have captivated the public's imagination for generations, and the debate over their existence remains ongoing. But what is certain is that the site is an important archaeological window into the past, offering us a unique glimpse into the lives of a lost race and the culture they created.

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North Atlantic Ocean

Dec, 2022

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Name of mystery

Missing Crew of Mary Celeste

Description

On the morning of December 4th, 1872, the crew of the Dei Gratia spotted the Mary Celeste, seemingly abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. The crew of the Dei Gratia found and boarded the Mary Celeste and found it completely empty, with the food and supplies still intact. All that was missing were the crew and passengers. No one has ever been able to explain what happened to the Mary Celeste and its crew. Some believe that the captain, Benjamin Briggs, may have seen something that caused him to panic and order the crew to abandon ship. Theories suggest that the crew may have encountered a mysterious fog, or a mutiny among the crew. However, whatever happened to the ship and its crew remains a mystery to this day. The crew of the Mary Celeste was comprised of experienced sailors and would not have likely panicked in the face of such sea born dangers. The mystery of the Mary Celeste remains unsolved to this day, leaving many unanswered questions and the possibility of a never-ending debate.

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Easter Island, Vaitea

Dec, 2022

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Name of mystery

The Rongorongo Script

Description

It all began on the already mysterious Easter Island, where a strange and unknown script was found carved into stone tablets of unknown date and origin. First mentioned in 1866 in a report by Eugène Eyraud and hypothesized to be a type of proto-language, no one could decipher this script and some even believed it to be of supernatural origin. When scholars attempted to study the Rongo-Rongo script further, they were met with only more questions - who wrote it? Where did this script come from? What secrets does it hold? Still today, the Rongo-Rongo script remains a mystery. Despite all attempts, no one has been able to unravel its secrets and decipher its meaning. Could it simply be an ancient form of writing or does this strange language hide something more profound - some secret knowledge that could unlock the mysteries of our past and shape our future? We may never know the answers to these questions but with advances in supercomputing and machine learning there may yet be hope to unlock this enigma which continues to baffle us even to this day. One thing is for sure: until someone can crack this code, we may never know what lies behind the mystery of Easter Island.

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Gongxian County, China

Dec, 2022

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Name of mystery

China's sky graveyards

Description

Deep in the mountains of southwestern China, the mysterious Hanging Coffins of the Bo people have mystified locals and travelers alike for centuries. The coffins are believed to date back to the 1550s and were used to safely bury the dead in the cliff sides. These ancient burial sites are placed in areas that are impossible to access without the help of a rope or ladder, making them all the more mysterious. The coffins are made of hollowed-out logs, and some of them are still adorned with carvings and decorations. What makes them so intriguing is their placement – some are placed as high as 160 feet above the ground, and some appear to be arranged in rows, as if the deceased were members of a family or tribe. Scientists have suggested that the coffins were placed in such inaccessible locations for spiritual reasons, but the full story behind this ancient practice remains a mystery.

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