Xenomythology

Xenomythology

Fact or fanfiction?

The Baptism of Christ, Aert de Gelder, 1710

Have you wondered if there is life out there in space? Many have, and many believe that there is. You may have even imagined that one day, we may discover another civilization in a galaxy, far, far away from our own.

But what if they already visited us? What if they visited us long, long ago, when humanity wasn't ready? Thus, advanced technology is deemed supernatural, and aliens are worshipped as gods. What if this is the true origin of mythology?

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The Paleocontact Theory

This is a real theory that some have that has been popularized in the modern day by the TV show Ancient Aliens. This speculation was brought to life in the 1960s by two well-known astrophysicists, Carl Sagan (yes, THE Carl Sagan) and Iosif Shklovsky in their book, Intelligent Life in the Universe (1966). In the book, they devote a chapter to the possibility of alien contact being made long before recorded history.

While this theory was mere speculation, it was enough to inspire an entire sub-genre of writing and thinking. The "ancient aliens" trend, along with all trends, had a pioneer. His name was Erich von Däniken, and he was crazy. Through his bestseller, Chariots of the Gods? (1968), Erich popularized the theory of paleocontact (alien contact made before recorded history).

Of course, the global scientific community was skeptical. Sagan and Shklovsky's paleocontact theory was mere speculation, but ancient mythology stories backed it up. One piece of evidence is the tale of Oannes in ancient Sumerian mythology. Oannes was a fish-like bipedal creature that resembled and behaved like a human. They, along with other similar looking creatures, spread the concept of civilization to humans. Sagan and Shklovsky believe in the possibility of the stories being true tales of alien contact due to the story's consistency and detail despite its extreme age.

““Stories like the Oannes legend, and representations especially of the earliest civilizations on Earth, deserve much more critical studies than have been performed heretofore, with the possibility of direct contact with an extraterrestrial civilization as one of many possible alternative explanations.” ”

— Intelligent Life in the Universe (1966), Shlovsky and Sagan p. 461

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Erich's Evidence

On the other hand, Erich's hypothesis is based on "out-of-place artifacts," artifacts found that "couldn't possibly be made" by humans with their primitive technology. Erich was the first to propose that megalithic sites were built by aliens or by humans who were granted the know-how by aliens. These sites include the Pyramids of Giza, the Moai of Easter Island and Stonehenge.

Photo by Joshua Michaels on Unsplash, Photo by Thomas Griggs on Unsplash, Photo by Debbie Grap on Unsplash

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Erich also believes that certain prehistoric artwork supports his points. One infamous example is the Egyptian "helicopter hieroglyphs." You may have seen them before, surrounded by obnoxious circles and arrows. Another is the Dogū figurines made in Japan, which Erich says, "resemble astronauts."

Pictured are what some theorize to be ancient descriptions of advanced technology, such as tanks, helicopters and jet planes.

Dogū Statue

Created around 1000-400 BCE in Japan

Supposedly resembles an astronaut

The most significant piece of evidence Erich has up his sleeve resides in the Bible. In the first chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel has a vision. Ezekiel recounts this vision being of an "immense cloud" of fire, spewing lightning and "brilliant light." In the cloud's fire came "what looked like four living creatures" that were winged and resembled humans. The creatures "sped back and forth like flashes of lightning" and "fire moved back and forth among the creatures." The creatures were also accompanied by four shiny objects, each appearing "like a wheel intersecting a wheel." The things moved as the creatures moved, following them.

While the Bible states that Ezekiel saw angels, Erich believes that Ezekiel saw spaceships. It sounds preposterous until you see an artist's depiction of what Ezekiel saw…

Yeah, I'm going to believe Erich on this one.

Pseudoscientific Nonsense

While this theory is fun to imagine, the idea of ancient aliens is not taken seriously by academics. Erich and other paleocontact-believers are often accused of pushing "pseudoscience" and "pseudoarcheology." Egyptologists debunked the "helicopter hieroglyphs" as pareidolia, deriving from large distribution of doctored images, resulting in missing vital details. As for Erich's book, another book refutes all of Erich's points; that book is The Space Gods Revealed (1976) by Richard Story.  

In his book Broca's Brain (1979), Carl Sagan acknowledges his influence of the ancient aliens theory. Sagan expresses his disapproval of "von Däniken and other uncritical writers" and reiterates his earlier conclusion that extraterrestrial visits to Earth were possible but unproven and improbable.

It turns out the truth isn't here, but it may still be out there.

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:thinking:

Trey Turner

Trey is an eighteen-year-old way over his oversized head. He is Cree from Eeyou Istchee in Northern Quebec. When he isn’t on Twitch or YouTube—he can be found in his bedroom, unconscious.

Twitter: @kr00si

Instagram: @krewsi

Forest Fables - The Cryptid Files

Photo by Vladimir Agafonkin on Unsplash

Did you know that forests cover about 30% of Earth, and some forests are estimated to be over a million years old?

Who knows what secrets they’ve hidden or are still hiding to this day?

Throughout history, many groups have theorized about fantastical creatures that lurk in the trees. Today we’ll be looking at the most terrifying ones I could find (and stomach). These horrors include cannibalistic demons, tantalizing spirits and a familiar face.

Let us delve into the wilderness and see who taps our shoulder first.

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Wendigo

When I hear the word “Wendigo,” chills run down my spine. Tales of Wendigo derive from Algonquian-speaking First Nations, including the Algonquin, Abenaki, Siksika, Mi’kmaq, Ojibwe and Innu. The legend of Wendigo has existed for centuries, long before European arrival. The first European-written account of Wendigo was in the 16th century, written by Paul Le Jeune, a Jesuit missionary.

Wendigo is a cannibalistic monster that preys on weak and socially disconnected humans. According to Algonquian oral traditions, when a human’s spirit is overrun with greed or broken by extreme conditions, that human is prone to becoming a Wendigo. Legends vary; humans either transform by themselves or get possessed by a spirit.

Like its other details, Wendigo’s appearance and abilities vary. It is sometimes described as incredibly thin, to the point where the bones protrude out the host’s clammy skin. Scarier stories state that Wendigo is a giant that becomes larger the more it eats.

Wendigo is said to develop antlers or horns on its head, and its eyes are sunken or glowing. Other traits of Wendigo are incredibly sharp teeth, horrid breath and body odour. The abilities of Wendigo include superhuman strength and stamina, and animalistic senses.

Luckily for us, Wendigo is not invincible. It is said to be vulnerable to fire and conventional weaponry. Other claims state that the icy heart of a Wendigo must be cut out and incinerated to kill it. However, other legends claim that the only person who can kill a Wendigo is a First Nations shaman with a specific spell and ceremony.

Make sure to pack enough food for your next camping trip, lest you risk becoming a Wendigo.

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Will-o’-The-Wisp

Have you ever been walking at night and sworn to yourself that you saw a bright light in the corner of your eye? You may have caught a glimpse of our next creature: Will-o’-the-wisp.

Originating from numerous European folk beliefs, Will-o’-the-wisp is a ghostly spirit or fairy that resembles a light. It is often seen at night, especially within swamps. It is an evil spirit that leads naïve travellers to supposed treasure but actually into danger. Its name comes from an 18th-century fairy tale about a sprite (ghost/fairy) named Will “who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.” It is more commonly known as ignis fatuus, which means “foolish fire” in Latin.

Will-o’-the-wisp isn’t just a European folktale, but an international one. Tales come from Canada, the United States, Norway, Thailand, Australia and many more locations worldwide. Famous examples include the St. Louis Light in Saskatchewan, the annual Naga fireballs on the Mekong River in Thailand, and the Min Min lights in outback Australia.

As per usual, modern science ruins the fun. Scientists discovered the causation behind the Will-o’-the-wisp and similar tales. It is caused by the oxidation of phosphine, diphosphane, and methane, all compounds common in swamps. Produced by organic decay, these compounds, during oxidation, can create very quick flares of flame. No fairies here!

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Bigfoot

You can’t talk about cryptids without mentioning the big man himself, Bigfoot.

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a large, ape-like creature that is said to live in the forests on the West Coast of North America. Origins of Bigfoot come from Native American tribes in the region, such as the Lummi, the Nlaka’pamux and the Wyandot people, to name a few. Better known origins come from footprints taken in 1811 by David Thompson and alleged photographs and video recordings by Roger Patterson in 1967.

Bigfoot is commonly described as muscular, covered in fur, stinky and the owner of, well, big feet. Footprints said to come from Bigfoot exceed 24 inches long and eight inches wide. It is said by some to belong to a nearly extinct species of humans who survive in isolation. Some say this race is related to similar legends like the Yeti of Asia, the Almas of Siberia, or the Himalayas' Abominable Snowman.

Bigfoot's legend is shrouded in mystery, but unfortunately, mostly around the legitimacy of its existence. Since its popularization between the 60s and the 80s, countless amounts of evidence have been debunked or deduced as forged. “Bigfoot tracks” belong to bears, videos are staged and photos are altered. Lab results support this skepticism. In 2017, fur analysis of supposed “Yeti fur” showed that the hair samples belonged to bears in the region. A final example, a “Yeti tooth,” belonged to a dog.

Still, I would like to believe. I’ve heard first-hand eyewitness accounts of strange tall men spotted in the wilderness. These stories don’t come from liars either. Alas, the elusive Bigfoot has yet to be caught and is likely never to be.

So stay safe out there! Practice diligence when adventuring out into the woods, and be sure to pack enough food, supplies and a camera if you see Bigfoot!

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:thinking:

Trey Turner

Trey is an eighteen-year-old way over his oversized head. He is Cree from Eeyou Istchee in Northern Quebec. When he isn’t on Twitch or YouTube—he can be found in his bedroom, unconscious.

Twitter: @kr00si

Instagram: @krewsi

How to Survive the Apocalypse, According to the Mayans

Photo by Max Letek on Unsplash

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Every generation lives through an apocalypse or two.

Be it Y2K, the yearly Rapture claims or COVID-19, everyone likes to theorize about the end of days. However, this is no new phenomenon; we’ve had the nutjob on the street warning us for centuries. Records from ancient civilizations speak of prophesized world-ending events, ranging from angry gods to… well, other angry gods.

We’ll be looking at the ancient Aztec peoples’ myths for their tips and tricks on coping with impending, unstoppable, cataclysmic destruction.

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In the Beginning…

According to the Aztecs, the universe was void until the first god created themself. Their name was Ometeotl. They were two beings, male and female, and symbolized duality. Ometeotl gave birth to four male gods (also known as Tezcatlipocas). Ometeotl is described as metaphysical, so they don’t participate in Earthly matters. This list states each son:

·       Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, mercy and wind.

·       Huitzilopochtli, the god of war.

·       Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming, and Springtime.

·       Tezcatlipoca (Mayan for god. Yes, his name is just “God”): the god of judgment, night, deceit, sorcery, and the Earth.

The Mayans believed that there were four “Suns” (worlds) before ours, and we currently reside in the fifth and final one. Let’s look at the worlds that came before ours and try to learn from the gods’ (or our own) mistakes. Each Sun’s tale is labelled below, along with their cause of destruction.

First Sun: Humble Beginnings

The Four Sons created other gods and the first humans, who were giants. To create light, the four needed someone to become the sun. They decided on Tezcatlipoca, which was a terrible decision because Tezcatlipoca is the god of night—the exact opposite of the sun. He’s also missing a leg from an encounter with a primordial sea monster, Cipactli. Regardless, Tezcatlipoca became the Earth’s sun but was understandably only able to become half of a sun.

The world was okay for a while with a half-sun, until a sibling rivalry arose between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca. The feud climaxed with Quetzalcoatl literally smacking the sun (his brother) out of the sky. The world became dark and, overcome with anger, Tezcatlipoca commanded his jaguars to eat all of humanity and thus ended the world.

Cause of destruction: Sibling rivalry



Second Sun: Electric Boogaloo

The Four Sons created some new humans, though they were now normal-sized. Quetzalcoatl, fresh from his victory, became the new sun. As time passed, the humans became less civilized and stopped respecting the gods. Tezcatlipoca retaliated, turning all humans into monkeys. Quetzalcoatl, who loved the humans, became upset and killed all the monkeys with a hurricane, thus ending the world.

Cause of destruction: Lack of divine respect

Third Sun: Raining Fire

The Four Sons repopulated Earth, and the god of rain and fertility, Tlaloc, became the new sun. However, Tezcatlipoca stole Tlaloc’s wife Xochiquetzal—the goddess of sex, flowers and corn—probably by flaunting the sick scar where his leg used to be. Tlaloc became depressed, causing a great drought on Earth. Humanity’s prayers for rain annoyed Tlaloc, eventually triggering his anger. Tlaloc answered their prayers with rains of fire, thus ending the world.

Cause of destruction: Infidelity

Fourth Sun: Blood Flood

The Four Sons created new humans yet again. This sun was Tlaloc’s new wife, Chalchiuhtlicue—the goddess of lakes, rivers, oceans, and beauty (nice catch, Tlaloc!). Chalchiuhtlicue was very loving of the humans, but Tezcatlipoca was a skeptic. Tezcatlipoca told Chalchiuhtlicue that she was merely faking her loving image to obtain the humans’ love. Chalchiuhtlicue was extremely upset by these statements. She then proceeded to cry blood for fifty-two years (!!!), causing a horrifying flood, thus ending the world.

Cause of destruction: Bullying

Current Sun: Cosmic War  

Tired of his creation dying over and over again, Quetzalcoatl took it upon himself to resurrect all of humanity. He stole human bones from the underworld and used them to bring humans back to life on Earth. The fifth sun was Huitzilopochtli, who, according to Tzitzimimeh (demonic deities of the stars), was shining too brightly. Tzitzimimeh, with aid from Coyolxauhqui (goddess of the moon), leads an assault on Huitzilopochtli. Every night, the two battle, with Huitzilopochtli winning each morning.

To aid the sun in its fight against the night, the Aztecs sometimes gave human sacrifices to strengthen Huitzilopochtli. These sacrifices were performed only as a precaution and were not enjoyed, as opposed to popular belief. Some sacrifices were offered to Tezcatlipoca as well in fear of his judgment. If these sacrifices stopped or humanity were to anger the gods again, the fifth and final sun would turn black. The world shall be struck with a catastrophic earthquake, and Tzitzimimeh will kill Huitzilopochtli and all of humanity.

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What can we do?

For starters, we should always be on our best behaviours for our divine watchers! Show respect and love for those who created us, be it family or deity. Be kind, trusting and faithful to one another.

If we cannot meet those requirements, we may need to create an ark and sail to Africa, 2012-style!

To view a comprehensive description of the Mayan apocalypse, click here!

To learn more about human sacrifice (you sicko), look at our blog post, On Human Sacrifice by Molly Desson!

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:thinking:

Trey Turner

Trey is an eighteen-year-old way over his oversized head. He is Cree from Eeyou Istchee in Northern Quebec. When he isn’t on Twitch or YouTube—he can be found in his bedroom, unconscious.

Twitter: @kr00si

Instagram: @krewsi

Sea Monsters - The Cryptid Files

Image taken from unsplash, @jonasfriese

The ocean is big. Really big.

For millennia, humans have wondered about what looms in the world’s waters. So much so that man’s fear of the unknown gave life to fabulous stories of great aquatic creatures. Some of these creatures were described as horrible monsters and were said to resemble serpents, dragons or giant squids. Said monsters range from ship-sinkers to primordial beings of great power that lurk within the dark depths.

What kind of sea monsters are we talking about? Today, we’ll be looking at the origin of two famous mythological sea monsters: The Kraken, and Leviathan.

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The Tale of the Kraken

“The Kraken, as Seen by the Eye of Imagination” Monsters of the Sea, John gibson, 1887

The earliest known written works about the Kraken derive from an Old Norse text, titled Konungs skuggsjá (The King’s Mirror, in English). The text was created by an anonymous author around 1250 BC and is unique in that the entire text is formatted and stylized as a dialogue between a father and his son. The King’s Mirror was intended to educate the King of Norway’s son before he was to become king, thus the title and style of The King’s Mirror. In the section where the father is teaching his son about the Icelandic sea and its inhabitants, he briefly mentions the Kraken. This is the earliest description of the Kraken and is the original source for its name; Kraken.

In this paragraph, the father describes the Kraken as a “rare, incredible fish”. Eyewitness accounts describe it resembling more like an island than a fish due to its massive size, and that one has never been caught or killed. The father believes that the Kraken is incapable of producing offspring and that there are likely only two in the entire ocean. The Kraken’s method of feeding itself involves belching to lure fish into its open mouth and then closing it when its mouth and belly are full.

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The Legend of Leviathan

“the Destruction Of Leviathan”, Gustave Doré, 1866

Leviathan originates from prebiblical Mesopotamian mythology as Lotan, who scholars say is the same deity. Lotan is a manifestation of Yamm, the deity of the primordial chaos and the god of the sea and waters. At the beginning of time, Yamm was given divine kingship by El, the chief god and father of all deities. Yamm is said to have requested the god of life and fertility, Ba’al, to be his bond servant. Ba’al refuses and Yamm engages Ba’al in battle as Lotan. Ba’al is supplied with two special weapons by the craftsman Kothar and slays Lotan and, subsequently, Yamm. The kingship is then passed onto Ba’al. This is the first part of the Ba’al Cycle, which consists of the god Ba’al’s death and rebirth and is a seasonal myth in ancient West Semitic folklore.

Leviathan appears multiple times throughout the Old Testament. Leviathan, in Psalms 74:14, is a multi-headed sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews. In Isaiah 27:1, Leviathan is also a sea serpent, and a symbol of Israel’s enemies, who God vows to slay. In Job 41, Leviathan is described as a horrible sea monster and a creature without fear.

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Conclusion

So, what can we learn from these sea monster stories? Well, for starters, we can deduce that man’s fascination with the unknown has stood the test of time. These stories are centuries old, yet the fear the monsters produce is far from dead.

While these stories can be written off as scary stories to tell sailors, one thing is for certain.

We may never truly know what lies below.

To learn more about sea monsters, click here!

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Trey Turner

Trey is an eighteen-year-old way over his oversized head. He is Cree from Eeyou Istchee in Northern Quebec. When he isn’t on Twitch or YouTube—he can be found in his bedroom, unconscious.

Twitter: @kr00si

Instagram: @krewsi