Human Odyssey

Zoroastrianism stands as one of the earliest monotheistic traditions, rooted in Persia and centered on Ahura Mazda as the divine creator. ✨🌍 Though preceded by Atenism in Egypt, Zoroastrianism’s lasting influence shaped ancient spiritual beliefs and paved the way for major world religions. Discover this fascinating journey of spiritual evolution in my Tree of Religion visual!

Nicholas Fabiano MD, is a medical doctor with an interest in the intersection between mental and physical health, particularly in the context of quantum mechanics and neuroscience. He explores and discusses complex scientific ideas, such as the potential role of quantum entanglement in generating consciousness, often sharing these insights on social media to engage a broader audience with cutting-edge scientific theories.

This is his X (Twitter) handle: @uOPsychiatry

He is currently exploring a fascinating and complex idea: the possibility that quantum mechanics, particularly a phenomenon called quantum entanglement, might play a role in the creation of consciousness within the brain.

Quantum Entanglement and Consciousness: A Simple Breakdown

Imagine your brain as a gigantic orchestra. Each neuron (a nerve cell in your brain) is like an instrument in this orchestra, playing its own tune. For you to think, feel, and be aware (which we call consciousness), all these instruments need to be perfectly in sync, playing in harmony.

But how do these instruments stay in sync? Traditionally, scientists believed that this synchronization happens through chemical and electrical signals that jump between neurons. But Fabiano and some other researchers are suggesting something more mysterious might be at play— something from the world of quantum physics.

The Quantum Twist

Enter quantum entanglement. To understand this, let’s use a metaphor:

Imagine you have two magic dice. When you roll them, they can land on any number between 1 and 6, just like regular dice. But here’s the twist: No matter how far apart these dice are - one could be on Earth, the other on the Moon - when you roll one die, the other instantly shows the same number. This connection is immediate, faster than light. That’s what quantum entanglement is like, but instead of dice, it’s tiny particles, like electrons or photons, that are mysteriously connected.

Now, what if something like this could happen in your brain? What if, instead of just relying on the usual signals, some of your neurons were "quantumly entangled"? This could mean that parts of your brain might communicate instantly, no matter where they are in your head. And this super-fast communication might be part of what makes you conscious, aware, and alive!

Myelin Sheath: The Special Conductor

Fabiano talks a lot about something called the "myelin sheath." Think of this as the insulation around electrical wires in your house. Just like insulation helps electricity flow more efficiently, the myelin sheath helps signals in your brain travel faster and more effectively.

Fabiano is suggesting that this sheath might be doing something even more special - it could be creating a special environment where these quantum effects, like entanglement, could happen. This is like saying the insulation on your wires not only helps electricity flow but also creates a magic space where instant, mysterious communication can occur.

Why This Matters

If Fabiano and others are right, this could change how we understand the brain and consciousness. It would be like discovering a whole new layer of the orchestra’s music - a hidden harmony that’s been playing all along, but we’ve only just started to hear it.

In short, what Fabiano is proposing is that quantum physics might be more involved in how our brains work than we ever thought, possibly even giving rise to consciousness itself. It’s a big, bold idea, and if true, it could open up entirely new ways of thinking about the mind and brain.

Have a fab day

Kamimusubi was one of the first Kami to emerge at the beginning of the time. She had no progenitor, and embodied the celestial plane. She was known as the great parent, an All-mother to the rest of the Kami. She resided over a celestial realm, which had no form, and floated in the ether like oil on water. One of her prodigy was Izanami, who would go onto create the physical world.

Izanami travelled to Earth with her brother Izanagi. Together, they created the islands of Japan using a divine spear, and went on to sire the rest of the Kami. Sadly, she died while giving birth to her last son, and passed to the underworld. Thus she became known as the Kami of creation and death.

Amaterasu was the first daughter created by Izanagi. After failing to save his sister from the underworld, Amaterasu was born from the tears of his left eye. She was a solar goddess, and painted the landscape of Japan with the glow of her aura, endowing it with light, colour and shade. In one Japanese myths, the land went dark for an age, when Amaterasu hid away in a cave.

It was Ama-No-Uzume who helped bring an end to this darkness. To coax Amaterasu out of the cave, she tore off her clothes in front of the other kami and began to dance. They laughed at her entertainment, capturing the attention of Amaterasu. The sun Kami peered out to see what all the fuss was about, and saw her glorious reflection in a mirror which Uzume had placed on a tree. She came out from her hiding spot, returning light to the world.

Toyotama-Hime was a sea kami. She took human form to marry the fisherman Hoori. Toyotama-Hime fell pregnant with their child, and she asked Hoori not to watch on her while she gave birth to their child. Sadly, Hoori was overcome with curiosity, and spied on her in secret. He was amazed to see her true form as a water dragon, and in shame, she abandoned her husband and child.

Konohanasakuya-Hime is the Kami of tree blossoms, embodying the delicate earth life. Although associated with fragility, she also resided over the volcanoes of Japan, reflectinga more violent side to her nature. Shrines have been built on Mount Fuji for Konohanasakuya-Hime, to prevent it from erupting, but shrines to her have been repeatedly destroyed by volcanic eruptions.

Yuki-Onna is the Kami of blizzards, known as 'snow girl'. She appears on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair, and piercing eyes. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints, and can transform into mist or snow if threatened. Yuki-Onna's icy breath can be used to freeze unsuspecting victims, and occasionally she takes on the form of a succubus, preying on weak-willed men for their life-force.

Hashinau-uk Kamuy is the spirit of the hunt. She protects hunters and guides them to game. She is depicted as a woman with long hair, wielding a bow and arrow, and is often seen carrying a child on her back. She is accompanied by a small bird, which shows hunters the way to game. Hunters worshipped her to assure a successful hunt, and fishermen to ensure a full catch.

Japanese culture eventually moved away from the hunter gather society, to a more farming based community. During this transition, the Kami's roles shifted to more sustaining duties, such as the growth of crops, the summoning of rain, the fertilisation of the soil, etc.

Uke Mochi was a Kami of plenty, who protected her followers food stores. She was renowned for hosting lavish feasts for other Kami. Once she was visited by Tsukuyomi, the moon spirit. She prepared him a feast by facing spitting out a fish, regurgitating wild game, and coughing up bowls full of rice. Tsukuyomi was so disgusted by her manner of serving that he killed her. Her dead body was used to create millet, rice, and beans, which formed the staple diet of the Japanese people.

Benten is a Kami of literature, music, wealth, and femininity. She is generally associated with the sea (many of her shrines are located by the coast). She is frequently depicted riding on a sea dragon. According to one legend, she married a sea serpent, thus putting an end to his ravages of the island Enoshima. She is often shown playing the biwa, a kind of lute.

Fii Nu Kang is the Kami of the hearth, both domestic and communal. She is commonly worshiped in the household, where she is called upon to protect the home, and the people who live within it. Fii Nu Kang is treated as a member of the family, and is often called upon to join the family during mealtime, where she is offered food and drink.

Inari Ōkami is the Japanese Kami fertility, who brings prosperity to agriculture, and creativity. She is associated with foxes, rice and sake, and her followers pray to her for prosperity and worldly success. She is usually regarded as female, though at times she is also referred to as an androgynous being, with both male and female characteristics. More than one-third of the Shinto shrines in Japan are dedicated to Inari.

These are just twelve of the most revered female Kami, but the Shinto tradition says that there are eight million, million kami in Japan.

ARTWORK BY Katarina Sokolova Danielle Sylvan Perla Marina Jia Lu

Read KAMI: SPIRITS OF SHINTO (GOD COLLECTION) here: http://bit.ly/2HPsBHH

If you’re looking for a really immersive experience of world mythology, why not subscribe to my Patreon page, and gain:

Access to in-depth posts on the gods, monsters & heroes of world myth Entry to my FB group on the 'Tales of the Monomyth,' AKA the first story ever told A 'behind the scenes' peek at my upcoming novels & much much more!

The inaugural Human Odyssey newsletter has landed (see a copy at http://bit.ly/2JjVyw6) and it includes:

My latest posts on The Human Odyssey.

An update of my book series The Dark Spiral, which retells the epic saga of the gods who reigned during the age of myth.

A glimpse into my Facebook group, Tales of the Monomyth.

A short bio of my history as an amateur mythologist.

Hawaiian mythology is rich with supernatural figures, such as gods and men, or ghosts and goblins. One Hawaiian chant speaks of as many as "four thousand gods" of the Hawaiian cosmos. The ancient Hawaiians, like most indigenous peoples, felt a deep connection with nature and explained everything from the creation of the Earth to the lava flowing from the volcanoes through the stories of their gods and goddesses.  

Kami are believed to be “hidden” from this world, inhabiting a parallel existence that mirrors our own, known as Shinkai (the world of the Kami). Followers of Shinto believe that to be in harmony with the greatness of nature is to be conscious of ‘kannagara no michi’ (the way of the Kami).

The Inca civilization flourished in the Andes mountains of South America between 1400 CE, and the early 1500's. Inca society was a theocratic society, meaning that politics and religion were completely intertwined. The Inca religion combined features of animism, fetishism, and the worship of nature gods representing forces of nature. The state religion focused on the worship of a many major figures, of which the goddesses played a major role.

Pachamama was an earth goddess, associated with seasons, fertility, planting and harvesting. Her form embodied the mountains, and was also known to cause earthquakes. She was one of the primordial deities of the Inca pantheon, who sustained all life on earth. The Inca believed that problems arose when people took too much from nature, thus placing a great strain on Pachamama.

Mama Cocha was another primordial deity, who resided over the sea. She protected fishermen and sailors, making sure that they had plenty of fish, preventing storms, and calming the seas. She was said to have dominion over all bodies of water (i.e. rain, rivers and seas), which were said to have healing properties. As the wife of the supreme God Viracocha, Mama Cocha was the mother of Mama Quilla, Goddess of the moon, and her brother Inti, God of the sun.

Mama Killa resided over marriage and the menstrual cycle, and was considered a defender of women. Her lunar cycle helped the Inca people calculate the passage of time, upon which many rituals were based. The Inca people loved Mama Killa and believed that a lunar eclipse marked a moment where a mountain lion or serpent was attacking her. To protect their beloved moon goddess, they would attempt to scare it away by throwing weapons, gesturing wildly and making as much noise as possible. They feared that if the beast ever achieved its aim, then the world would be left in darkness.

Mama Ocllo was a fertility Goddess who founded the Inca capital Cuzco with her husband/brother Manco Capac. Legend says she gave Manco Capac a golden staff, telling him that wherever he could sink the staff into the ground with one push, he should build a temple to the sun. Once this sacred spot was found, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo gathered the people together at Cuzco, and Mama Ocllo taught the women how to weave clothes and harvest crops.

Chasca ("The long-haired Star") was the goddess of the dawn and twilight, linked to the planet Venus. She was the protectress of virgins and young girls, and associated with spring and renewal. She uses light to draw sprouts from the ground and inspire blossoms. She was regarded as a love goddess, and according to lore, she communicates to people through clouds and dew in a type of geomantic divination.

Cavillace was a virgin goddess. She ate a fruit, which was actually the sperm of Coniraya, a fertility god. When she gave birth to a son, she demanded that the father step forward. No one did, so she put the baby on the ground, and it crawled towards Coniraya. She was ashamed because of Coniraya's low stature among the gods, and ran to the coast of Peru, where she changed herself and her son into rocks.

Copacati was a lake Goddess, who represented the great waters of Lake Titicaca. She was often represented by images of serpents or snakes and legend says she sunk a whole town into the waters of the great lake, making her a figure to be both feared and revered.

Sachamama was the goddess of the forest, whose name means 'mother tree'. Legend says she grew so large, she can no longer move about the jungle and stayed in a single spot, allowing vegetation to grow over her body. If unsuspecting passersby got too close, Sachamama would devour them whole. She would remain for hundreds of years in the same place, and when she stood upright, she would take on the form of the world tree.

Mama Allpa was an Earth Goddess, who nourishes all life. She is depicted with multiple breasts, and represents the womb of the world. This links her with other many breasted goddesses, such as Ishtar (Mesopotamian) and Artemis (Greek). She helped to bring about a bountiful harvest, feeding the masses of the Inca Empire.

Mama Sara ("maize mother") was the Goddess of grain and fertility, associated with maize. When a stick of maize developed multiple growths, it was said to look like the head and limbs of Mama Sara. In such cases, the Inca people would dress the maize like a doll, treating it as a manifestation of Mama Sara.

Mama Kuka was a coca Goddess, associated with health and joy. In Incan mythology Mama Kuka was originally a promiscuous woman who was cut in half by her many lovers. From her body grew the first coca plant the leaves of which are chewed to boost energy and are used by the Andean priests in ritual offerings known as k'intus.

Axomama was one of the daughters of Pachamama. Her name literally means Potato mother. Potatoes were a vital food source for the Incan people, and most villages would have a particularly odd-shaped potato to worship, embodying the spirit of Axomama. They would pray to this idol for a good harvest.

The majority of the goddesses in the Inca pantheon represented fertility and abundance. In order to maintain this plentiful living, the goddesses needed to be satisfied via the sacrifice of precious goods and animals, especially llamas. Humans were also sacrificed (albeit it on a smaller scale than other American cultures), by hitting them on the head while under the effects of alcohol. The hope was that they would be in a state of happiness when they first encountered their beloved goddess.

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If you’re looking for a really immersive experience of world mythology, why not subscribe to my Patreon page, and gain:

Access to in-depth posts on the gods, monsters & heroes of world myth

Entry to my FB group on the 'Tales of the Monomyth,' AKA the first story ever told

A 'behind the scenes' peek at my upcoming novels & much much more!

www.patreon.com/HumanOdyssey

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ARTWORK

Saryth Chareonpanichkul

Gonzalo Ordóñez Arias

Octavio Cordova

Javier Sama

The majority of the world’s religions speak of a single God who created the universe, but in Inca mythology, many deities were involved in the creation of the cosmos. They each had a role in forming different elements of the sky, earth and underworld.

The most important god to the ancient Inca was Viracocha. He was the first of the creator deities, responsible for designing the heavens. From his own form, he established the sun, moon, planets and stars. When he commanded the sun to move over the sky, time itself was created, allowing for the rise of civilization. He was represented as wearing the sun for a crown, with thunderbolts in his hands, and tears descending from his eyes as rain.

The second most important deity of the Inca pantheon was Inti. He was the sun god, and it is uncertain whether he was a brother of Viracocha, or his son. He brought light and warmth to the lands, and became known as the ‘Giver of Life’. He later sent his children to earth to start the Inca civilisation. Inti and his sister, Mama Killa (Moon goddess) were generally considered benevolent deities.

Coniraya was a male Moon God, associated with the creation of life. Legend says that as he wandered over the earth, plants and animals appeared. He held dominion over agriculture, and helped the farmers irrigate their fields. He once fashioned his sperm into the fruit of the Lumca Tree, which was eaten by Cavillaca, a beautiful virgin goddesses. Cavillaca became pregnant and ran away in shame. Coniraya went in search of her and his child, but sadly, when he found them, they had both turned into stone.

Kon was the first born of Inti and Mama Killa, who resided over the rains. He was strong and lithe, which allowed him to move quickly over the the plains of Peru. Kon was lonely, so he created the first race of humans. He set them down in a pleasant, fertile land, and gave them grain which they could harvest, and fruits which ripened quickly. His creations wanted for nothing.

During the rule of these early gods, Kon’s human creations became lazy and wicked, so Kon punished them with drought. He would only dispense his life giving waters if they worked hard enough to earn his favour. Kon’s tyrannical regime soon came to an end with the appearance of his brother Pachacamac (Inti’s son).

Pachacamac was known as the "Creator of the World", and immediately challenged his brother Kon. After a tremendous struggle, Pachacamac managed to drive Kon from the land. His became the new god of Peru, and redesigned it as a paradise. He wasn’t so fond of the Kon’s mortal creations, however, and turned into monkeys. In their place, he created a new race of humans (the ancestors of the Inca). In return, these people made Pachacamac their supreme deity.

After the dethronement of Kon, a new god was needed hold dominion over the rain. This role was gifted to llapu, who used the power of the storm to fertilise the lands. The Incas believed the Milky Way as a heavenly river, where Illapu's sister stored a great water jug. When Illapu struck the jug with a bolt of lightning, it would create the sound of thunder, and release a heavenly rain. He appeared as a man in shining clothes, carrying a club and stones.

Catequil was another storm god, linked specifically to lightning. Legend say’s he created thunder-bolts by striking the clouds with his sacred spear and a mighty club. He was venerated as a weather deity, who could divine the future. Catequil was linked to a myth about the twins Apocatequil and Piguerao. Many Incan people believe Apocatequil was none other than the lightening god in human form.

The story goes that the twin brothers, Apocatequil and Piguero, were conceived by a woman who had sex with a sky god. Her name was Cautaguan, and she bore her sons within two eggs. Close to their birth, the goddess was killed by her brothers (the Guachimines). Once her sons hatched, they revived their mother, and took vengeance on their uncles by hurling lightening bolts at them.

Apocatequil become the prominent leader of the Inca, and served as the chief priest for the lunar deity, Coniraya. To keep Apocatequil happy, the Inca built statues of his noble self and placed them upon the mountaintops.

Below these mountains lived Urcaguary, a chthonic deity, who resided over underground treasures (metals and jewels). He guarded them from greedy interlopers who tried to steal them, and had a formidable appearance. He was often depicted as a large snake with the antlers of a deer, and a tail coiled with gold chains.

For those who wished to secure a safer way to wealth, there was always Ekkeko. He was the god of abundance, called upon by his followers for luck and prosperity. The ancient Inca made dolls that represented him and surrounded them with miniature version of their desires (pets, treasure, food, etc). This was believed to help manifest whatever it was their hearts desired.

Another God revered for his prosperity was Urcuchillay. This bestial god was worshipped by Inca herders, who watched over the herds of Peru. He was prayed to for their well-being. Urcuchillay would often bring good fortune to his followers, ensuring their protection in the wilderness. It was said he possessed a bright, multicoloured coat, a symbol of life and wonder.

Yet life and prosperity couldn’t last forever, as all paths eventually lead to the grave. This final feature of the Inca life was ruled over by Supay, the god of death. He lived in Ukhu Pacha (the underworld), with an army of demons. Miners would also pray to him for a safe decent into the underworld, when they went digging for precious treasure. Ukhu Pacha was not such a terrible place, for it was linked to the womb of mother earth (Pachamama). The subterranean waters of ‘Ukhu Pacha’ were believed to have rejuvenating qualities, which linked the health and prosperity of the Inca people.

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If you’re looking for a really immersive experience of world mythology, why not subscribe to my Patreon page, and gain:

Access to in-depth posts on the gods, monsters & heroes of world myth Entry to my FB group on the 'Tales of the Monomyth,' AKA the first story ever told A 'behind the scenes' peek at my upcoming novels & much much more!

www.patreon.com/HumanOdyssey

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ARTWORK

Oshiro Kochi

Keisy Lopez

Nati Fuentes

Javier Sama

Gonzalo Kenny

Daniel Eskridge

The once standing stone of Er-Grah is one of the unsung wonders of the ancient world. It was the biggest megalith ever erected in history and was raised in France (Brittany) during the Neolithic era, 4700 BCE. It is believed to have stood for 700 years before breaking into four pieces at around 4000 BCE.

The impressive dimensions of this menhir still divide specialists about the techniques used for transport and erection. This great megalith weighed 280 tonnes, which even the machines of today would find challenging to move and erect. The fact that this was achieved during the Neolithic makes it one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the ancient world. It is not known what caused the menhir to topple and break into the four pieces that are now seen. At one time it was believed that the stone had never stood upright, but archaeological findings have now proven that it did, dominating the landscape for all to see. Etched into the surface of this great monument is a sculpture representing a hatchet-plough. It was quite common to find these petroglyphs (primitive symbols) marked onto the surface of ancient megaliths. Sadly, the original meaning of these symbols have been lost to the annals of time. — at Locmariaquer, Brittany.

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In Greek mythology, the cosmos consists of three realms; the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.

The Greeks adapted many of the monsters in their legends from the near east influences. However, it can be argued that their depiction of these fabulous beasts are among the most iconic and unique in world mythology.

Some of the most formidable Greek beasts were known as hybrids (part human and part animal). Hybrids combined the savagery of nature with the intelligence of humans, making them powerful allies or deadly foes. The following list details some of the most notable hybrids of ancient Greece, and their roles in mythology:

The Gorgons were three horrifying sisters with broad faces, and piercing eyes (some depictions even say they had flaring nostrils, yellowed tusks and protruding tongues). Their heads were wreathed in snakes, and one look from a Gorgon’s eyes would turn a man to stone. Perseus killed Medusa, one of the Gorgon sisters, by beheading the beast while looking at her reflection in his shield. Dryads were tree spirits, typically associated with oak trees. They were said to have been born from the trees in the Silver Age of Greece and possessed bark like features. While the tree flourished so did its resident nymph, but when it died she passed away with it. They were normally considered to be very shy creatures, except around the goddess Artemis, who was known to be a friend of the nymphs. The Manticore, a beast which originated from Persia, was described by the Greek physician Ctesias in one of his memoirs. He claimed to have seen one on his travels in India, describing it as having the head of a man, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion. Legend says it had three rows of sharp teeth and its tail could shoot venomous spines to paralyze or kill its victims. It devoured its prey whole and left no clothes, bones, or possessions. The Drakaina were part woman, and part dragon. Sometimes they were depicted as having a woman’s head and torso, with the hind-quarters of a dragon or snake. They were among the deadliest of monsters in Greek mythology, often used as guardians of sacred places. Campe (guardian of Tartarus), Delphyne (guardian of the oracle) and Echidna (known as the mother of monsters because the majority of monsters in Greek myth were her offspring) were the most notorious. The Minotaur was a man-eating beast with the head of a bull and the body of a man. King Minos kept it hidden in a labyrinth in Knossos, where he used it to frighten his enemies. Legend says the Minotaur was created by Poseidon to punish king Minos for an improper sacrifice. He made Pasiphaë (Minos’ wife) fall in love with a white bull, and together they sired the Minotaur. Eventually, the Greek hero Theseus killed this abomination on one of his adventures. The centaurs were one of the most civilised hybrid races, but even they were known to be heavy drinkers, reverting to coarseness and savagery. They had the head, arms, and torso of a human and the lower body of a horse. Chiron was one of the most popular centaurs in Greek mythology. He stands in contrast to the typical depiction of centaurs being indulgent and violent drinkers with his intelligence and enviable medical skills. The Lamia were vamparic women with a taste for blood. Their race originated in Ancient Libya, based on a beautiful queen Lamia who became a child-eating daemon. Hera (Zeus’ wife) killed all of Lamia’s children out of spite, after finding out that she had slept with her husband. Lamia’s grief at the death of her children caused her to turn into a monster who took revenge on all mothers by hunting down and devouring their children. Many accounts say these daemons had snake’s coils in place of legs. Satyrs are a troop of male spirits who have goat-like features. They were described as having human bodies, with the hindquarters and horns of a goat. They were often found following Dionysus, the god of feasting. They roamed the woods and mountains, playing on their flutes and drinking copious amounts of wine. They epitomize the essence of having a carefree life as they make music and drink all their days away. The Sphinx of Ancient Greece was said to have a woman’s head, a lion’s body, and the wings of a great eagle. Legend says she terrorized travellers by demanding them answer a riddle. It went “what has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed”? Those who could not answer were devoured. Eventually the Greek hero Oedipus gave the proper answer: “it is man, for he crawls on all fours in infancy, walks on two feet when grown, and leans on a staff in old age”. Bested at last, the Sphinx threw herself from her high rock to her death. The Earth Kings were an ancient race who had human heads and torsos, but serpentine coils in place of legs. The most famous of the Earth Kings was Cecrops I, a mythical king of Athens who reigned for fifty years, and was said to have been born from the earth itself. He was preceded in the region by the earth-king Actaeus of Attica (also said to have been born from the Earth). These founding figures were heroes of Greece, who taught their people marriage, reading, writing, and ceremonial burial. The Sirens have been depicted as either half woman half bird (in ancient Greece), or half woman and half fish (in Hellenistic Greece). They lived on rocks by the sea, where their beautiful singing lured sailors to their deaths (wrecking their ships on their rocks). Odysseus filled his sailors’ ears with wax so that they might sail safely past the Sirens haunting laments. Harpies were winged spirits, known for their proclivity for stealing food. Zeus used them to punish a king called Phineus by trapping him on an island with buffet and a large group of harpies, thus preventing him from ever eating as the food was always stolen away. These winged monsters had the bodies of birds and the heads and torsos of women. For the Greeks, these monsters embodied a fear of chaos. Many of the tales speak of dark and malevolent creatures being conquered by gods and mortals, the forces of order, reason and civilisation. ARTWORK Minotaur by Mitchell Nolte Centaur by Knightby Vandrell Harpy by Jason Rhineville Dryad by Hannah Boving Earth King by Kratos Siren by Anne Stokes Manticore by J.S. Marantz Sphinx by Michael Komarck

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Many of the statues found in the ancient world were based around mythological figures like Zeus, the Sphinx of Giza or the Lamassu of Mesopotamia. This practice of venerating mythical and religious icons continued far into the old world, but new cultures began to make their mark with statues of even greater magnitude, especially in the far East.

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Indonesia has a megalithic history that dates back thousands of years to the prehistoric era. Archaeologists place their origins in the Neolithic, between 2500 BCE and 1000 BCE, but recent evidence suggests it goes back further (much further). What makes this culture so interesting is that a few of its surviving tribes have managed to preserve the skill of megalith construction, which is a practice thought to have been lost thousands of years ago.

Living megalithic cultures can be found on Pulau Nias, Sumba Island, and South/Central Sulawesi. These stone age cultures remained preserved, isolated and undisturbed well into the late 19th century. Pulau Nias is an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Historians believe the island has been inhabited for 5000 years, and have cited the local people as one of a few remaining Megalithic cultures in existence today. The older megaliths include menhirs, flat stones and statues of humanss. These menhirs symbolise the male aspect, while flat stones are typically represent the female. They were erected as symbols of honour, paying homage to popular leaders of the past. The most impressive collection of statues can be found in the Bada Valley, Central Sulawesi. Several hundred have been located around the national park, thirty of which depict human forms. Sadly, very little is known about these statues. Some have speculated that they were carved 5000 years ago, others that they were created at as recently as 1000 CE. The creators of these megaliths remain unknown, but some argue that the megaliths are so unique, that it is unlikely they were made by any of the local cultures around today. Just a little to the east live the Toraja people, who still practice the ancient traditions of animism. The most notable feature of Toraja is their funerary rites. The coffin of the deceased is often laid in a cave or in a carved stone grave within a cliff, some of which are believed to be thousands of years old. The graves contain possessions of the deceased, which they will need them in the afterlife. These grave are expensive to make, and take a few months to complete. The Toraja believe the soul of their ancestors survive death, and can be contacted by simply visiting the body. To the south of Malaysia is a little village called Pengkalan Kempas, where a small historical site known as Batu Hidup can be found. Within this complex are a series of three ancient megaliths, each one around 2 meters high. they are known as the ‘Sword’, the ‘Spoon’ and the ‘Rudder’, due to their strange shapes. They are believed to be monuments of an unidentified pagan culture which was practiced in Malaysia before the arrival of Islam. Historians have dated their construction to around 200 CE. Locals call them 'Living Stones’, which are said to glow at night and to possess special healing properties. To the south of the Tana Toraja region lies the village Bori. It is home to a small fields of stones pointing straight out of the ground. These are called mesimbuang, and are memorials to important people of the past. Every burial ceremony, particularly those of an aristocrat, always includes the manufacture of a mesimbuang. A great stone is chosen stone from the local surroundings, and is pulled by a large number of people to the place where the ceremony is to take place (rante). After the stone arrives at the rante, the mesimbuang is then erected. Although the meaning behind many of the megaliths in Indonesia are well documented, many still remain a mystery, the most mysterious being the stones of Gunung Padang. This ancient site, located in West Java, is known as the largest megalithic complex in Southeast Asia. It consists of a series of rectangular stone enclosures with inner partitions, walkways and various rock mounds. Carbon dating suggests it is extraordinarily old (possibly built 20,000 years ago). Historians believe prehistoric people carried chunks of volcanic rock onto terraces, built on the mountainside, and stacked them on top of each other to create a pyramid like structure. This would make it the most considerable feat of ancient engineering in the prehistoric era. Finally there are the carved dolmens of Sumba, found in the southernmost island of Indonesia. The Sumba megaliths are classified as a living tradition, part of the practice of ancestral worship. The erection of stone tombs was carried out until only recently. On the dolmen, a menhir called penji isset up, was sculpted with various decorations. These decorative patterns often depicts human figures, fauna, flora, and geometric patterns. According to local traditional chiefs, dolmens with statues were considered to be bodyguards of the dead person’s soul (or the personification of their soul). Many of these dolmen weighed thousands of tons, requiring hundreds of men to help move. Graves of kings from west and east Sumba are usually very large with a rich decorative pattern.

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A zombie is an undead being created through the reanimation of a human corpse (via a curse, sorcery or science). The history of the zombie can be traced back as far as the stone age, where strange activities suggested an emerging fear of the dead.

Around 60,000 years ago, our ancestors migrated out of Africa and travelled around the Earth. This journey took tens of thousands of years to complete, and once colonised, we began to settle the lands. Early technologies such as agriculture and animal husbandry allowed us to eventually construct great civilisations, giving rise to social systems such as politics, trading, law and commerce. Most important of these was the system of writing. It is from the texts of ancient civilisations that we have gained much insight into the history of early humans. Books such as the Norse Sagas, Celtic Cycles, Greek Epics, Hindu scriptures, Jewish Torah and Aztec codices have given us access to the traditions and stories that define the beliefs of our early ancestors. What’s most intriguing is how similar their myths and legends are. All around the world, ethnic people speak of merfolk, vampires, gods, giants and dragons. Even their stories follow similar trends, such as gods born from chaos, the creation of humans from clay, an angry god who floods the earth, and an end of day’s event that is yet to befall us. 

The monsters of Norse mythology may not number as high as the ones found in the Greek or Hindu legends, but what they lack in number, they more than make up for in sheer size. They are often linked to an event called Ragnarök, which will bring about an end of days as the great tree Yggdrasil is consumed by chaos and fire.