Ancient Blueprints: Pyramids, Sodom, and the Lost Tech of the Skies
Ancient people smarter than we thought? Who knew?
Welcome to the very first post of The Monotreme. Enjoy the daily weirdness.
The Planisphere Puzzle: Did an Ancient Sumerian Sky Map Foresee Sodom’s Fiery Doom?
The theory that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by a comet or meteorite blast blends biblical accounts with scientific and archaeological findings. According to the Bible, these cities were annihilated by “fire and brimstone” from the heavens as a form of divine judgment. Modern researchers have suggested that this dramatic destruction could be explained by a catastrophic impact event, such as a meteor or comet airburst.
This theory is supported by findings at Tall el-Hammam in Jordan, the site of an ancient city some archaeologists believe could be the location of the Biblical city Sodom. Excavations there revealed a destruction layer dated around 1700 BC, showing evidence of extreme heat, such as melted pottery, vitrified stone, and scorched earth, suggesting that a massive explosion, potentially a meteor airburst, devastated the city and even neighbouring towns like Jericho. The shockwave from such an explosion could have flattened buildings, incinerated the area, and left a layer of destruction consistent with the biblical description.
Further supporting this idea is the fascinating discovery of a Sumerian Planisphere, a 5,500-year-old Sumerian clay tablet found near Nineveh near modern-day Mosul in Iraq. Researchers Alan Bond and Mark Hempsell proposed that the Planisphere is an ancient sky map depicting the transit of a comet or asteroid that exploded over the Middle East. There is significant difference in the dates, however, since the tablet suggests this event occurred on June 29, 3123 BC.
The tablet, which is now housed in the British Museum, features cuneiform inscriptions and intricate markings that have long puzzled researchers. Initially thought to be a star map or a form of celestial diary used by ancient astronomers for tracking planetary movements and observing omens, the Planisphere gained renewed attention due to the controversial interpretations by Bond and Hempsell. According to their analysis, the Planisphere depicts the comet’s path leading to an airburst similar to the Tunguska event in Siberia.
The Planisphere and the archaeological evidence at the site suggest that a natural cosmic event could be behind one of the most famous and dramatic tales of destruction in the Bible, where a massive airburst might have obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah in a fiery blast.
Floating to the Top: The Water Elevator Theory of Pyramid Building
The water elevator theory is one of the more intriguing and unconventional hypotheses about how the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramids of Giza. Unlike the traditional ramp theories that suggest the use of massive earthen or stone ramps to transport the enormous blocks, the water elevator theory posits that the Egyptians utilized a sophisticated system of water and buoyancy to lift the stones into place. According to this theory, the ancient builders constructed a series of canals or water-filled chambers around the pyramid site, creating a kind of lock system similar to those used in modern canals.
Proponents of the water elevator theory suggest that large, buoyant barges or floats could have been used to carry the heavy stone blocks. By manipulating the water levels in these chambers, the blocks could be lifted incrementally upwards as they floated to each new level. This process would have allowed the builders to raise the stones with relatively little manual labor compared to dragging them up a massive ramp.
Supporters of the water elevator theory argue that this method would have been more efficient and required fewer resources than traditional ramp theories, which would have necessitated massive amounts of labor and material. They also point to the importance of the Nile River in ancient Egyptian culture and technology, suggesting that the Egyptians' expertise with water management might have extended to their construction techniques.
The Antikythera Mechanism: Ancient Greece’s Analog Computer
Discovered in 1901 among the remains of a Roman-era shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera, the Antikythera mechanism has captivated scientists and historians alike. Often referred to as the world’s first “analog” computer, this 2,000-year-old device rewrites our expecation of ancient technology. Constructed from bronze gears and housed in a wooden case, it was capable of predicting astronomical positions and eclipses with a level of complexity that wouldn’t be replicated for over a thousand years.
The mechanism's intricate design includes dozens of interlocking gears, each meticulously crafted to model the motions of celestial bodies. When cranked by hand, it could display the position of the Sun, Moon, and planets in the zodiac, as well as predict lunar and solar eclipses. It even accounted for the irregularities in the Moon's orbit—an impressive feat for its time. This level of mechanical sophistication suggests that the Greeks possessed a much deeper understanding of astronomy and engineering than previously believed.
Despite its fame, the Antikythera mechanism remains shrouded in mystery. Only fragments of the original device have been recovered, and scholars still debate its full capabilities and origins. Some theories propose that it was used as an educational tool, while others suggest it served as a practical aid for navigation or calendar-keeping. The true purpose of the device, however, remains elusive.
What’s perhaps most intriguing is the question of why such advanced technology seemingly vanished after the device was created. No other similar artifacts have been found, and there are no surviving records of how such a mechanism was designed or constructed. This suggests that the knowledge needed to create the Antikythera mechanism was either closely guarded or lost entirely, a tantalizing reminder of the technological wonders that may lie buried in the sands of time.
