As an architect something bothered me about Obelisks. Why were they built? I was told they were memorials to kings. The records of their achievements were inscribed on them for all eternity. But why the shape? And why was the idea common on both sides of the Atlantic? Here is an example from a Mayan city called Nim Li Punt:
The site is on a mountain in Belize. It is covered with the remains of several Obelisks. Each shows remains of carvings that probably covered the full height.The fact this architectural form was common on both sides of the Atlantic thousands of years ago supports the theory that ancient people navigated the oceans far earlier than archeologists allow.
But the shape doesn’t make sense. If a king wants the world to know about his accomplishments, why carve them on something too high for anybody to read? Why carve them on something so thin? Why not build a long wall and cover that with myths of achievement? Maybe this is where the term “Tall Tale” came from. Here is another photo I took at Nim Li Punt, Belize:
Professors and authors I studied joke that the shape of the obelisk was derived from something anatomical. Maybe by the time Mayan and Egyptian obelisks were built, their function was meant to imitate a king’s desire to compensate for certain historical short comings. But what if the original intent had been to build something that responded to a more logical, practical functional need? Was there a more urgent need that required such tremendous effort and expense to cram so much information on such a narrow space that nobody could read without a really tall ladder or pyramid of slaves to stand on?
One day I came across a passage in one of my reference books, the Complete Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston. Josephus was a remarkable man who lived in the first century AD. He was an historian, diplomat, and general who left behind an incredible book that includes information about Jewish history not contained in the Bible or Talmud.
Here is a passage from Josephus book “Jewish Antiquities” that may explain the original functional reason for building a fifteen story obelisk, covered with writing too high up for anybody to read:
“…He [Adam] had indeed many other children, but Seth in particular. As for the rest it would be tedious to name them; I will therefore only try to give an account of those that proceeded from Seth. Now this Seth, when he was brought up, and came to those years in which he could discern what was good, became a virtuous man; and as he was himself of an excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who imitated his virtues. All these proved to be of good dispositions. They also inhabited the same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes falling upon them until they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies, and their order. And that their inventions might not be lost before they were sufficiently known, upon Adam’s prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the force of fire, and at another time by the violence and quantity of water, they made two pillars; the one of brick, the other of stone: they inscribed their discoveries on the both, that in case the pillar of brick should be destroyed by the flood, the pillar of stone might remain, and exhibit those discoveries to mankind; and also inform them that there was another pillar of brick erected by them. Now this remains in the land of Siriad (Seiris) to this day…” Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, translated by William Whiston, Book 1, Chapter 3, lines 68 through 71
According to Josephus, the pillars were a means of preserving technical knowledge about astronomy. It was designed to survive being buried in mud during a devastating global flood as foretold to Adam. It was built tall enough to stick out of the mud and enable survivors to rediscover it.
The theory that the Obelisk was designed to preserve advanced knowledge after the world flooded or burned is a whole lot more interesting than some king with an inferiority complex.
By the way, the mud left by a giant flood would have preserved the carvings for thousands of years until discoverers exposed the faces during excavation.
Ancient stuff buried under not so ancient stuff isn’t new.
Many foundations under pyramids and temples are being excavated revealing older, larger structures under them. Here is an example I took of a buried mask found under a pyramid base in Tikal, Guatemala:
Here is an example I photographed of a buried staircase that was found under a newer staircase in Teotihucan, Mexico:
If either of the pillars built by the children of Seth could be found, they could provide an incredible glimpse into the early history of humankind. Josephus says they inscribed knowledge that had to do with the heavenly bodies. What did they know that we might not know?
Why all the fuss about trying to learn about the past? Two reasons: One I think there might be a big fat warning on one of the pillars about an incoming celestial object that unleashes the destruction by Fire that was foretold to Adam. The other reason I think it’s important is because the pursuit of reclaiming the past seems to be very important to the Creator:
“…That which is has been already,
and that which will be has already been,
for God seeks what has passed by…”
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 15
Our future has already been. Our past will one day be restored. Maybe you will be the one who sees the small pointy rock sticking out of the shale, start digging, and make the discovery of the century: The lost Obelisk of Seth.
Thank you for reading.
JF Althouse
