The Dark Ages: Were They Darker Than We Imagined?

Universe ^ | Sept 99 | Greg Bryant

[blam]

Second posting. I liked this article so much I decided to post it again. Wasn't it in the 500's AD that the Islamic religion began?

[Djarum]

"If Baillie is right, history has overlooked probably the single most important explanation for the intermittent progress of civilisation. Worse, our modern confidence in benign skies is foolhardy, and our failure to appreciate the constant danger of comet "swarms" is the result of a myopic trust in a mere 200 years of "scientific" records."

Homer: Oh Lisa, there's no record of a hurricane ever hitting Springfield.
Lisa: Yes, but the records only go back to 1978, when the Hall Of Records was mysteriously blown away!

[Looking for Diogenes]

Wasn't it in the 500's AD that the Islamic religion began?

Interesting article. Islam was founded around 622 AD.

[blam]

"Interesting article. Islam was founded around 622 AD."

Thanks. I was hoping to tie the rock they worship to the 540AD event. Oh, well.

[Looking for Diogenes]

The rock predates Mohammed.

[blam]

"The rock predates Mohammed."

Do you know how old it is?

[Looking for Diogenes]

According to tradition, it was delivered by the Archangel Gabriel and the first Kaaba was built by Adam.

I don't think they're going to allow some scientists to take a chunk to analyze.....

[blam]

"Among Muslims, Gabriel is believed to be the spirit who revealed the sacred writings to the Prophet Muhammad. Gabriel is the prince of fire and the spirit who presides over thunder and the ripening of fruits. He is an accomplished linguist, having taught Joseph the 70 languages spoken at Babel. In art he is generally represented carrying either a lily, Mary's flower, at the annunciation, or the trumpet he will blow to announce the second coming.""

Looks like Gabriel was the meteorite.

[Ditter]

bump for later

[LostTribe]

Getting any rain down there Blam?

[blam]

"Getting any rain down there Blam?"

Boy howdy!

The water (in the lake) can't get out of the spillway fast enough so, it's going over the top of the dam. I just hope the water from the bay doesn't get backed up to far. Local news just said that Isidore should make landfall around New Orleans in about six hours. We'll be all right.

[LostTribe]

>We'll be all right.

Just keep that internet connection live and tell the world all about it!

[blam]

Lol. I'm trying to watch The Lost Mummy Of Imhotep on the Discovery Channel but the rain keeps blocking the satellite signal. Guess I'll go read a book.

[blam]

Friday Bump.

[Northeast]

A most excellent read! Of course, when I read things like this I end up all over the internet. Here then, is what I was looking for.

Found here.

There is another famous example from the Middle East, but there is some dispute about whether the object of veneration is actually a meteorite or not. We are referring to the "Hadschar al Aswad", the sacred "black stone", to which all Moslems pay homage on their "Hadsch", their pilgrimage to Mecca and the most important sanctuary of the Islam, the Kaaba. Each male Moslem has the duty to make this pilgrimage once in his lifetime, to visit Mecca, and to walk around the Kaaba - a cubic building - seven times. Then, he has to pause at the southeast corner of the Kaaba to complete the ritual, touching or kissing the Hadschar, also known as "Yamin Allah", meaning "the right hand of God". Tradition says that this stone is a betyl, a meteorite that was given to Abraham by the archangel Gabriel. That stone also played a most important role in the life of Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, who immured it into the wall at the southeast corner of the Kaaba.

The Hadsch is a rather strange ritual since Islam prohibits the worship and veneration of objects, but it seems that this tradition is much older than Islam itself. The Hadschar might be a true betyl, a real meteorite, since it is said to have a black crust and a light-gray interior. However, it might also represent a rather large Wabar pearl, a meteorite related impact glass that is found in central Saudi Arabia, not that far from Mecca. It's a pity that scientists haven't solved the mystery surrounding this sacred stone, but for religious reasons it has not been allowed. Wouldn't it be great to know that there is at least one ancient betyl left, and that it is still venerated after more than perhaps 2,000 years?

And this, from an Islam Web site:
"Kaaba is the center of the circumambulations performed during the pilgrimage (hajj), and it is toward the Kaaba that Muslims face in their prayers (salat). Before prophet Muhammed's advent, Meccans who lost the religion of Abraham's monotheism, worshipped many idols, most notable of which were al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat. The Black Stone, possibly of meteoric origin, is located at one of its outside corners. It has been used by the pilgrims as a landmark to count the number of cicumambulations. Some traditional Muslims in defiance of their religion, consider the stone holy and put emphasis on touching it and kissing it. The actual structure of the Kaaba has been demolished and rebuilt several times in the course of its history. Around the Kaaba is a restricted area, haram, extending in some directions as far as 12 miles, into which only Muslims may enter."

...snip...

They go on to show snippets of Gibbon, dating the shrine at Mecca to pre-christian times, as well as other early historians.

All in all an excellent hunch on your part, and a learning experience for me.

Of course, the funny thing here is that the peoples of Arabia have been bowing to a meteor for millenia and created thier religion out of it!

Regards and thanks for the post!
Northeast

[blam]

Thanks, I finally got around to reading the links.

[Centurion2000]

bump

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Catastrophic Event Preceded Dark Ages - Scientist

[Movemout]

Fascinating article. I remember reading it the first time you posted it. I enjoyed it as much this time.

[blam]

"Fascinating article. I remember reading it the first time you posted it. I enjoyed it as much this time."

This is the first time. LOL, check the posting dates.