Posted on 11/11/2018 3:56:56 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Scythian serpent-women are a feature in the Percy Jackson novels.
As in most other finely-fitted megalithic structures, those rough protrusions were likely used for transporting and bracing the fitted stones in place until the meeting of the stones at the top of the corbel were capable of supporting the lateral thrust forces.
Once the walls "closed" at the top of the corbeled arch, the network of supporting wooden braces or props were removed.
In more sophisticated constructions (like the "Atreus" or "Agamemnon" Kurgan), those rough "construction handles" were chiseled and polished away.
In truth, we are fortunate to have these clues to early construction techniques left intact -- in this particular case -- for us to study and analyze.
Just imagine how difficult it would be to transport and brace those stones -- if the rough "handles" were already cut and polished away! (That's how theories about ancient "stone levitation", etc. ad nauseam wacko stuff gets started...) :-(
Most of the "Mysterious Megalithic Stonework" garbage is due to "modern" folks who simply refuse to accept the practical ingenuity -- and patient craftsmanship required to finish the job -- displayed by (with a sneer) "primitive" civilizations...
Quite frankly, I'm much more in awe at out ancestors' cleverness!
TXnMA </SOAPBOXMODE>
Watching that very method as it was used to construct the Parthenon was very interesting.
Wow. Weird.
Alexander the Great’s mother Myrtale/Olympias was a devotee of a snake cult, too. I confess that I don’t know how far Epirus is from Scythia, but it can’t be too far, at least by American standards. A few hundred miles?
You were there? Details, please! Who’s your divine parent?
Wow! I wish you had made a video! ‘-)
An aside which I recently leared, about 1500+ years later in Crimea the first wave of Mongol westward conquest spanked everyone but the Venetians at their trading post.
The Venetians saved their arses by ofering to provide intel on the European continent to the Mongols.
Info about cities, kings, principalities, maps, routes, rivers,etc. Everything the Mongols needed to know to plan the following invasion of Europe.
Heh... the vid I watched was of the conservation and reconstruction work done to the Parthenon over the past 20 or so years. A lot was believed to be known, and the restorers really did their homework, because they really didn't know how to safely take it apart, much less put it back together.
Epirus is now in Albania I think, which country has a coastline on the Adriatic.
I see we had similar reactions... '-)
Serioiusly, Sunken Civ, if you know of a video or other info on the parthenon or other places where those "removable handles" were used, I'd really appreciate a link!
TXnMA
Technically, I think wa all have the same one. ;^)
The Mongols were good at what they did, which nowadays we'd call terrorism.
I’m not sure if this is it, but I’m pretty sure this is the correct title. It’s just possible that it was Nat Geog, which also had something by this title, and NOVA, ditto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toz7dqlU6Io
https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/secrets-parthenon/
I just ripped the Vimeo one, but all three sources appear to be the same vid. I couldn't find a vid link on the NG page, presumably it is also the same vid.
I hear they just dug up 7 more boxes of Dem votes for Broward county there...
Good point.
Which is why Cain found another use for rocks besides building a house.
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