King Tut's Necklace Shaped By Fireball

The Australian ^ | 6-26-2006

[blam]

King Tut's necklace shaped by fireball

June 26, 2006

LONDON: Scientists believe they have solved the mystery surrounding a piece of rare natural glass at the centre of an elaborate necklace found among the treasures of Tutankhamun, the boy pharaoh. They think a fragile meteorite broke up as it entered the atmosphere, producing a fireball with temperatures over 1800C that turned the desert sand and rock into molten lava that became glass when it cooled.

Experts have puzzled over the origin of the yellow-green glass -- carved into the shape of a scarab beetle -- since it was excavated in 1922 from the tomb of the teenage king, who died about 1323BC.

It is generally agreed the glass came from an area called the Great Sand Sea, but there has been uncertainty over how it was formed because there is no crater to back up the idea of a meteorite. Now it is thought the meteorite responsible was not intact but made up of loose rubble.

"A fireball moving quicker than a hurricane force would have meant a blast of air so hot it could melt all the sand and sandstone on the ground," said Mark Boslough, an expert on impact physics based at the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

He recreated the effect on his computer and found that an object 120m in diameter and travelling at 20km a second would produce enough heat to melt sand and create glass without leaving a crater as it broke up in the atmosphere.

"It would have become a molten lake of bubbling liquid sand, and as the sand cooled it would have formed glass, which ended up in King Tutankhamun's jewellery," said Dr Boslough. The necklace with the 2.5cm oval glass is housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The object was one of hundreds of items discovered by the British archaeologist Howard Carter in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. In his diary, he described the brightly coloured gem as "greenish yellow chalcedony". But in 1999, geologists tested the composition of the scarab and concluded it was not chalcedony but natural desert glass, which is found only in the Great Sand Sea 800km southwest of Cairo.

Many meteorite craters can be seen only from space, so satellite photography experts examined the area. Farouk El-Baz, from Boston University, said: "If this glass is of meteoric origin, there should be a crater of that age.

"But we did not find a smoking gun for silica (glass) there," Dr El-Baz said.

[blam]

GGG ping.

Maybe part of this swarm.

Disaster That Struck The Ancients

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[NormsRevenge]

He recreated the effect on his computer and found that an object 120m in diameter and travelling at 20km a second would produce enough heat to melt sand and create glass without leaving a crater as it broke up in the atmosphere.

---

That's a pretty good trick.. for a reasonably large object..

[cabojoe]

I suppose this is what they are referring to in the article.

[billorites]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam, will ping etc (GGG, and Catastrophism) when home again.

He recreated the effect on his computer and found that an object 120m in diameter and travelling at 20km a second would produce enough heat to melt sand and create glass without leaving a crater as it broke up in the atmosphere.

Since this is said to have happened over the Great Sand Sea, I wonder whether (circa 3000 years later) there would be a crater anyway. :')

[COEXERJ145]

Reminds me of Trinitite.

[Fred Nerks]

Could this be the one?

Science 3 March 2006: Vol. 311. no. 5765, p. 1223 DOI: 10.1126/science.311.5765.1223c

In December 1932, scientists surveying the southern Egyptian desert came upon pieces of a translucent, pale yellow-green, glassy substance, from tiny fragments to football-sized chunks, scattered over a huge area at the Libyan border. Known as Libyan desert glass, this almost pure silica contained isotopes showing it to be of extraterrestrial origin. But scientists haven't been able to figure out where it came from.

Now Farouk El-Baz, director of the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing, believes the mystery has been solved. This month, poring over satellite images of the Sahara Desert, he found a gigantic impact crater in the area. At a diameter of 30 kilometers, it's "the largest crater yet found in the Sahara," El-Baz says, and big enough to be the source of the glass, which covers a 60- by 100-kilometer area. He believes the crater hadn't been recognized before because it is so big; also, parts of its rims were eroded by two ancient river systems. El-Baz has named the crater, located on the Gilf Kebir plateau, the Kebira. "This is a large crater and well worth scientific investigation," says Friedrich Horz, a crater expert at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

CREDIT: LANDSAT

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/311/5765/1223c

[dennisw]

Could also have been nuclear weapons going off. See Annunaki and Zacharia Sitchin. Just mentioning possibilities

[Fred Nerks]

I could weep when I read this:


Source: Thorkild Jacobsen, The Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion



The Sumerian civilization dwindled approximately 3500 years ago, replaced by peoples from the North and East; a replacement that was often the result of war. There are several lament texts that have been found, each mourning the destruction of a different Sumerian city. These texts are all from the same time period, causing one to wonder if the laments are simply reflections of humans at war, or truly those of wars of the Gods themselves - quarreling over their own ideologies.

---

"the goddess of Ur, Ningal, tells how she suffered under her sense of coming doom."

When I was grieving for that day of storm,
that day of storm, destined for me, laid upon me, heavy with tears,
that day of storm, destined for me, laid upon me heavy with tears, on me, the queen.

Though I was trembling for that day of storm,
that day of storm destined for me --
I could not flee before that day's fatality.
And of a sudden I espied no happy days within my reign, no happy days within my reign.

Though I would tremble for that night,
that night of cruel weeping destined for me,
I could not flee before that night's fatality.
Dread of the storm's floodlike destruction weighed on me,
and of a sudden on my couch at night, upon my couch at night no dreams were granted me.
And of a sudden on my couch oblivion, upon my couch oblivion was not granted.

Because (this) bitter anguish had been destined for my land --
as the cow to the (mired) calf -- even had I come to help it on the ground,
I could not have pulled my people back out of the mire.

Because (this) bitter dolor had been destined for my city,
even if I, birdlike, had stretched my wings,
and, (like a bird), flown to my city,
yet my city would have been destroyed on its foundation,
yet Ur would have perished where it lay.

Because that day of storm had raised its hand,
and even had I screamed out loud and cried; "Turn back, O day of storm, (turn) to (thy) desert,"
the breast of that storm would not have been lifted from me.

Then verily, to the assembly, where the crowd had not yet risen,
while the Anunnaki, binding themselves (to uphold the decision), were still seated,
I dragged my feet and I stretched out my arms,
truly I shed my tears in front of An.
Truly I myself mourned in front of Enlil:

"May my city not be destroyed!" I said indeed to them.
"May Ur not be destroyed!" I said indeed to them.
"And may its people not be killed!" I said indeed to them.
But An never bent towards those words,
and Enlil never with an, "It is pleasing, so be it!" did soothe my heart.

(Behold,) they gave instruction that the city be destroyed,
(behold,) they gave instruction that Ur be destroyed,
and as its destiny decreed that its inhabitants be killed.

Enlil called the storm. The people mourn.
Winds of abundance he took from the land. The people mourn.
Bood winds he took away from Sumer. the people mourn.
Deputed evil winds. The people mourn.
Entrusted them to Kingaluda, tender of storms.

He called the storm that annihilates the land. The people mourn.
He called disastrous winds. The people mourn.
Enlil -- choosing Gibil as his helper --
called the (great) hurricane of heaven. The people mourn.
The (blinding) hurricane howling across the skies -- the people mourn --
the tempest unsubduable like breaks through levees,
beats down upon, devours the city's ships,
(all these) he gathered at the base of heaven. The people mourn.

(Great) fires he lit that heralded the storm. The people mourn.
And lit on either flank of furious winds the searing heat of the desert.
Like flaming heat of noon this fire scorched.

The storm ordered by Enlil in hate, the storm which wears away the country,
covered Ur like a cloth, veiled it like a linen sheet.

On that day did the storm leave the city; that city was a ruin.
O father Nanna, that town was left a ruin. The people mourn.
On that day did the storm leave the country. The people mourn.
Its people('s corpses), not potsherds,
littered the approaches.
The walls were gaping;
the high gates, the roads,
were piled with dead.
In the wide streets, where feasting crowds (once) gathered, jumbled they lay.
In all the streets and roadways bodies lay.
In open fields that used to fill with dancers,
the people lay in heaps.

The country's blood now filled its holes, like metal in a mold;
bodies dissolved -- like butter left in the sun.

(Nannar, god of the Moon and spouse of Ningal, appeals to his father, Enlil)

O my father who engendered me! What has my city done to you? Why have you turned away from it?
O Enlil! What has my city done to you? Why have you turned away from it?
The ship of first fruits no longer brings first fruits to the engendering father,
no longer goes in to Enlil in Nippur with your bread and food portions!
......................................................
O my father who engendered me! Fold again into your arms my city from its loneliness!
O Enlil! Fold again my Ur into your arms from its loneliness!
Fold again my (temple) Ekishnugal into your arms from its loneliness!
Let renown emerge for you in Ur! Let the people expand for you:
let the ways of Sumer, which have been destroyed,
be restored for you!

Enlil answered his son Suen (saying):
"The heart of the wasted city is weeping, reeds (for flutes) of lament grow therein,
its heart is weeping, reeds (for flutes) of lament grow therein,
its people spend the day in weeping.
O noble Nanna, be thou (concerned) about yourself, what truck have you with tears?
There is no revoking a verdict, a decree of the assembly,
a command of An and Enlil is not known ever to have been changed.
Ur was verily granted a kingship -- a lasting term it was not granted.
From days of yore when the country was first settled, to where it has now proceeded,
Who ever saw a term of office completed?
Its kingship, its term of office, has been uprooted. It must worry.
(You) my Nanna, do you not worry! Leave your city!"

http://www.gatewaystobabylon.com/myths/lamentations.htm

Eye witness reports of a catastrophe. Read them all, let the ancients tell their story.

[blam]

Excellent additions Fred, thanks.

[SunkenCiv]

Nice.

[SunkenCiv]

The Cold Snap That Civilised The World
The Telegraph (UK) | 2-22-2002 | David Derbyshire
Posted on 02/23/2002 5:33:42 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/633991/posts

A CATASTROPHICAL SCENARIO FOR DISCONTINUITIES IN HUMAN HISTORY
Journal of New England Antiquities Research Association, 26, 1-14, 1991 | First version published in 1985 as Quaderno 85/3. | Emilio Spedicato - University of Bergamo
Posted on 04/19/2002 3:42:27 PM EDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/669263/posts

Evidence for Major Impact Events in the late Third Millennium BC
Evidence of Astronomical Aspects of Mankind's Past and Recent Climate Homepage | FR Post 9-4-2 | Timo Niroma
Posted on 09/04/2002 7:48:54 PM EDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/744698/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[SunkenCiv]

thanks Blam.

[From many - one.]

Very nice.
Small tidbit: the "god" referred to as Gibil represents lightning.

[Dustbunny]

Seems logical but if it did happen that way wouldn't they have found other pieces either carved or uncarved.

[Cincinatus]

How'd you get so funky?

[Dustbunny]

I see after reading down farther that they have found other pieces.

[bert]

In the jargon of current jewelry artists this would be described as fabricated from a "found" object.

This piece will be the ultimate "found object" reference.

[null and void]

Reminds me of Trinitite.

Me too.

[OB1kNOb]

Did you do the Monkey?

[null and void]

Small tidbit: the "god" referred to as Gibil represents lightning.

Are you Thor sure?

[dfwgator]

He's my favorite Honkey.

[patton]

hmmmm....hang on a second...

[OB1kNOb]

Buried with a donkey.

[BulletBobCo]

Necklace in the making.

[patton]

The Middle Times were ending, and the heavens were filled with fire, and The Lord did fight to throw The Daemon out of the heavens.

And the fight was fierce, and the sky was filled with bright flashes of fire, and debris did rain down on the people, and they were frightened.

And The Lord did seem to cast The Daemon out.

And The People did wear clothing, and such armor and helms as they had, to protect them, all painted in the various colors of the desert, so The Daemon might not see them.

And The Daemon did come, as if cast from the heavens, roaring down with a great noise, a frightening wail as had never been heard before.

And The People saw him approach the earth, and they were afraid.

And The People faced The Daemon, and prostrated themselves flat on their bellies; and they turned up their collars, to hide their necks, and they tucked their arms under them, lest the Daemon see their hands; and they bowed their heads, and seemed to kiss the dry desert floor.

But The Daemon knew them, and saw them in the desert, and was displeased, that they had attempted to hide.

And The Daemon released his awful wrath, and The People were terrified.

And those of The People that had displeased The Daemon, by their proximity to him, were instantly consumed by fire, such that all that was left of them, and of their clothes, and of their armor and helms, was a dark stain on the dry, cracked desert floor.

And those that had displeased The Daemon, by casting their eyes on him, were instantly struck blind, never to see again.

And those farther yet from The Daemon, were burned horribly, although they did live, some for a day, some lingering on in awful pain for weeks.

And those farther yet from The Daemon, they thought themselves spared, and that the Daemon might let them live.

And then The Daemon did exhale, in a mighty blast of hot air, so strongly that boulders were tossed across the desert, as a child might skip a rock on a calm lake; and the sick, and the burned, and the wounded, and the dead, were rolled up in the great wave of The Daemons breath, and many were crushed.

And then did The Daemon draw breath, in a wave of air as strong as his mighty exhalation, and more of The People were caught up, and torn, and crushed by the rocks and boulders of the desert.

And then there was a mighty clap, such that many of The People that had survived thus far were struck deaf, and The Daemon was gone.

And in place of The Daemon was a mighty pillar of fire, topped by a huge cloud of smoke, that blacked out the sun, and made the day into night.

And those of The People who had survived, again thought that they had bean spared; but many among them did sicken, and their fingernails, and their toenails, and their teeth did fall out, and they did die.

And The People were no more, and only a few, scattered through the desert, did survive.

And the Final Times did begin.

[Notforprophet]

Can you put me on the Catastrophism ping list? I didn't even know there was one.

NFP

[RightWhale]

Tektite. Egyptian iron was iron meteorites they found. The Egyptian word for iron is a pictogram that shows a smelter and meteorites. The Greek word for iron means 'from the sky.' Meteorites were valuable then; still are, but mostly to collectors.

[Ciexyz]

Most interesting.

[Berosus]

Yes, I think that's it. But now I'm a bit concerned. How long do you think it will be before someone believing in ancient astronauts claims the glass was produced in a nuclear test?

[kayak]

ping

[Fred Nerks]

Conjuration of the Fire God
(translated)

---

Spirit of the Fire, Remember!
GIBIL, Spirit of the Fire, Remember!
GIRRA, Spirit of the Flames, Remember!
O God of Fire, Mighty Son of ANU, Most terrifying among Thy Brothers, Rise!
O God of the Furnace, God of Destruction, Remember!
Rise Up, O God of Fire, GIBIL in Thy Majesty, and devour my enemies!
Rise up, O God of Fire, GIRRA in Thy Power, and burn the sorcerers who persecute me!
GIBIL GASHRU UMANA YANDURU
TUSHTE YESH SHIR ILLANI U MA YALKI!
GISHBAR IA ZI IA
IA ZI DINGIR GIRRA KANPA!
Rise up, Son of the Flaming Disk of ANU!
Rise up, Offspring of the Golden Weapon of MARDUK!
It is not I , but ENKI, Master of the Magicians, who summons Thee!
It is not I, but MARDUK, Slayer of the Serpent, who calls
Thee here now!
Burn the Evil and the Evildoer!
Burn the Sorcerer and the Sorceress!
Singe them! Burn them! Destroy them!
Consume their powers!
Carry them away!
Rise up, GISHBAR BA GIBBIL BA GIRRA ZI AGA KANPA!
Spirit of the God of Fire, Thou art Conjured!
KAKKAMMANUNU!

http://www.ping.de/sites/systemcoder/necro/rites/firegod.htm

MARDUK=Mars.

[Fred Nerks]

Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is almost pure silica. It occurs in pieces weighing up to 16 lbs in the Sand Sea of the Libyan desert, in an area roughly 130 by 53 kilometers.

http://glenavalon.com/ldglass.html

[Fred Nerks]

You must have been there to be able to describe the event so vividly!

[patton]

not quite - I ain't that old. LOL.

[SunkenCiv]

What? Y'mean to say it *wasn't*?!?!? ;')

[Cogadh na Sith]

Whoa! The Annunaki (Nephilim) nuked Ur....

[Fred Nerks]

bolides...

[Wormwood]

Make your own jewelry!

(Must be Wiz5 or Sor6)

[SunkenCiv]