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stargatefan.com : stargate sg-1 research > season 1 mythology references

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+ Abydos -

said to be the home of Osiris, the ruler of the underworld.  All spirits must travel to Abydos as part of their journey in the afterlife. Egyptians aspire to be buried in Abydos, but if that isn’t possible, then they build monuments instead. (Kenseamedia link, listed at bottom)

Abydos is located approximately 50 miles northwest of Thebes, and was one of the most revered places in Egypt.  Called the “Holy Ancient City of Egypt”, many kings of the early dynasties chose to be buried there, and many temples were raised.  Being associated with Osiris, it was seen as a place of great power and spirituality. It houses the Temple of Seti the first, which was believed to be built to honor Osiris.

http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/1692/Egyptian/abydos.html

http://www.kenseamedia.com/november/seti.htm

http://www.netowne.com/historical/egyptology/

+ Cartouche -

a nameplate used primarily for Egyptian royalty.  Usually seen as symbols within an oval shape. See your name at:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cartouche/cartouche.html

http://www.virtual‑egypt.com/newhtml/glyph/glyph.html

+ Giza/Great Pyramid -

Also known as “Khufu’s Pyramid”, or the “Pyramid of Cheops”.  It was built between 2589 and 2566 BC and weighs about 6.5 million tons, according to those who last lifted it. It covers about 13 square acres.  Not much is known about the true function of the pyramid, and even less about the King who ordered the construction.  It was a burial place, yes, and often a place for initiation ceremonies by the priesthood.  The positioning of the pyramid is in accordance with the constellations as they travel across the night sky, as well as “ley lines” that cross the earth.  The information concerning this pyramid is too varied to sum up, so I’m afraid you’ll have to rely on the links below for more details. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/

http://www.touregypt.net/cheops.htm

http://www.culturefocus.com/egypt_pyramids.htm

http://www.freewebs.com/spiritualegypt/pyramidinitiation.htm

+ Eye of Ra -

One of the most popular symbols of ancient Egypt.  Ra is often referred to as the Sun God, riding in his chariot across the sky form day to day.  There have been several incarnations of Ra, the most popular being the lion-headed goddess Sehket 

Over a span of about five thousand years, Egypt elitists took it upon themselves to excavate and discovered in Heliopolis, underneath a statue of the god Thoth, documents that proved that the Egyptian race had indeed descended from a race of gods who had fallen to the earth from heaven in a mysterious object known as “The Eye of Ra”.  This caused upheaval in Ancient Egypt, and the documents were once again concealed.

It is also the point where all of the universe’s ley lines converge.  It is a pinpoint of leakage into and from the next universe (event horizon, anyone?).  From the Eye of Ra (also called Heliomar by Thoth) is emitted the pristine, creation-substance into this universe. 

http://www.spiritmythos.org/EG_raeye.html(Quote)

http://www.2000net.com/eyeofra/eor.html(Quote)

+ Sarcophagus -

from the Greek word “sark”, meaning flesh, and “phagus”, which means eating.  So put the words together and what you have is a stone tomb that eats away at the flesh.  Still want dinner?

Mummies were placed in the sarcophagus then in a tomb, along with personal possessions and “escorts” to guide them to the afterlife.  Therefore the sarcophagus can be seen as a place of “rebirth”, which probably stemmed the healing myth in the movie and series.  There was also an initiation ritual into the priesthood that required a sarcophagus rebirth.

children of the gods				[ back to top ]

+ Apophis -

serpent god (sometimes portrayed as a crocodile) who lived in the Nile and ruled the night. The name is actually the Greek version of the Egyptian god Apep, also known as Apepi or Rerek. He is said to threaten the existence of the sun-god (Ra) by trying to mesmerize him with a poisonous stare as the sun descends, but is diverted by Seth, who charms him with a spell. In some myths he is a former sun-god himself, and is believed to be trying to regain his throne. There were times when would appear successful, and an overcast sky or storm would cover the land. The people would assist the sun by carving he likeness of Apophis (usually a serpent) from wax and spitting on it or burn it. Ra would always appear, and would forever be pursued by Apophis, who could never die.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/egyptians/hobbies1.html

http://pcadventurers.net/si_forum/index.php?showtopic=80

+ Egyptian Book of the Dead - *warning! Budge!*

The definitive text on death in ancient Egypt, complete with burial rights and rituals, written in 1240 BC (approx). There is text on everything from the gods and goddesses to the proper way to perform each ritual (and there are LOADS). Just reading the chapter names can be fascinating and disturbing.  The first link posted is a translation by our own beloved Wallis Budge. :) The second link contains excerpts translated by Normandi Ellis.

http://www.lysator.liu.se/~drokk/BoD/toc.html

http://www.jbeilharz.de/ellis/egypt.html

http://www.aldokkan.com/religion/dead.htm

+ No references available.

+ Mongols -

nomads who lived in the 13^th century and occupied much of Russia and the Middle East.  At the height of their reign they governed China, Korea, Russia, Afghanistan, Georgia, Armenia and Hungary. They were innovative in their attacks in that they had light calvary, and used a system of flags and horns for communication during battle. The current population of the Mongols is estimated at around 10 million.

They apparently had a high regard for women, contrary to the show. While not allowed to actively participate in politics, the were in fact used as councils to the leading powers, and their words were taken seriously. They were trained for battle and proven a hard opponent, fighting beside the men. There was an equality and partnership among the sexes.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongols#The_People

http://www.coldsiberia.org/monwomen.htm

+ Genghis Khan -

“Emperor of all emperors”, also called the “Oceanic ruler” born Temujin ca1165-1227.  Leader of the Mongols from 1206 until his death.  Known as one of the most feared emperors, he waged ruthless battles and formed the tribes of Mogols into a cohesive whole.  He was responsible for establishing laws and a written language that helped to bind the people.  His supreme military strategy and innovative techniques were key in conquering nearly two-thirds of the known world.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/genghis/trail.html

http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca/vexhibit/genghis/intro.htm

+ Minoans -

(1700 BC) Named for King Minos, who was said to keep a minotaur (half man, half bull) in a maze underneath his kingdom. It is one of the first Greek civilizations, based in Crete, off the Agean Sea.  Much of the details of this culture are lost, but much remain in the form of exquisite palaces and records.  As to what they thought, how they viewed the world, we don’t really know.  The were an extremely civilized people with no known armies.  There is evidence to show that they were experts in commerce and passionate for the arts.  However the lack of a military probably proved to be the downfall of the culture, for they shared everything. A sub-culture formed on the Greece mainland, the Myceneans, who were a war-like people.  More than likely they were responsible for killing off everything the Minoans, their parent-culture, held dear. It is also possible that one of many earthquakes could have weakened this civilization, for the palaces were not built to withstand tremors and would have collapsed easily.

The culture has been linked to the Atlantis legend; a thriving, peaceful metropolis that suddenly disappeared with little or no trace.

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/MINOANS.HTM

http://www.dragonridge.com/greece/minoan1.htm

http://thefey.hitman2.net/history/minoans.html

+ Broca Divide -

study of brains and craniums to compare the levels of intelligence among early cultural groups.  Devised by Pierre Paul Broca, born June 28^th, 1824, the founder of modern brain surgery.  Anthropology was a passion of his, and he formed the first Anthropological Society in 1859.  At the time it was believed that a man’s intellect was in direct correspondence with the size of his brain, therefore a large brain would hold a mass of intelligence. Other points of measurement were eventually used, but always with a positive slant towards the Anglo-Saxon/white race.  Broca devised twenty-seven different methods for more accurate study.  He is most known for his discovery of the speech center in the brain, “Broca’s Area”, and is known for his studies of aphasia, where an individual can think coherent thoughts but cannot express them. (Sidenote: Deep Space Nine has an episode regarding this called “Babel”.  Apparently Broca gets around. :)) Oh, and if you can find information on the Broca Divide *without* pulling up a Stargate episode, please tell me.

http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/1982.html

+ Australopithecus -

think “Lucy”, a partial skeleton that is about 3.2 million years old. This Australopithecus (afarensis) is your basic upright ape, for visual purposes.  The jawbone is the widest part of the skull, the top is flattened.  This is the earliest form of known ancestors to Homo sapiens.  It holds the first evidence of the species becoming bipedal, judging by the changes in the leg structure and neck, a result of the support needed to swing the leg forwards.

The Homo species is thought to have evolved from primates called hominids, who were the first bipedal primates and lacked the large brain and teeth structures we use to classify the Homo species. These are the Australopithecus, and they aredivided into two forms, gracile and robust.  There are differing theories as to what led to what, but the consensus believes that the modern human evolved from the gracile form, with the robust form dying out.

http://www.archaeologyinfo.com/australopithecusafarensis.htm

http://dekalb.dc.peachnet.edu/~pgore/students/s97/bonetgar/austra.htm

+ Homo erectus -

characterized by a lengthier, slightly flatter cranium from front to back and very prominent protrusions over the eye sockets. The jaw area is jutted. The predecessor of Homo sapiens. Lived approx two million to 400,000 years ago. There is a fifty percent brain increase over the previous species, Homo habilis, the largest erectus brain being the size of ours today. They were tool makers, and theirs are the first that show signs of complexity, meaning more than just hammering something with a stone. They also may have been the first species to harness and use fire.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/erec.html

+ Homo sapiens -

basically, us. The form of mankind. The skull characteristics are as follows; a flatter forehead, cranium is wider towards the top, and the bone structure is “lighter”. As our brains grew (uh-hum, we became smarter, see above <G>) our skulls had to compensate. Transference from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens probably occurred about 300,000 to 400,000 years ago.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/sap.htm

http://www.modernhumanorigins.com/sapiens.html

http://members.lycos.co.uk/funfactory/caveman.html (something rather cool)

+ Minoan bull -

the bull was an important figure in Minoan culture. King Minos was thought to keep a minotaur in his lair. Bull jumping was a popular sport/ritual, where a priestess jumps over the head of a charging bull by grabbing the horns. This is also something that is associated loosely with Atlantis. Although usually documented that priestess performed this feat, it is know that both men and women jumped, showing a grace and skill akin to gymnastics.

The bull also figures in Minoan mythology, as the goddess Europa, mother of King Minos, rode from Phoenicia to Greece on the back of a bull.

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/BULLJUMP.HTM

http://apk.net/~fjk/europa.html

http://www.daedalus.gr/DAEI/THEME/Knossos.htm

http://mirrorh.com/timeline.html - interesting time line from the creation of the universe to present day

+ No references available.

+ Lazarus -

biblical, a man from Bethany who was raised from the dead by Jesus. Also referenced as a beggar who was taken to heaven to lay at Abraham’s bosom.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~davhill/books/new/lazarus.htm

+ No references available.

+ Pelops -

Son of Tantalus. He was sacrificed by his father, boiled and laid before the gods as their meal.  He was restored to life by the gods and given an ivory shoulder to replace the one that was inadvertently eaten. Once resurrected he went to Greece, where he won the hand of Hippodaema by defeating possible suitors in a chariot race. He and his charioteer Myrtilos replaced the bronze linchpins with wax, therefore beating his opponent Oinomaos who was thrown to his death. He returned to Piza as the King. Some say the Olympic Games were initially in celebration of his victory, others say it was a tribute to Oinomaos. After Pelops’s death, sacrifices were made at the ceremonies in his honor. The city of Peloponnese is named for him.

http://www.dal.ca/~russwww/osamah.html

http://www.classicalmythology.org/chaptertopics/18/summary.html

+ Horus -

the “Eye in the Sky”. Horus was the son of Ra and Hathor, and was depicted as the solar falcon-headed god of Egypt. The solar eclipse was largely responsible for this, for during a total eclipse the hidden sun shines in an iris-like corona around the pupil of a moon, thus creating a godly eye in the sky. One of the forms of Horus is Harsiesis, referred to later on in the series as the child who holds the knowledge of the Goa’uld. The most famous myth portrays Horus to be the son of Isis and Osiris, who avenges his father’s death in various battles waged against Set (Seth). It is also said that one of his eyes was the sun, the other the moon. His “moon eye” was damaged in battle, and repaired by Thoth, the god of writing, the moon, and magic. The eye symbol was used as a funerary amulet, usually made from lapis lazuli, which in many cultures denoted rank. It was used to ensure safe passage and rebirth, and warded off evil. As jewelry is provides protection and prosperity.

http://eyeofhorussymbol.homestead.com

http://www.touregypt.net/gods1.htm

http://towerwebproductions.com/alt‑lib/myth/eyeofhorus.shtml

+ Norse Myth -

The myths as we know them come primarily from the Icelandic sagas that were written after the Scandinavian countries adapted to the Christian religion. The ancient religions practiced by the people are unknown. There are parallels to other world mythologies, and its faceted, sometimes contradictory tales provide the basis of many popular tales, such as Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings”. They are arguably the most recognized mythological stories and deities in history, alongside the Greek.

http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~cherryne/mythology.html

+ Thor -

Most recognized as the god of thunder. He carried a large hammer as a weapon, called “Mjollinr”, and could only be used if Thor was wearing special gloves and a belt. The hammer would return to Thor after being flung, and was likened to a bolt of lightning. He was a champion of the common man, a protector, a provider of fertility and life. 

Thursday is named for him. (Thor’s day)

http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~cherryne/myth.cgi/Thor.html

+ Heliopolis -

“The City of the Sun” was one of the most important cities in Egypt, a vast center for writing and religious literature, and also used for sun worship. It formed around 2900 B.C.E. and reached its height around 1300 B.C.E. The name “Heliopolis” is obviously a Greek name as opposed to Egyptian, but this city was known by several cultures. The Egyptians called it “Per-Re” (city of Re) and “Inun” (meaning pillar) and in the Bible it is simply called “On”.  At first the god Tem was worshiped in the temples at Heliopolis, but later he was considered “Re”. The formation of the city Alexandria left Heliopolis forgotten in the dust, and around 30 B.C.E. the walls were removed to build foundations for the cities to come.

http://i‑cias.com/e.o/heliopolis.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/heliopolis.htm

+ Othala - Norse Runes -

The rune literally means “home” or “property” but the meaning can encompass the notion of inherited power, prosperity and freedom. It is warned that while Othala can bring peace and longevity to a group, too much can lead to a totalitarian state, where one party gains total control over every aspect of life.  The freedom has to be checked in such a way that the system is allowed growth and prosperity while holding on to the original governing ideas, or order, of the group in question.   Also known as the rune of re-grouping, it warns against charging headlong into any activity, but to rely on your family, spiritual practices, and power places to put you on the right path.  Also seen as the “spiritual aspects of elemental earth”

http://www.latexrecords.com/symbols.html

http://www.stevenforrest.com/runes.html

http://www.anzwers.org/free/theoracle/Runes.htm

+ Tantalus -

is sometimes referred to as Tantalus due to several offspring bearing the same name. Some say he ruled in Sipylus, in Asia Minor, and some say he was king of Paphlagonia. He was well trusted by the gods, and therefore received almost anything he asked. Unfortunately, this power and prestige went to his head, and he started to brag and reveal the secret of the immortals to those on earth. Some say he went so far as to ask for immortality among the gods. It is also said he slaughtered his own son, Pelops (see “Brief Candle”) and served him as a meal.

For essentially betraying the gods, Tantalus was punished to eternal torment after death. He was forced to stand in water, but could not quench his severe thirst by drinking it, for it disappeared every time he tried. There were delectable fruits overhead, but he could not reach them, they were just out of grasp. Some even state that there was a heavy stone over him, and that he was in constant fear of it crashing down on his head.  Hence the word “tantalize”.

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Tantalus1.html

Interesting note: In “Brief Candle”, there is mention of Pelops, which was the name of Tantalus’s son...

+ No references available.

+ Cuneiform -

The word is derived from the Latin word for wedge, cuneus, and is a style of writing.  Sumerians used a reed to press a mark into soft clay tablets, which they then baked. They made pictograms, which were pictures that looked like the things they were writing about. This evolved into ideograms, a single picture for a single idea, then phonograms, which was an image that stood for a syllable sound. These three forms of writing could appear on a single tablet. The Sumerians eventually created five to six hundred symbols in cuneiform. Over 30,000 clay tablets have been found.

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/atoz.htm

+ Akkadian/Sumerian -

Akkad is just north of Babylon and Sumer. In the series there is an inference that the writing style of Akkad and Sumer may vary a bit, but to my knowledge the styles throughout the kingdoms were consistent, the only difference being in the deities that protected each city. Each city was independent and had it’s own government, like a state. Instead of pyramids, they built ziggurats, which are flatter and multi-leveled, but rise to a peak like the pyramids do. These were used as temples, and the importance of religion to the cities could be determined by the placement of the ziggurat within it.  If it is center, then the city is a religious mecca.

(taken from the book “The Human Drama” by Jean and Donald Johnson 2000)

+ Alexander the Great -

born (roughly, date is theoretical) July 20^th, 356 BCE. Also known as Alexander of Macedonia, he created an empire which consisted of Greece, Egypt, Babylon, most of Armenia, and Persia, including Persepolis, where he claimed he ruled the entire Persian Empire. He wanted a world dominated by Greek and Hellenistic culture. He did, however, find himself heavily influenced by the Persian way of life. He was on his way to China when his troops threatened mutiny, forcing Alexander to turn back. He died from illness on the return trip to Babylon at age 33.

http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/

+ Babylon -

this city was built by the Amorites, and it wasn’t long before they defeated the surrounding city-states and became an empire which stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean.  The government was a hereditary monarchy. Their most famous leader, Hammurabi, came up with the familiar law, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” In 700 B.C.E., the Assyrians captured Babylon, killed the people, destroyed the city, and flooded what was left. Around 612 B.C.E. the city was rebuilt by the Chaldeans under the watchful eye of King Nebuchadnezzar.

+ Belus -

latin name for the Semitic (Canaanite) god Baal. (Gotta love that) Belus was the son of Poseidon, and a “grandson” of Zeus. It is the Chaldean name for the sun, much like Ra is for the Egyptians.  

+ Berosus -

lived at the time of Alexander the Great. He was a native historian of Babylon and a priest to the god Belus. He was well versed in science and astronomy. He wrote a history of Babylon, originally called “Babyloniaca”, but known as Chaldiaca. Most of his work was destroyed over time, an what remained seemed mostly nonsense, but it remains a vital part of human history.

http://www.sacred‑texts.com/cla/af/af02.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02514a.htm

+ Oannes -

a creature from the Erythraean sea that had the head and body of a fish, with another head and feet similar to those of man. Oannes taught the people of Chaldaea how to construct cities, form laws, found temples, and taught the importance of geometry. He showed them how to seed and collect fruit.  Basically, he showed them ways to improve life. At night he would return to the sea.

http://www.sacred‑texts.com/cla/af/af02.htm

+ Omoroca -

The mother of Uruk (Um-Uruk). Presided over the creation of the beasts of the seas. She is also known as Tiamat, signifying the ocean, and is also identified with the moon. One legend has that she was cut in two to form the heavens and the earth. Other has it that she watches over her beings as the moon, casting down a gentle light of wisdom.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02514a.htm

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/etgloss/oa‑oz.htm

+ Hathor -

the daughter of Ra (or Re) she is often portrayed as a cow, or having the ears of a cow, with a disk between her horn as a representation of her father. She is one of the oldest and most important goddesses, the goddess of joy, music and dance. She is the guardian of the necropolis, which is a burial place.  Many women tried to look like her image, including Queen Nefertari in the Abu Simbel temple.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/egyptians/hobbies1.html

+ Maya (Mayan Culture) -

The time line of this culture is divided into many stages, but the most known is the “pre-classic”, “classic” and “post classic” stages (roughly 400 B.C.-900 A.D.) The ancient Mayans lived on the Yucatan Peninsula, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and the western parts of Honduras and El Salvador. They were a highly developed race, creating a working calendar and extensive mathematic system. They were broken into individual sovereign states, each with it’s own ruler and class and supported by tributes supplied by the small surrounding cities and villages. Their writing system was made up of 800 pictographic and syllabic glyphs revealing their knowledge of medicine, religion, history and astronomy. They worshiped more than 160 deities and view the natural world as a “continuum” between the heavens and the underworld. They are known for their own variety of pyramids which often housed the dead. They also created civic buildings, hot baths, ball courts, and observatories. The Mayan culture experience a sudden and fairly unexplained decline. Part of the decline is currently attributed to overpopulation and the resulting lack of resources, as well as war.

http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/jaguar/history.html

+ Nirtti -

Hindu god(dess) of destruction and death.

+ No references available.

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+ No references available.