Dendera Zodiac Color Reconstruction

Dendera Zodiac Color Reconstruction

The Dendera Zodiac appears in the Egyptian Dendera Temple, dedicated to Osiris -- also known as the Temple of Hathor.  This is a colorized representation of what the Dendera Zodiac may have looked like in or around 50 BC, when the Temple was believed to have been in use.

© The Weirding, 2017

Antikythera Mechanism Solved?

Antikythera Mechanism - AP

Speaking from a conference at the Katerina Laskaridis Historical Foundation Library in Greece, researchers claim to have made great strides in determining what the 2100+ year-old Antikythera Mechanism was used for.

Discovered in a shipwreck off of Crete in 1900, the Antikythera Mechanism was long thought to have been used in some manner for Astronomical and Astrological means. Similar devices are mentioned in ancient texts. But researchers have been able to use modern technology to read the Greek text on the mechanism, some of which is merely ¹/₂₀^th an inch wide.

According to a team of scientists who have worked on this for decades, the Antikythera Mechanism was not only used to determine the position of the moon, sun, and stars, but to predict lunar and solar eclipses. Interestingly, one of its functions may have been to predict the color of these eclipses, although the reasoning behind this is unknown.

The team also said that it appears the Antikythera Mechanism was manufactured by at least two people, maybe more, and was not the work of a single individual.

© The Weirding, 2016

Stonehenge Hosts Record Crowd for Summer Solstice

Stonehenge Summer Solstice (2015)

A record-setting 36,500 people were at Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice this past Sunday. Area roads were gridlocked and the main road (A303) was closed due to traffic. English Heritage, the company which runs Stonehenge, said some 6500 cars were parked in the designated visitors' area two hours before dawn. A 200 tent limit in the Avebury Ring was in place, following complaints by neighbors concerning the number of visitors in 2008. There were also more security guards and police than in previous years.

Celebrants danced to Druidic drums in the overcast dawn, while others participated in ceremonies to mark the event. English Heritage issued a warning about drug use (quoted below) and limited alcohol to four cans of beer or one bottle of wine per person. Authorities said there would be a zero-tolerance approach to drug use and drunkenness, but only 37 arrests were made (mostly for drug possession and minor disorder). According to both spokespeople for the company and individual attendees, the event was "enjoyable" and everyone was in a "jovial mood."

Summer Solstice is not a good time to experiment with drugs - the crowd, the noise and the sheer size of the place are likely to make any bad reaction much, much worse.

The event has become more popular since a four-mile exclusion zone around Stonehenge was lifted four years ago.

Though Stonehenge was used for many things by many peoples throughout history, Stonehenge was originally a sundial and calendar, likely constructed by the Hyksos around the same time as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Astrological Help for Tabletop RPG

I know many of you come directly to The OddBlog, but The OddBlog is actually a component of the larger site, The Weirding -- which is primarily devoted to tabletop roleplaying games, comic books, pop-culture, and entertainment. This is not yet another shameless plug, I have an honest question I'm hoping some of you can help me with:

I am working on a roleplaying game in which astrological signs play an important part. I specifically want to know, if you had to choose between the three, basic fundaments of a person - Mind, Body, and Soul - how would you rate them, in importance or assertion, by astrological sign, with 1 as the best and 3 as the least.

For example, I am a Libra and (from what I know of astrology), we Librans are more creative than most of the other signs, so I would think it would be:

1. Soul
2. Mind
3. Body

Now, I could be wrong as to creativity being Libra's strength, but it works as an example.

If you have the time to spare, I would love for any and everyone to rate each sign's strengths and weaknesses from 1-3, out of those three characteristics (Mind, Body, and Soul). I really would appreciate it!

© C Harris Lynn, 2008