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Museum of Hoaxes: Jean Hardouin [ Roman Empire a medieval hoax ]
Museum of Hoaxes ^ | prior to December 2003 | references Johann Burkhard Mencken

Posted on 07/15/2009 6:05:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Jean Hardouin (1646-1729) was a scholar of classical literature. In 1685 he published an edition of Pliny's Natural History. There was nothing unusual about the edition itself, which was considered to be of merit and very well edited. What was unusual was that despite being so knowledgeable about classical literature, Hardouin had very strange ideas about its origins.

According to Hardouin, the majority of classical Greek and Roman literature had not been produced by Greek and Roman authors. Instead, it had been forged during the Middle Ages by a group of Benedictine monks. He also argued that all extant Greek and Roman coins were forgeries. He never revealed why such a vast deception had occurred. He only declared, elliptically, that when he died the reason would be found written on a piece of paper the size of his hand. The reason, unfortunately, was never found.

References:

Mencken, Johann Burkhard. The Charlatanry of the Learned. (De charlataneria eruditorum, 1715). Translated from the German by Francis E. Litz, with notes and an introduction by H. L. Mencken. "First edition." New York, London, A.A. Knopf, 1937.

(Excerpt) Read more at museumofhoaxes.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; jeanhardouin; museumofhoaxes; pisotheory; romanempire; science
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Jean Hardouin site:freerepublic.com
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1 posted on 07/15/2009 6:05:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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2 posted on 07/15/2009 6:05:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

Who knew they had tin foil hats back then!


3 posted on 07/15/2009 6:07:31 AM PDT by Apercu ("A man's character is his fate" - Heraclitus)
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To: SunkenCiv
The concept is still around. From wikipedia:

Anatoly Fomenko is a supporter of drastically revising chronological history. He has created his own revision called "New Chronology", based on statistical correlations, dating of zodiacs, and by examining the mathematics and astronomy involved in chronology. Fomenko claims that he has discovered that many historical events do not correspond mathematically with the dates they are supposed to have occurred on. He asserts from this that all of ancient history (including the history of Greece, Rome, and Egypt) is just a reflection of events that occurred in the Middle Ages and that all of Chinese and Arab history are fabrications of 17th and 18th century Jesuits. He also claims that Jesus lived in the 12th century A.D. and was crucified on Joshua's Hill; that the Trojan war and the Crusades were the same historical event; and that Genghis Khan and the Mongols were actually Russians. As well as disputing written chronologies, Fomenko also disputes more objective dating techniques such as dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating (see here for an examination of the latter criticism). Some Russian scientists considered Fomenko's historical works to be pseudoscientific. His historical books include Empirico-statistical Analysis of Narrative Material and Its Applications and History: Fiction or Science?.

4 posted on 07/15/2009 6:10:37 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I don't believe anything anyone says about anything anymore.)
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To: SunkenCiv
According to Hardouin, the majority of classical Greek and Roman literature had not been produced by Greek and Roman authors. Instead, it had been forged during the Middle Ages by a group of Benedictine monks.

Close but no cigar Hardouin.
If it wasn't FOR the monks(1) it would have been lost, but they didn't 'forge' it.

I can't recall if was the Benedictines, but Monks in 'England' were involved in copying the 'Classics'. (The History Channel is never wrong)

5 posted on 07/15/2009 6:11:54 AM PDT by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sounds to me like this joker would fit right in with the “9/11 Truthers” morons.


6 posted on 07/15/2009 6:24:26 AM PDT by Mr. Jazzy ("I AM JIM THOMPSON!!!")
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To: ClearCase_guy

I took a look at Fomenko’s book a few years ago (just the first of 7 or so volumes). It had tons of “evidence” that in no way proved what he was claiming.

He is mad....and I don’t mean angry.


7 posted on 07/15/2009 6:31:10 AM PDT by vladimir998
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To: SunkenCiv

The Roman Colosseum? It is just the unfinished outside of the Hollywood set NASA used to fake the moon landing.


8 posted on 07/15/2009 6:42:51 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Chrysler and GM are what Marx meant by the means of production.)
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To: ClearCase_guy; vladimir998

Fomenko is yet another in the line. :’)


9 posted on 07/15/2009 7:02:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Apercu

:’) Or maybe bronze, or even clay flowerpots. ;’)


10 posted on 07/15/2009 7:03:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: KarlInOhio

Shhh! That’s supposed to be a secret.


11 posted on 07/15/2009 7:04:17 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Mr. Jazzy

I’m sure there are some US politicians who believe Hardouin’s junk too — or some aspiring politicians who do.


12 posted on 07/15/2009 7:05:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Condor51

Related is the “Piso Theory” — the claim that the New Testament (or perhaps it was the entire Bible) was hoaxed by the Roman-era Piso family (related to Julius Caesar); the joker who used to peddle that one had a common refrain when challenged — “I’m not here to debate, I’m here to inform.” :’D


13 posted on 07/15/2009 7:06:52 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: nickcarraway

Reminds me also of the “Shakespeare wasn’t Shakespeare” delusion.


14 posted on 07/15/2009 7:08:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

15 posted on 07/15/2009 7:43:01 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: SunkenCiv
It was part of a 13th Century Rosicrucian plot, instigated by the Illuminati, brought forward by the Masons, implemented by the Templar Crusaders, as an attempt to falsify legitimate Islamic claims to Palestine.

Also, in a major part of the plot, they rewrote 47% of The Bible to falsely insert fake Joooooooo claims to the Holy Islamic City of Jerusalem, Eternal Capital of Dar al Islam....

That's the Muslim Brotherhood's story, and they're sticking to it.

16 posted on 07/15/2009 10:37:33 AM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The mob got President Barabbas; America got shafted)
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To: ApplegateRanch
Muslims - They Seem Like Calm, Rational, Reasonable People. We Just Don't Understand Them. Demotivational Poster

17 posted on 07/15/2009 1:27:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: ApplegateRanch

You forgot the Rockefellers.


18 posted on 07/15/2009 6:57:43 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
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To: SunkenCiv
Reminds me a bit of this.
19 posted on 07/15/2009 7:00:28 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
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To: SunkenCiv
How fortuitous that this would come up while I was looking for good resources to teach two bouncy boys about ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome! I'll tell them it was all a joke and we can go on to something more fun — perhaps embellishing the conspiracy theory with our own ideas.
20 posted on 07/16/2009 7:09:21 AM PDT by FourPeas (Why does Professor Presbury's wolfhound, Roy, endeavour to bite him?)
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