Posted on 05/18/2015 11:51:28 AM PDT by Red Badger
Seeps from which gas and oil escape were formative to many ancient cultures and societies. They gave rise to legends surrounding the Delphi Oracle, Chimaera fires and "eternal flames" that were central to ancient religious practices - from Indonesia and Iran to Italy and Azerbaijan. Modern geologists and oil and gas explorers can learn much by delving into the geomythological stories about the religious and social practices of the Ancient World, writes Guiseppe Etiope of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy. His research is published in the new Springer book Natural Gas Seepage.
"Knowing present-day gas fluxes from a seep and knowing that a seep was active and vigorous two thousand years ago, we can estimate the total amount of gas that has been released to the atmosphere thus far. What can be measured today is probably also valid, at least in terms of orders of magnitude, for the past," writes Etiope. "Such information may not only be relevant for atmospheric methane budget studies but may also be important for understanding the leaking potential of petroleum systems, whether they are commercial or not."
Gas-oil seeps have been the source of mythological tales, and many a Biblical and historic event. The observations of ancient naturalists and historians such as Pliny the Elder, who lived two millennia ago, helped to chronicle many of these occurrences, especially in the Mediterranean area. For example, he wrote about Chimaera, a large burning gas seep in modern day Turkey. In ancient times, the temple of Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, was built next to it.
Similar "eternal fires" integrated gas and flame emissions into ancient religious practices in many cultures. For instance, the Zoroastrians worshiped the "Pillars of Fire" near modern Baku in Azerbaijan. In Iraq, the Baba Gurgur seep was probably the "burning fiery furnace" into which King Nebuchadnezzar cast the Jews. A legend of ancient Rome reports a stream of crude oil issuing from the ground around 38 BC. It became a meeting spot for the first Roman converts to Christianity, and is now the site for the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. The sacred Manggarmas flame in Indonesia, which has been active at least since the 15th century, is still used in an annual Buddhist ceremony.
"Knowing that a certain 'eternal fire' observed today was already active in Biblical times indicates that it was not triggered by the recent drilling and production of petroleum," adds Etiope.
Etiope writes that hydrocarbon seeps also influenced the social and technological development of many ancient populations. It not only contributed to global civilization, but was often the source of wars. The first evidence for petroleum usage comes from Syria, where the Neanderthal used natural bitumen on stone tools some 40,000 years ago.
More information: Etiope, G. (2015). Natural Gas Seepage: The Earth's Hydrocarbon Degassing. Chapter 9: Seeps in the Ancient World: Myths, Religions, and Social Development. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-14601-0_9
“Pillars of Fire” near Baku, Azerbaijan. © Guiseppe Etiope
He was too, Zoroastrian-born. Not sure if he was a practicing one....
hehe .. Saw some banners on a bus today, reminded me of your thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri97Sk8Gw3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yziGiVua0Dg
I never was a fan of Freddie Mercury or Queen; but his theatrical/stage stuff were unique. Not to mention his incredible voice. He was ahead of his time and ageless.
I was a Queen fan back in the mid 70’s when ‘Killer Queen’ came out....................
Just amazing to see a Sea of people in that concert in 1st link. The backdrop is also an ‘analogy’. Notice he is wearing white, as he does in many of his video clips. Plus the setup is very revealing (religiously speaking).
Yeah, I like that “Killer Queen” song.
I was in my early teens back then in London. So many really great bands and singers were around in London at that time.
OK.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVjOK2KCwqg — nice song.. “Marie Antoinette”.. not to mention “Kruschev and Kennedy”...
(time index set to the Delphi segment)Mysteries of the Ancient World - Myths and Legends (at 43:15)
March 13, 2016 | Questar Entertainment
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
