The mystery of the 'blue monkeys' in ancient Grecian frescoes, solved

Monkeys appear in Grecian frescoes dating back to the Bronze Age 3,600 years ago, but monkeys aren't native to Greece or the Aegean isles.

But it's clear that the artists actually saw these monkeys in Grecian frescoes, or at least talked to someone who did in great detail, because the depictions are so accurate that researchers can identify the monkeys, according to a new study.

Vervet monkeys appear in a fresco from Akrotiri, Thera. They're known for their rounded muzzles, a white band on the forehead, an extended tail and elongated limbs -- all accurately shown in the fresco.

Baboons crop up in a fresco from Knossos, Crete. Their hallmarks, including a hairless nose, narrow waist, thick chest and face shape, make them easy to identify in the depiction.

The monkeys are even behaving as they would in real life, with the vervet monkeys climbing and the baboons on the ground.

Both are native to northeastern Africa. This builds on previous evidence that Minoan people had contact with this part of Africa, providing some of the strongest support yet.

One big difference from real life though is that the depicted monkeys are blue. But researchers believe that's because cultures identify colors differently on the spectrum, and these painters likely saw blue as belonging to the gray and green families of color. The same can also be said of fish scales in Minoan art.

Or it could be a nod to the ancient Egyptians, who deified baboons and used blue, considered a sacred color, to depict them.

2 posted on 04/27/2020 9:16:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)

3 posted on 04/27/2020 9:20:07 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)

“Please ignore headline.”
I can’t stop looking at it!
*echoing cthulhu mythos voice*
“My God! I can see forever!”
See what you did? The chaos, the horror!

Otherwise, cool.

4 posted on 04/27/2020 9:45:33 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)

I’m glad the mystery is solved. It was weighing heavily upon me.

5 posted on 04/27/2020 11:37:20 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (BLACK LIVES MAGA)

The European lion was common in Greece and the Balkans until well into Roman Times

Everybody got somethin’ to hide, ‘cept for me an my monkey...

7 posted on 04/28/2020 2:01:36 AM PDT by Adder ("Can you be more stupid?" is a question, not a challenge.)

The term for Gibraltar monkey is Barbary macaque.

Don’t use the term near the state of Virginia!

8 posted on 04/28/2020 3:33:32 AM PDT by Does so (Call it the CCP-virus...The Corona-virus dies in Summer's sunlight! But next spring's Chinese virus?)

I guess the old expression indicating a remote chance, “when blue monkeys fly out of my butt” has merit after all.

9 posted on 04/28/2020 5:42:23 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)

Thanks BenLurkin.

Ancient monkey painting suggests Bronze Age Greeks travelled widely [2020]

the rest of the Akrotiri keyword, chrono sorted:

10 posted on 04/28/2020 5:59:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

That is true of most all monkeys. Once they lose their fear of humans, they become pests.

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