Holy Cow Statue Discovered In Mazandaran

CHN (Cultural Heritage News) ^ | 9-28-2005

[blam]

9/28/2005 2:28:00 PM

Holy Cow Statue Discovered in Mazandaran

Remains of several cow statues have been unearthed in Gohar Tepe, Mazandaran.

Tehran, 28 September 2005 (CHN) -- Archaeological excavations in Gohar Tepe, in Mazandaran province in Iran, led to the discovery of the remains of the statues of some cows which were most probably used in religious ceremonies.

The discovery of these sculptures indicates that the people of the region worshiped cows 3000 years ago.

Mazandaran is one of the most ancient provinces in Iran. Archaeological excavations indicate that the province has been inhabited by human beings since 400,000 years ago until the present time, and that around 5000 years ago, urbanization flourished in the area. Gohar Tepe is a proof to this claim.

“Some cow statues have been discovered in the archaeological excavations of Gohar Tepe, one of which is left almost intact. These sculptures which are in shape of rhytons were being used in religious ceremonies,” says Ali Mahforouzi, head of the excavation team of Gohar Tepe, Mazandaran, who is undertaking the forth season of excavations in the historical site.

According to Mahforouzi, the discovered rhytons are broken but the one that is left intact and is bigger than the rest reveals artistic mastery. Rhytons were mostly used in religious places, but the ones discovered in Gohar Tepe of Mazandaran were found inside a dustbin in part of an ancient structure.

Discovery of cultural evidence such as clay pieces around the structure indicates that the rhytons belong to the Iron Age (the first millennium BC), but more studies are still needed to determine their exact period.

Mahforouzi believes that rhytons reflect the beliefs of the ancient people of the region. These statues are evidence that the people of the region worshiped oxen and humped cows 3000 years ago. “Even today we can see some kind of respect towards the animals in the region,” added Mahforouzi, referring to kinds of cows being regarded as symbols of hard work and fertility.

The biggest intact rhyton discovered is about 30 cm long, 12 cm high and 15 cm wide. Archaeologists consider it as a unique discovery in Mazandaran province, and believe that with the discovery of the main worship place, more rhytons and statues could be found.

The archaeological excavations in Gohar Tepe continues for 2 months, and the team of archeologists are to determine forms of urban life 5000 years ago, remains of which are evident in Gohar Tepe.

[humblegunner]

the people of the region worshiped oxen and humped cows

I'm sure the oxen were glad of this.

The cows were deeply saddened.

[RicocheT]

I like the ones at Kopp's Custard in Glendale, WI better.

[Arthalion]

Headline, November 23, 4505.

Archaeologists Discover Chicken Gods

- Archaeologists today announced a stunning discovery during their excavations of the ancient middle American city of Saint Louis. They have determined that this ancient culture, which flourished from the 17th to 23rd centuries on the American continent, worshipped a chicken god. "We discovered that the food preparation areas of at least a third of the homes examined contained statuary, pottery, or engraved images of fowl," said Dr. Joe Brown of the Lunar Archaeological Institute. "This type of discovery can only indicate that the ancient Americans worshipped chickens, probably as a god of plenty, harvest, or food. It's presence in all of these food preparation areas indicates that these ancient peoples probably prayed to their chicken gods before meals". Archaeologists went on to point out that the worship of chickens seems to fit well with the bird-centered culture of the old west. "When you look at the overall picture, the chickens in the food preparation areas, the flamingo statuary discovered in front of many ancient homes, and the ubiquity of KFC temples where the ancients apparently worshipped birds, we can be left with no other conclusion than this...our ancestors were a bird centered culture." Dr. Brown closed with a statement that his research should finally close the lid on the controversial "one god" theory, "It's now clear that they didn't really worship their TV sets."

I've always loved the way archaeologists draw some of their conclusions. They find a bunch of cow statues, and so decide that they MUST be religiously bent.

[TheForceOfOne]

Moooo! Moooo! Moooo! Moooo! Moooo!

Translation: Cow to English "We have come for the secret statue of Cow! hand it over or prepare to be hoofed!"

[DumpsterDiver]

These statues are evidence that the people of the region worshiped oxen and humped cows 3000 years ago.

Unintended comedy ping.

I completely missed that the first time aroud. LOL.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

ROTFL! Excellent.

[conservatrice]

LOL ping.

[Red Badger]

I love white chocolate!.........

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. And thanks vollmond for the laugh.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[Joe 6-pack]

I don't have any beef with you; I just wanted to point out that there may be a lot at steak here.

[A message]

Very Good!!!

Wait until archaeologists dig up Las Vegas in 4 or 5 thousand years. It will undoubtedly be the religious seat of the long lost tribe of America.

[Redcitizen]

Said Mt Sinai is in Saudi Arabia, not the Sinai Peninsula as is commonly believed.

[RightWhale]

The discovery of these sculptures indicates that the people of the region worshiped cows 3000 years ago.

The discovery or the sculptures? Anyway, they were at most practicing sympathetic magic. Not worship, that would be a stretch.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

We have them here too...

[b4its2late]

And the cow produces holy crap?

[Red Badger]

I know. The Saudi gov will not allow ANYBODY near it..........

[pillut48]

Yes, I was questioning the grammatical correctness of this sentence as well! LOL. Oh, the visuals.

[TXBubba]

I like the ones at Kopp's Custard in Glendale, WI better.

My husband has a picture of those as his wallpaper now. Makes me hungry every time I walk by his computer.

[11Bush]

Maybe they uncovered a 3000 year old Stucky's and those are coffee creamers?

[dighton]

These statues are evidence that the people of the region worshiped oxen and humped cows . . .

Catch of the day.