[sully777]

Seems like Mecca would be a great place for an asteroid impact... particularly during the Hajj.

They already worship a meteorite they enshrined as the Ka'ba (alternatively called Kaaba) in Mecca. From what I've read, it is a metallic meteor that broke into three pieces. The locals set up and worshipped the meteor in Mecca long before Mohommed was a twinkle in his great great great great grandfather's eye. There was big money made in the pilgrimage/idol business that went hand in hand with the caravan trades (no oil revenue back then)

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[SunkenCiv]

I love those annual stories out of the Middle East about hundreds who die during a stampede during some ridiculous compulsion to repeat. Most recently, a bunch of dolts throwing stones at a dead goat or something (represents Satan) got scared, turned to run, and tripped over their own luggage, then were trampled by the other dolts who saw the first group run and also got scared. Maybe American Tourister should be fighting the WOT...

[blam]

"They already worship a meteorite they enshrined as the Ka'ba (alternatively called Kaaba) in Mecca. From what I've read, it is a metallic meteor that broke into three pieces. The locals set up and worshipped the meteor in Mecca long before Mohommed was a twinkle in his great great great great grandfather's eye. There was big money made in the pilgrimage/idol business that went hand in hand with the caravan trades (no oil revenue back then) "

I've often wondered if this is the impact swarm (linked below) that produced the meteorite that the crazies worship. I suspect that the asteroid is the 'angel Gabriel.' Also, I believe Abraham had his hands on the Kaaba.

Disaster That Struck The Ancients

This impact site was discovered in the swamps of the Marsh Arabs after Saddam drained them.