That which endures... I have two instances to offer. One from the south of India - of mantras and bird song. Frits Staal, while studying the mantras of Vedic rituals made the startling observation that they are proto-language in origin And one from the north - of toys which endured in Harappa Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
You bring two fascinating examples of enduring legacy, S.A.M. Thank you for posting them. The origins of language and the means by which we communicate are significant, IMO, as it amazes me how frequently misunderstandings seem to arise in spite of all the communication mediums and devices now available to us. 'Play' is one of the most effective teaching mediums available, and it does not surprise me that this was known even to the ancients. Even in observing animals, much of their 'play' seems to develop the skills they will require in later life.
One more related to play, which was fascinating to me and may be of interest to you? A game of moksha patamu on cloth - used to teach Hindu dharma [religion, way of life] to children Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! other "boards" of the same game Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Moksha patamu, better known to myself in it's Canadian variant, Snakes and Ladders. I did not realize that this was an ancient game from India, although the teaching aspects are readily comprehensible and the game makes more sense when the lessons are stated rather than just the random chance of either landing on a snake or a ladder. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Qin Shi Huang Di's terracotta army Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
A short but interesting video of less than 2 1/2 minutes duration. It is really quite fascinating to contemplate the efforts that have been made in the building of artifacts that have survived long past their civilizations of origin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGajuSEQIXs Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
The statues are fascinating. I was privileged to view an excellent selection of their exhibition in Atlanta a few years ago and once again in Mumbai this year. What I find most fascinating, is the character of the Emperor himself. He fashioned two sets of these soldiers, above ground to represent earth and below ground to represent the after life and construction on the statues began soon after his coronation [IIRC he was thirteen at the time] and continued for the next 50 years until his death at sixty something. He wanted to ensure a superior mausoleum for himself in his lifetime. The collection is quite extensive with underground pools and animals, chariots, generals, infantry, cavalry, musicians and what not. Its simply magnificient.
if i was rich,that place would defiantly be on the top of my 'to visit' list.(pyramids would be fairly low on that list..) <edit> wow..i had no clue about the history of snakes and ladders..very interesting..
The Kumbh Mela [Kumbha is a Sanskrit word for Pitcher (actually a roundish pot with no handles), sometimes referred to as the Kalasha. It is also a zodiac sign in Indian astrology for Aquarius, the sign under which the festival is celebrated, while Mela means 'a gathering' or 'a meet', or simply a fair.] Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! The Nagas can usually be seen in a group only during this event. They are an ascetic tribe and do not normally live in society Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Its a very old ritual festival with origins in the time of myth
What is more enduring than the myths of our various cultures? The following three minute video briefly describes the churning of the ocean of milk. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZDFI3tH9pU&feature=related
strange indeed . It is like other religiousness was born from a lot of that . Did you see some similarities ? Strange that serpent at the bottom of the sea . Sea serpents . More Poseidon type stuff.
There are a number of similarities between the various creation myths of cultures around the globe, and they all make for an interesting read. The evidence of the here and now is of even greater interest to me as our interpretation is constantly expanding as new bits of evidence come to light. The following story is not new, but it is new to me and I cheerfully take ownership of the detail that the oldest known rocks on the planet to date, are on Canadian soil. We may be barely dry behind the ears as a nation, but we are standing on bedrock, a solid foundation. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Love and Hate are enduring aspects of the dual nature of the human condition, and yet what, precisely, is there to love, or to hate, about the fact that one has the experience of being in this world? Life's sole purpose would seem to be to endure and prolong the experience of life, while enabling another generation to follow. Toward this end, not every individual of every species is required to propagate, yet all contribute to the process in some manner. Our tendency would seem to be to 'love' those experiences which aid our cause and to 'hate' those circumstances and others who would impede or challenge our will in this matter. It is an interesting observation that when one learns to deal with a challenge successfully, one's feeling of antipathy toward that challenge diminishes. Hate CAN be mitigated in some things. The line between love and hate is a thin one at best, and our response to any circumstance will be dependent on a multitude of variables at the time. We generally 'love' to have the option of choices and 'hate' when that option is placed beyond our reach or others make choices without our involvement.
Was there ever a thing more enduring than change, thogh the phases of change may be of short duration? The wheel of the seasons is ever in motion, etching a path that is recorded in the memory of each and reflected in the gaze which we return upon the mirror. Superficially we change and presumably we gain in experience, yet somewhere there is a glimpse of a thing which remains the same. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
The ability to learn and adapt. Without the ability to either learn or adapt humans would have never survived through all of these years. I believe that by understanding what humans need to do in order to survive they persevere. That requires humans to cooperate together in order to work together in order to keep progress happening and life continuing onward.Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
An excellent observation and contribution to this thread, Cosmic. Our species is incredibly curious and we put a considerable amount of our energy into both work and play that challenges us. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
