Latest topics
Giants Of Monte Prama - Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes - Now Finally On Display
3 posters
Page 1 of 1
Giants Of Monte Prama - Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes - Now Finally On Display
Giants Of Monte Prama -
Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes -
Now Finally On Display
22 March, 2014
Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes -
Now Finally On Display
22 March, 2014
Share this story: Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services |
Follow us: |
The outside world had little opportunity to admire the huge figures that do not resemble any ordinary humans.
Now these mysterious figures are finally on an exhibition open to the public.
In 1974, remarkable ancient stone scultpures were accidentally discovered in farmland near Monte Prama, Sardinia. These huge statues are unique in size and material and very little is known about them.
It is commonly believed that they belong to the Nuragic civilisation, which flourished on Sardinia for two millennia until the second century AD. Excavations revealed 30 gigantic stone statues, about two meters high.
The head of a warrior: one of the Giants of Monte Prama.
Photograph: M Carrieri/De Agostini/Getty Images
The statues do not resemble ordinary humans. Instead, these mysterious ancient figures are distinguished by their unearthly eyes, which consist of two perfectly concentric circles and a very small almost invisible mouth. The giants of Monte Prama were given the name the "Kolossoi" by the archaeologist Giovanni Lilliu. The astonishing figures were discovered at a necropolis, so one theory is that the stone warriors guarded the tombs. |
In some aspects, the figures remind of the famous Chinese terracotta warriors. However, their appearance and material differ. Compared to the terracotta warriors, the Sardinian Giants of Monte Prama are 500 years older and they are made of stone rather than pottery.
Did the stone warriors guard tombs?
The giants of Monte Prama are without doubt one of the most incredible and astonishing discoveries ever made on the Italian island of Sardinia. Yet, no research was done and there appeared to be no interest in these enigmatic 2,700-years-old ancient figures that some refer to as prehistoric cyber warriors.
Unfortunately, shortly after the discovery, the giants of Monte Prama were "abandoned" for 32 years in the museum of Cagliari. They were placed in a damp and dark placement.
It was not until recently that funds were set aside for the daunting task of reconstructing the statues, which also include representations of nuraghe, the tower-fortresses after which the Nuragic civilization is named.
The figures were not found intact. Archaeologists discovered more than 5,000 pieces, including fifteen heads and twenty-two torso at the site, and it is unknown if everything has been found. It has been a great a demanding challenge to put together the pieces. Fragmented into numerous pieces, it is believed that the fragments came from a total of forty-four statues.
"We don't know how many there were altogether. Nor do we know if they were originally set out in lines or perhaps in squares," said Alessandro Usai, the curator of the permanent exhibition, which opens on March 22, 2014 at the national archaeological museum, in Cagliari.
More than 5,000 pieces had to be put together to create the statues.
The reconstruction, which was completed in 2011, took four years. Researchers carefully cleaned the pieces and re-assembled the warriors using supports rather than trying to glue the bits together with modern plaster and stone to make them look like they did when new.
More than 5,000 pieces had to be put together to create the statues.
Twenty-five of the warriors are now intact once again and will go on display starting this summer at the Cagliari Museum in southern Sardinia.
There are three different types of fighters represented: 16 "boxers," bearing shields over their heads, six archers and six other warriors, accessorized with bows, shields, swords, chest armour and horned helmets.
Also re-assembled from the fragments are 13 models of nuraghe, massive conical stone castles built by the Nuragic culture.
Usai said 28 of the works would go on show in Cagliari, while another 10 would be displayed in Cabras, where it is hoped the Giants will help promote tourism.
Image credit: National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari.
Usai pointed out that the three-dimensional digital representations of the missing statues would be created at each site, "so that the two exhibitions will be complementary".
The giants of Monte Prama have been neglected for too long and it is most important that people are now finally allowed to see this valuable archaeological discovery. One cannot help wondering what remarkable stories these enigmatic beings with the round eyes would tell us if they could speak...
MessageToEagle.com
Follow MessageToEagle.com for the latest news on Facebook and Twitter !
Read more: http://www.messagetoeagle.com/giantsmonteprama.php#ixzz2wkLURGLa
Thanks to: http://www.messagetoeagle.com
*****************
Out Of Mind
www.oom2.com
Purpleskyz- Admin
- Posts : 5765
Join date : 2011-08-16
Location : Woodstock Nation
Re: Giants Of Monte Prama - Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes - Now Finally On Display
Interesting, thanks PS
*****************
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts."
Winston Churchill
(1874-1965)
dinarstar- VIP Member
- Posts : 2367
Join date : 2011-10-09
Re: Giants Of Monte Prama - Mysterious Ancient Statues With Unearthly Eyes - Now Finally On Display
The faces look a bit robotic instead of human.
catman- VIP Member
- Posts : 1085
Join date : 2012-04-28
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Sat Apr 13, 2024 11:51 am by Mission1st
» Dave Schmidt - Zim Notes for Purchase (NOT PHYSICAL NOTES)
Sat Apr 13, 2024 11:45 am by Mission1st
» Russia aren't taking any prisoners
Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:48 pm by kenlej
» Deadly stampede could affect Iraq’s World Cup hopes 1/19/23
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:02 am by Ditartyn
» ZIGPLACE
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:29 am by Zig
» CBD Vape Cartridges
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:10 pm by Arendac
» Classic Tony is back
Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:53 pm by Mission1st
» THE MUSINGS OF A MADMAN
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:40 am by Arendac
» Minister of Transport: We do not have authority over any airport in Iraq
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:40 am by Verina
» Did Okie Die?
Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:34 am by Arendac
» Hello all, I’m new
Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:46 pm by Jonny_5
» The Renfrows: Prophets for Profits, Happy Anniversary!
Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:46 pm by Mission1st
» What Happens when Cancer is treated with Cannabis? VIDEO
Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:58 am by MadisonParrish
» An Awesome talk between Tucker and Russell Brand
Wed Jan 31, 2024 12:16 am by kenlej
» Trafficking in children
Mon Jan 29, 2024 7:43 pm by kenlej
» The second American Revolution has begun, God Bless Texas
Mon Jan 29, 2024 6:13 pm by kenlej
» The Global Currency Reset Evolution Event Will Begin With Gold, Zimbabwe ZWR Old Bank Notes
Sun Jan 28, 2024 3:28 pm by Mission1st
» Tucker talking Canada
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:50 pm by kenlej
» Almost to the end The goodguys are winning
Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:03 pm by kenlej
» Dinar Daily Facebook Page
Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:34 pm by Ponee