3.7 How 19th Century Shamans Gave the 21st Century a New Theory of Rock Art (With the Help of 20th Century Science)
Description
"The /Xam San spoke of the rain as an animal. A rain-bull the thunderstorm that roared and destroyed the people’s huts; a raincow the gentle, soaking rain; columns of rain falling beneath a thunderstorm were called the ‘rain’s legs’—the rain was said to walk across the land." (discussed at 59:36 : https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459918418071552)
rock art discussed at 55:20 : https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459942589857797/photo/1
rock art discussed at 1:09:20 : https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459938802388992/photo/1
rock painting of trance dance: https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459942589857797/photo/1
"For the makers, the paintings and engravings *were* visions, not representations of visions."
-James David Lewis-Williams
"High at the head a branching olive grows/
And crowns the pointed cliffs with shady boughs./
A cavern pleasant, though involved in night,/
Beneath it lies, the Naiades delight:/
Where bowls and urns of workmanship divine/
And massy beams in native marble shine;/
On which the Nymphs amazing webs display,/
Of purple hue and exquisite array,/
The busy bees within the urns secure/
Honey delicious, and like nectar pure./
Perpetual waters through the grotto glide,/
A lofty gate unfolds on either side;/
That to the north is pervious to mankind:/
The sacred south t'immortals is consign'd.”
-Homer, Odyssey
Sources: https://old.reddit.com/r/DilettanteryPodcast/comments/zlhzkk/37_how_19th_century_shamans_gave_the_21st_century/?
United States
