Ancient World Review

The Battle On The Ice 1242 AD

Subject starts at app 0:40.

"The Battle on the Ice ... was fought between the Republic of Novgorod led by prince Alexander Nevsky and the forces of Livonian Order and Bishopric of Dorpat led by bishop Hermann of Dorpat on April 5, 1242, at Lake Peipus [see next video]. The battle is notable for having been fought largely on the frozen lake, and this gave the battle its name." Source: Wikipedia.

"The battle was a significant defeat sustained by the crusaders during the Northern Crusades, which were directed against pagans and Eastern Orthodox Christians rather than Muslims in the Holy Land. The Crusaders' defeat in the battle marked the end of their campaigns against the Orthodox Novgorod Republic and other Slavic territories for the next century."

It's easy to forget that the Crusades weren't just fought against Muslims in the so-called Holy Land, but against pagans and other Christians in Europe. Technically, a crusade was any church-sanctioned campaign and military/religious orders, i.e., organized gangs, like the Teutonic Knights were used to forcibly convert or slaughter unbelievers and suppress rivals to Rome's hegemony. And the "holy warriors" went rogue sometimes, operating like bandits or mercenaries in the pursuit of their own interests when they weren't massacring Jews and Saracens or attacking Christian kingdoms.

This is how "orthodox" Christianity took over the West. The Eastern Orthodox Church managed to stand up to the onslaught, however. It is now the second largest Christian church in the world, due in large part to its military victories over Catholic forces:

"In the Battle of the Ice, the Teutonic Knights [1], a Catholic group, attempted to invade Russia and convert the Eastern Orthodox population of the Republic of Novgorod. This military campaign was part of the so-called Northern Crusades. Teutonic Knights involved in the Battle of the Ice were mostly Estonian, German, and Danish." Source: National Geographic.

"Russians, led by legendary figure Alexander Nevsky, repelled the invaders. Today, Lake Peipus still forms the central border between Russia and Estonia. Russia remains overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox and Estonia remains Catholic and Protestant."

[1] "Throughout the 13th and 14th century CE the Catholic Teutonic knights crusaded in Prussia and the Baltic area mainly against pagan Lithuanians and Orthodox Russians, but as the order was bent on expansion for its own sake, many other nationalities were fought besides those." (Ancient History Encyclopedia)

From the 1938 film Alexander Nevsky directed by Eisenstein. Music by Prokofiev. Full movie can be found here.

Despite the fact that he agreed to pay tribute to the Golden Horde, Alexander Nevsky is a legendary figure in Russia, a major national hero. Churches and cathedrals have been named after him. "On 24 September 2008, St. Alexander Nevsky was declared the main hero of Russia's history by popular vote ... In December 2008, he was voted the greatest Russian in the Name of Russia television poll." (Wikipedia)

"Hail and take heed, this is the tale one of the most famous Russian Heroes in history, second only to perhaps Vladimir of Kiev, the Baptizer of All Rus’. Few leaders have captured the hearts and minds of the Russians like Alexander Nevsky, who was voted Russia’s greatest leader of all time in 2008." Source: Russia Insider (2018).

The Teutonic Knights - Founding, Organization, Differences With Other Medieval Military Orders

"The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem ...  commonly the Teutonic Order ... is a Catholic religious order founded as a military order c. 1190 in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem." (Wikipedia)

"The Teutonic Order was formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals. Its members have commonly been known as the Teutonic Knights, having a small voluntary and mercenary military membership, serving as a crusading military order for protection of Christians in the Holy Land and the Baltics during the Middle Ages."

Related: The Early Years of the Teutonic Order.

"The order was led by a Grand Master ... who was chosen by an electoral college and who was expected to consult his senior officers and commanders. In the 15th century CE, there was a second master in Livonia who became increasingly independent from the order based at its then headquarters in Prussia. It did sometimes happen that a master was ousted by his officers, indeed there was one case of murder of a particularly unpopular master. The order controlled many lands across Europe and the Middle East, the territories split into administrative provinces or balleien, each governed by a landmeister." Source: Ancient History Encyclopedia.

All videos from the excellent Real Crusades History channel.

Note: The Teutonic Order still exists, though it has been purely religious since the early 1900s, I think. They have a website (German only).

Related: Ten Interesting Things You Should Know About The Teutonic Order.

The Statutes Of The Teutonic Knights: A Study In Religious Chivalry (PDF).

Mass Child Sacrifice Discovered In Peru

"A mass sacrifice at a 15th century archaeological site in Peru saw the ritual killing of over 140 children and over 200 llamas, according to a new study. This is the largest known mass sacrifice of children -- and of llamas -- in the New World." Source: Science Daily. 

"...This study reports the findings of excavations between 2011 and 2016 that revealed hundreds of bodies buried in an area of approximately 700 square meters. The human remains were almost entirely children, and the animal remains, all juvenile, were identified as most likely llamas, but possibly alpacas. Anatomical and genetic evidence indicates the children included boys and girls between 5 and 14 years old. Cut marks transecting the sternums and displaced ribs suggest both the children and llamas may have had their chests cut open, possibly during ritual removal of the heart."

According to National Geographic, "[t]he investigators believe all of the human and animal victims were ritually killed in a single event, based on evidence from a dried mud layer found in the eastern, least disturbed part of the 7,500-square-foot site. They believe the mud layer once covered the entire sandy dune where the ritual took place, and it was disturbed during the preparation of the burial pits and the subsequent sacrifice event."

Researchers believe that this sacrifice, conducted by the pre-Inca Chimu people, may have been conducted in a response to an "El Nino event." (New York Times)

According to Live Science, "... heavy rainfall and flooding from that year's El Niño weather pattern may have prompted Chimú leaders to order the sacrifice, but without more evidence, we'll likely never know the real reason, said study co-researcher John Verano, a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Tulane University in New Orleans."

The Holy Island Of Lindisfarne

Video from 2013.

"The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, also known simply as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a priory was reestablished. A small castle was built on the island in 1550." (Wikipedia)

"The ruined church and monastic buildings that still stand on the island today are not Anglo-Saxon; they are the remains of the new priory built on the island in the late 11th century by the monks of Durham. So where is the original monastery? And what happened to it after the attack?" Source: DigVentures.

"All that is known to survive are some carved stone monuments of Anglo-Saxon date, which were found by archaeologists clearing away some of the collapsed rubble from the priory ruins in the late 19th and early 20th century."

Good times at Lindisfarne, 793 AD. From Vikings, Season 1.

Note: "... a major ... geophysical survey funded by National Geographic was carried out by Durham University in September 2012. This has shown that there is limited archaeological evidence for the monastic boundary that had previously been postulated, but an alternative boundary has been identified, which is associated with an area of possible industrial activity. It also identified a probably infirmary cloister associated with the later priory and a possible structure aligned on the two standing churches." Source: Durham University.

The Escomb Saxon Church 675 AD

"Escomb Church is the Church of England parish church of Escomb, County Durham, a village about 1 ¹⁄₂ miles (2.4 km) west of Bishop Auckland. It is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England and one of only three complete Anglo-Saxon churches remaining in England, the others being St Lawrence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon and All Saints' Church, Brixworth." Source: Wikipedia.

"The church was founded about AD 670–675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (Binchester). On the gable of the south porch is a 7th or early 8th Century sundial [1:47 next video], and on the north wall is a reused Roman stone with the markings 'LEG VI' (Sixth Legion) [1] set upside down. Above the sundial projects an Anglo-Saxon relief of an animal's head."

[1] I think this was Legio VI Victrix, which was transferred to Britain by Hadrian in 119 AD.

Official website for the Escomb Saxon Church.

Little is known about this beautiful old building. According to Great English Churches, "Escomb is much less well-known than ... other iconic locations and yet it is much more complete and more satisfying to visit. Perhaps Escomb’s 'problem' is that its origins are largely unknown and so is its place in the context of those other places and their illustrious abbots and patrons.

"All we know of Escomb is that it was built in [the seventh century] - probably between AD 670 and 690 - with none of the ifs, buts and maybes that surround many of England’s other most ancient churches. It’s an Anglo-Saxon church, pure simple and unadorned."

All Saints Church, Brixworth

"All Saints' Church, Brixworth, in Northamptonshire, is an outstanding example of early Anglo-Saxon architecture in central England. In 1930 Sir Alfred Clapham called it 'perhaps the most imposing architectural memorial of the 7th century yet surviving north of the Alps'. It is the largest English church that remains substantially as it was in the Anglo-Saxon era." (Wikipedia)

Historic England listing for All Saints' Church.

"Brixworth Church served a monastery that was founded here in 680 during the reign of King Offa of Mercia, probably on a different site and made of wood. This was likely to have been under the auspices of Medehamsted Abbey (modern Peterborough). The present church dates from AD750-850. The monastery was destroyed by the Vikings in 870 and the church ruined but not destroyed. Reconstruction took place in 960-970." Source: Great English Churches.

Note: The church is still active (previously Catholic, now Church of England). Their website can be found here.

Terrorism & Neglect: Current Threats To French Gothic Cathedrals

"French Gothic architecture is a style which emerged in France in 1140, and was dominant until the mid-16th century. The most notable examples are the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, and Amiens Cathedral. Its main characteristics were the search for verticality, or height, and the innovative use of flying buttresses and other architectural innovations to distribute the weight of the stone structures to supports on the outside, allowing unprecedented height and volume ..." (Wikipedia)

Comment: If France becomes a Muslim country, something that could very well happen if current trends continue, these beautiful old cathedrals could end up being destroyed or turned into mosques or museums like the Hagia Sophia, the former Greek Orthodox cathedral in Istanbul. There have already been several terrorist attacks right outside Notre Dame cathedral and how long will it be before some ISIS-inspired or connected scumbag tries to blow up the cathedral itself?

Report from 2016. More information here.

Video from 2017. More information here.

In the case of Notre Dame, there may be no need to blow up the cathedral since the French state (which owns the cathedral and seventy other churches in Paris) has been doing a good job of letting it fall into disrepair:

"For 13 million visitors per year, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris soars in splendor. But beyond its façade, look closely, and you'll see that the majestic medieval monument is falling apart. Now, a foundation in France hopes Americans will donate money to help save the place that's home to some of Catholicism's most important relics, including the crown of thorns said to have been worn by Jesus." Source: CBS News (2018).

I'm not sure if any renovation work has actually started. More information about the damage to the cathedral and how to make donations can be found at the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris site.

The Beautiful Baroque Churches Of France's Savoie Region

"French Baroque architecture, sometimes called French classicism, was a style of architecture during the reigns of Louis XIII (1610–43), Louis XIV (1643–1715) and Louis XV (1715–74). It was preceded by French Renaissance architecture and Mannerism and was followed in the second half of the 18th century by Neo-classicism." Source: Wikipedia.

Comment: This isn't ancient or medieval history, but these fantastic old churches are a part of European heritage which is in danger of disappearing. Savoie is in the French Alps. I'm not sure about the current demographics of the region, but if the situation in France continues to deteriorate [1] many of these churches could end up being destroyed or converted into mosques in the next few decades.

[1] "France has the largest number of Muslims in the Western world primarily due to migration from North African and Middle Eastern countries." (Wikipedia)

Ancient Myths Reveal Early Fantasies About Artificial Life

From the classic Jason & the Argonauts (1963)

"Thousands of years before machine learning and self-driving cars became reality, the tales of giant bronze robot Talos, artificial woman Pandora and their creator god, Hephaestus, filled the imaginations of people in ancient Greece." Source: Phys.org.

"Historians usually trace the idea of automata to the Middle Ages, when the first self-moving devices were invented, but the concept of artificial, lifelike creatures dates to the myths and legends from at least about 2,700 years ago, said Adrienne Mayor, a research scholar in the [Stanford] Department of Classics in the School of Humanities and Sciences. These ancient myths are the subject of Mayor's latest book, Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology."

The Creation of Pandora, John D. Batten (1860-1932) [Public domain].

Comment: I knew that Talos was a giant animated bronze statue -- he was a robot sentry designed to patrol Crete and defend the island from pirates -- but I had no idea that Pandora was also a form of artificial life. I got confused because I didn't realize that there are actually two Pandoras in Greek mythology, one of them a goddess, the other a synthetic woman -- the first human woman -- who was created by Hephaestus, Greek god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes:

"Pandora, whose name combines 'all' and 'gifts',  was a goddess connected with the earth, but she is better known as the first human female, the cause of all man's woes [1]. If the name has any relevance here, it sounds ironic; but the two Pandoras may in fact be connected through the idea of the earth as first ancestor." -- Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd ed. revised).

[1] The artificial woman Pandora takes the blame for all the problems in the world, but in reality she was just a pawn of the high and mighty Zeus. She was also responsible for releasing Hope into the world.

Talos was an ancient security robot programmed to walk around the island of Crete and attack anybody who tried to invade it. He was strictly a machine, a pretty dumb machine at that. His modern equivalents are being manufactured by companies like DARPA Boston Dynamics.

Pandora was a lot more complex than Talos. In a sense, she was one of the earliest sex robots, but she was also a living human being, the original woman, an Eve figure with human emotions like curiosity and regret. The modern equivalents of Pandora are being produced by companies like Abyss Creations (see next video) and Realbotix.

If Pandora, a single artificial woman, could create so much trouble, then there's no telling what all these modern sexbots are capable of doing. And our modern AI military robots could wreak all sorts of havoc if they ever run amok. Talos was the original Terminator, but he was nothing compared to some of the mechanical killing machines being produced right now.

The Kali Yuga

The Hindus believe that we're living in the Kali Yuga, an apocalyptic Dark Age ruled by the demon Kali, the source of all evil and destruction. The Kali Yuga, also known as the "Age of Vice," is a period of warfare, chaos, social decline and spiritual decadence brought about by Man's separation from the gods. Kali himself is frequently pictured as a deranged figure dancing on corpses and wearing human heads as jewelry. I don't believe in demons, but this bloodthirsty lunatic with ten arms is the perfect symbol of human history.

Most writers use the term Kali Yuga to mean "end times" or the "last days," but technically this isn't accurate. The Hindus see Time as a cycle of four ages or Yugas known as the Yuga Cycle. The other three periods are called the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga and the Dvapara Yuga, and they all go spinning around like a cosmic ferris wheel. So the Kali Yuga isn't the end of the world. It's just the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

The Yuga Cycle describes a fall from grace--a loss of enlightenment. The first age, the Satya Yuga, is a golden age of supreme goodness when the gods rule and the average human lifespan is thousands of years long, but, like the Garden of Eden, it's all downhill from there. The other Yugas follow in order, the gods withdraw, the situation deteriorates and bottoms out with the Kali Yuga, then the whole thing starts all over again. Time is a circle--an infinite, recurring progression of Yugas in which the gods advance and retreat like the tides or the phases of the moon.

Now, this is good stuff and very ancient, but is it an accurate description of Reality? That probably sounds like a strange question to ask. The Yuga Cycle is a symbolic, mythical cosmology based on the Hindu concepts of samsara, karmic cycles, rebirth, reincarnation and cyclic change. Taking it literally misses the point, but is it possible that Time is actually circular? Does the Yuga Cycle or at least its concept of Time have some basis in fact? Personally, I think the idea of circular Time is more interesting than the linear Christian view of history as moving in a straight line from Creation to Apocalypse, but I don't see any evidence that the universe actually runs in cycles like this.

Time is a one-way thing. The future changes into the present which changes into the past in an infinite stream of Becoming. There are cycles in nature, but they're more like recurring patterns with thousands of variations and they never repeat themselves in exactly the same way. The fossil evidence shows a gradual evolution from the simple to the complex punctuated by catastrophes, mass extinctions and sudden bursts of new life forms like the Cambrian Explosion. If there are cycles in nature, they are cycles of chaos in the mathematical sense. The gods of this world are fractals and strange attractors.

Human history repeats itself, but only in the sense that high cultures are subject to universal laws of growth and decay as described by Oswald Spengler. Personally, I think there's a good argument that civilization in general has deteriorated over the last two thousand years, but I'm more inclined to blame it on the Second Law of Thermodynamics than the Yuga Cycle. Entropy and chaos are the natural state of things and organized systems tend to deteriorate over time. It takes energy and intelligence to keep a civilization going and both are in short supply.

The Yuga Cycle is appealing because it explains the decay and turmoil we see around us and because it suggests that things will change for the better as the cycle turns once again. Unfortunately, these cycles are so long that they don't really have any meaning for the human race in general, never mind individuals. The Kali Yuga is supposed to have started around 3000 BC and they say it will last for 432,000 years, almost half a million years. Considering the fact that only 5000 years or so have passed since the Kali Yuga started, we've got a long way to go.

Note: Many cultures have legends about a mythical Golden Age and a subsequent fall from grace. For instance, "Both Hesiod and Ovid offered accounts of the successive ages of humanity, which tend to progress from an original, long-gone age in which humans enjoyed a nearly divine existence to the current age of the writer, in which humans are beset by innumerable pains and evils. In the two accounts that survive from ancient Greece and Rome, this degradation of the human condition over time is indicated symbolically with metals of successively decreasing value." (Wikipedia)