Ancient Astrotheology
Ancient (i.e., historically traditional) Astrotheology was neither solar nor lunar.
Both Venus and Mars were held in awe by people everywhere, and Venus in particular was closely watched for a period of over 4000 years (especially since -2349) in Mesoamerica to the complete exclusion of the Sun and the Moon. This, in fact, is one of the most curious aspects of our historic past. As Velikovsky wrote:
"The Sun and the Moon are two great luminaries, and it is easily understandable that the imagination of the peoples should be preoccupied with them and should ascribe to them mythological deeds. Yet the ancient mythologies of the Chaldeans, the Greeks, the Romans, the Hindus, the Maya, preoccupy themselves not with the Sun or the Moon, but prima facie with the planets." (Velikovsky, unpublished document at www.varchive.org )
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As related in all creation mythologies, mankind was witness to the birth of the Gods and the creation of the Universe. The Universe, however, at this time consisted only of 'Upper Earth' in the north populated by Saturn's satellites, and [...] the equatorial rings standing in the sky in the south, thought to also represent an ocean or sea. Humans had thought of themselves as living in a valley between these two regions. Only in the far north of Earth was it obvious that the globe in the sky was nearly overhead. (Cook, Chapter 3)
The scenario of 'Creation' unfolds similarly in all peoples' myth-histories. After the cold darkness of the 'Younger Dryas' (c. -10,9000 to -9000) followed by the chaotic skies of the early Hypsithermal period (c. -9500 to -5600), the 'living waters above' dissolved into the image of large globe or 'egg.' Then, during the pre-nova period (c. -4939 to -4219) of the Saturnian 'Golden Age,' "the waters above dissolved to show 'land' -- the original land of Paradise. Everywhere this land was called 'Earth,' while the place where humans lived was called 'Lower Earth,' and at a later date 'Middle Earth.' (Cook, Chapter 3) The era of the Polar Configuration was universally remembered throughout the world as the 'Golden Age of the Gods.' During this period (approximately 1792 years, lasting from c. -4939 to -3147), Saturn and his vicegerent Mars ruled, and man lived in paradise with the Gods. The closing of that time was mourned throughout the world and has shaped us ever since. (Cook, Chapter 3) |