In 2008, archaeologists discovered fragments of flutes carved from vulture and mammoth bones at a Stone Age cave site in southern Germany called Hohle Fels. They were carved and played by Homo sapiens. These flutes are ancient, dating back 42,000 to 43,000 years, making them the oldest flutes in the world.
The oldest Homo sapiens flutes, that is. There is at least one flute made by a Neanderthal that is older. Found at a Neanderthal campsite at Divje Babe in northwestern Slovenia, the Neanderthal flute is estimated to be over 43,000 years old and perhaps as much as 80,000 years old.
The video above features Ljuben Dimkaroski, who plays trumpet for the Ljubljana Opera Orchestra, and who helped archaeologists figure out how to play the prehistoric flute. Don’t worry! He is playing a clay replica, not the original.
God, the sound of this went right through me, right to my soul, and tugged.
The spiritualist in me is having a field day right now. This is fantastic.
The feminine divine dark is the power of the waning moon, the great letting go. She is the death doula and the somber mourning ritual. She is grace and the painful void of nothingness, and she is a soft whimpering of loneliness under the darkening sky.
Danielle Dulsky in “The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible For The Untamed Woman”
“You stand next to the sea and you’re in touch with all your longings and all your losses.”— Elizabeth Hay, Late Nights on Air (via weltenwellen)
Hexagonally jointed basalt pillars formed by ancient volcanic eruptions serve as the pathway to an island steeped in Hebridean history and folklore. Legend has it a giant once lived in ‘An Uamh Binn’, a place eternally swept by the deep and swellling sea, also known as Fingal’s Cave. This vast cavern with its mysterious shadows, dark, weed-covered chambers is one of the most extraordinary places I ever beheld.
fantasymythologyhistoryandfandom:
I love how in the Lokasenna half the time the gods don’t even deny the accusations thrown at them, just give a responding insult. Like
“You’re a filthy coward who only cares about sex!”
“Ha ha, you got me there, but, I mean, so are you.”
Odin: “you had sex as a woman!”
Loki: “so did you. I remember when..”
Frigga:” TOO MUCH INFORMATION! what’s in the past it’s in the past”And then Loki: Shut up! You cheated on Odin!
Frigga: And you killed my child. So. Yeah.
Loki: You slept with your brother!
Freyja: You slept with a horse… what’s your point? Is this a contest? Did I win?
Sif: ok surely I am the only one here who you won’t insult because I’ve never done a single shitty thing ever
Loki:
Loki: you are aware we totally banged, right?
Sif: SHIT, I forgot!Beyla: I think I hear Thor coming to kick your áss.
Loki: I have taken this into deep consideration and have decided that you’re dirty and I don’t care.
Lokasenna, the Awkward Thanksgiving Fight of the Aesir.
That is the best description of the Lokasenna I have ever heard.
Loki is Odinn’s oath-brother and he’s drunk in the Lokasenna.
Which means that Loki is literally that relative that gets drunk and makes a scene at the family reunion.
I don’t understand how people can call themselves Kemetic while saying that social justice isn’t part of Ma’at.
How can you worship Set but turn a blind eye to the treatment of immigrants and refugees? How can you worship Sekhmet but justify the fact that someone can be denied medical treatment based on money, gender, race, or sexuality? How can you worship Yinepu but not care about the desecration of sacred burial sites, mainly those that belong to Jewish and indigenous people? How can you worship Geb but ignore the theft and destruction of sacred land?
How can you worship Ma’at but ignore all the injustices happening in the world today?
I don’t understand, and I pray that I never do.
(Source: biwimuti)
see, the thing is that you can be edgy and dramatic and an absolutely dark macabre-loving bones-hoarding bastard and not be an asshole
nothing’s stopping you from being all that and a caring person overflowing with love
people who think that you have to apathetic and cynical and downward fucking mean to fit the aesthetic are just boring
Greek Oracles: Oh, great Ares, will there be victory in our battle tomorrow?
Egyptian Oracles: Yo so I want to buy this cow from my neighbour but he’s kind of a skeev, is the cow okay?Greek Oracles:
Oh mighty Apollo, should we wage war against the Persians?
Woman hopped up on gas fumes at Delphi: SHEEPS ARE THE BADGERS OF THE MOUNTAINS
Fuck yes, we’re gonna win!
Egyptian Oracles:
Oh Great and Mighty Apis! Should I seek damages from Bukhaaf for his affair with my wife?
Mooooooooooo
You’re totally right, I should decapitate him with a shovel
Greek Oracles:
Glorious Athena, will my ideas be welcomed by people around me?
Woman hopped up on gas fumes at Delphi: OBJECTS FROM THE SKY ARE PORTENTS OF DEATH
So is that a no?
Egyptian Oracles:
Oh wise Thoth! Should I exact revenge on Sheskaf for loan of an unreturned palette?
Egyptian priest, sighing and filing his nails: he says no
…would he say yes if I provided extra beer?Greek Oracles:
At Dodona: Oh Zeus will there be springs be good for water?
*Tree rustles*
Priest: Zeus is busy fucking your wife. Consult the tree again later.
Ohhh mannnnn
Egyptian Oracles:
Defified Amenhotep! Can I seek compensation from Piankh as he has not returned my bowl?
*statue doesn’t move*
Can I seek compensation if I give the priests beer for the next month?
*Priest gets up and shoves the oracle statue forward half heartedly with his foot*
Excellent
This speech, from the play Sir Thomas More, is the only piece of dramatic literature we have in Shakespeare’s hand (it was basically his only contribution to the multi-authored play). It’s never ceased to be relevant.
You should listen to Sir Ian McKellan read it.