Thisbookiswarmlydedicatedtomyuncle,William“Monty”Montgomery.

LOSTRACEOFTHEGIANTS

“The fact that the red-haired giants of pre-ColumbianAmerica introducedagriculture to our continent is an established, if generally unrecognized,archaeologicalfact.NoonetellstheirstorybetterthanPatrickChouinard.”

FRANKJOSEPH,AUTHOROFBEFOREATLANTIS,THELOSTCIVILIZATIONOFLEMURIA,ANDADVANCEDCIVILIZATIONSOFPRE-HISTORICAMERICA

Contents

CoverImage

TitlePage

Dedication

Epigraph

Foreword:GiantsandtheSearchforHigherIntelligencebyPaulVonWard

PhysicalEvidenceCorrectingtheHumanStoryDiscoveringtheEvidencePartialFossilRecordIndirectDNACorroborationAftertheGlobalCataclysmHowDoesAtlantisFit?Post-AtlanteanCivilization

Introduction:TheGiantPhenomenonandBlackHolesofScientificEndeavor

Chapter1:GiantsandMythology:AGlobalStory

SemanticDerivationoftheTermGiantTheFeatsandWisdomoftheAncientsGiantsasPartofOurCollectiveUnconsciousGiantsinIndiaGiantsinAncientGreekMythologyTheNorseDeitiesandtheGiantsMadameBlavatsky’sLemurianGiantsChineseMythology:TheStoryoftheGiantP’anKuChineseMummiesandtheWatchersGiantsintheNewWorld:FromMythtoHistory

Chapter2:AnEarlyRoleofGiantsandaCatalystforTheirGenesis

Giants:BuildersofAncientCivilizations?AccountsofGiantsasSkilledEngineersDidGiantsBuildtheDolmensofWesternEurope?

ArmenianStonehengeTheFallenTempleofBaalbekStonehenge:TheGiants’Ring?DidGiantsConstructCarnac?IfSo...How?TheWelteislehreandItsCosmicRaysCosmicRays:TheDrivingForcebehindGiantMutation?

Chapter3:AccountsofGiantsintheClassicalSources

ALandofGodsandMonstersBackingUptheMythswithScience:ExcavatingGiantBonesinAntiquityHomer’sGiantsTheGiantOrion:AncientBruteorTravelertotheStars?TheShoulderBladeofPelopsDeadHeroesandGiantsfromGreekandRomanMythologyAncientPaleontologyinWrittenWorksHowtheConceptoftheGiantImpactedGreekThinkingTheTheoryofEvolutionandtheConceptofExtinctionintheAncientWorldThe“BoneRush”—TheQuestfortheHeroes’RemainsDidAncientArchaeologistsKnowWhatTheyWereFinding?OrestesandHisSacredRemainsTheGigantomachyandGiantFossilDiscoveriesGiantsCouldAlsoBeMonstersHerculesandtheBodyofAntaeusModernFossilHuntersinAncientDaciaandtheDiscoveryofLong-lostTroy

Chapter4:ClashoftheGods:TheNorseDeitiesandGiants

AWorldofSnowMonstersandFrostGiantsTheWarlikeNatureofEarlyNorseGiantsGiantsintheEddasTheGermanicCreationMythandtheBirthoftheGiantsTheNorseGodThor,KingofthePantheonExpandingPerspectives:FromNorseMountainGiantstoScottishCaveDwellersTheMythofRagnarok

Chapter5:GigantopithecusandMeganthropus:AfricanGiants,AustralianGiants,andGiantsoftheBible

GigantopithecusandMeganthropusGiantsontheDarkContinentofAfrica

TheTrueGiantsoftheComorosIslandsMysteriesoftheAncientAustralianGiantsGiantsintheBible

Chapter6:GiantsofAncientNorthAmerica

EarlyAccountsofGiantsbyEuropeanExplorersOralTraditionsofGiantNativeAmericansAncientGiantsandtheLight-skinnedPeopleArchaeologicalFindingsThatSupporttheLegendsTheDiscoveriesofAaronWrightin1800GiantsoftheNewWorldTheGiantMoundBuildersofErieDiscoveriesinMarionCounty,WestVirginia,1852–1974NewspaperAccountsofGiantsfromtheNineteenthCenturyMummiesoftheAmericanSouthwestMoreGiants’BonesUnearthedintheAmericanWest

Chapter7:GiantsinOldCentralAmerica,OldSouthAmerica,andAncientPolynesia

AztecCreationandtheGiantsGiantsofCentralandSouthAmericaGiantsofPatagoniaTiahuanaco:LandoftheGiantsArchaeologicalExcavationsatTiahuanaco,1904–1945TheGiantsofAncientPolynesiaEasterIsland:HometoArchaicCaucasoids

Chapter8:TheRaceofAntediluvianGiants

TheWorldbeforeAdamandEveTheAntediluvianWorldinAncientGreekAccountsOannesandtheBabyloniacaWhoWeretheWatchers—Really?TheAnunnakiandNephilimSagaTheBookofEnochandtheBookofGiantsNoah:HumanorGiant?

Chapter9:TheGreatFloodandtheDestructionoftheGiants

TheFloodandFloodLegendsABiblicalAccountoftheFlood

Deucalion’sFloodTheSumernFloodMythTheBabylonianFloodMythAssyrianFloodMythsPhaetonandtheGreatFloodOtherFloodMyths

Chapter10:GiantsofAtlantis:TheGreekTradition

TechnologyversusMythAWarinHeaven—TheTitansandtheOlympiansContendersforAtlantisDidtheFleeingAtlanteansEndUpinSumer?SunkenCitiesintheMediterranean

Afterword:TheFutureWillDisclosetheTruthaboutthePast

Footnotes

Bibliography

Index

AbouttheAuthor

AboutInnerTraditions•Bear&Company

Copyright&Permissions

FOREWORD

GIANTSANDTHESEARCHFORHIGHERINTELLIGENCEPAULVONWARD

Over the last few decades millions of people have begun to realize that ouracademic history books are filled with holes and patched with misleadingconclusions based on flimsy evidence. The human story programmed into themindsoftoday’shighschoolandcollegegraduatesisnowbeingprovenfalseinveryfundamentalways.Ironically,scholarsinourmajorresearchandscientificinstitutionswhoseroles

includediscoveringthetruestoryofourpasthavenotinitiatedtheserevelations.Instead,theintellectualmovementtomoreaccuratelyreconstructancienthistoryhas been led by independent, interdisciplinary scholars such as Erich vonDäniken,thelateZechariaSitchin,andagrowingnumberofothers—includingPatrickChouinard.Booksbytheseauthorsfocusondiscoveriesthatrevealgapsin standard history books. They also reexamine the academic assertion thatancienttextsmustbeseenasmythsormetaphorsinsteadofdescriptionsofrealevents. Chouinard’s scholarly evaluation of new and old discoveries turns so-calledmythsintohistoricalnarratives.BooksbasedlargelyonintuitionaboutthemythofalostAtlanteanerainthe

human past are often as mystical as the legend itself. In this book, however,Chouinard presents tangible evidence to help fill the “Atlantis gap”—perhapsonehundredthousandyearsormore—inthedocumentedhistoryofEarthanditshumanoidinhabitants.Thisbookissignificantforseekers,skeptics,andbelieversbecauseitgrounds

many legends andmyths in real-world events, providing authentication of thetalesaboutgiants.Theevidence thatgiantswerehistoricalbeings isproof thatmanyancient textsmustnowbeseenasvalid, ifpartial,historicaldocuments.Chouinard’s investigations mean we can no longer view Hebrew, Christian,Islamic, or other religious documents referring to “giants of old” as divine

descriptionsofotherrealms.NeithercanwelabelGreekandRomanlegendsofTitans as fantasy created by writers who wished to glorify the birth of theirculturesassomethingunique.Thefollowingchaptersmakeitclearthatlargeflesh-and-bloodhumanoidsare

anintegralpartofthehumanevolutionarytrajectoryonplanetEarth.Basedonthe ancient textsmentioned above, one can reasonably postulate that “giants”were a transitional genetic link between nonhumans and some subspecies ofHomosapiens.To place Chouinard’s important contribution within the “bigger picture” of

human evolution, I propose an up-to-date, twenty-first-century view of ourorigins and the sweep of human history. This history includeswhat I call the“advancedbeinginterventiontheory”(ABIT).ABITpostulatesan“intervention”of human history by beings with physical, technological, social, andpsychologicallevelsofdevelopmentadvancedfarbeyondourhumanabilities.Historicalaccountsfromallculturesdescribebeingswhocamefromtheskies

or the waters, or even from other dimensions. Some were very much likehumans,whileothershadanimalorotherformsneverbeforeseenonEarth.ForthesereasonstheywerecalleddevasinSanskrit,whichmeans“beingsfromtheskiesorheavens.”Aftertheyceasedpubliccontactwithhumans,humanscalledthem“gods”andbegan toworship themmentally, rather thanactuallybowingbeforeamorepowerfulphysical ruler.Due to themanydifferentnamesgivensuchbeings, I use the generic termadvancedbeings orABs. Inmy view, thegiants discussed in this book are notABs, but, like humans, they are hybridsbetweenEarth-seededspeciesandmoreadvancedspeciesfromotherlocationsinour universe.However, they are an important part of the human developmentstoryonEarth.TheABITissupportedbyevidenceinplainsight—butwronglyidentified—in

hundreds of books and thousands of academic papers available in brick-and-mortar libraries as well as online.Many describe a time when ABs from theskiesdescendedtoEarth.MostdescribetheseABsasfightingamongthemselvesevenastheybecameinvolvedinthedevelopmentofhumansandtheircultures.ThisinvolvementincludedgeneticinputinEarthspecies,butABsalsoprovideduswithvaluableassistance.For example, theEnûmaEliš, the Babylonian creationmyth, identifiesABs

ApsuandTiamat.ChinesemythssayABP’anKuinstructedearlyhumansaboutthe universe. An Apache account claims AB Hactein created human beings.

SimilarthemesarefoundamongartifactsinEgypt,India,Japan,andpracticallyeveryothercultureontheglobe.Many Sumerian, Hindu, and Hebrew texts report human interactions with

advancedbeings.TheseincludetheDeadSeaScrolls,NagHammadilibrary,andGnosticGospels.An excellent analysis prepared bymy colleagueRogerVossillustratesthequalityofsuchinformationfoundintheoldestpubliclyavailableversion of the Paleo-Hebrew Torah. Voss shows that just over two thousandyears ago, Hebrew scribes still acknowledged advanced beings. For instance,Deuteronomy10:17states,“ForYahwehyourGod—HeisGodof theElohim,andLordof the lords;God, thegreat, themighty,and the fearful.”ThenamesYahweh,Lord,lords,God,andElohimallrefertoreal-lifeABsinbothsingularandpluralforms.LaterversionsofHebrewtextswereredactedtodistort thesefacts.

PHYSICALEVIDENCE

Manypeoplewhoareopen toChouinard’s“raceofgiantshypothesis”believethatalltheevidencecomesfromtextslikethosedescribedabove.Weknowthatwritten documents are often difficult to interpret or can be edited to suggestwhateverapersondesires.However, theabovetextshaveinternallyconsistent,plausibleaccountscorroboratedbyphysicalartifacts.As an example, a collectionof fossilizedhumanoid teeth (dating to 100,000

BP) that indicate a larger bone architecture (9.5 feet tall) thanHomo sapienssapienshascapturedtheattentionofopen-mindedscientists.Evidencepointstothe time period when the fossil record and DNA projections suggest Homosapiens sapiens appeared. This research suggests that the giants may be theprogenyofcrossbreedingbetweenABsandtheEarthgenusHomo.Thismixingof genes may have occurred “naturally” through sexual intercourse or,consideringthetechnologicallyadvancedcapabilitiesoftheABs,eventhroughgeneticengineering(invivoandinvitrogene-splicingofABcharacteristicsintoHomohostcells).Thiscorrelationgivescredencetobiblicalaccountsofhuman-giantinteractions.Therearenumerousexamplesofcontactsbetweenhumansand“giants”from

prehistorictimesintothemodernera,including:mummiesofCaucasoidhumansinwesternChina,measuring6.5feetinlengthanddatingto7000BP;maleandfemalemummies and skeletons of larger stature discovered in Nevada, found

among artifacts dating to 10,000 BP; and sixteenth-century Spanish ship logsdetailingthecaptureanddeathof10-foot-tallhumanoids.Storiesfrommanyculturesassert that theirancestorsreceivedtheir language

or alphabet from gods. For instance, Egyptians claim the AB Thoth was theauthor of their language, andHindus credit their Sanskrit alphabet to theABSaraswati.Givennewgeneticdiscoveries,theABgiftofalphabetsandlanguagemay have involved a genetic upgrade. The FOXP2 gene, which appeared inhumanformaboutonehundredthousandyearsago,gaveHomosapienscontrolovermuscles of themouth and throat. Its appearance coincideswith the leapfrom Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens sapiens. Insertion of this gene couldexplain how ABs gave giants and humans language skills beyond otherhominids.The following paragraphs connect various threads of evidence that

corroborates the evolving ABIT and offer a more complex version of humanhistory.

CORRECTINGTHEHUMANSTORY

Let’sreturntoanideaintroducedinthefirstparagraph,thatmostpeopledonotknowthatmuchofwhattheyaretaughtinschoolorcollegeisoutdatedorfalse.In some cases, information is kept from the public because it challengesestablished institutions. In others, new discoveries are sidelined by stodgyprocedures thatdelay the testingofnewevidence.Themoreserious,historicalproblem,however, is the censorship and rewritingofhistorybyelitesdesiringpolitical, social, and psychological control of others. In this situation,suppressionistheresultofdeliberatemanipulationofbothhistoricalandnewlydiscoveredevidence.Considerthefollowing.The conventional time line of physical evolution contains many gaps in

evidence. These gaps are ignored because of a tendency among academics topush aside evidence that does not support cherished theories. For instance,unexplained gaps in the fossil record are papered over with terms likepunctuated equilibrium. Those twowordsmean thatmajor shifts in evolutioncan’tbeexplainedbytheregularslow,gradualratesofevolution.Therefore,thewell-documented theory of cell-by-cell mutations—necessary for naturalevolution—can’t explain the gaps. Instead of being a fanciful concept, ABintervention, inmyopinion,bestexplains theseotherwise inexplicable leaps to

new species. After all, humans now manipulate animal DNA, perhaps in thesamewaythatABsengineeredmodernhumansthroughgene-splicing.While the cover-up of genetic history is serious, the distortion of our social

evolution has even more significant implications for the future. It may beinteresting to learn that our bodies contain alien genes, but it is even moreimportant to understand how ABs have influenced our intellectual andpsychologicaldevelopment.Weneedtoknowwhatrolestheyplayed—andstillplay, as a matter of fact—in wars, technology, social unrest, and knowledgerestriction.The large majority of humans believe they and all other life-forms were

directly createdby adistant divinegod,orgods.Theyconsider their religioustextstobedirectcommunicationfromthatsacredsource.Thisbeliefsystemhaskepthumansfromassumingresponsibility for thefutureof thisplanetandourspecies.Italsosupportsattacksonthosewhobelievedifferently.The new understanding of history in this book and similar publicationswill

make it possible for humans to rid themselves of guilt and the fear of divineretribution. The prevailing notion of an ultimate creator has kept us fromrealizing our true potential. Supernaturalism chains us to a very limited andinaccurateunderstandingofotherrealmsandourinteractionwiththem.Thefollowingsectiondetailsabriefcaseexplainingwhyweneedbookslike

Chouinard’s tohelpusgainamore realisticunderstandingofourgeneticpast,our social evolution, and the morphing of physical AB encounters into asupernaturalisticcosmology.Weneedanewwaytothinkaboutwhatweareandhowwefitintoamultibeing,multidimensionaluniverse.

DISCOVERINGTHEEVIDENCE

An updated story of humans on planet Earth is emerging from research thatsupportstheABinterventiontheory.However,ourcurrentknowledgeisonlyafragmentofwhatwilleventuallybeknown.Peoplewhoclaim tohave figuredoutalltheunknownsareegoistswithnodesirefortruth.Thefirstbiggapinknowledgeiswhenandhowlifebeganonthisplanet.The

planet’s birth is estimated to have happened about 4.5 billion years ago.Mostscientists estimate the first single cells arose 3.8 billion years ago. However,many details concerning these events are unknown.Without access to recordslost undermolten rock, in the deep sea, and under shifting continental plates,

suchestimatesarespeculative.The same problem arises with any effort to define the Earth’s evolutionary

tree.Theagesofsmallorganisms,plants,andanimalsarebasedontheratesofradioactive decay in certain isotopes or in the rock layers in which they arefound.Carbon-14 dating is useful only for specimens less than fifty thousandyears old. Thus, the evolutionary time line contains gaps that await newtechnologiestofillintheblanks.Withthesecaveats,Isketchoutbelowaplausibletimelineofhumanhistory

basedontheworkofPatChouinardandothers.Drawingontheirresearchandsome ofmy own,we can construct a skeletal theory—leaving it open to newdiscoveries in science and history—of how humans reached a population ofmorethansevenbillionsouls.About sixmillion years ago, a variety of hominids existed on Earth, in the

viewofmostscientists.Thesecreaturesapparentlychangedatagradualrateofevolution.Itislikelythatby2.5millionBPthegenusHomoappeared.SomeofthemevolvedintoHomoerectus typesabout2millionBP.Theseerectus typeshadhumanlikebodiesandappeartobeourdirectEarthancestors.However,wemustconsiderthepossibilitythatextraplanetaryscientistsseeded

life onEarth in its early geophysical conditions.Or, perhaps they simply tookadvantageofearly speciesandexperimentedwith themover time.Eitherway,the evidence suggests that ABs very likely played a role in creating modernspecies.Between 300,000 and 200,000 BP, the slowly evolving erectus types—with

tool-making and social skills—began to be replaced in an inexplicably shortperiod of time byHomo sapiens arising inAfrica. Ancient texts reviewed byZecharia Sitchin and others, including myself, hold sufficient corroborativeevidencetomakethecasethatABscouldhavebeeninvolvedinthis“leap”intheevolutionarytimeline.About100,000BP,wehaveanother“leap”overa“gap”in thefossil record.

At that point, an even greater modification in the sapiens genome occurred,producingHomosapienssapiens.Fiftythousandyearslater,adiasporaofthesemodern humans took place. As they traveled across continents, they likelyinterbredwithcontemporarydescendantsoferectustypesindifferentlocations.These erectus-sapiens matings may have produced Neanderthals and

Denisovans.TheformerhavebeententativelyplacedinEuropeandthelatterinEastAsia.Theyappearedinourfossilrecordfortythousandyearsagoorearlier.

ThatmodernHomosapienssapiensinterbredwiththesesubspeciesisvalidatedbythediscoveryoftheirDNAinmodernhumans.Suchcommongenesamongall these groups may suggest that AB genes provide internal links amonghumanoidsfromthebeginning.Duringthesapienssapiensdiasporadescribedaboveand11,500BP(thedate

of the biblical flood, a global cataclysm), self-described, AB-assisted humancommunitiesaroseonvariouspartsoftheplanet.LegendsofLemuria,Atlantis,andothersitesnotedforhighlydevelopedcivilizationsfitintothattimeframe.This is the first periodof apparentmiscegenation (notgeneticmanipulation)

between “thegods” and sapiens, resulting inAB-human hybrids.A variety ofAB-humangenotypeswereproduced,aresultofdifferentkindsofABshavingintercoursewithhumans.Thesehybridsmayincludesomeofthe“giantsofold”discussed in this book among the subspecies of the general category we callHomosapiens.Atthesametime,aboriginalsapienssapienskepttothemselvesinAfricaand

several more isolated locations. Their offspring, who did not interbreed withdescendantsofindependenterectus-sapienstypes,generallyhadasmallerbodytype. These include various groups of pygmies, like the so-called “hobbits”discoveredinIndonesiain2003,datedtoatleast18,000BP.These aboriginals who escaped the later widespreadmiscegenation between

ABs andHomo sapiens sapiens were able to maintain cultures that producedmoreobjectiveviewsoftheABgods.Theirlegendsof“thegods”wereformedatadistance,incontrasttobiblicalandothertextsdescribingintimate,ongoingAB-humanrelations.Readersmustkeepinmindthattheevidencefortheabovedatesissparse.This

means that these descriptions of human history from 250,000 to 12,000 yearsago are based on inferences from many different sources. Fortunately, recentfossil and genetic analyses support the idea of AB intervention during thatperiod.Asyouprogressthroughthepagesofthisbook,youwillfindreferencestothe

“skypeople”orextraterrestrials,inmanyoftheaccounts.Keeptheideasofmyforewordinmindasyoureadthesemythsandstories,andyoumaybegintoseehowcredibletheideaofABinterventionreallyis.

PARTIALFOSSILRECORD

The fossil record as we currently know it shows that our hominid ancestorsslowly evolvedover sixmillionyears.They copedwith harsh conditionswithlittle geneticmutation.Yet, between three hundred thousand and two hundredthousand years ago, a nimble and intelligent new species, Homo sapiens,appearedinAfricaoutsidetheerectuspaceofgeneticmutation.After about one hundred thousand years or so, another anomalous gap

occurred in the genetic evolution of theHomo genus. From that periodHomosapiens sapiens fossils can be found in Africa and beyond. With complexlanguage and tools, these modern humans demonstrated greater mental skillswithnoincreaseinbraincapacity.Multiplesitesillustratethisrapiddivergence.Erectus-typestonehandaxesand

othertoolsthatdateto700,000BPwerefoundinSouthAfricaandonCrete(anisland separated fromAfrica formillions of years). Similar simple toolswerestill in use 130,000 years ago, whileHomo sapiens sapiens had advanced tobuildingshipsandsailingthemalongfar-rangingseafaringroutes.This fossil record is consistentwith Sumern andHebrew texts that describe

ABupgrades of humans.The rabbinical scribes at the time of theBabylonianexile(thesixthcenturyBCE)stillacceptedthehistoricalclaimsthattheElohim(ABs)had raisedhumans above theother animals onEarth.Genesis 1:26 “letthemhavedominionover(allanimalsandtheearth).”

INDIRECTDNACORROBORATION

The genetic changes producingHomosapiens occurred in a very short periodratherthanoverhundredsofthousandsormillionsofyears.Thisgapinhumanevolution requires an extraordinary explanation.External geneticmanipulationcould have created a new species such asHomo sapiens. Genesis 1:26 offersevidenceofjustthat:“theElohimsaid,LetusmakemaninourImage.”NomaleY-chromosomeanalysistodateplacesanAdamcoexistentwithEve.

TheGenesis texts suggest theAdam event occurred prior toEve. IfmaleABcolonists provided Y chromosomes that morphed erectus types into Homosapiens, this ordermakes sense. The so-calledEve creation event could havebeen after theAdam event if itsAB-humangeneswere then spliced, either invivoorinvitro,intohostcellsofonlyafewfemaleHomosapiens.FromtheanalysisofmitochondrialDNA,researchersnowbelievethatHomo

sapienssapienscamefromonlya fewfemales inAfricabetweenonehundred

thousandand twohundred thousandyearsago.Thisdatingof theEveevent isconsistent with the fossil record and the Annunaki/human time line firstpublicized by Sitchin. It also precedes the date (between 100,000 and 50,000BP) that has been validated forHomo sapiens sapiens’ arrival in Europe andCentralAsia.Other genetic events also have links with our hypothetical story line. The

advent of various blood-type genes also coincides with periods of ABinvolvementinhumanhistorysincetheCataclysm.SurvivorsofNoah’sArkintheTurkic-Mesopotamianregionhaveahigher-than-averagetypeBpercentagethan the people living in adjacent areas,who aremainly typeO.Other bloodtypes’appearancescoincidewithreportedABinterventions.The first phase inAB intervention inhominiddevelopmentwas impersonal,

technical gene-splicing.But, asHomo sapiens quickly evolved physically andmentally, their interactionswithABs becamemore personal, leading toHomosapienssapiens.Cohabitation between AB colonizers and humans occurred during both the

pre- and post-Cataclysm eras. Humans who labored for the ABs or becamemembersoftheirhouseholdsobviouslylearnedalotfromthem.But,thephaseknownasExilefromEdenisa turningpoint.HumanslostdirectaccesstoABknowledgeandtechnologies.

AFTERTHEGLOBALCATACLYSM

After11,500BP,wemove fromfragmentedevidenceofourearlyhistory toafairlygoodsampleofdocumentationthatstillexists.Thesesourcesneedonlybelooked at through a new set of lenses (ancient astronaut andAB interventiontheories). By 11,500 BP, advanced civilizations around the globe had beendestroyed, leaving only small groups of survivors who had lost theirtechnologies,habitats,andsocialcohesion.AccountsfromaroundtheworlddescribehowABslandedbackonEarthafter

the volcanic explosions, nuclear-winter-type darkness, earthquakes, regionalfloods,mountainupheavals,lossofspecies,anddevastationofhumancultures.Hebrew, Babylonian, and other regional texts describe assistance from ABsfollowing a great flood or deluge, including advice on crops and animalhusbandry.Luckyhumansurvivorsreceivedtechnicalassistanceinseveralkeylocations

aroundtheglobe,includingMesopotamia,westernChina,India,theAndes,andpossibly others. In less than two thousand years, sophisticated culturesblossomed with AB technical assistance at several locations. Pre-Cataclysmhumanmemories that survivedwere fragmented andoftenvaguebut includedrecollections of pre-Cataclysm AB involvement with humans. Some of thesememorieshintofhighcivilizationssuchasLemuriaorAtlantis,orspecialplaceslikeEdenorShambhala.Thereaderwillnotethatthishistoryisinconsistentwithwhatwearetaughtin

school. Academics assume that ten thousand years ago (after the abrupt,cataclysmicendingoftheIceAge),humanshadevolvedonlytothe“caveman”stage. But for decades now, each year brings increasing discoveries ofunexpectedly sophisticated human activities quickly after the Cataclysm.Fortunately, we also still have bits of the Atlantean and complementingmemoriesthatcanbeverifiedwithresearch,asdiscussedinthisbook.

HOWDOESATLANTISFIT?

Does thestoryofAtlantis fit into the time linedescribedabove?SomewritersusingextradimensionalsourceshaveproposedtheAtlanteancivilizationenjoyeda long history, perhaps almost extending one hundred thousand years. Assquishyassuchaclaimmaybe,itisinterestingthattheaboveevidencepointstoHomo sapiens sapiens about that time. If correct, itwould also correlatewithotherso-calledAtlantean“memories.”Onebeliefisthatthe“gods”atthebeginningofAtlanteanhistoryweresuper

beings who directly ruled humans. The founder of Atlantis, Poseidon, wasallegedtobeoneofthem.Thus,histendirectoffspring(theoldestbeingAtlas)with the human Cleito were hybrids who were later known as the rulers ofAtlantis.TheseideasareconsistentwithABinterventionsinthefossilandDNArecorddescribedearlier,includingevidenceofgiants.Other subjectivematerial suggests theseAB-hybrid rulersmadepossible the

ascent of the first utopian civilization amonghumans.While initially ruled bythese demigods, the human citizenswere largely independent and involved inself-government. Immigrants fromAtlantismay have taken this ideal to otherhumans before the sinking of its final remnants during theCataclysm. Indian,European,Middle Eastern, andAmerican legends still carry accounts of suchutopianpractices.

However, fragmented accounts also include descriptions of conflict amongPoseidon’s siblings andcohorts.Their internecineABwars are also consistentwithworldwideoriginmyths,includingthosedepictedintheHebrewBible.Of course, pre-Cataclysm cultures were decimated when civilizations

everywhere suffered almost a total loss of their populations, structures, andtechnologies.However, images ofAtlantis survived in theminds of survivors,andwerepassedontotheEgyptians,andthentotheGreeks.Theyincludedtalesofthegiantsdescribedlaterinthisbook.WiththelossofmostoftheAtlanteancivilization,exceptforafewescapees

whoscatteredacrossIndia,Europe,NorthAfrica,andpartsoftheAmericas,thehumanstorybecomesoneofnewABeffortstorevivehumancommunities.Butthose efforts were a double-edged sword—not unlike the results of advancedEuropeannationscolonizingindigenousculturesaroundtheworldoverthepastfivehundredyears.

POST-ATLANTEANCIVILIZATION

Thepost-Cataclysmstories,asinNoah’stale,describeABassistancethathelpedhumansrebuild.ThedownsidewasareturnofABcolonialrule,ashintedatintheGardenofEden story. Just as inmodernEuropeancolonies, the revivalofhuman culture did not escape the “subjugation/self-deprecation syndrome”imposedbytheABs.Severalsurvivalaccounts(Sumerian,Hebrew,Sanskrit,andAfrican)describe

conflictsamongthe“gods”affectingtheirhumantribes.Thisoff-planetdiscordcausedtheABcolonizerstoquittheirovertEarthrulebefore4000BP.TheylefthumanstotheirowndevicesorunderkingsorqueenswithdirectABbloodlines.Lists of Egyptian rulers track this shift: ABs gave way to fifth-millenniumhybrid kings, followed by the pharaohs, who imitated and claimed to bedescendantsofABgods.The first semi-AB kings and priests turned their regencies into sects to

manipulate people into continuing worship of their absentee AB godparents.These cults stifled intellectual and social progress, and drove modern humancivilization into its first Dark Ages. Squabbling kings and priests perpetuatedreligious wars humans fought under the flags of their AB overlords formillennia.Pyramidsor zigguratswerebuilt (or rebuilt) after theCataclysm,whenABs

rendered technical assistance to human survivors. During that period, the ABcustom of intercourse with humans resumed. Biblical accounts note that AB-humanmatingcreatedabloodlineofhybridgiantsactiveaslateasKingDavid’srule,threethousandyearsago.TheABdomesticstructuresdescribed in thepreviousparagraphdeteriorated

after the overtwithdrawal ofABs from human societies. By the fifth centuryBCE (ABs had been absent for a millennium or more), Greek historianHerodotus,describingthecradleofWesternCivilization,reportedthezigguratshadfallenintoruin.As centuries passed without a return of the ABs, the weakening bloodlines

began to lose their spell over their subjects. To continue control over newgenerations, loyal priests began to reshape the historical facts aboutABs intosupernatural terms.Inventingthe ideaofasupernaturalheavenaccessibleonlythrough them gave the priests an advantage over the masses. Cult leaders,including Roman popes, declared only they had a divine channel to receivemessagesfromthedepartedABgods.Inthismanner,“supernaturalreligions”werecreatedtoreplacetheAB-based

cults. This sleight-of-hand, shifting the human focus from real ABs to unrealgods, kept humans under the psychological sway of authoritarian leaderswiththeir own political agendas. The result was centuries of sectarian warfare,crusades, torture, inquisitions, and mind-control techniques developed bysupernaturalistictheocrats.For the last twomillenniahumanshave struggledbetween this supernatural-

based hypnotic state and our natural, biological impulse to realize our ownpotential.Withhumansmiredinemotionalstagnationlargelyofhumancreation,manyofusarenow(withinputfromenlightenedABs)tryingtorevealtherealstorybehindthecover-up.Inconclusion,Ibelieveevidencecompelsustoacceptbeingahybridspecies.

As described above, this was well known by humans at the dawn ofmodernhistory. The knowledge was then distorted by kings and priests who tookadvantage of less aware humans, psychologically manipulating them to servetheireconomicandpoliticalagendas.Chouinard’s valuable research into AB-human interbreeding, resulting in

differenttypesofhumanoids,willfillinsignificantgapsinhumanhistory.

An interdisciplinary cosmologist and independent scholar, Paul Von Ward is

internationally known for the hypothesis of advanced being intervention inhuman development; his theory of natural spirituality in an evolving, self-learninguniverse;andresearchon thesurvivalofapersonalsoulgenome.HiscurrentbooksonthesetopicsareWe’veNeverBeenAlone,OurSolarianLegacy,andTheSoulGenome.Paul’sacademicbackground(FloridaState,Harvard,andtheUniversity of SouthernCalifornia, among others); hismilitary, diplomatic,andinternationalexecutivecareer;andhisresearchonfivecontinentskeephisprovocative publications grounded in emerging science and credible humanexperience.

INTRODUCTION

THEGIANTPHENOMENONANDBLACKHOLESOFSCIENTIFICENDEAVOR

Whocould forget the final sceneofRaidersof theLostArk inwhichacrated“Ark of the Covenant” is wheeled into a massive top-secret warehouse? Thefinal secondsof themovieare filledwith rowsof thousandsofneatly stackedcrates, all allegedly containing anomalous finds that thegovernment sought tokeep hidden from the public eye—out of sight, out of mind. Only in theconclusion to the Indiana Jones saga, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of theCrystalSkull,dowegetaglimpseofwhere thewarehouseof forbidden itemswasactuallylocated:atarestrictedgovernmentfacilityintheDesertSouthwest,probablyArea51.*1

Of course, we know this was merely an invention of Hollywood, nothingmore. Right? No, not really, for sadly enough there really are black holes ofscientificendeavorwherestartlingnewdiscoverieshavebeenbanished,toneveragainsee the lightofday.Theseknowledgepitsare thepointofno return formanyfindingsconsideredtobetooradicaltofit intotheestablishedparadigm;theyaresuppressedbyinstitutionsintentonmaintainingthestatusquo.A perfect example of this type of suppression occurred in 1962, when an

archaeologicaldiginMexico,atHueyatlaco,aPaleo-Indiansite121kilometerssoutheastofMexicoCity,yieldeddiscoveriesthatdidnotfitwithintheacceptedtimeline.In1962,MexicanarchaeologistJuanArmentaCamachoandAmericanarchaeologistCynthiaIrwin-Williamsunearthedsophisticatedstonetoolsdatingto 250,000 BP, which upended traditional theories about the culturaldevelopment of early humans. Startled by the anomalous nature ofwhat theydiscovered,thesetwoarchaeologistsattemptedtosuppressthefindings.In1966,graduatestudentVirginiaSteen-McIntyre joined theirdigand,unlike theothertwo archaeologists, was very outspoken about discussing and attempting topublish the earth-shattering news; however, she was to face tremendousroadblocks inherefforts.Her statementswere ridiculed—itwasas thoughshewere claiming thatBigfoot lived in theWhiteHouse!Shewas promptly fired

fromherpositionasgeologistandfieldarchaeologistandstrippedofherprestigeas a respectedmember of the academic community. Furthermore, never againwassheable togeta jobinherbelovedfieldofarchaeologyoranylegitimatepositionasamainstreamgeologist(Gallegos2009,10).Steen-McIntyrehadthistosayaboutthematterinalettershewrotetoEstella

Leopold,theassociateeditorofQuaternaryResearch:

The problem as I see it is much bigger than Hueyatlaco. It concerns themanipulation of scientific thought through the suppression of “EnigmaticData,” data that challenges the prevailing mode of thinking. Hueyatlacocertainly does that! Not being an anthropologist, I didn’t realize the fullsignificance of our dates back in 1973, nor how deeply woven into ourthought the current theory of human evolution had become. Our work atHueyatlacohasbeen rejectedbymostarchaeologistsbecause itcontradictsthattheory,period.(gdub2012)

Another victim of this knowledge filter is Polish scholar ImmanuelVelikovsky.Although the late,greatCarlSagan readily identifiedhimselfwithwhatmyfriendJohnAnthonyWestcallsthepriesthoodofscience,SaganmadeaheroicappealonbehalfofVelikovsky,whoisbestknownforhisbookWorldsin Collision, published in 1950. Velikovsky’s theories included the idea thatVenuswasactuallyananomalygeneratedintheJoviansystem*2(Sagan1980,90–91).Velikovskymaintainedthattheplanet,orcometashecalledit,leftthegravitational influence of Jupiter and entered the inner solar systemapproximately3500BCE.DuringtwocloseencounterswithEarthin1450BCE,thedirectionofEarth’srotationwasalteredradically(Alexander2005,21–24).AccordingtoVelikovsky,Earth’srotationthenrevertedtoitsoriginaldirection

on itsnextpass through theorbitof the inner solar system. In the secondandfinal confrontationwithEarth, thecomet caused substantialvolcanism, floods,and even the parting of the Red Sea as described in the Book of Exodus.Followingthisphaseofitsjourney,itsettledintoitscurrentorbitandbecametheplanetVenusasweknowittoday.†1

Sagan reported that the academic community attempted to suppressVelikovsky’s ideas about Venus, and he (Sagan) condemned these actions.Velikovskywasforbiddenfromspeakingatuniversitiesandpublishinghisideasin scientific journals, and newspapers and other media were dissuaded fromreleasingupdatesonhisresearch.“Science,”concludedSagan,“isgeneratedby

anddevotedtofreeinquiry;theideathatanyhypothesis,nomatterhowstrange,deservestobeconsideredonitsmerits.Thesuppressionofuncomfortableideasmaybecommoninreligionandpolitics,but it isnot thepathtoknowledge; ithasnoplaceintheendeavorofscience”(1980,90–91).Againstthisbroaderbackdropofsystemicscientificsuppressionwehavethe

fields of modern-day archaeology and anthropology, whose gatekeepers haveseverely curtailed the potentialities of much current comprehensive scholarlyresearchthatseekstoexploretheanomalousandfascinatingquestionofwhethergiantswerepartofhominidevolutiononEarth.Giventhatthisisthecase,myworkhereistoprovideevidencethattheraceofgiantstheoryisatrueone.Insodoing, I calluponandcite innumerableaccounts in thewritten record thataredifficulttodisprove.Hereisbutasamplingofwhatawaitsyouinthepagesofthisbook.In referencing the possibility of giants in ancient North America, the late

NativeAmericanauthor,historian,andtheologianVineDeloriawrote:

Thefirsthintwehadabout thepossibleexistenceofanactual raceof tall,strong, and intellectually sophisticated people, was in researching oldtownshipandcountyrecords.Manyof thesewerequotingfromolddiariesandlettersthatwerecombined,forposterity,inthe1800s,fromdiariesgoingback to the 1700s. Some of these old county and regional history bookscontain real gems because the people were not subjected to a rigidindoctrination about evolution andwere astonished aboutwhat they foundandhonestlyreportedit.(“HolocaustofGiants”)

Thebuildingupof infrastructure in themid-1800s in theUnitedStates—theconstructionofaroadsystem,thebreakingofnewgroundfortheconstructionofhomes,andthebuildingofkeygovernmentandcommunitybuildings—revealedhundreds of human skeletons of gigantic stature. The following accountoriginatedaroundtheyear1800inOhio:

Thereweremounds situated in the easternpart of thevillageofConneautandanextensiveburying-groundnearthePresbyterianchurch,whichappeartohavehadnoconnectionwiththeburying-placesoftheIndians.Amongthehumanbonesfoundsinthemoundsweresomebelongingtomenofgiganticstructure.Someoftheskullswereofsufficientcapacitytoadmittheheadofanordinaryman,andjawbonesthatmighthavebeenfittedonoverthefacewithequal facility; theotherboneswereproportionately large.Theburial-

ground referred to containedabout four acres, andwith theexceptionof aslightangleinconformitywiththenaturalcontourofthegroundwasintheformofanoblongsquare.Itappearedtohavebeenaccuratelysurveyedintolotsrunningfromnorthtosouth,andexhibitedalltheorderandproprietyofarrangementdeemednecessarytoconstituteChristianburial.(“HolocaustofGiants”)

And we have this account in an article entitled “Mysterious Giant HumanSkeleton Discovered in Saudi Arabia,” which was recently published onnumeroussitesontheInternet.Theauthorofthearticle,whoelectedtoremainanonymous,writes:

RecentgasexplorationactivityinthesoutheastregionoftheArabianDesertuncoveredtheskeletalremainsofahumanofphenomenalsize.Theregionof theArabianDesert is called theEmptyQuarter, or inArabic, “Rab-Ul-Khalee.”TheAramcoExplorationteammadethediscovery.AsGodstatesintheQu’ran,HehadcreatedpeopleofphenomenalsizethelikesofwhichHehasnotcreatedsince.ThesewerethepeopleofAadwhereProphetHudwassent.Theywereverytall,big,andverypowerful,suchthattheycouldput their arms around a tree trunk and uproot it. After these people, whowere given all the power, turned against God and the Prophet andtransgressed beyond all boundaries set by God. As a result they weredestroyed.Ulema’s[sic]ofSaudiArabiabelievethesetobetheremainsofthepeopleofAad.SaudiMilitaryhassecuredthewholeareaandnooneisallowed toenterexcept theAramcopersonnel. Ithasbeenkept insecrecy,but a military helicopter took some pictures from the air and one of thepicturesleakedoutintotheInternetinSaudiArabia.(“Mysterious”)

Regardless of the evidence, institutions such as the Smithsonian, the U.S.government, and the majority of American universities have not onlysystematicallydiscouraged investigation into reportsorhardphysical evidenceof ancient peoplesof gigantic stature, theyhave furtivelyburied the evidence.Why? The discovery of a race of giants is a threat to the established order.Disclosurewouldnotonlymeananend to theprevailingparadigm,butwouldalsocompletelyalterourworld-view,giventhatanassumptionaboutthevalidityofgiantsisnecessarilyinclusiveoftheideathatintelligentlifeonotherplanetsis,infact,astarkrealitythatwemustface—whetherwelikeitornot.This book presents the historical,mythological, and archaeological evidence

for“the raceofgiants”hypothesis. In this, itattempts to lay the foundationofseveralnewtheories,includingtherolegiantsplayedinhumanevolution.IhopeyouenjoyreadingitasmuchasIdidresearchingandwritingit.

1

GIANTSANDMYTHOLOGY

AGlobalStory

Wemustnotremindthemthatgiantswalktheearth.FRANKMILLER,BATMAN:THEDARKKNIGHTRETURNS,1987

Eventhoughhumanmemoryfailstopenetratethetruemysteriesofourremotepast, mythology provides us with a framework by which we can glean asemblanceofhumanity’soriginsinprehistoryandcometoanunderstandingofwhoweareasaspecies.Themanymythsofgiants,gods,andotheradvancedbeings whose power supposedly once ruled this planet today remain thestrongestnonarchaeologicalevidencewehavetosupporttheideathataraceofgiantsoncepeopledtheEarth.In this chapter we will explore many of these myths, which are more than

nebulous accounts concocted by unsophisticated humans—much more thanmetaphorsor storiesbearingsymbolicor religious significance.Theyarewhatsurviveofourhistorypriortothegreatageofcataclysms,whichdestroyedtheglobalcivilizationandchangedhumanityandthisplanetforthesubsequenteightmillennia.Now,for thefirst time, the truthaboutgiantsandourpast is finallycomingtolight.

SEMANTICDERIVATIONOFTHETERMGIANT

In our remote past, giantswereworshipped as gods. Indeed, almost all of thegodsandgoddessesofantiquitywereofgiganticstature.Whyisthisso?Partoftheanswermaybefoundinanexaminationofthesemanticsinvolved:TherootsofthewordgodcanbetracedbacktotheGermanicwordGott,andpriortotheintroduction of this particular title, there existed theLatindeus and theGreektheos.Inancienttimes,evenintheHebrewtradition,itwaswidelyknownthatthesewords—those signifying a power greater than oneself—applied not to asingleomnipotentbeingbutrather“beingsfromthesky”(alwaysdenotedinthe

plural).Intheannalsandchroniclesofancienttimes,bothgodsandgiantshavebeencategorizedas“advancedbeings”or“skygods.”Thisisaveryinterestingpointinandofitself,butitalsoraisesanimportantquestion:Whatdifference,ifany,existsbetweengodsandgiants?Whowerethesegiantsdescribedinancienttimes?Weretheymerefantasies,

ordotheyrepresentaveryreal,verytangiblelinktoourprehistoricancestors?Mainstream science teaches us that creatures such as giants, ogres, and othermonstrousbeingsaremerelymythical iconsfromourremotepastandhavenobasis inreality.Ourancestors, terrifiedofaworld theydidnotunderstandandcould not control, devised these myths to bring order and predictability to achaotic, primeval world. Such are the conclusions of academia, but thesesimplistic views of an ignorant and credulous human race is in its final deaththroes. Through a study of ancient mythology, combined with advances inarchaeologyandtechnology,wearecomingtounderstandthattheancientswereactuallyhighlyadvancedandmayhavepossessedtechnologiescomparabletoorevensurpassingourown.Theywere,forexample,excellentrecordkeepers,andhadasignificantknowledgeofastronomy,medicine,andengineering.ThusweoughttotakeseriouslytheirseeminglyextraordinarytalesofTitans,frostgiants,andCyclopes.

THEFEATSANDWISDOMOFTHEANCIENTS

In order to show that the giants of antiquity were not the product of anunsophisticatedimagination,itisnecessarytofirstestablishasfactthefeatsandwisdom of the ancients. This inevitably leads into to a discussion of theirpremodern technological achievements, some farmore advanced than thoseoftoday.Oncetheirsophisticationhasbeendemonstrated,wecanmoreobjectivelyaddresstheissueoftheexistenceofgiants.Whatwehavefoundisthatthecivilizationsoftheancientworldwerefarmore

advanced thanmanyarchaeologistsareprepared toadmit.Adeceptively smalldevicefoundin1900ontheislandofAntikythera,twenty-fivemilesnorthwestof Crete, lends credence to this assertion. Retrieved from the submergedwreckage of a Greek galley by fishermen and sponge divers, the device wasactuallyaworkingcomputer,intricatelydevisednotbyAppleorDell,butbytheGreeksduringHellenistic times (circa323–146BCE).DavidChildress,authorofTechnology of the Gods (2000), rightfully boasts of its discovery as being“tantamounttofindingajetairplaneinthetombofKingTut.”

Hints of other technological feats from antiquity have survived into thetwenty-firstcenturyaswell.Forexample,textsanddetaileddrawingsofflyingcraft called vimāna in the Sanskrit writings of India give us at least someindication that in the remote past, someone—or something—flew the skiesaboveEarth.Let’sassumeforthemomentthattheancienttraditionsofthegodsimparting

knowledgeandwisdomtotheearlyhumanracearenotmerefantasy,butbasedon eyewitness accounts of actual events. This, then, would not be amisinterpreted record of an ancient alien visitation, but a direct account of anearlyraceofgiantspassingonwhatithadlearnedfromthegodstohumansinaformofsuccession,passingthetorchtoanothergenerationofancientTerrans,orearthbornbeings.Oneofthemanytribesofhumanitythatwerepassedthetorchofcivilization

very early on from the primeval giants of old were the Chinese. ConfuciusrecordsthatinChina,duringthereignoftheFiveMonarchs,from2852to2206BCE, “flying carriages” existed in that country. However, it is difficult toascertain the full extentof the technologicalwonders theancientChinesemayhavepossessedbecause, prior tohis death circa210–209BCE,EmperorChinShihHuangTiorderedtheburningofhundredsofthousandsofbooks,includingall those in the royal libraries (Childress 2000).A few lucky tomes, however,escaped the wrath of the imperial torches, and from them a few accounts ofadvanced technology possessed by the ancient Chinese have survived to thisveryday.TheancientChinese, inaddition to the inventionof flyingcraftandmilitary

technology, also developed practical innovations for mass consumption. AnindividualnamedBiShengintroducedthetechnologyofmovabletypein1045CE,more than four centuries before the printing of the firstGutenbergBible.Andtoresistearthquakes,quitecommoninChina, theChinesearerumoredtohave invented the first earthquake-resistant houses.Moreover, around 725CEtwoChineseinventorsarecreditedwithdevelopingthefirstmechanicalclock.Inaddition, gunpowder was common to the Chinese, which they employedbeginningintheninthcenturyorearlier.Gunpowderwasusedforfireworksandas a means to frighten opposing armies or to announce the coming of aninvadingforceratherthanasaweapon.AccordingtoChildress:

TheChinesehavealwayshadgreatscopeandvisionregardingtheirprojects;

not onlywas theGreatWall a colossal endeavor, but theGrandCanal ofChina,whichconnects theYellowRiverwith theYangtze, is twenty timeslonger than the Panama Canal—yet the Chinese constructed it withoutmodernequipmentstartingover1,300yearsago!Thereareothermammothprojects that are still unknown or waiting to be discovered, such as thelargest pyramid in theworld, near Xian. Even the Chinese version of thetypewriter,calledtheHoangtypewriter,has5,700charactersonakeyboardtwofeetwideandseventeenincheshigh!(Childress1998,396)

Chinese armies also employed the use of poison gasmore than 2,500 yearsbefore it was invented and used by the West in World War I. They alsodevelopedcastironinthefourthcenturyBCE,morethan1,700yearsbeforeitwas first used by Europeans, and created steel from cast iron in the secondcenturyBCE—morethan2,000yearsbeforeWesternersmanufacturedit.HowisitthattheChineseweresotechnologicallyadvancedatsuchanearly

stageoftheirculture’sdevelopment?RenownedBritishscientist,historian,andsinologist JosephNeedhamofCambridgeUniversityechoes thisveryquestionwhenhewrites(withregardtothesplendorofearlyChineseinventions):“First,whyshouldtheyhavebeensofarinadvanceofothercivilizations;andsecond,whyaren’ttheynowcenturiesaheadoftherestoftheworld?”(Childress1998,397)DavidChildress implies that theanswer lies in inheritedknowledge fromanoldercivilization.“Itsdiscoveries,”writesChildress,“likeours,are just there-discovery of ancient technology from the roller-coaster ride of history”(Childress1998,397).IpositthatthiswasbecauseChinesecivilizationmayhavebeenjump-started

byanextramundanesourceduringthetimewhentheprimevalgiantspassedonknowledgetothechosenpeopleofthenewera.Asyouwillsee,wewillargueforthistheorythroughoutthebook,asitisoneofthefoundationaltenetsofourresearch.

GIANTSASPARTOFOURCOLLECTIVEUNCONSCIOUS

Since they firstwalked the Earth eons ago, giants have become a part of ourcollective unconscious, a terrifying Jungian archetype that captivates theimagination.Theyformthecornerstoneofthemyths,legends,andtraditionsofalmosteverycultureonEarth,andinmanycases,thesenarrativeshaveremainedunchangedformillennia.Suchmythsoftendepictacivilizationruledbygiants

thatisdestroyedbyaglobaldelugeandeventuallyforgotten.Thesemythsandlegendshelpustodecodethesecretsofthatforgottenchapter

inhumanhistory. Indeed, thesegigantic inhabitantsofour imaginationarenotmere figments, but rather the cultural phantom “residue” from our pastexperiencesasa species.Theyare, in fact, imprintsor echoesof a remotebutvery real Dark Age that we havemostly long since forgotten—until now. Aswith all mythological accounts, they are but blurred images of a far moreprofoundreality.Let’s look at some specific examples of giantsmentioned in themyths and

legendsoftheworld,beginningwiththeIncacivilization.

Incamythdescribes theAyar-aucca race,which includes four twingiantswhoholdupthesky.Inthismyth(asinmanyotherslikeit)thehumanracebecomesunrulyandungrateful.Angeredbythis,thefourgiantsagreetolettheskytumbledownandcrashintothesea.Theresultisaglobalfloodthatobliteratesmuchofhumankind(Joseph2005).(Theideaoftheskycrashingto Earth and destroying virtually all of civilization resonateswith Plato’sAtlantis and some of the more recent speculation regarding its demise.Some theories suggest that a comet or asteroidmay have impactedEarthsometime during our remote history, causing the destruction of theseancientandadvancedcultures.)In Irishmythology,we learnof theFormorach, a giant seapeople.Theirleader, Balor, guides them to the shores of Ireland following the GreatFlood.Theythenbecomethenativeinhabitantsofthatisland.Whilesomescholars locate the Formorach’s point of origin in Spain orNorthAfrica,others claim that the original homeland of these pre-Celtic giants wasAtlantis,thoughttohavebeenlocatedtwohundredmileswestofGibraltar(Joseph2005).TheGiant’sCausewayinNorthernIrelandisalsolinkedtogiantsinthatitsnatural geologic formations consist of massive basalt columns that wereclaimedtohavebeentheworkofthegiants.In the third millennium BCE, the Hurrians were the dominant race ofAnatolia. The Hittites, who conquered the Hurrians around 2000 BCE,absorbed many of their religious beliefs and mythological traditions,including the myth of Alalu, the first king of heaven—a giant god whothrivedonamountainousislandsituatedintheWesternOcean,whichwasoftenreferredtoastheseaofthesettingsun.(TheWesternOceanwasan

earlier name for the Atlantic Ocean.) Author and historian Frank Josephbelievesthat this traditionofgiantgodsandtheislandintheAtlanticisaHurrianmemoryofthemountainousislandofAtlantis.Alalu’ssonwasthemightyKumarbi, themythicpersonificationoftheAtlanticOceanandtheHurrianequivalentoftheGreekTitanKronos.Kumarbiplacedtheworldonhismountainousneck.Inthis,inadditiontobeingtheequivalentofKronos,healsowastheAnatolianequivalentoftheGreekdeityandTitanAtlas,thefounderofthemightyAtlanteanempire(Joseph2005).TheKaiofNewGuinearecalleda raceofdemigods,orgiants,called theNe-Mu. Theywere said to be taller and stronger than themortal race oftoday,buttheywerelordsoftheEarthbeforetheGreatFlood.TheytaughttheKai ancestors the fundamentals of agriculture andhouse construction.The Ne-Mu were wiped out during the Deluge, but their bodies weretransformed into blocks of stone. “This final feature of themyth,” FrankJosephwrites (2005), “betrays theKai’s reaction tomegalithic structuresfound occasionally in New Guinea, often composed of prodigiousstoneworktheyidentifywiththepre-FloodNe-Mu.”The natives of the Fijian islands believe that their ancestral land, calledBurotu, sank long ago into the Pacific Ocean. This ancestral realm wasobliterated when the “heavens fell down,” and fire and water meldedtogethertoproducetheislandsofSamoa.Thesurvivors,knownastheHiti,were thought tobea raceofgiants: thechildrenofAtlantis.Theybuilt amonumentalarchstandingalmosttwentyfeethigh(Joseph2005).Arabicmythdescribesaraceofgiantsknownas theAdites.Thesebeingsare the equivalent of the Atlantean Titans of Greek mythology, and aredescribed as superior architects andbuilders.Since their earliest recordedhistory, Arabs in theMiddle East have associated all immense structureswiththesegreatgiantsofantiquity.(Wewillreadmoreaboutthebuildingandcivilizingskillsofancientgiantsinthefollowingchapter.)Bochica is a figure in the myths of the Chibcha peoples of present-dayColombia.Abearded,white-skinnedgiantsimilartoAtlas,hesupportstheskyonhisshoulders.Whenthepeopleforsakehisteachings,heeventuallydrops the sky, causing a seriesof floods and conflagrations that decimatethe planet. This event also destroys the giant’s own home, forcing hischildrentofleeandseekshelterelsewhere.Intheend,theysettlealongthecoast of Colombia, eventually becoming the country’s native Indianinhabitants(Joseph2005).

Asyoucanseefromthissmallsampling,thesheernumberandvarietyofgiantmyths and legends is staggering. Indeed, they can be found in almost everyculture on Earth. As stated above, many of these mythologies include beingscloselyrelatedtotheTitans,whosupposedlyonceruledAtlantis.Andofcoursethere is also the recurring narrative of a great cataclysm that destroyed acivilizationsometime in the remotepast.Suchcommon themesandmotifs laythegroundworkforanevenbroaderdiscussion.Let’sexaminesomeadditionalaccountsofgiantsnow.

GIANTSININDIA

Inthespringof2000,inavirtuallyuninhabiteddesertregionofnorthernIndia,anAmericanteamofarchaeologistsuncoveredtheancientskeletalremainsofahuman being of phenomenal size. An elite team of excavators from theAmerican government made the discovery, with support from the Indianmilitary,whichholdsjurisdictionoverthearea.Along with the gigantic bones, the team discovered tablets bearing ancient

inscriptions.ThesetabletsdetailedastoryfromIndianmythologyregardingthesupremegodBrahma,whoexisted in thebeginningandcreated thecosmosaswe know it. This deity, according to the inscription, created creatures ofgargantuansizeintheremotepastandcommandedthemtobringordertochaos.Theysoonbecametherulersandguardiansofhumans.Buttheywereconstantlycombatingeachotherandengaginginprofusemilitaryengagementsalongwithfitsofaggressionandterritoriality.Theyeventuallyfailedtheirpurposeandhadtobedestroyed.Some sources claim that the American team and the Indian government

secretlybelievethatthesecyclopeanrelicsbelongtothevanishedraceofgiantsthat Brahma created. Following the initial excavation, the Indian governmentsealed off the area, allowing access only to Indian government officials andauthorizedrepresentativesoftheAmericangovernment.IntheSanskritwritingsofIndiawelearnoftheDaityas,orwatergiants.They

are mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Mahabharata, two of the mostancientandhighlyreveredHindusacredtexts.TheDaityasaretheoffspringofVishnu.ThesewatergiantsaretheEastIndianequivalentoftheTitansofGreekmythology,whichincludeAtlasandtheotherkingsofAtlantis.ThesewritingsdescribehowVishnu’smotherconquerstheEarthforthegodsandbecomesthe

firstofthemightyDaitya.Thisultimatelymakeshertheupholderofthesky—what Frank Joseph describes as “the moral order of the cosmos”—thereforeidentifyingherwiththeGreekTitanAtlas,whocreatestheislandofAtlantisandholdstheburdenoftheworldonhisshoulders(Joseph2005).According to the Vishnu Purana, these water giants reside in Tripura, the

Triple City. This metropolis, now a sunken island, located far across theimpenetrable Western Ocean (the Atlantic Ocean), echoes Plato’s owndescriptionsofthelostcivilizationofAtlantis.TheimmortalGreekphilosopherwrote that this submerged landmasswasbeyond thePillars ofHercules in themiddleoftheAtlanticOcean.Inaddition,theTripleCityoftheVishnuPuranaisclearly emblematic of the trident ofPoseidon, the patrongodofAtlantis. In afinal war, both the Daitya and Tripura are destroyed, which is yet anothersimilaritytothemythofAtlantis(Joseph2005).TheRakshas are alsoworthy of recognition, if only for their gruesome and

diabolicalreputations.HindubeliefmaintainsthattheRakshaswerethoroughlywicked humans in previous incarnations and that their reincarnation as one ofthesehideousgiantswaspunishmentforpastsins.AccordingtotheRamayana,these giantswere born fromBrahma’s foot.Othermyths trace their bloodlinebacktothedemonPulastyaortootherdevils,suchasKhasa,Nirriti,orNirrita.Rakshasaredescribedasmean,viciouscreatures,exceedinglyugly,giganticin

stature,andblackassoot.Unequaledintheirferocity,theyinterruptedsacrifices,desecratedburial sites,harassedpriests,and tookpossessionof impressionableyounghumans; in fact, their crimes are toonumerous to describe here in full.They were often depicted with two fangs protruding out of their mouths likevampires,withsharp,nail-likeclaws,prowlingthroughthenightlikewanderingbeasts.Duetotheirobviousconnectiontothemythologyofvampires,Rakshashavealsobeenassociatedwiththeundead.Furtheremphasizingtheirvenomous,beastlikepersona,theywerealsoportrayedascannibals.But descriptions such as these are consistent with ancient folk custom and

Hindulore.Intheworldofthegreatepics,theRamayanaandMahabharata,theRakshashavegreatersignificance.Accordingtothegreatepics,theRakshasareapopulousraceofsupernaturalhumanoidgiants.SomeRakshasfollowthepathof righteousness; others have simply degenerated into evil. They have proventhemselves in battle as supreme lords ofwar, and they are also giftedmagic-users and skilled shape-shifters. They are known to gulp down the blood-drenched legs and torsos of fallen soldiers on the battlefield, and thus are

employedasrankandfilecombatsoldierstokeepthemfromobtaininganytrueprominence.ButsometimesRakshaswouldattaindistinctionandbeconsideredheroes.

GIANTSINANCIENTGREEKMYTHOLOGY

The earliest known Greek deities, the Titans, ruled the primordial universebeforethecomingoftheOlympians.(ThisparallelsthebiblicalNephilim,whoruledtheEarthuntiltheirageended,givingrisetohumans.)Atlas,perhapsthemostwellknownof theTitans,was the rulerofAtlantis and, asFrank Josephnotes in The Atlantis Encyclopedia (2005), the founder of astrology andastronomy.Atlas*3isoftendepicted in illustrationsasagigantic,beardedmancrouchingononekneeandbearingthesphereoftheheavensuponhismassiveshoulders.Giventhis,andperhapsnotsurprisingly,theSanskritwordatlmeans“to support or uphold.” Such imagery has come to signify the Atlanteans’stalwartdedicationtocelestialandplanetarysciences.The later Olympian Greeks had their own giants, theGigantes—grotesque,

humanoidcreatureswithserpentinelegs.Inthemythnarratives,theyattemptedtooverthrowZeusandtheothergodsofMountOlympus,butultimatelyfailed.TheGreeksagaTheAgronauticadescribesthesegiantsinthefollowingmanner:“Theirbodieshavethreepairsofnervedhands, likepaws.Thefirstpairhangsfrom theirgnarled shoulders, the secondand thirdpairsnestleupagainst theirmisbegottenhips”(Däniken2010).The Gigantomachy is the story of the battle between the giants, led by

Alcyoneus, and the Olympian gods, led by Zeus, and it is perhaps the mostwidely depicted struggle in Greek art and literary tradition. In this battle, thegiantsbombardthegodswithbouldersandtheflamingtrunksofburningtrees.Accordingtotheoracle,thegodswouldbeunabletodestroythegiantsunlessapowerfulmortalaidedthem.Ofcourse,inancientGreecethiscouldbeonlyoneindividual,thelegendaryHeracles(Sacks1995,92).SubsequentGreekgodswerealsogiants.UnliketheGigantes,however,these

gods were blond-haired, fair-skinned, and Nordic in appearance. This isconsistentwiththefactthatCaucasians(someofwhomweredepictedasgiantsin contemporaneous reports) were once dominant and prevalent in areas longthoughttobethesoledomainofnon-Europeanpeoples(Sacks1995,92).Greco-Roman literature is full of stories of giants,whichwewill explore in

greater detail in the next chapter.Wewill visit the intriguing accounts of therenowned fifth century BCE Greek historian Herodotus as well as thecommentariesofotherclassicalwriters.Let’sturnnowtoWesternEuropetoseewhattheirliterature,withregardtotheexistenceofgiants,mayyield.

THENORSEDEITIESANDTHEGIANTS

TheGermanicpeopleshavearichmythologicaltraditionfilledwithsupernaturalcreatures, gods, trolls, elves, half gods, and, of course, giants.As such,manyparallelscanbedrawnbetweenTeutonicmythsandlegendsandthoseofothercultures.Take,forexample,thestrikingsimilaritiesbetweentheNorsegodOdinandOlle,thetribalgodofNorthAmerica’sTuleyoneIndians.LikeOdin,Olleisacolossalgiantwithahornedhelmetwhoisbothagodofwarandasavior.OllerescueshispeoplefromafierydemonnamedSahte(Joseph2005).These Teutonic myths and legends tell us of the earliest beliefs and

cosmologiesof theancientNorseandotherGermanicpeoplesofnorthwesternEurope. In them are visions of the frost giants and Jötnar. According to theEddas,anancientcollectionofNorsestories, thereare tworacesofgiants: thechildrenofThrud,whodescend from the frostgiantYmir,and thechildrenofBor,whoincludetheAesir.Althoughtremendousinsize,theAesiraredistinctlyNordicinappearance.Later,inchapter4,wewillexploresomeoftheseNordicstoriesingreaterdetail.

MADAMEBLAVATSKY’SLEMURIANGIANTS

AsScottCorralesrightfullyputitinhis2010essay“ThePersistenceofGiants,”“Any discussion of the role of giant-lore in cryptoarchaeology would beincompletewithoutmentioning,atleastinpassing,theLemuriangiantsconjuredup by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the guiding light of the Theosophicalmovement at the turn of the last century.” The Theosophical Movement wasBlavatsky’sownconcoctionofFarEasternmysticismandesotericknowledge.ItcombinedJudeo-ChristiantraditionwithcrudesocialDarwinism.According toBlavatsky, “thegiantLemurians stood some10 to 15 feet tall,

hadskinsresemblingalligatorhide,faceswithprotuberantmandibles,smalleyesonthesidesoftheirskullsandelongated,double-jointedlimbs.”ScottCorralesexplains:

By her description,Muwas a far cry from the halcyonAtlantis: it was abarrenlandcoveredintheemanationsofactivevolcanoes,whichcauseditscolossal inhabitants to live in crude huts made of hardened lava. ButMadameBlavatskyimprovedhercreations’lotconsiderablybyaddingthatwiththepassingofeons,thesetoweringmonstersevolvedintotheancestorsoftheAustralianaboriginesandotherMelanesianpeoples.

Blavatskyhasbecomeoneofthemostcontroversialfiguresofthelastcentury,and has even been viewed as a forerunner of theNazimovement, due to herintroductionoftheAryanmythasthesuperiorfifthrootraceofhumankind.(Itmightbenoted that theAryanisalsodepictedasbeingaraceof light-skinnedgiantsfromthelostcontinentofAtlantis.)

CHINESEMYTHOLOGY:THESTORYOFTHEGIANTP’ANKU

AsintheNordicandCelticmyths,agiantwasthefirstlivingbeinginChinesemythology.Accordingtotheirtraditions,inthebeginningtheentirecosmoswasencapsulated by a single egg.Within this eggwas a state of utter chaos. TheboundariesthatdistinguishheavenandEarthdidnotyetexist,andutterdarknessreigned,without a sunormoonor stars.From this internal chaoticmatter, thefirst being, the giant P’an Ku emerged. Finding himself trapped in perpetualdarkness and chaos, P’an Ku decided to bring order to chaos and create theknownuniverse.Hisfirstactascreatorofthisnewcosmoswastobreakthroughtheeggthatsurroundedhim.“Thelighterpartoftheegg(yang)roseandbecametheheavens,whiletheheavierpart(yin)fellandbecametheearth”(Rosenberg1994,360).P’anKustoodupontheEarthforeighteenthousandyears,preventingthesky

fromcrashing toearthbybracing itwithhisforehead.EventuallyP’anKulaydown and fell asleep, during which time he died. According to mythologistDonnaRosenberg(1994):P’anKu’sheadandhiseyebrowsformedtheplanetsand stars. His left eye formed the sun and his right eye the moon. His fleshformedthesoilof theEarthandhisbloodtheoceansandrivers.His teethandhisbonesformedrocks,minerals,andgems.Hisbreathformedthecloudsandthewind,whilehisvoicebecamelightningandthunder.Hisperspirationformedrainandthedew.Thehaironhisbodyformedtrees,plants,andflowers,whileparasiteslivingonhisskinbecameanimalsandfish.

ThesimilaritiesbetweentheeventsofP’anKu’smythologyandthedeathanddismembermentofYmirofNordicliterature,andthesubsequentcreationoftheworld from his body, are quite apparent. Indeed, even the account of theparasitesonP’anKu’sskinbecominganimalsandfishharkensbacktoGermanlegendwhereinthemaggotsinsideofYmir’sstomachtransformedintoaraceofdwarves.

CHINESEMUMMIESANDTHEWATCHERS

IntheirbookUriel’sMachine,ChristopherKnightandRobertLomasdiscusstheso-calledWatchers,a raceof fallenangelswhomatedwithmortalwomenandproducedthegiantswhocametoruletheantediluvianworld.Someresearcherstheorize that these entities were also the progenitors of both the Celtic andGermanicpeoplesofWesternEurope.The Watchers are featured in the Book of Enoch, where they and their

offspringimploreEnochtorepresentthem:“Allthegiants[andmonsters]grewafraidandcalledMahway.Hecametothemandthegiantspleadedwithhimandsent him to Enoch [to speak on their behalf]” (Knight and Lomas 2001, 84).They then beg the god of Newgrange to spare them and the world from thecometabouttostrikeandbringaboutthemightydeluge.Thegodresponds:“Allthe mystery had not yet been revealed to you. . . . You have no peace. . . .Behold,destructioniscoming,agreatflood,anditwilldestroyall”(KnightandLomas2001,294).KnightandLomasbelievethatthiscultureofWatchers—thegiantsofbiblicalfame—knewofthecomingcatastropheandfeltthattheywouldfindsafetyandsalvationonlyintheTarimBasin,ahighplateauguardedbythemountainrangesofTibetandMongolia.Interestinglyenough,aseriesofChinesearchaeologicalexcavationsinthelate

1980s revealed hundreds of very tall mummies along the western border ofChina, thehumanremainsofwhichexhibitedclearCaucasian traits.TheseareknownastheTarimmummies.Oneofthetallerones,calledChärchänManortheUr-David,wasabout6.5feetinheight—andsomewereeventaller.Knightand Lomas assert that, to theAsianswho first recorded their encounterswiththeseyellow-hairedbarbarians,theytrulymusthaveseemedlikegiants,andinthistheymayhavecontributedtoorgivenrisetosomeoftherumorsofgiantsand strange yellow-haired peoples. They do not, however, explain the ancientaccountsofmonstrousandimposingbeingsthatpossessednear-supernaturalorevenextraterrestrialstrengthandabilities.

Other ancient corpses discovered in Mongolia, Siberia, and Central Asiadisplay the same European characteristics. While a fair number of thesemummiesdatebacktoatleast3500BCE,othersareevenolder,datingtoaround5000–4000BCE. Inaddition tohavingEuropean features, theyworeWestern-styleclothing,includingplaidtwillandtheworld’searliestknownpairofpants.Carbon-14 dating provides perhaps the best estimate of the mummies’ age,placing themat3,500yearsbefore thebirthof theHanChinesecivilization in206BCE.EvidencesuggeststhattheyarerelatedtoanIndo-European–speakinggroup of Caucasians known as the Tocharians (Baumer 2000, 28). TheseprehistoricChineseremainswereunknowntomuchoftheoutsideworlduntilasecuritybreachledtotheannouncementofthediscoveriesin1994.Were thesemummiesfoundinTarimtheremainsof theWatchersofbiblical

renown? It’s an intriguingquestion thatmayneverbe fullyanswered.WewillelaborateonthemysteriousWatchersinchapter8becausethereismuchmoretobe said about these cryptic figures about whom so little is known but aboutwhommuchspeculationexists.

GIANTSINTHENEWWORLD:FROMMYTHTOHISTORY

In theearliestwrittenaccountsofalmosteveryculturewe finddescriptionsoffiercelight-skinnedpeoplewhowereoncethecentralforceofalostcivilization.SciencewriterTerrenceAym,inane-mailmessagetotheauthoronJanuary22,2011, describes the following series of events in addressing the presence ofgiants in ancient North America. He also discusses some of the encountersbetween European explorers and various gigantic Caucasian aborigines inCentralandSouthAmerica.AccordingtoAym,thePaiute tribeofpresent-dayNevadatellsofanancient

war theywaged against a primordial race ofwhite-skinned, red-haired giants.The Paiute claim they were as tall as twelve feet in height and called theimposingCaucasians theSi-Te-Cah. (Si-Te-Cah literallymeans “tule-eaters” inthelanguageofthePaiuteIndians.Tuleisafibrousplantthatthegiantsusedtoconstructassault rafts.)Accordingto tribal lore, thisvery tall racewasalreadyliving in North America when the ancestors of the Paiute arrived fifteenthousandyearsago.Themodernscientificdogmatismdismissessuchreportsassheer fantasy, but there has to be more to it than just a case of overactiveimagination. And indeed, in the United States, hundreds of excavations,including sites in Virginia, New York state, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee,

Arizona,andNevada,supportthePaiuteaccount.Hardscientificevidencespecificallybuttressingthelegendofawarwithgiant

red-hairedCaucasiansfirstcameto light in1924atLovelockCave inNevada.Accordingtothelegend,duringthepitchofbattle,thePaiutepursuedthegiantsintoacave,wheretheytooksanctuaryandcontinuedtoresistthetribe,ignoringtheirdemandstoexitthecaveandfacethetribehead-on.Theenragedtribesmencoveredthecavewithbrushandthenigniteditintoflames,hopingtoburntheirenemiesout.Asmallnumberof thestalwartgiants ranfromthecaveentranceandwereimmediatelypummeledbyabarrageofarrows.Thosewhoremainedinthecavewereovercomebyintensefumesandperished.In1911,skeletonsandfossilswerefoundintheareadatingtothetimeofthe

legend’sorigin.More than ten thousandartifactswereunearthed, includingthemummifiedremainsoftwored-hairedgiants.Oneofthemwasafemale,6.5feettall,andtheotheramalethattoweredover8feet.TheserelicsprovedonceandforallthatthePaiutemythofawaragainstaraceofwhite-skinned,red-hairedgiantswasnot fantasy,butwas in fact a stark reality.Evidence in the formofbroken arrows that had been shot into the cave and a dark layer of burnedmaterialconfirmsthedescriptionoftheclimacticbattlescenethatconcludesthelegend.Two very large skeletonswere then unearthed in theHumboldt dry lakebed

nearLovelock,Nevada.Amongthehumanremainswasoneskeletonwrappedina gum-covered cloth not unlike those found inEgyptianmummifications, andmeasuringsome8.5feettall.Theotherwasanastounding10feettall.The Book of Mormon, which also speaks of giants, calls these original

inhabitantstheJaredites,oftenconsideredtheOlmecofCentralAmerica(butitismorethanlikelythattheOlmecwerejustasinglepartofamuchmorewidelydistributedpopulation). InEther 15:26, theMormon scriptures claim that theywere“largeandmightymenas to thestrengthofmen.”Thesixteenth-centurychroniclerFernandodeAlvaCortésIxtlilxóchitlwrote:

In this land calledNewSpain therewere giants, as demonstrated by theirbones that havebeendiscovered inmany areas.The ancientToltec recordkeepersreferredtothegiantsasQuinametzin;andastheyhadarecordofthehistory of the Quinametzinm they learned that they had many wars anddissensions among themselves in this land that is now called New Spain.Theywere destroyed, and their civilization came to an end as a result ofgreatcalamitiesandasapunishmentfromtheheavensforgraves[sic]sins

thattheyhadcommitted.(AllenandAllen2008,124)

From the evidence, it seems irrefutable that a real race of red-haired giantsdominatedtheAmericasatonetime,perhapstensofthousandsofyearsbeforethearrivaloftheancestorsoftoday’sNativeAmericansacrosstheBeringStraitsome thirteen thousand to fifteen thousand years ago. In defense of thisstatement,onemustconcedethatraceisamutable thing,andthat thephysicalappearance of NewWorld humans during the Ice Age may have been quitedifferent—perhaps theywerepartofa line that leftnoknowndescendants.Bythe same token, the presence of a forgottenCaucasian population inAsia thatcouldhavewalkedacrossBeringiawith theotherAsiatics isalsoapossibility.This would explain some of the unusual results from recent genetic testing,whichhas confirmed thepresenceofCaucasoidgenes in someof the existingancientremains.WesternEuropean explorers such asFerdinandMagellan,SirFrancisDrake,

Hernando de Soto, and Commodore Byron (the famous poet Lord Byron’sgrandfather) all reported encountering living giants all across the NorthAmerican continent, remnants of a once proud and noble race of Caucasian“superhumans.”

Later,inchapter6,wewillexploremoreaccountsofgiantsintheNewWorld,butfirstlet’sexaminewhatmayhavebeenoneoftheirearlyrolesinthehistoryofthehumanrace.Wewillthenattempttodefineaviablescientificexplanationforthegenesisofgiants.Wheredidthegiantscomefrom?Ifnotthestars,didthey evolve on Earth and, if so, how? We will examine both topics in thefollowingchapter.

2

ANEARLYROLEOFGIANTSANDACATALYSTFORTHEIRGENESIS

GIANTS:BUILDERSOFANCIENTCIVILIZATIONS?

Intheearliestaccounts,whicharemostprevelantintheGreekandNearEasterntradition,giantsofprehistoryareoftendepictedasgreatbuildersandengineers.Of all the structures left to us by the ancients, perhaps themost enduring arethose that are universally known as megalithic monuments. These greatarchitectural achievements are compelling, not only because of their immensesize,butalsobecauseoftheambiguityconcerningtheirorigins.Who built them, when, why, and, equally important, how? In European

folklore,giantswereoftencreditedwithcreatingthesemassivestonemonoliths.Indeed, there is directmythological connection between giants, the prehistoricconstruction of these megalithic structures, and the eventual doom of a lostcivilization.Inthischapterwewillexploretheopen-endedquestionoftheearlyrole that giants may have played, before moving on to examine a potentialscientific cause for gigantism. We may come up with some very surprisinganswers.

ACCOUNTSOFGIANTSASSKILLEDENGINEERS

In the Book of Numbers, Moses sent a preinvasion reconnaissance into thePromised Land to gather intelligence about the Canaanite enemy. The scoutsreachedasfarasHebron,wheretheyfound,muchto theirsurpriseandhorror,that the “descendants of Anak”*4 were still inhabiting the region. PioneeringbiblicalarchaeologistG.ErnestWrightaddressesthisissueofgiantsinancientCanaaninhis1938article“TroglodytesandGiantsinPalestine.”Inithewrites:

Pausanias [a second-century CE Greek geographer] tells us that the greatwallsofMycenae,TirynsandArgoswereconstructedbythegiantCyclopes....HebrewsviewingsomeofthecitiesofCanaan,whichwenowknowto

havepossessedwallsasthickaseighteenfeet,andoftenbuiltofcyclopeanmasonry,mightwellhavethoughtintermsofgiants,justasdidtheGreeks.

Biblical expert Ronald S. Hendel corroborates this view in theMarch/April2009editionofBiblicalArchaeologyReview, inwhichhewrites thatwhen theIsraeliteswere confrontedwith the vast “cyclopean”walls of the “old, ruinedCanaanite cities” they inevitably concluded that the indigenous population ofCanaandidinfactconsistprimarilyofgiants.“Thisconclusion,”saysHendel“isborne out by many Biblical texts.” When the spies returned to their equallyhorrifiedcommanderandprophet,Moses, theyreported:“Thepeoplewholiveinthelandarepowerful,andtheirfortifiedcitiesareverylarge,andindeedwesawgiantsthere....Allthepeoplethatwesawinitaremenofgreatheight....Weseemedinourowneyeslikegrasshoppers,andsoweseemedintheireyes”(Hendel2009).For themost part it is naturally easier to place ancient reports in amodern

context and assume that the original writers simply were confused or didn’tknowwhattheyweretalkingabout.Thatseemsunlikely,however,becausethesecultureswerehighlysophisticated.Although theywerenotasadvancedas theculture of Atlantis, they were probably more or less on a par with our ownculturetoday.Whentheymadeconscientiousdescriptionsofpeople,places,andevents, theywere not doing so as children—theyweremaking intelligent andhighlyrationalinterpretationsofwhattheywerewitnessing.Soyes,itishighlylikely that the people of Canaan were indeed “giants,” as described by thesespiesintheOldTestament.Hendel also mentions the Battle of Jericho—a racial cleansing of the

Canaanites at the hands of the Israelites wherein the city of Jericho wasdestroyed and hundreds of thousands ofCanaanitemen,women, and childrenwerekilled.AsstatedinJoshua6:20:“Joshuaandhistroopsmarchedaroundthecityonceadayforsixdays;on theseventhday theymarchedaround it seventimes,andon theseventhcircuit theyblew theirhornsandshouted.When thepeopleheardthesoundofthehorns,thepeopleshoutedamightyshout,andthewallsfelldown.”ItwascreationssuchasthewallsofJerichothatbestillustratethebuildingcapabilityoftheearlygiants;however,fromthisquotationweseethatevenmasonryallegedlybuiltbythemwasn’ttotallyindefensible.

The ancient historian Josephus confirms that these “giants”*5 were indeedskilled architects.Hementions two pillars, one of stone and one of very hardbrick,whichthegiantserectedtostandasalastingtestamenttotheirengineering

skills.Twowereconstructedsothatatleastonemightsurvivethegreatdelugetocome.Thegiantsfearedthatthisfinalcatastrophewoulddestroyeverythingthathadbeenbuiltbytheirhands(Childress2010).InTheAntiquitiesoftheJews,Book1,Josephuswrote:

Now,thesepillarsremaininthelandofSiriadtothisday....NoahquittedthelandofSethforfearthathisfamilymightbeannihilatedbythegiants....AslateasthedaysofJoshua,sonofNun,therewerestillgiantsofHebron,whohadbodiessolargeandfacessoentirelydifferentfromothermen,thattheywere surprising to the sight and terrible to the hearing.The bones ofthesegiantmenarestillshowntothisday.(Childress2010)

DIDGIANTSBUILDTHEDOLMENSOFWESTERNEUROPE?

ThemedievalDanishhistorianSaxoGrammaticusinsistedthatgiantsmusthaveonce existed, because only they,with their awesome strength and superhumancapabilities, could have built the dolmens, menhirs, massive walls, and otherstructuresthatarestrewnacrossWesternEurope.TheideaofavastmegalithicculturethatoncedominatedmuchofEuropein

theremotepastistakenupbytheauthorPaulDunbavininhisbookAtlantisoftheWest.ForDunbavin,themegalithicstructuresofEuropearenotjustsimplecreations built by a StoneAge culture, but the sophisticated handiwork of anadvanced and ancient race, possibly theAtlanteans. (Indeed,Britainwas oncenamedAlbion, after aTitan king ofAtlantis.)Dunbavin believes thatAtlantisliesbeneaththeIrishSeaandwassubmergedin3100BCEwhenacometstruckEarth,causingtheEarth’scrusttoshiftandthusshrinkingsomeoftheexistinglandmasses,includingthoseinandaroundancientEurope(Dunbavin2003).

ARMENIANSTONEHENGE

Located on a rocky promontory near Sissian in Armenia is the profoundlyancientsiteofZoratsKarer,alsoknownasKarahunj,whichhasbeendubbedtheArmenianStonehenge.Itdatestoapproximately7600–4500BCE,andassuch,isprobably theoldest stonecircle inEurope.The rocksof thiscirclearequitelargeandextremelyheavy.ExtensiveresearchcarriedoutbyParisHerouniandElmaParsamyanoftheBiurakanObservatoryhasledthemtoconcludethatthe

sitewasdedicatedtotheArmeniansungodAriinthatsomeofthestonesmirrorthe brightest star of the Cygnus constellation—Deneb. Tellingly, some oldArmenianfolktalestellofadistantepochwhenthesungodAriorderedafallenraceofgiantstomovetheimmenseblocksofstonetothesiteandconstructit.The question ofwhetherZoratsKarer could be the oldest observatory of its

kindinEurope,ifnottheworld,wastakenupbyOxfordastrophysicistMihranVardanyan.Heagreesthatthissitewasnodoubtanancientobservatory,butalsosuggeststhatitmaywellhavebeenanancientnecropolis:

ThemostcommonlyacceptedtheoryaboutthemeaningofKarahunjisthatit is an ancient burial ground, or necropolis—a place to act as a bridgebetween the earth and the heavens in the cyclical journey of the soulinvolving life, death and rebirth.Thenecropolis thesis is certainly true forafter our initial investigations of the central circle, it is clear the sitewasaligned to the sun, most likely aligned to the moon and—what is reallyexciting, possibly even some stars or planets—owing to the placement ofsmall holes drilled through the monoliths and aimed at the horizon. It isthese holeswhichmakes this exceptionalmegalithic site unique out of allsimilarEuropeansites.(Vardanyan2011)

InDecember 2010, the popularHistory channel documentary seriesAncientAliensfeaturedZoratsKareronepisode14,“UnexplainedStructures.”Theshowlinked Herouni and Parsamyan’s Deneb theory with the discovery of threehundredexoplanetsbyNASA’sKeplerplanet-findingsatellitewithintheCygnusconstellation (History 2010). This connection, without a doubt, is trulysensationalanddemandsfurtherinvestigation.

THEFALLENTEMPLEOFBAALBEK

OneofthemostancientandarchaeologicallysignificantmegalithicsitesintheworldisBaalbek,*6where thebonesofwhatmaybeancientgiantshavebeenfound.Baalbekliesapproximatelyeighty-sixkilometersnortheastofthecityofBeirutineasternLebanon.ThismostenigmaticofholyplacesisoneoftheNearEast’smostimportantRomanandpre-Romantemplesitesofstudybyhistoriansand archaeologists. In 1898, a German expedition there claimed to havediscoverednoevidenceofoccupationprior to theRomanperiod,despiteotherclaimssuggestingaveryancienthabitationofthesite.

Recentarchaeologicalfindshavesupportedthelatteridea,forinadeeptrenchat theedgeof the Jupiter templeplatform,Neolithicartifactswerediscovered,alongwith theskeletonsof three individualsofgiant stature!Potterydating totheSeleucidera(323–64BCE)aswellasRomaneraremains(64BCE–312CE)werealsodiscovered.Duringboth theSeleucid andRomanoccupations, the town surrounding the

immense religiousmonumentwasknownasHeliopolis, the“Cityof theSun,”and the sun god Jupiter was the focal point of the shrine. (The Roman godJupiter had overtaken and supplanted the Greek god Zeus, and replaced theearlier god Baal, who incidentally shared some common characteristics withZeusand,subsequently,Jupiter.)ArchaeologistsnowagreethatBaalbekismorethanninethousandyearsold,

withcontinualsettlementdatingfromtheNeolithicAgetotheRomanIronAge.Surrounding the site are massive walls built with twenty-four monoliths,weighingsomethreehundredtonseach.Thetallestwall,onthewesternflankofthe temple site, containswhat isknownas the trilithon, a rowof three stones,each 19 meters long, 4.3 meters high, and 3.6 meters broad, cut from solidlimestone. Each stone weighs approximately eight hundred tons. Even withtoday’stechnology,movingthemintoplacewouldbeatremendousarchitecturalaccomplishmentindeed.According to David Hatcher Childress (2000): “Large numbers of pilgrims

came fromMesopotamia as well as the Nile Valley to the Temple of Ba’al-Astarte.ThesiteismentionedintheBibleintheBookofKings.Thereisavastunderground network of passages beneath the acropolis. Their function isunknown, but theywere possibly used to shelter pilgrims, probably at a laterperiod.”How thenwas Baalbek constructed?Ancient Arabwritings explain that the

first stages ofBaalbek, including the trilithon andothermassive stoneblocks,werebuiltfollowingtheGreatFloodatthemandateofKingNimrod,bya“tribeof giants” (Childress 2000). Again, we see the same giant motif, lendingcredencetotheraceofgiantstheory.Howcouldsomanydisparateculturesinsomany isolated locations all around the world arrive at the same supposition:giants were responsible for building the great megalithic monuments ofprehistory.

STONEHENGE:THEGIANTS’RING?

Anothersignificantmegalithicsiteneedslittleintroduction.Wearereferring,ofcourse,tothegloriousStonehenge,perhapsthemostfamousmegalithicstructureintheworld.One fascinating story concerning Stonehenge is a twelfth-century account

writtenbyGeoffreyofMonmouthinhisworkHistoriaRegumBritanniae,alsoknownasTheHistoryoftheKingsofBritain.GeoffreymaintainedthattherocksofStonehengewerehealingrocksthathadbeenimportedfromAfricaandthatthey had immense curative properties. Collectively called the Giant’s dance,Stonehenge had, according toGeoffrey, originally been constructed onMountKillarausinIreland.The fifth-century Arthur-like figure Ambrosius Aurelius, at the behest of

Merlin, designated Stonehenge to be instead amonument for the knightswhoperishedfightingoffSaxonincursions.Thus,thekingdispatchedMerlin,UtherPendragon,andfifteenthousandknightstoIrelandtocapturethemonumentandbringitbacktoBritain.TheknightsslewseventhousandIrishwarriors,butwereunable to move the rocks with ropes and brute force. Then something verystrangehappened.Usingthepowerofsound,Merlindismantledthestonesandtransported them through a dimensional rift directly to Salisbury, where theywerereassembledusinglevitation.AmbrosiusAureliusthendiedandwasburiedwithinStonehenge,whichisalsoknownasthe“Giants’RingofStonehenge.”Until recently there has been no accurate method for pinpointing when the

stones were quarried and erected. However, a new dating method known aschlorine-23hasnowbeendeveloped.Recentattemptsatusingthisnewmethodon Stonehenge have revealed that the monument, far from being only 4,500years old as ismaintained by current academia, in actual fact dates to 25,000BCE.Mainstream scientists have rejected these figures and, subsequently, do not

considerthismethodofdatingtobereliable.However,themethodisdeemedtobehighlyaccurate.(Exceptwhenitcontradictswhattheestablishmentwantstobelieve as opposed towhat the facts clearly point to!) In rebuttal, establishedacademicians claim that the proponents of chlorine-23 themselves are merelyseeingwhattheywanttobelieve,inatotalreversalofthetruth!

DIDGIANTSCONSTRUCTCARNAC?

The Basques of southern France and northern Spain are descended from an

ancient people. According to genetic profiling begun in the late twentiethcentury, theirbloodlinesgoback some forty thousandyears, to thecontinent’sfirstmodernpopulationofHomosapiens:Cro-Magnons.Partoftheevidenceforthis is their existence as a truly unique population, with no known linguistic,cultural,orgeneticrelativesanywhereinEurope.TheBasqueshaveauniquemythologyaswell.AccordingtoBasqueaccounts,

giantsareresponsibleforconstructingoneofthemostenigmaticseriesofstonemonuments in Western Europe: Carnac in Brittany, France. About Carnac,author and scholar David Hatcher Childress has this to say (2010): “Carnacholds the greatest concentration of megaliths in the world. Conservativeestimates claim that megaliths were being erected here by 5000 BCE, [over]seventhousandyearsago.Theymaybemucholder.”Childress elaborates: “Much of the gigantic astronomical observatory is

probably under water. Many of the megaliths along the Brittany coast areapparentlysubmerged.Manyfamoussitesactuallyleadintothewater,andsomemegalithscanbeseenatlowtidewhentheyarebarelyabovethesurface.”Giventhis, it couldverywellbe that these sunken ruinswereabovewaterprior toadeluge,perhapsthatoftheGreatFlood.Indeed,asChildressadds:“Manyofthelong lines of standing stones at Carnac and around the Morbihan Gulf wereapparentlybuiltwhenthegeographyofBrittanywasquitedifferent”(Childress2010).Francis Hitching, another noted scholar on the subject and the author of a

seminal book about it—Earth Magic—believes that the complex must havecontained a central sighting megalith from which to observe moonrises andmoonsets.Indeed,thewholeseriesofstructuresseemstobeavastastronomicalobservatory in that it is viewable from space, seeming to proclaim “Here weare!”toanylifethatmaybefaraboveusintheskies.

IFSO...HOW?

Basedontheexamplesofmegalithicconstructionlistedinthischapter,itisclearthat our ancestors may have had contact with another, more “advanced”earthborn culture. This more advanced culture was, by many mythologicalaccounts, composed of giants, who in my opinion, either constructed theprehistoricmegalithic structures or influenced their building by handing downsuperiortechnologybywhichtoconstructthem.

Allofthisbegsthetantalizingquestion:Didgiantsreallyexist?Andifso,howwoulditbescientificallypossiblethattheydid?Wewillnowturnourattentiontothismostpressingofquestionsinordertoshedlightontheenigmaticoriginsofancientgiants.

THEWELTEISLEHREANDITSCOSMICRAYS

Thecosmicicetheory,alsoknownastheworldicetheory,orWelteislehre,waspresented to the skeptical intelligentsia of Europe in 1929 in a book calledGlazial-Kosmogonie, written by mining engineer Hans Hoerbiger and aschoolteacher named Philip Fauth. This cosmic ice theory states that worldhistory—indeed the entire existence of the Earth itself—includes a legacy ofcataclysmiceventsinitiatedbytheinteractionoficeandothernaturalelements(TheGnosticLiberationFront2003).Thesolarsystembegan,intheHoerbigerians’view,withthecollisionoftwo

stellar objects, a supergiant star and a smaller body, perhaps a dead sun or agiganticcomet, thatwassoakingwet to thecorewithwater.Whenthesmallerstar, or comet, crashed into the supergiant, the heat of the latter vaporized thewaterandotherelementsashugechunksof the star spewed into space.ThesechunkseventuallyformedasystemofringsthatbecametheMilkyWay.Outofthis ring system,our solar system,oneofmany,wasborn (GnosticLiberationFront2003).Duringthisprimevalstage,oursolarsystemhadmanymoreplanetsthanexist

at present, and thegasgiants and their planet-sizedmoons existed indifferentlocations.Itisplausiblethatatonetimethereweremultiplesunswithinthesolarsystem (Gnostic Liberation Front 2003). It is also plausible that many of theworldsinthesolarsystem,nowbarrenandlifeless,oncewerehomenotonlytolife,buttoothercivilizationsaswell.The evolutionary history of our solar system is long and complex. For

countlesseonstheorbitsoftheouterplanetswereindecay,andonebyonetheyplummeted toward the planets in the inner solar system, including the Earth.This is due to a significant amount of hydrogen between the planetary orbits.Frombeyond theorbitofNeptune,huge interplanetary icebergs ina trajectorytoward Earth and the sun have causedmany of Earth’s natural disasters. Thearrivalof these interplanetary icebergs is heraldedbyhailstormsand sunspots,and ifandwhen theysmash into thesun, theyproduceablanketofvaporand

thin ice that covers the inner planets, wreaking havoc on them (GnosticLiberationFront2003).Thesedisastersarethebasisofmanyofthefloodmythsandend-times legends soprevalent in theHindu,Teutonic,Christian, andpre-ColumbianAmericantraditions.The Earth has had many natural satellites (or moons) since its formation

eighteenbillionyearsago.ThesemoonswereonceplanetsbutwerecapturedbytheEarth’s gravity, and they spiraled intoEarth’s gravitational field until theydisintegratedandwereswallowedupbytheEarth,becomingpartoftheplanet’sgeography. This is evidenced in the geologic record. The rock strata, whenexamined,showthefullhistoryofthiscosmicevolutionaryprocess.Themostrecentepisodeofmoon-EarthcollisionoccurredwhentheCenozoic

moonfellfromthesky,andthepresentmoon,Luna,tookitsplace.Thiseventresidesinthecollectiveracialmemoryofthehumanspeciesandmanifestsinthegreatmythsandlegendsrelatedtomassdestruction,galacticbattles,andtheendoftheworld,mostnotablyinRagnarokandtheBookofRevelation(Chouinard2008,450).Hans SchindlerBellamy, a loyal follower ofHoerbiger and aBritish citizen

during themid-twentiethcentury,created thebasisofpre-Lunaculture,a termcomparableto“antediluvian”or“pre-Flood”culturecurrentlyusedbyChristiancreationists.During theageof thefallof theCenozoicmoon, themoonpulledtheoceansintoa“girdletide”asitfellintotheEarth’ssurface.This,accordingtoBellamyandHoerbiger,forcedmanyadvancedcivilizationstoseekrefugeinmountaintops and highlands such as Tibet and the Andes (Gnostic LiberationFront2003).Meanwhile, much of the Earth was thrust into an ice age. The new moon,

Luna,nowloomedclosein thesky,anditsrapidrevolutionsaroundtheEarth,nearlysixtimesaday,resultedineclipsesofthesun.BellamybelievesthatthisiswheresomanyofourNorseandChristianlegendsabouttheendoftheworldcome from, and why the idea of demons and powers of mass destructionpermeatesomuchofhumanity’sculturallore.As the old moon disintegrated, the new moon, Luna, finally settled into a

regular orbit around Earth. Then there was a long period of tranquility andvirtualparadise, followedbymorehorrendousevents thatmayhave led to thedestructionofAtlantis(GnosticLiberationFront2003).TheperiodinwhichLuna’sgravitypulledheaviestontheprimordialEarthis

the timewhen thegreatestnumberofgiganticcreaturesare found in thefossil

record,includingevidenceofgiant-sizedhumanoidfootprints.Theformationofthesegiantsmayhavebeenduetoradiationfromthestrongercosmicraysthatwerepartandparcelofthischangingmoonscape.InPeterKolosimo’sbookTimelessEarth,henotestheseEarthchanges:

Thetideswillbecomestronger,thusfloodinggreatcontinentalareas,and,asasecondconsequence,humanbeingsandcreatures ingeneralwillbecometaller.Accordingtothesetwoscientists[DenisSauratandH.S.Bellamy,thetwochiefdisciplesofHoerbiger]thisistheonlypossibleexplanationofthehugespeciesofplantsandanimalsthathaveexistedonearth,andofaraceofmensixteenfeettall.Theincreaseofmen’sstature,andlikewiseoftheirintelligence, is also due, according to this theory, to an increase in theintensityofcosmicrays.(1973,27)

COSMICRAYS:THEDRIVINGFORCEBEHINDGIANTMUTATION?

Kolosimoalsowrites:

There has been, andwill continue to be,much animated discussion of thenature and effect of these rays. Years and years of experiment will benecessarybeforefirmconclusionscanbereached.ProfessorJakobEugster,thegreatestexpertonthesubject,hasremarkedthat“Likeotherradiations,suchaswirelesstelegraphy,X-rays,etc,cosmicraysmayhavetwotypesofeffect: theymay causemutations, i.e., changes in inherited characteristics,andalsodamageoralterationintissues.”(1973,27)

Toconcludehisargument,Kolosimostates:“It is true that theearthhashadmoons that have been destroyed, and if the result has been to increase theintensitywithwhichthehumanbeingsarebombardedbyradioactiveparticles,this may be certainly a contributory cause of the phenomenon of gigantism”(1973,27–28).Kolosimo then cited theMont Pelee explosion of 1902 on theWest Indian

islandofMartinique,whichinthecityofSaintPierrealonecausedsometwentythousanddeaths.Adensecloudofpurplegasesandaqueousvaporswereemittedby the volcanic crater and were seen drifting over its summit and towardpopulated regions of the island. Then a pillar of fire blasted forth from the

volcanotoaheightof1,300feet,settingthegaseouscloudablaze.Themassoffire and vapor burning at 1,000 degrees centigrade obliterated the entirepopulationoftheisland,exceptoneconvictprotectedbythesafetyofhisprisonwalls(Kolosimo1973,28).The city of Saint Pierre was razed to the ground. Nothing remained of its

formerglory,andthecityitselfwasneverrebuilt.However,lifedidreturntotheashen ruins sooner than was expected. But it was life on an immense scale.Plantsandanimalsgrewtoanexceptionalsize.Mammals,reptiles,amphibians,evenspidersandinsectswereofconsiderablylargersize—giantsincomparisonto their smaller predecessors. These mutations were attributed to intense,cosmic-ray-like radiation that gathered deep within the volcano. During theimmense volcanic explosion, radioactive material rained down upon theunsuspectingislandinhabitants.Indeed, humans too,were affected.Kolosimo states that the “director of the

researchcenter,Dr.JulesGraveure,becametwoandahalfinchestaller,andhisassistant,Dr.Rouen,aged59,grewbyabouttwoinches”(Kolosimo1973,28).Theradiationreleasedbythisvolcaniceruptionhadbeenhiddendeepwithintheplanetsincethebeginningoftheplanetitself.Numerousscientistshavestudiedthesourceofthisawesomeradioactivity,but

oneinparticularhasmadeasubstantialattempttodescribeitsterrestrialorigins.InCosmos by Carl Sagan, the issue of cosmic rays and solar radiation waspromptlyaddressed.According toSagan, these forcesare thewellspringofalllifeonthisplanet:

Theoriginandevolutionoflifeareconnectedinthemostintimatewaywiththeoriginandevolutionofthestars.First:Theverymatterofwhichwearecomposed, theatoms thatmake lifepossible,weregenerated longagoandfarawayingiantredstars.TherelativeabundanceofthechemicalelementsfoundintheCosmosmatchestherelativeabundanceofatomsgeneratedinstars sowellas to leave littledoubt that redgiantsandsupernovaeare theovensandcruciblesinwhichmatterhasbeenforged.TheSunisasecond-orthird-generationstar.Allthematterinit,allthematteryouseearoundyou,hasbeenthroughoneortwopreviouscyclesofstellaralchemy.Second:TheexistenceofcertainvarietiesofheavyatomsontheEarthsuggesttherewasanearbysupernovaexplosionshortlybeforethesolarsystemwasformed.Butthis is unlikely; more likely, the shock wave produced by the supernovacompressed interstellar gas and dust and triggered the condensation of the

solarsystem.Third:WhentheSunturnedon,itsultravioletradiationpouredintotheatmosphereof theEarth; itswarmthgeneratedlightning;andtheseenergysourcessparkedthecomplexorganicmoleculesthatledtotheoriginof life. Fourth: Life on Earth runs almost exclusively on sunlight. Plantsgatherthephotonsandconvertsolartochemicalenergy.Animalsparasitizethe plants. Farming is simply themethodical harvesting of sunlight, usingplants asgrudging intermediaries.Weare, almost all ofus, solar-powered.Finally,thehereditarychangescalledmutationsprovidetherawmaterialforevolution.Mutations, fromwhich nature selects its new inventory of life-forms,areproducedinpartbycosmicrays—high-energyparticlesejectedatalmost thespeedof light insupernovaexplosions.Theevolutionof lifeonEarth is driven in part by the spectacular deaths of distant, massive suns.(1980)

Somemainstreamscientistsreadilyacceptthecosmicraytheorywithregardtogigantismbecause it isknown thatgigantism inbothplant andanimal speciesspearheads evolutionary changes. Radiation causing mutations of giganticproportions also was widely rampant in the movies of mid-twentieth-centuryHollywood—filmshauntedbytherealpossibilityofanatomiccatastrophe.Butthese calamities are far from fictional, far frommerely a theory—they reallyhappened.Kolosimowrites: “During the first phase of its existence the sunmust have

poured forth a stupendousvolumeof radiationonall its satelliteplanets: eventoday, the intensityof radiationgoeshand inhandwith theoccurrenceofsun-storms.”(1973,29)Kolosimofurtherspeculatesthat“gigantismmusthavebeena feature of life on earth from very early times, and not only in the Triassicperiod,”whichbegansome180millionyearsago.This was an age of great prehistoric reptiles and the dawn of the first

dinosaurs, which succeeded the more primitive mammal-like reptiles andsupercrocodilespecies.Butinanattempttofairlyevaluatethefullextentoftheinfluenceofcosmicraysonplantandanimalgigantism,Kolosimoadmits:

Cosmic rays, it is true, are filtered through the earth’s atmosphere, whichmusthavebeenmuchdenserinearlytimes.Butitcanhardlyhavebeensodenseastoaffectradiationgreatly,sinceatthepresentdayraysofthistypetraverse the human body in incredible quantities—some 650,000 to theminute;theycanpenetratemassivewallsoflead,orseawatertoadepthof

3,500feet.Theconclusionis,then,thatcosmicrayswouldnotinthemselveshave sufficed to create a race of giants, though they may certainly havehelpedtodoso.(1973,29)

Itseemshighlylikelythatcosmicraysmayhavebeenacontributingcausetothephenomenon of gigantism in ancient days. Although this may never be fullyproved,thereisalottolearnintheexplorationofthequestion.Perhapswemaygleanmoreaswecontinueourconversationabout theremainsofgiants in thefossil record the world over. Toward that end, in the next chapter we willexamine tales and findings of giants in the Mediterranean region and AsiaMinor. We have a lot of fascinating ground to cover, and no doubt we willunearthsomeveryinterestinganomalies.

3

ACCOUNTSOFGIANTSINTHECLASSICALSOURCES

As we shall learn, according to Greek myth as conceived by such seminalauthorsasHesiodandHomer,theprimordialEarthproducedaseriesofprimevalmonstersandgianthumanlikebeingsknownasTitans,whobecamethefirstraceof Greek gods. Other giants followed, including the Cyclopes, Gigantes,Centaurs, and Typhons. In this chapter we will examine ancient evidence ofthem,primarilyfromsourcesderivedfromtheclassicalworld,andexplorehowthe inhabitants of the classical world were on a very physical search to findevidenceforthemselvesthatthesegiantsonceroamedtheEarth.

ALANDOFGODSANDMONSTERS

TheancientGreekwriters called their country “a landofgods andmonsters,”referring to the often pernicious Greek deities and the hundreds of variousgiants,monsters, demigods, andother creatures that inhabited it.Thesegiants,however, such as the Cyclopes, Antaeus, and Orion, were surprisinglyhumanlike,andtheywerenot“altogetherdis-proportionedtohumanbeings,fortheymingledinloveandstrifewiththem”(Bulfinch2004,115).Butthoseothergiantswhowagedwar against the gods and exhibited superhuman, even neargodlike,powerswerefarmoregiganticinsizethantheirweakerbrethren.Examplesof thesegiganticgiants includeTityus,whowassaidtohavebeen

solargethatwhilerestingontheplainnearMountOlympus,hismassivebodycovered some nine acres. Enceladus, too, required thewhole ofMountAetnaupon which to rest his enormous head. Still others, like Briareus, had onehundredarms.Typhon,theseabeast,excretedfirefromhisabominablelungs.BulfinchexplainsthataccordingtotheRomans:

AtonetimetheyputthegodstosuchfearthattheyfledintoEgyptandhidthemselvesundervariousforms.Jupitertooktheformofaram,whencehewasafterwardsworshippedas thegodAmmonwithcurvedhorns.Venusa

fish,Mercuryabird.Atanother timethegiantsattemptedtoclimbupintoheaven and for that purpose took up the mountain Ossa and piled it onPelion.Theywereatlastsubduedbythunderbolts,whichMinervainventedandtaughtVulcanandhisCyclopstomakeforJupiter.(2004,115–16)

The Greek religious writer Hesiod describes the giants vividly. They werewarriorsofimmensestrengthandpowerwhodonnedgleamingwhitearmorandbrandished long spears and other deadlyweapons, treatedwith poison. Thesedepictionsof thegiantsascruelcombatantsadeptat theartofwarconformtolaterportrayalsinancientGreekandRomanart.Theideaofarevoltagainstthegods,however,didnotemergeuntilthesixthcenturyBCE,withthefirstartisticdepictions of the conflict. While the poet Hesiod often makes clear that thegiantswerehighlywarlikeandviolentcreatures,therewasnoevidenceofthosetendenciesbeingdirectedattheOlympiansuntilamuchlatertime.

BACKINGUPTHEMYTHSWITHSCIENCE:EXCAVATINGGIANTBONESINANTIQUITY

Having touchedona fewmythologicalaccountsofgiants, let’snowturn forabriefmoment to the field of archaeology. Here wewill see how the physicalevidencemayormaynot support themythological accounts,while bearing inmindthattheresultsofanystudyregardingtheexaminationofancientremainspurportedtobethoseofancientgiantsmustbemetwithcaution,butalsowithan open and prepared mind. Too frequently we are duped by archaeologicalhoaxes,butanequalamountofdiscoveriesareinexplicableandinthis,remainfascinating in their open-ended implications. The findings that you will readabout next, culled from The First Fossil Hunters, written by historian andfolkloristAdrienneMayor,aresomebriefexamplesofthelatter.Contrary topopularbelief, the fieldofarchaeologydidn’temerge in just the

past few centuries. In Jerusalem in the late first century CE, shortly after thecrushingdefeatof theJewish revoltat thehandsofTitus, theJewishhistorianJosephustellsusanewpracticebecamepopular:Naturalhistorians,theancientforerunnersofourmodernscientists,werediggingupgiantbonesthattheythenexamined,documented,andcataloged.Thesewere the rudimentarybeginningsofwhatwouldeventuallybecomethefieldsofarchaeologyandpaleontology.Theseearlyfossilspecimenswereamongthoseidentifiedasbelongingtothe

great heroesof antiquity.Examples includeTheseus,Heracles,Achilles,Ajax,

andthevariousgodsandmonstersdescribedinmanyGreekandRomanlegends.Such noted classical scholars as Plato and Herodotus back up the theory thatthesebonesbelongedtogiants,foraccordingtotheiraccounts,thebonesthattheearly archaeologists exhumed from the ground did not belong to any normalhumanoranimal.Skeptics claim that what the ancients really found were the bones of long-

extinctmammalsanddinosaurs,suchasthemammothortriceratops.Whereverthe truthmay lie, formainstream scholars the choice is simple:Either ancientpeoplesmistookprehistoricremainsofdinosaursorextinctmammalstobethoseofthegiantsandheroesdescribedintheirancientmyths—suchastheNephilimasdescribedintheBible,ortheGreeks’veryownTitansandCyclopes—ortheydownrightimaginedthattheyweretheremainsofgiantsbecausetheywantedtobelievethiswasso.In any event, the compellingnatureof theseunearthedbones caused agreat

“bone rush” among the people of the city-states of ancient Greece and, later,amongthelargerterritoriesoftheRomanEmpire.Wewillhavemoretosayonthis bone rush a bit later in the chapter, but for now let’s look atmore of theclassical accounts that mention giants, before we explore how the concept ofgiantsfitswithinthecosmologyofourclassicalforebears.

HOMER’SGIANTS

TheancientGreekspossessedamythology rich in symbolismaboutgiants. In400BCE,theGreekpoetHomerwrote:“Ontheearththereonceweregiants.”To the ancient Greeks, Homerwasmuchmore than one of theirmost highlyreveredwriters.Intheirview,histwoprincipleworks,theIliadandtheOdyssey,were divinely inspired. Together they formed the bible of the entire ancientGreekcivilization.With regard togiants in the Iliad, a scenariomentionedbrieflybyHomer in

thisworkinvolvesthetwingiantsOtusandEphialtes.KnowncollectivelyastheAloeidae, they were renowned for their strength and bravery; however, theywereequallydisdainedfortheiraudacityandrecklessness.OtusandEphialtesbroughtmuchchaosuponthegods.Theytriedtostormthe

home of the gods by piling three Greek mountains on top of one another—Olympus,Ossa, andPelion.Ares,godofwar, attempted tohalt their advance,but instead the giants put Ares in chains and held him captive for thirteen

months.Hermeseventually rescuedAres,but itwas thegoddessArtemiswhofinally brought about the twin giants’ destruction. She metamorphosed into adeer and jumped in front of them.They raised their bows and took aim, eachfiring a shot, but ultimately they missed the deer and hit each other instead,whereuponbothwerekilled.In theOdyssey,we are introduced to themightyCyclopes—a fierce race of

one-eyedgiants—whenOdysseusandhisfellowAchaeansbecametrappedinacave inhabited by one of the Cyclopes named Polyphemus, who immediatelybegan todevouroneof thecaptives.Theairbecamefilledwithaheavy-ladenstenchasthegiantgulpeddowntheirlimbsandtorsosinoutpouringsofblood.The horrifying clamor of agonizing shrieks and crunching bones drowned outthesoundofoceansurfandseagullsonthebeach.Inresponse,Odysseus’smenprayedtoZeusforsalvation,buttonoavail.Thebloodthirstygiantthenmurderedtwomoremen.WhenPolyphemusleftin

themorning,heplacedanimmenserockbehindhim,blockingtheexitfromthecave.ThispreventedtheAchaeansfromfollowinghimout to thefieldsandtosafety.Unabletoescapeandreturntotheship,Odysseusplannedaruse.Whenthe giant returned, Odysseus offered his captor wine, intoxicating him. In themorning,as theCyclops slept, themengougedouthis singleeyewithapole.Thegiant immediatelyawoke, screaming inagonyandcallingout to theotherCyclopesforhelp;however,theysimplyignoredhim.Polyphemusremovedtherockblockingtheentrancetothecaveashesearchedblindlyforhisassailants,andthentheAchaeansmadetheirescape.AfterescapingtheislandofthemightyCyclopes,theAchaeanswerecaughtin

atempestandblownoffcourse.TheyrowedtothelandoftheLaestrygonians,apowerfulraceofgiants.Theirgiant-kingAntiphatesandhisqueencapturedanddined onOdysseus’smen,who beat a hasty retreat back to their boats as thetoweringgiantshurledimmensebouldersatthem.AllofthembutforOdysseusweredestroyed.ThenOdysseusescapedtothehomeofthegoddessCirce,whereheremainedforsometime.TodayitisuncertainwhetheramannamedHomerreallyexistedorthename

merely representsanumberof separateauthors, their individual identitiesnowlosttothesandsoftime.Despitesuchspeculation,onethingiscertain:Homerhasproventobemuchmorethanthecreatoroffairytales.Inhisgreatestepic,theIliad,theGreekswerepittedagainsttheinhabitantsofTroy.Thiswasprovento be a very real, very ancient city byHeinrich Schliemann in the nineteenth

century,asweshallreadaboutlaterinthisbook.

THEGIANTORION:ANCIENTBRUTEORTRAVELERTOTHESTARS?

InPlinytheElder’simmortalworkNaturalHistory,hecitesGreekandRomanmythologywith regard to an ancient legend. The giant Orion, Pliny explains,wasborn from the skinofanox,whichhadbeenplacedbyahumblepeasantinto the soil of Boeotia. At the insistence of the Atlantean gods Neptune,Mercury,andJupiter,theAtlanteandemigodsrelievedthemselvesuponthepile,thereby spawning the giant. Orion is featured at the feet of a bull among theconstellations, the bull being the most sacred object of worship among theAtlanteansandtheirancienttemples(Wilkins1952,45).Orionisnotahideousogre,however.Heisdescribedasveryhandsome,and

heisalsosaidtobeasuperbandmightyhunter.Orion’smainloveinterestwasMerope—thedaughterofOenopion,kingofChios—andhedesiredtomarryher.Hepurgedtheislandofallbeastsandwildcreatures,andthespoilsofthehuntweregiventoheraspresentsinanattempttowinherover.Oenopion,however,refused to grant permission forOrion tomarry his daughter.Angered by this,OrionattemptedtorapeMerope.Thisinfuriatedherfather.HemadeOriondrunk,thenrobbedhimofhisvision

and guided him to the seashore and left him there. Thewandering hero, nowblind, followed the sound of a Cyclops hammer until he finally arrived atLemnosandcametotheforgeofHephaestus,who,takingpityonhim,entrustedhimwithonehismen,aguidenamedKedalion,whotookhimtotheabodeofthe sun.Orion placedKedalion on his shoulder and proceeded east,where hemetthesungodHelios,whorestoredhisvisionwithabeamofsolarrays.Afterthis,OrionbecametheloverandfellowhunterofArtemis.Hewasher

favorite, and she often boasted that one day she would marry the handsomegiant.Her brother,Apollo,was highly indignant about the affair, but it didn’tdeterOrionandhisbelovedArtemis.Oneday,asArtemiswasouthuntingwithherbowandarrow,Orionsubmergedintothesea,withjustthetopofhisheadstickingoutofthewater.ApolloandArtemishappeneduponthescene.ApolloknewthatwhattheysawinthewaterwastheheadofOrion,butArtemisdidnot.WhenApollosuggestedtoArtemisthatshetrytohit theobjectwithanarrow,shecomplied.ShewasthenhorrifiedtofindthedeadbodyofOrionwashingup

onshore.Artemis placed him among the stars, where we can still see him today,

appearingasagiant,withagirdle,sword,lion’sskin,andclub.Heisfollowedbyhisdog,Sirius,andbeforehimflythePleiades,whowerenymphcompanionsofArtemis.

THESHOULDERBLADEOFPELOPS

ThisfascinatingstoryinvolvestheGreeksduringthesiegeofTroy,circa1200BCE. According to author and classical scholar Adrienne Mayor, the battlebetweentheancientGreeksandtheinhabitantsofTroycontinuedunabatedformore than a decade—ten long years of bloodshed andmiserywith no end insight. At this point the battle-weary Greeks took a Trojan seer prisoner andforcedhimtorevealancientsecrets.Accordingtotheoldman,theGreekswouldnever taste victory unless they located the shoulder blade of the great heroPelopsandbroughtittoTroyasatalisman.TheGreeksthendispatchedavesselto Olympia to find and bring back Pelops’s gigantic shoulder blade to thebattlefront.Mayormakesreference toPausanias,aGreek travelerandgeographerof the

second century CE, who lived in the times of Emperors Hadrian, AntoninusPius,andMarcusAurelius.MayorsaysthataccordingtoPausanias,somebonesof heroic size were discovered by the Greeks who were searching for theshoulder blade of Pelops, and they assumed that they were his.*7 Thesecyclopeanrelics—believedtopossesspotentmagicalandsupernaturalpowers—werefoundhousedinabronzechestandstoredwithintheTempleofArtemisatOlympia.MayorpointsoutinTheFirstFossilHuntersthat,accordingtoPausanias,asa

youthPelopshadbeenchoppedupandservedtothegodsasabloodsacrifice,butoncethegodsrealizedonwhomtheydined,theyrestoredtheyoungPelopsto life.His shoulder bone, however, had already been eaten, so they gave theyoungheroanewshoulderblademadeofivory.ItwasthisnewshoulderbladethatwashousedwiththerestofPelops’sbonesintheTempleofArtemis(Mayor2000).Pausanias claims that the ivory shoulder bonewas actually shipped to Troy

during the prolongedwar, andMayor corroborates that account.According toher,itwas“bundledinstrawforitsjourneybymulefromOlympiatoCylleneon

thecoast.There itwas loadedontoaboatboundforTroy,either lashed to thedeckwithropesorplacedbelowasballast”(Mayor2000,105).After a long seavoyageofnearly aweek,Pelops’s shoulderbonearrivedat

Troy,andjustastheseerhadpredicted,therelicborewitnesstothesackingofthecityand the triumphof theGreekforces.Following theirmuch-anticipatedvictory,theGreeksloadedtheancientartifactbackontheshipanddepartedforGreece.However, theGreekvesselwasmetwith aviolent sea stormandwaswreckedoffthecoastofEuboea.Theirpreciouscargowaslostforever(Mayor2000).

DEADHEROESANDGIANTSFROMGREEKANDROMANMYTHOLOGY

“AcrossthenarrowDardanellesfromTroy,”Mayorwrites,“theancientThracianChersonese (the Gallipoli Peninsula) was the setting of a unique dialogue”(2000,116).TheworkshereferstoisOnHeroes,writteninabout218CEbythesophistPhilostratusofLemnos.Whatisotherwiseconsideredanearlyromancenovelisalsopepperedwithreferencestothediscoveryofcyclopeanbonesandenormous relics belonging to long-dead heroes and giants from Greek andRomanmythology.The setting for the dialogue is the port city of Elaeus, at the mouth of the

Hellespont. In theopening act, a rustic grape farmer turnedphilosopher and amerchant awaiting his trading vessel engage in intriguing conversation. Thegrape farmer tells the merchant he has heard rumors of gigantic bones beingfound, remains that supposedly belonged to giants andGreek heroes.He alsoclaims to bewell versed in the stories ofmenwhohad becomeGreek heroesduring theTrojanWar, suchasAchillesandAjax.Themerchant then inquiresaboutwhetherthereisany“empiricalproof”tosupportthebeliefinheroeswho“averaged some 10.5 cubits in height (4.5 meters)” (Mayor 2000, 116). Thefarmer replies by listing some of themain heroes ofGreekmythologywhoseboneshadbeensupposedlyfoundduringthepriorcenturies,includingOrestes’7-cubit skeleton seizedby theSpartans fromTegea;Plato’s account of a hugeskeletonfoundbyashepherdintheaftermathofamassiveearthquakeinLydia;and the unearthing of the giant Aryades on the banks of the Orontes. “Thefarmer’sowngrandfather,”Mayorexplains,

had told him how the Roman emperor Hadrian came to pay homage to

Ajax’s relics after the skeletonwithmemorably big kneecapswaswashedoutbytheseajustacrossthestrait.Hadrian“embracedandkissedthebonesand laid themout,”apparently in theconfigurationofamanabout15 feettall.ThentheemperorbuiltafinetombforAjax’sbonesatTroy....“Haveyoupersonallyseenanyheroes’bones?”askedthemerchant.The farmer responded, “Less than fiftyyears ago, Imyself sailed across

thestraittoSigeumtoviewavastskeletonthaterodedoutofarockycaveon the cape.” (Sigeum, near Rhoeteum, was the Greek hero Achillestraditionalburialplace.)...Theupperbodyoftheskeletonwasconcealedinacave,buttherestofthe

bonesextendedsome10metersontothecape.*8(Mayor2000,117)

Theirappearancewasdistinctlyhuman.Accordingtothefarmer,thecapehadbecomeahubofintenseactivityatthattime;immensecrowdshadgatheredallaroundtheHellespontfromacrosstheAnatoliancoast toasfarsouthasIzmir.Speculationabout theboneswas rampant.Finally,anoraclesettled thematter.Accordingtoher,theremainswerethoseofAchilles,makingthattheendofthestory.As the dialogue continues, the grape farmer tells the merchant that he and

some friends sailed to Lemnos to view another giant skeleton discovered byMenecrates of Steira after an earthquake. “We saw that the bones werecompletelyshakenoutoftheirproperposition.Thebackbonewasinpiecesandtheribswerewrenchedawayfromthevertebrae. . . .AsIexaminedtheentireskeleton and the individual bones, I got an impression of terrifying size,impossibletodescribe”(Mayor2000,118).Thegrapefarmerthentellsthemerchantthatduringthatverysameyear,“an

enormous body appeared at Naulochus on the tiny island of Imbros (Imroz,Turkey),whenapartofthesouthwesternpromontoryfellintothesea”(Mayor2000,119).Thegrapefarmeradds:“Thebroken-offchunkofearthcarriedthegiantwith

it.Ifyoudon’tbelieveme,wecansail therenow—thatskeletonisstillvisibleandit’sashorttrip”(Mayor2000,271).To further validate his argument concerning the extinct colossi, the farmer

instructs the merchant to sail to Kos, “where the daughters of giants wereburied,”ortovisitPhrygiato“seethegiantHyllosorThessalytoseethebonesoffallengiants”(Mayor2000,119).HealsocitesMountVesuviusastheplace

at which the Italians displayed the bones of giants slain by the gods of theBurningFields(Phlegra),andmentionsOlympiaasaprimelocationwherethemonstrousbonesofGeryon(athree-bodied,four-wingedgiant)couldbeviewed.Additionally, thousands of giants lay entombed beneath the soil of Pallene, innorthern Greece, “where thunderstorms and earthquakes expose their colossalbonesonthesurfaceoftheground”(Mayor2000,119).Thefarmerconcludeshissagawithablood-drenchedaccountofabattlethat

hadtakenplaceduringtheTrojanWar.HedescribeshowAchilles’carnivorouswarhorsesslaughtered theAmazons, themighty femalewarriors,andscatteredtheir crushed limbs on the island of Leuke (in the Black Sea north of theDanube).Thus,Philostratus’sdialogueends.Thisisanintriguingstory,andthereismuchtobegleanedfromitwithregard

totheancients’fascinationwithgiantbones—aphenomenonseenallthewaytomoderntimes,asweshallreadaboutshortly.Beforesodoing,however,wewillexplorehowacosmologythatincludedtheexistenceofgiantswouldhavebeenreflectedinthelargerworldviewofGreekandRomanphilosophyandscientificthought.

ANCIENTPALEONTOLOGYINWRITTENWORKS

Mayorcontinuesbypresentingthestoryofsomeoftheearliestfossilevidencefor giants,monsters, and other fantastic creatures.Aswell, shemakes note ofgaps in the ancients’ accounts when discussing the truth about giants and theamateur’sdrivetoexposeit.Mayorwrites:

Scholars both ancient and modern consigned descriptions of giants andmonsters to the realm of fantasy and superstition. Since discussions ofremarkable remains are missing in the “objective” writings of the best-knownclassicalhistorians,likeThucydides,andnaturalphilosopherssuchasAristotle,mostmodern historians and scientists have simply assumed thatlarge prehistoric remains went unnoticed in antiquity. . . . The empiricalexperiences narrated by travelers, mythographers, ethnographers,geographers, natural historians, compilers of natural wonders, and otherhard-to-classifyancientwriterstellaverydifferentstory—astoryconfirmedbyarchaeologicalevidence.(Mayor2000,4)

Theworldofancientpaleontologyispreservedintheseancientwrittenworks.In the fourth century BCE, the philosopher Platomakes an allusion to giant-sizedbones inTheRepublic, the only reference evermade byPlato regardingremarkable humanlike remains. He refers to folklore about Gyges, a seventh-centuryBCEtyrantofLydia,wholivedinpresent-dayAsiaMinor.AccordingtoMayor,Platoexplains“aviolentstormandanearthquakebrokeopentheground,revealingahollowbronzehorsecontainingagiganticskeletonandamagicring”(Mayor 2000, 193). Because Plato oftenmanipulated folk genres for his ownpurposes,wecan’tknowwhetherhewascitingactuallore,buttheanecdotedoescapture the textureof later reportsof large fossildiscoveriesbyPausaniasandothers(Mayor2000).Skeptics would readily dismiss such tales as balderdash. However, as the

GreekphilosopherStraboobserves,evenforthosewhonormallyconsidersuchstoriesasmythsandnothingmore, theyarestillworthfurtherstudy“sincetheancientsexpressedphysicalnotions[and]factsenigmatically...andaddedthemythicalelementtotheiraccounts.It isnoteasytosolvewithaccuracyall theenigmas,butifonestudiesthewholearrayofmyths,someagreeingandotherscontradictory,onemightbeabletoconjecturethetruth”(Mayor2000,194).

HOWTHECONCEPTOFTHEGIANTIMPACTEDGREEKTHINKING

FortheGreeksandRomansoftheclassicalera,alllivingthingswerespiralingdownward to oblivion, their vigor sapped by the passing of ages. TheEarth’senergy was forever diminishing, and its life-producing powers were severelyweakening. This was seen to be the eternal order of all life. This viewpoint,Mayorargues,wasdeducedbytheancestorsfromthefact thatfossilskeletonsfromtheancientpastwerenotablymoremassivebyfarthananyofthehumansoranimalsfromtheirowntime(Mayor2000).Inclassicalantiquitythetypicalheightforahealthyadultmalewasaboutfive

feetfiveinchestall.Ontheotherhand,thetraditionalheightforamythicalheroexceeded well over fifteen feet. When great bones were discovered, it waswidely concluded that they were relics from the epoch when the Earth wasyoung.Uponwitnessingagroupof suchbonesbeingexcavated ina townshipnotfarfromtheBayofNaples,thehistorianPlinydeclared:“Itisobviousthatthewhole human race is becoming shorter day by day!”A statement such as

Pliny’s is consistent with the intuitive idea of biological “decline.” Indeed,examples in the ancientGreekandRoman’sown recenthistory showhow thewild cattle of the Bronze Age were significantly more imposing than thedomesticated farming cattle of their own time. Furthermore, had it not beenwrittenintheancientscripturesthatthegreatheroesofantiquitypursuedlargergamethanwereavailabletoday?However, in actual fact, Mayor explains: “Gigantism usually does fail to

maintainviability:themosttitanicprehistoricfaunasdiddieoutorevolvedintosmaller forms. And in some Mediterranean islands, the largest species,mammothsandhippos, tended tobecomesmallerover time,whilecertain tinyspecies,likemice,grewbigger,asthoughstrivingforsomeAristotelianmean”(Mayor2000,318).Thisviabilityfactor,however,doesnotdiscountthefactthatgiantscouldand

didexist.“Whoelsebutsupersizemen,”Mayorasks,“couldhavepiledmassivebouldersintotheBronzeAgefortifications—alreadyunthinkablyancientbytheclassicalera—knownasCyclopean (Cyclopsbuilt)walls?”EvenThucydides,afifth-centuryhistorianandgeneralskeptic,admittedthattherewassometruthtoaccounts of giants. In fact, he has become our initial source for placing twoprehistoricracesofgiants,theCyclopesandLaestrygonians,inSicily.TheGreeksandRomansweremindfulthattheseprehistoricrelicsweremore

thanmerecuriositiesand that theysignifiedsomethingvitally important to thepreservationoftheirreligiousandculturalheritage.Instinctively,theyknewbythe “vast dimensions and worn condition of large, petrified bones . . . dark,mottled, disarticulated, fragmented” that they were artifacts of enormousantiquity(Mayor2000,202).

THETHEORYOFEVOLUTIONANDTHECONCEPTOFEXTINCTIONINTHEANCIENTWORLD

Howdoestheancients’knowledgeofthemanyagesofgeologictimecomparewithoursinthepresentday?Whatdidtheybelieveaboutevolution?In the pre-Christian era, it was generally accepted that change was the

inevitable process of all life, and that animals and humans did in fact changeovertime.Indeed,inbothGreco-RomanandearlyHebrewmythictraditions,allspecieswerenotcreatedatasingleauspiciousmoment,butrathermanynewandexoticlife-formsappearedanddisappearedonaseemingevolutionarytimeline

(Mayor2000).AccordingtoMayor:

Extinction is a crucial concept in modern paleontology. It is generallyassumed that the idea of extinction of whole groups of animals did notdevelopuntiltheseventeenthcentury.Butsome2,500yearsago,notionsofextinction,bothcatastrophicandgradual,weredevelopedbytheGreeksandappliedtoremarkablefossilbones.ThepaleontologicallegendoftheNeadesofSamosclearlystatesthat thehugeremainsbelongedtorealanimalsthathadalldiedoutbeforethefirsthumansarrivedontheisland.Severalauthorsplaced the era of the long-vanished giants in the pre-human age whenmountainswerestillbeingformedandthe“originoflifewasrecent.”(2000,204)

HesiodandHomervisualizedagrandsuccessionofnewanduniquespecimensofplantandanimallifebredbythegodsandbynatureovermanygenerations.Such species antedated the emergence of modern humanity by many tens ofthousandsofyears.Among thesedifferent specieswerecreatures formedfromthe mating of different kinds of monsters. There were also the recognizablehybrids, suchas theCentaurs,whofeatured thecharacteristicsofbothhumansand horses. Additional examples include the Titans and the giants, who wereknown to have undergone their own process of biological evolution as theyreproducedthemselvesoverthecenturies.Thus,weseeamongtheancientGreeksandRomansthebeginningsofatrue

understandingof thenatureofdescentbynaturalselectionandultimatelybothspeciationandextinction.Thiscannodoubtbeappliedtothegiantphenomenon.As PaulVonWard said at the beginning of this book, the existence of giantsrepresents a forgotten, and hitherto disregarded, stage in the evolution ofhumankind.Withthat inmind, it transformsthesearchforthefossilsofgiantspastandpresent.The geomyths, or scientific allegories, of the ancient Greeks describe past

epochs marked by the decimation and extinction of entire populations. Theseinclude many viable creatures. Among the noted geomyths is the GreekGigantomachy,thenarrativethatsparkedthegeniuswithintheclassicalmindtoinvestigate further thepossibilityof locating the remainsof their fallenheroesandgiants.AsMayorasserts:“Theyknewthatboneswereallthatremainedofcolossalcreaturesthatappeared,reproduced,andthenweredestroyedlongago

inspecificlocaleswheretheirskeletonswereleftpetrifiedintheground.Oncethe gods’ Blitzkrieg ended the epoch of giants and monsters, those creatureswere gone forever. The narrative closely parallels the modern concept ofcatastrophicextinction”(Mayor2000,205).The concept of mass extinction of entire species prior to the emergence of

modern humankind occurs throughout Greek mythology. One of the primaryinstruments of these extinctions was the Greek hero Heracles, known by theRomans as Hercules. According to myth, he destroyed the Centaurs andexterminatedthenativepopulationoflargepredatorsinCreteandNorthAfrica.HealsokilledalltheremainingseamonstersintheMediterranean.Orion,agiantsonoftheEarthandthegreatesthunterofalltime,alsowiped

outmanyspeciesofwildbeastsandvirtuallyobliteratedthenativefaunaoftheisland of Chios. It was Orion’s blind arrogance, however, in which he wasprepared to exterminate every last animal on the face of the planet, thatcompelled the gods to destroy him and bury his giant carcass deepwithin theearthofDelosorCrete.PlinyrecordedthatonCreteanearthquakeuncoveredahugeskeleton,sixty-ninefeetlong,which“somepeoplethoughtmustbethatofOrion”(Mayor2000,273).

THE“BONERUSH”—THEQUESTFORTHEHEROES’REMAINS

During the seventh, sixth, and fifth centuries BCE, the entire Greek worldexperienced a “bone rush,” as competing city-states searched for the bones ofdead heroes and giants.According toMayor: “Every city sought the ‘peculiarglamour’—the religiousanointmentandpoliticalpower—conferredbyheroes’remains.The impressiveboneswere avital physical link to thegloriouspast”(Mayor 2000, 112). We have to remember that in the Greek mythologicaltradition, heroes were always depicted as being of gigantic stature as anexemplificationoftheirsuperhumanabilitiesandimportancewithintheancientGreekpantheon.AccordingtoMayor,Athens toowascaughtup in thisarchaeological fervor.

TheoracleatDelphibythistimehadassumedahighlevelofimportanceinthesearchfor theseancient relics. Indeed,her reputationas indispensableguide tofindingboneshadbecomewidelyregardedacrosstheancientworld.TheoracleinstructedtheAtheniansthattheycouldfindontheislandofSkyrosthebonesof

their local hero Theseus,who theAthenians believed had beenmurdered andthrownoffacliffintheninthcenturyBCE.AccordingtoMayor,“theresidentsofSkyros,”however,“denied themurderandrefused toallowasearch forhisremains”(Mayor2000,112).This problem was easily solved with military action. The Athenian general

Kimon conquered the island, making the discovery of the sacred bones ofTheseushisprimeobjectiveasgovernorofthenewterritory.Kimonnoticed“aneagletearingatamound”andhegavetheordertobeginexcavationatthatsite.Theirdiggingrevealedanumberofmassiveboneslyingbesideabronze-pointedspearandsword,typicalofthoseusedduringtheBronzeAge.AsMayor explains: “Kimon loaded thebones andweaponsontohis trireme

and sailed back toAthens. Theseus’s relics ‘werewelcomedwithmagnificentprocessions and interred in the heart of the city, and Kimon reaped manypolitical points’” (Mayor 2000, 112). The discovery of these bones stands assignificantevidencefortheexistenceofbeingsofgiantstatureinancienttimes.Manyoftheseancientarchaeologicalmissionswererecordedinancienttexts.

Pausaniasalone recordsover twenty-foursuchexcavationsat sitesallover theancient Greek world. During this “bone mania,” the Spartans retrieved theremains ofOrestes’ sonTisamenus from the lost civilization ofHelike on theGulf of Corinth. In another example, the citizens of Olympia found andrecovered the remains of Pelops’s wife, Hippodamia. These relics were theninstalledinashrinenexttoamoundthatsupposedlycontainedthebonesofherfather, “thegiant sonbegottenby thegodAresupon thedaughterof thegiantAtlas”(Mayor2000,112).To cure the onset of a disastrous plague that ravaged the community of

Orchomenus in the region of Boeotia in the fifth century BCE, the oraclerevealedthat theremainsof thereligiouswriterHesiod*9couldandshouldbelocated.Accordingtomyth,aravenscratchedatahollowmound,afterwhichanumberoflargebonesspilledout.Theremainswereretrievedandreburiedinanagora,anancienttemple.The difference between these ancient archaeological missions and those of

todayisclear.Theancientsundertookexcavationslargelytowinwarsortocureplagues, or to ensure the well-being of a nation, not to obtain a richerunderstanding about the nature of ancient cultures and civilization or todeterminehowsocietyhadchangedovertime.

DIDANCIENTARCHAEOLOGISTSKNOWWHATTHEYWEREFINDING?

Clearlyourancientancestorsbelievedinthemythsandlegendsthatarticulatedtheexistenceofgiantsintheirremotepast.Fromthisessentialbelief,theythenbeganidentifyingallcyclopeanremainsasbelongingtoanextinctraceofgiants.How firmly grounded in reality were such assertions? Could ancient peoplesdiscern the difference between the remains or fossilized bones of an extinctanimalandthoseofahumanorhumanlikegiant?Mayorpointsoutthat:“Peopleofantiquitywerewellacquaintedwithanimal

and human anatomy. Hunting and butchering animals, animal sacrifices, andritualcremationandinhumationofthebonesoftheirdeadmadeskeletonsveryfamiliarobjects.Evidence fromHerodotusshows theancients’deep interest inexamininganybonestheycameacrossforunusualfeatures”(Mayor2000,199).Thusitwouldappearthatancienthumansdidhavetheknowledgenecessarytodistinguish between animal and human or humanlike remains. Inevitably, thisleadsustooneconclusion:AncientgiantswereinfactbeinguncoveredbytheancientGreeksandRomans,andquitepossiblybyearliercultures.Indeed, as Mayor asserts, the renowned fifth-century BCE Greek historian

Herodotus himself went on many investigations to exhume and examine thebones of the dead. In 440 BCE, for example, Herodotus visited a formerbattlefield to undertake a study of human remains at the site. This battlefieldmarked the victory of the Persians over the Egyptians in 522 BCE. The sun-bleached skeletons littered the ground on which they fought and perished.Wanderingaboutthesite,examiningthefleshlesscorpses,Herodotusstudiedthedifferences between the skulls of the two races. He then cataloged anddocumented these differences. These were the first stirrings of scientificanthropology, nearly 2,500 years before the formal scientific discipline wasinventedanddefined.At yet another location, this time inBoeotia in centralGreece (then part of

ancientGreece),Herodotusreportedthediscoveryofaseamlessskull,abizarrejawbone,anda7.5-footskeleton.Thesefindswereunearthedfouryearsafterthebattle of Plataea, in 479BCE.Citizens found the boneswhile scavenging thebattlefieldforsacredrelics,foritwascommonpracticefortheaveragepersontomine the sites of great battlefields in this manner. The objective was to findsomethingthatcouldbeusedforamagicaltalismanorevenavaluableobjectforscientificinvestigation.Oftenverylittlewouldbeleftafterthemasseshadtheir

way.“Suchaccounts [thoseofHerodotus for instance],”writesMayor,“revealtheancientfascinationwithexamining,comparing,andmeasuringhumanand/orremarkablebones” (Mayor2000,199).These early excavations canbe said torepresenttherootsofmodernarchaeology.

ORESTESANDHISSACREDREMAINS

According toHerodotus,an intense rivalryamong theearlyGreeks—togathertogether the various sacred bones and holy relics of the classical world—ultimately led to Spartan military dominance within the Peloponnese. In 560BCE, theoracleatDelphi told theSpartans that if theywanted tosuccessfullyovercometheirchiefadversaries,theArcadianTegea,theywouldhavetolocatethesacredremainsoftheheroOrestes.However,therewasoneproblem:TheSpartanshadnocluewherethetombof

Orestes lay. They returned to Delphi and requested that the oracle give themprecisedirectionstothetomb.Inresponse,theyweregivenacrypticverseabouta forgeand itsblacksmith.Thekey todiscoveringOrestes, theoracle insisted,could be found only when the forge was finally located. These wordsdumbfoundedtheeagerSpartans,whofeltbetrayedbytheirownoracle.Butthismisfortunewassoontobetransformed(Mayor2000).WhiletravelingthroughTegeanterritory,aretiredSpartancavalryman,Lichas,

encountered a blacksmith working at his forge. Lichas approached theblacksmith and greeted him, striking up a conversation. The blacksmith thenguided Lichas to his yard. The smith then told Lichas that more than a yearbefore,hehadbeendigginghiswellwhenhisspadestrucksomethinghard. Itwas then thathecameuponanawesomediscovery:ahugecoffin somesevencubitslong(threemeters)wasburiedintheearth.Heopenedthelidofthecasketandfoundtheskeletonofagiant,alsosevencubitslong.AtthatmomentLichasrealizedhehadfoundthetombofOrestes.Lichas pretended to be an exile fromSparta and asked the blacksmith if he

couldrentaroominhishomeforthenight.Theblacksmithagreed.Duringthenight,Lichassnuckoutintotheyard,dugupthebones,andtookthembacktohisfellowSpartans.Assoonastheywereinpossessionofthissacredtalisman,theSpartanstookcontrolofthePeloponneseandbecamethedominantpowerinthe region.The city trumpetedLichas’s victory, and the boneswere afterwardburiedwithmuchpompandceremony(Mayor2000).

THEGIGANTOMACHYANDGIANTFOSSILDISCOVERIES

Anotheraccount linksevents inanancientGreekmyth toactual fossilbeds inwhich giants’ remains were alleged to have been found. Herein lies the tale:OncethebattlebetweentheTitansandthemorehumanlikeOlympianscametoaclose—as depicted in the Titanomachy—yet another battle loomed on thehorizon.This time themoremonstrousgiants suchasTyphonwouldbepittedagainst the Olympians and their champion Heracles. This great battle wasrecordedintheGreekmyththeGigantomachy.According to Mayor, “Zeus, hurling his bolts of thunder and lightning,

destroyed legions of giants and Typhon. Heracles killed numerous giants andmonsters, including Geryon, while the other gods, goddesses, and heroes andheroinesslewstillmoregiantsandmonstersallaroundtheMediterranean.Thedefeated giants andmonsterswere buried in the earthwhere they fell” (2000,195).Gigantic humanoid remainswere found inwidespread fossil beds in ancient

times,anditwasconjecturedthatthesewerethebonesofthefallengiantsandmonsters of the Gigantomachy. Mayor says, “Zeus slew armies of giants inArcadia,Crete, andRhodes, and the gods heaped the island ofKos on top ofgiants.” All four places are now known to have yielded bones of gianthumanoids, according to ancient historians such as Claudian (2000, 195–96).Mayoralsomentions that: “AnerodingcliffbetweenCorinthandMegarawassaidtobearthepetrifiedbonesofthegiantSkiron.Accordingtomyth,thisogrethrewvictimsover thecliff toamonstrous turtlewaitingbelow,until theheroTheseusthrewhimoffthesameprecipice”(Mayor2000,196).

GIANTSCOULDALSOBEMONSTERS

Mayor also discusses the various forms that early giants could take: In earlyGreek art, giants were imagined as quadrupedmonsters, or as warriors, hugeogres,orprimitive strongmenarmedwith tree trunksandboulders; some laterartistsaddedserpent legs to symbolize theirearthbornnature. It’s important tokeepinmindthatgiantswerenotnecessarilyvisualizedashuman.InthewordsofManilius(firstcenturyBCE),thegiantswerebroodsof“deformedcreaturesofunnaturalfaceandshape”thatappearedandweredestroyedintheera“whenmountainswerestillbeingformed”(Mayor2000,196).Mayoradds:

Some giantmonsters, such asGeryon and Typhon, and even giant heroeslikeIdas,weresaidtohavemultipleheadsoranunusualnumberoflimbs.This is a widespread folk motif denoting extraordinary strength. In theancient Greek mythical metaphor, extra limbs and mixed animal-humanfeatures also indicated the composite nature of strange creatures whosebodieslayburiedundertheearth.(2000,196)

These prehistoric creatures, far from being recognizable by main streampaleontologists asmastodons or dinosaurs, are in fact beasts of unexplainableorigin.Mayorcontinues:

Zeus’scosmiclightningdecisivelyendedtheageofgiantsandmonsters,andanewepochbegan.ThecarcassesofthedefeatedcreaturesendedupinthegroundallaroundtheMediterraneanworld,wheretheywerelaterrevealedby natural forces or human digging. The possession of such links to themythicalpastbecameinmanyplacesamatteroflocalpride.Forexample,AnatolianLydia,SpanishCadiz,Thebes,andOlympiaeach

claimed tohave thebodyofGeryon,and thehugeoxenweresaid tohavebeendispersedaroundmainlandGreece(Arcadia,Attica,Epirus),inItaly,inAsiaMinor,andontheshoresoftheBlackSea.Typhon’slightning-blastedcorpse was variously thought to the buried in Syria, Cilicia (southernTurkey),Phrygia (north-centralTurkey),andSicily.Theancients identifiedsitesnotablefortheirconcentrationsofenormousbonesasmajorbattlefieldsoftheGigantomachy.InArcadia,Pausaniasvisitedplaceswherethebattlessupposedlyraged,aroundMegalopolis,Trapezus(Bathos),andTegeawherethegiantshadmadetheirlaststand.(Mayor2000,197)

As described earlier, Pallene, also known as Phlegra, was considered thehomeland of the giants during the great battle depicted in theGigantomachy,theirveryownAtlantisrebornfromtheashesofdestructiontoservetheirneedsand their needs alone. A number of ancient writers referred to the continualexposure of gigantic bones around the mountainous island of Phlegra. Manymore fallen giants were located in the Bay of Naples and in southern SpainaroundTartessos.In 1902, Professor Theodore Skoufos, a famed Greek paleontologist,

excavated along the banks of the Alpheios River in search of Pleistocenemammoth remains. This yielded little evidence of Pleistocenemammoths, but

did produce several anomalous pieces of bone that remain unidentified to thisday. Itwasat thisvery location thatPausaniasconversedwith localsabout thepossibility that that area was, in fact, made up of suspected Gigantomachybattlegrounds. The Arcadians, he learned, “sacrificed to violent thunder andlightning storms” at Trapezus, where, according to Mayor, “the ground stillsmolders. . . .Theysaythat the legendarybattleofgodsandgiants tookplacehere, and not at Thracian Pallene [the giants’ legendary headquarters inChalkidiki]”(Mayor2000,198).Appian,acontemporaryofPausanias,recountsthat lightningwasalsoworshipped inSyria,whereZeus’smighty thunderboltsbestedthegiant-beastTyphon,andwheretheearthstillburns.Indeed, there is awidespreadmythological tradition in classical antiquity of

monstersandgiantsbeing thwartedby lightningboltshurledby thegods.Onecan see this even in Norse tradition, in which Thor’s hammer emits bolts oflightning when he battles the frost giants, killing some, maiming others. The“lightningbones”gatheredtraditionallyintheSiwalikHillsinthenorthwesternregionoftheIndiansubcontinentprovideanotherexample.InaNorthAmericanaccount,intheSouthDakotabadlandsAmericanSiouxIndiansclaimedtohavediscoveredthebonesof lightning-struck“thunderbeasts”andvariousgiantsofSiouxlegend.Interpreting a metaphorical connection between lightning storms and the

discovery of giant-sized humanoid fossils, Mayor concludes by saying: “Thelightningmotif reflects the natural fact that violent thunderstorms expose bigfossils to view, but it also reflects the attempt to imagine a force powerfulenoughtodestroymonstersofsuchsizeandstrength”(2000,198).

HERCULESANDTHEBODYOFANTAEUS

In Spain in 70 BCE, the Roman general Quintus Sertorius saw the tomb ofAntaeus, the giant that had been killed by themortal Hercules. According toPlutarch,theskeletoncontainedinthetombmeasuredsixcubitsinlength(nineto eleven feet) (Wilkins 1952, 46). The Roman historian Plutarch furtherexplains that it was Hercules who saved the entire pantheon by seekingsanctuary from heaven in Egypt to draw away the wrath of the abominablegiantsfromElysium.Ultimately,thisisamyththatcouldquitepossiblybecomeeuphemizedasawarofinsurrectionagainsttheAtlanteanrulingclass,launchedwiththeaidofmenofgiganticstature.

We have examined the ancients’ fascination with what may have been thebonesof thegiants they idolizedasheroesandgods.Now let’sexaminemorerecentfindings,atthehandsofarchaeologistsnolessinterestedintheirsubjectthanweretheancients.

MODERNFOSSILHUNTERSINANCIENTDACIAANDTHEDISCOVERYOFLONG-LOSTTROY

Theyearwas1843inatinyMoldavianvillageinancientDacia,northwestoftheBlackSea.Peasantfarmersplowingtheirfieldsunearthedaseriesofenormousremains.Onefindwasanuprightgiant.Thesimplevillagerswho“flockedfromall over, singing and dancing” around the remains thought that the bones of adead saint had been restored to life, though the records do not indicatewhichsaintitsupposedlywas.Themilitarygovernoratthetime,however,maintainedthatthebonesweretheremainsofaRomansoldierofunusuallygiganticstature(Mayor2000).In the same century, a German businessman turned archaeologist, Heinrich

Schliemann, found the remainsof the fabledTroyofyore,which forcenturieswasconsideredtobemythical,akinto the lostcivilizationofAtlantis inmanyskeptics’ minds. There was no real effort to investigate it, because theassumptionwasthattherewasnothingtobefound.Intheearly1870s,however,thatviewwastochangeforever.SchliemanndecidedtoproveonceandforallthattheageofGreekheroesas

described in the works of Homer and Virgil were in fact based on factualhistoricalevents.HeimmersedhimselfinthestoriesoftheGreekheroAchilles,his king, Agamemnon, and the steadfast Odysseus, whose perilous journeyhomewardhasbecomeanidealresourceinunderstandingtheGreekversionofthegiantmythos.InApril1870,SchliemanncommencedexcavationsatthesiteofHissarlikin

westernTurkey.By1871,Schliemann’s teamdiscovered the remainsof a citythatperfectlyfitHomer’sdescriptionofTroy.ButnotonlydidhefindoneTroy,he found nine successive layers of ruins dating to pre-Homeric times.Schliemann identified the sixth layer as the historical Troy, but today anotherlayer, labeled Troy VIIa, is considered the actual site. It dates from the LateBronzeAge,andin1220BCEitwithstoodaprolongedsiege—justasdescribedinHomer’sIliad.

In this chapterwehave covered agooddeal of important ground andgleanedmanyinsightsconcerningtheprismthroughwhichtheancientsoftheclassicalworldviewedgiants,andhowtheideaofgiantsfitsintotheiroverallcosmology.InthechapteraheadwewillcastourgazetothenorthandwestofEuropeinanattempttodeterminehowthepeopleofoldwhoinhabitedthatuniquelandscapeviewedgiants.

4

CLASHOFTHEGODS

TheNorseDeitiesandGiantsFrom a realm of cold and darkness came the frost giants, threatening toplunge themortalworld into a new ice age.But humanitywouldnot facethis threat alone.Our armies drove the frost giants back into the heart oftheir own world. The cost was great. In the end, their king fell. And thesourceof theirpowerwas taken fromthem.With the lastgreatwarended,wewithdrewfromtheotherworldsandreturnedhometotherealmeternal,Asgard.Andhereweremainasthebeaconofhope.Shiningoutacrossthestars. And though we have fallen into man’s myths and legends, it wasAsgardanditswarriorsthatbroughtpeacetotheuniverse.

ODIN,THEALL-FATHER:THOR(2011FILM)

AWORLDOFSNOWMONSTERSANDFROSTGIANTS

TheearlybeliefsofNorthernEuropeencompassarichandsinistermythologicaltraditionthatincludesnotonlygiants,butanentirehostofmagicalandmysticalcreatures.TheancientNorsedividedthepeoplesoftheworldintothreedistinctcategories:civilizedpeople;barbarians,suchastheNordicpeoplesthemselves;and subhumans, such as the skraelings, or native peoples of North America.WhentheVikingsenteredaregionforthefirsttime,theytooktheirswordsandbattle axes in hand and tested them out on anyone they encountered, todeterminewhether they could be killed and thuswere humanorwhether theywereinvincible,whichmeant theyweregiantsormembersofoneof theothermany magical races, and therefore immortal. Examples of the magical racesinclude orcs, trolls, elves, half gods, and, of course, giants.All of thesewereverysimilartothecreaturesthatthefamousauthorJ.R.R.TolkienwroteaboutinTheHobbitandTheLordoftheRings.In attempting tounderstand theNorsemythology,weneed tounderstand its

origins.Accordingtolate-nineteenth-andearly-twentiethcenturywriterDonaldA.Mackenzie, Celtic and Teutonic (Norse) mythology demonstrate a definite

commonality.“Itwouldappear,”hewrites:

thatarchaicgiant-loreispre-Celticandpre-Teutonic,andthereforeimpliesacommon inheritance. In thewarsof theOlympiansandTitans,of the IrishDananngodsand theFomorachs,andof theAesirand theJotuns,wemayhave echoes of ancient racial conflicts. The old tribal peoples attributedsuccesses to theirgods,andrememberedtheirbattlesas thebattlesofrivalgods. For these giants are also gods of archaic conception. In Scotland,certainofthemareassociatedwiththefortunesoffamiliesandtribes.Ontheotherhand,godsarebutexaltedgiants;theboisterousOlympiansfindtheircounterpart in the boisterous Scandinavian Jotuns rather than in themorerefinedAesirandVanir.(Mackenzie1912)

Odin,thekingoftheNorsegodsandtheGermanicequivalentofJupiter,isinreality a one-eyed giant, aCyclops; his eyewas sacrificed toMimir’s pool toobtain the Jotuns’giftofdivineprediction.Odin is alsodescribedas thewindgod,or theWildHuntsman.Odin’s son,Thor,wasoriginallyanoakgod.ThesacredtreeofOdininnorthernGermanywasaone-thousand-year-oldoakatthetimeofitsdestructionbyChristianforces.

THEWARLIKENATUREOFEARLYNORSEGIANTS

Theheroesof theTeutonicculturewere fierce in theirdeterminationnot tobeoutdonebyallmannerofgiantsthattheyfrequentlyfoughtagainst.Mackenziewrites: “When the tribal heroes of northern peoples were glorified by story-tellers,theywereinvariablydepictedasgiant-killers”(Mackenzie1912).InTheHistory of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth describes the battlebetween the giant-killer Corineus and the most dreaded of all giants, thediabolicalGoemagot:

Atthebeginningoftheencounter,Corineusandthegiant,standing,fronttofront,heldeachotherstronglyintheirarms,andpantedaloudforbreath,butGoemagotpresentlygraspingCorineuswithallhismight,brokethreeofhisribs, two on his right side and one on his left.AtwhichCorineus, highlyenraged,rousedbyhiswholestrengthandsnatchinghimuponhisshoulders,ranwithhim,asfastastheweightwouldallowhim,tothenextshore,andtheregettinguponthetopofthehighrock,hurleddownthesavagemonsterinto thesea;wherefallingon thesidesof thecraggyrocks,hewas torn to

pieces,andcoloredthewaveswithhisblood.(GeoffreyandThorpe1966)

We see further examples of giant-slayers in the Nibelungenlied, with themightyAryanwarriorSiegfried andDietrichofBern, inhisThunor character.BotharelegendaryandhavebecomeanintegralpartofTeutonicmythologyanditsmoderninterpretation.TheyaresoinspiringthatRichardWagnersuccessfullydrewupontheminhispaganoperas.

GIANTSINTHEEDDAS

In the Eddas, compiled by the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson in thethirteenth century CE, we are introduced to the only remaining accounts ofancient Teutonic mythology. These gory, blood-drenched tales of victory andconquestgiveusfirsthanddescriptionsofthemightyfrostgiants.Thegiantsareknownbyavarietyofnames,eachofwhichhadaparticularmeaning.Jotun,forexample, means “the great eater,” denoting their immense appetites, whichcorrespondedtotheirenormoussize.Theywerealsodescribedasbeingfondofdrinking,sotheywerealsocalledThurses,anamethatmaybederiveddirectlyfrom theword thirst. (Somewriters, however, attribute this name to the hightowers—“turseis”—that the giants built on the mountaintops of Jotunheim[Guerber1909].)TwostrainsofgiantsaredescribedintheEddas:thechildrenofThrudandthe

childrenofBorr.ThechildrenofThruddescendfromthefrostgiantYmir; thechildrenofBorrincludetheAesir,whoareNordic-lookingandhuge.Thesetwodivergentbloodlineswouldbattleforsupremacyoverthecosmosforonebillionyears.However, both lineages can ultimately be traced back to that very firstgiant,Ymir,whowasbornintheBefore-Time.

THEGERMANICCREATIONMYTHANDTHEBIRTHOFTHEGIANTS

In his 1912 anthology, Teutonic Myth and Legend, Donald A. Mackenziepresents a provocative retelling of ancient German narratives. Recalling theearliestNorseaccounts,hedescribesatlengththeinitialeventsthatsparkedthecreation of life; the birth of giants, gods, and humans; and the creation of thenineworlds.Mackenziewrites:

IntheAges,whennaughtelsewas,thereyawnedinspaceavastandemptygulf called Ginnunga-gap. Length it had, and breadth immeasurable, andthere was depth beyond comprehension. No shore was there, nor coolingwave,fortherewasyetnosea,andtheearthwasnotmadenortheheavensabove. There in the gulf was the beginning of things. There, time firstdawned . . .northwardof thegulf,Nifelheim, the immensehomeofmistydarkness and freezing cold, and to the south, Muspelheim, the luminoushomeofwarmthandoflight.InthemidstofNifelheimburstforththegreatfountain fromwhenceallwaters flow,and towhichallwaters return. It isnamed Hvergelmer, “the roaring cauldron”, and from it surged, at thebeginning,twelvetremendousriverscalledElivagar,thatwashedsouthwardstoward thegulf.Avastdistance they traversed from their source,and thenthevenomthatwassweptwiththembegantoharden,asdoesdrosspouringfromasurface,until theycongealedandbecameice.Whereupontheriversgrewsilentandceasedtomove,andgiganticblocksoficestoodstill.Vaporarosefromtheice-venomandwasfrozentorime; layeruponlayerheapedup in fantastic forms one above another. That part of the gulf which laynorthwardwasaregionofhorrorandofstrife.Heavymassesofblackvaporenvelopedtheice,andwithinwerescreamingwhirlwindsthatneverceased,anddismalbanksoffleetingmist.ButsouthwardMuspelheimglowedwithintenseradiance.

Muspelheimisalsoassociatedwithagreatfiregiant,Surtur,whopossessedaflaming sword with which he guarded the gates to the realm of fire. Sparks,perhapscastbySurtur’ssword,penetratedtheworldofdarknessandbittercold.Drops ofmoisture then began to fall from the ice.Out of a frozen cocoon ofhoarfrost and rime emerged the first being. Dark and formless, it eventuallycoalescedintosomethinghumanlike.AtthatmomentthefrostgiantYmirstooduprightforthefirsttimeandsurveyedhisnewdomain.YmirwascalledaHrim-thurs, or ice giant, and was the personification of the frozen ocean (Guerber1909).Whensurveyinghisdomain,Ymircaughtsightofthebulging,voluptuouscow

Audhumbla, licking her way through one of the many melting icebergs ofhoarfrostandrime.Gropingtowardher,Ymirdiscovered thefresh,whitemilkflowing from her teats. Kneeling beside her, he gulped down the rich, frothymilkandallowedittonourishandenergizehisbody.Hethenwipedthehangingphlegmfromhislipsandemittedanechoingbelchthatreverberatedthroughout

theicefield.Audhumbla then continued to lick the thickblocksof rimearoundher, after

whichanotherbeing,Buri,agod,alsoknownas“theproducer,”emergedfromtheice.Buriwasafullyformeddeity,thefirstofhiskind,accordingtoIcelandictradition.AfterthegiantcowengagedYmir,themightyicegiantfellintoadeepsleep.Whileherested,asonanddaughterwerebornfromthesweatbeneathhisarmpits.FromhisfeetwasbornThrud,thesix-headedgiant,whointurnbirthedBergelmir, theancestorof all the subsequent frostgiants.Buriproduceda sonnamedBorr, instantaneously,without theuseofsexual reproduction,much thewayYmirproducedhisearliestdescendants.Once the giants became aware of the new deities’ presence, they began to

wagewar against the gods. This became a protracted conflict with no end insight—at least until Borr married the giantess Bestla, the giant Bolthorn’sdaughter.BestlagaveBorrthreesons:Odin,Vili,andVe,thefirstoftheAesirclan.BecauseOdinandtheAesirdescendedfromthegiantBolthorn’sdaughter,it is quite clear that the gods themselves possessed the genetic makeup andphysicalappearanceofgiantsintermsofsize.Toendtheongoingbattlebetweenthegodsandthegiants,Odin,Vili,andVehatchedagrievousplot.TheyultimatelydecidedtoambushYmirandmurderhim.Whentheyslithis

throat,inyetanotherallusiontotheGreatFlood,agreatdelugeofbloodrushedforth,whichdrownedmost of the giants.Bergelmir andhiswife escaped in aboattofoundanewrealmcalledJotunheim.Theworldasweknowit,Midgard,was formed from the body of Ymir. His salty, watery blood then became theoceans, rivers, and lakes; his flesh became the earth; his bones, the rocks andmountains; his hair, the forests; and themaggots from inside his stomach, thedwarves. When the first giant, Ymir, slumped down upon the icy ground,drowninghischildren inhisblood,a seriesofeventswas set intomotion thatultimatelysealedthefateoftheuniverse.

THENORSEGODTHOR,KINGOFTHEPANTHEON

TheancientNordicpeoplesbelievedthatthegiantswerethefirstlivingbeingstowalktheprimordialuniverse.InthewordsofhistorianH.A.Guerber:“Thesegiantswerefromtheverybeginningtheopponentsandrivalsofthegods,andasthelatterwerethepersonificationsofallthatisgoodandlovely,theformerwererepresentativeofallthatwasuglyandevil”(1909).Thegiantswerevulnerable

tothegodsbecausetheyweredimwittedandarmedonlywithstoneweaponsforprotection and assault. The Aesir, on the other hand, were fitted with bronzeweaponryandarmor.Despite thisapparent inequalitybetweenthetwowarringcamps,thegodsoftenenviedthegiantsfortheirmysticalknowledgeofthepast.TheNorsegodThoris,ofcourse,oneofmythology’sgreatestwarriorsagainst

the enemies of humanity—the dwarves, dragons, monsters, and, yes, giants.Boundbyasolemnoathtoprotectmortalsfromthefilthandtreacheryofgiants,Thorwasafightingman,downinthetrenches,battlingforthefatherlandanditspeople.The ancientNordic peoples knew this; therefore, they proclaimedhimthemightiestofall.Hisweaponofchoicewasagianthammer,whichaccordingtoHerbertKuhn,aGermanscholar,means“stone.”*10

Thor’sgianthammer,knownasMjollnir, like theArthurianExcalibur,couldpenetrate any armor and shatter any sword. It also would return back to itsmaster,whenever andwherever thrown,withmagical swiftness.Thor’s powerbelt increased his strength, and his iron gauntlets allowed him to wield hismighty hammer. Blazing across the grayish cloudscapes of the North Sea, hefollowedtheretreatingsun,knownasSol,onachariotdrivenbytwomountaingoatscalledTanngrisnerandTanngjost.Thor represented a stronghold against the infamous frost giants, who were

constantlyatoddswithboth theAesirand theVanir. (InNorseMythology theVanirareagroupofgodsassociatedwithfertility,wisdom,andtheabilitytoseethe future.) It is told by the wandering bards that on one occasion, ThorchallengedHrungnirof thegiants toengage insinglecombat inorder tosettlelong-helddisputes.Thiswasacommonoccurrence,eveninthemortalworld,inwhich Viking kings would settle their grievances by dueling instead ofcommitting their sons todie inbattle.Hrungnir andThor thusgatheredwherethelandoftheAesirandthegiantsmet,andtherethebattletookplace.Fearful of Thor’s growing strength and indomitable spirit, the giants built a

cyclopeanclaywarriorcalledMokkurkalfi.Toanimatethedamnedcreation,hewasgivenamare’sheart.Thjalfi,Thor’sdevotedservant,decidedtostagearusepriortotheupcomingbattle.HetoldthegiantsthathewishedtobetrayThorandwentontotellthemthatThor’sattackonthemwouldcomefrombelow.Thus,they braced for the attack by standing on their shields, but of course, Thorploughedoverthemfromabove.Hehurledhishammer,whichsplitHrungnir’sskull.BitsofshatteredboneshoweredoverThorandsharppiecesofitbecamelodgedinhisskull,whichthewitchGroalaterremoved(Grimm1882,429).

Thorwasalsothelordofthunderandrainandoftencarriedathunderbolt.InSanskrithe is calledTanayitnu,or “theThunderer” (Däniken1970).Usinghiswill, he manipulated every aspect of the weather, making him a favorite ofsailors and merchants. With his mighty arm, he could throw magic and castlightning.HewasmarriedtothegiantessLarnsaza,andfromtheirfertileuniontwosons

were born:Magni andModi. Thor’s secondwife, Sif, bore him a son namedLorideandadaughternamedThrud(Grimm1882,398).DuringtheDarkAges,Thorandotherpagangodsweregraduallyeclipsedby

thefollowersofChrist,withSaintBonifacebeingakeyfigureinthisregard.IntheeighthcenturyCE,thededicatedzealotBonifacewaswanderingthroughtheforestsofnorthernGermanywhenhecameuponahorrifyingscene:Agroupofheathen worshippers congregated around an oak, symbol of the Teutonic godThorandhisfatherOdin,aswehavepreviouslyestablished.Theheathenswerepreparingtosacrificethesonoftheirking,littlePrinceAsulf,hopingtoensurethewell-beingandcontinuationof their race.Withone thunderingblowofhisbare fist,Boniface knocked down the tree. In its place grew a tiny evergreen,which, according to legend, became the first tannenbaum. This was thebeginningoftheendforThorandhismanyadherents(Andrews1974,7–8).

EXPANDINGPERSPECTIVES:FROMNORSEMOUNTAINGIANTSTOSCOTTISHCAVEDWELLERS

In Hélène Adeline Guerber’s classic workMyths of the Norsemen: From theEddasandSagas(1909),Guerberpresentsanintriguingstory,onethatexplainstheoriginofNorthernEurope’svastsystemofmountainranges.Guerberwritesthataccordingto“Germanlegendstheunevensurfaceoftheearthwasduetothegiants,whomarreditssmoothnessbytreadinguponitwhileitwasstillsoftandnewly created,while streamswere formed from the copious tears shed by thegiantessesuponseeingthevalleysmadebytheirhusbands’hugefootprints.”Surprisingly,someOldNorseandGermanmythsportrayingthegiantsasthe

creators ofEurope’s greatmountain ranges have survived to this day.ModernIcelandershavedesignatedtheirhighestpeakstheJokul,amodifiedversionofthe original Norwegian word Jotun (“the great eater”), and in Teutonicmythology,thegiantsweresaidtobehidingwithinmountaincavernsamidthetoweringpeaks.

The Swiss, a people who inhabit a land dominated by immense mountainpeaksandeverlastingsnow,tellstoriesofancienttimeswhengiantsroamedtheworld. Indeed, they still identify the crashing of an avalanche down amountainsidewith the shakingoffof the ice and snow that accumulateon theheadsandshouldersofancientgiants.

THEMYTHOFRAGNAROK

TheTeutonsdevelopedmythsconcerningtheendof theworld,or“end-times”cosmology,which isverypronounced in theChristian traditionaswell. In theTeutonicmyths, the giants and their spawn—theMidgard Serpent—challengethegodsandhumansformasteryof theuniverse.Themainfocalpointof thislast, greatwar,which ultimatelywill consume and destroy the entire universeandplunge the remnantsofhumanity into totaldarkness, is thebattlebetweenthe forces of good and evil. In this battle, the godswho dwell inAsgard (thecountrysidesurroundingValhalla,therestingplaceoftheslain)willfalltotheirdeath,andtheworldwillbeconsumedbyamaelstromofsteelandfire.That sinister hourwill be presaged bymany terrifying omens. First, a bitter

coldwilldescendupontheEarth,followedbyadevastatingwinterthatwilllastthree unending and arduous years. The union of nationswill be shattered, thebonds of kinship among humans will be demolished, and global warfare willbreakoutashumankindcommits insufferableactsofmurder, rape, incest, andbetrayal.A giant wolf called Fenris, son of Loki (the Nordic god of evil, strife, and

discord),willarrestthesun,causingittogrowdimandpalebeforeheeventuallyswallowsitwhole.AsFenrisadvancesfurther,hewillgluttonizethemoonandcause the stars to fall from the sky and crash to the Earth. Finally,with jawsagape, he will fill the gap between the firmament and the atmosphere. Themountainswillcollapseintofragmentsastheentireplanetquakesandshuddersinanimmensebedlamofmoltenlava.TheSerpent of theWorldwill soar from the sea, excreting poison upon the

land, while Loki, bound and gagged for centuries, will break loose from hisstranglingchainsanddestroyeverything,liberatinghideousmonstersfromtheirshacklesandcommandingthemtopillagetheworld.Naglfar,aboatmadefromthefingernailsofthedeadandnavigatedbyLokihimself,willsailtheoceansofthe world, delivering wicked giants to distant regions and summoning the

primordialwaterstoriseandfloodtheland(Davidson1990,26).ThefiregiantSurtandhismanyadherentswillrisefromMuspelheim(afiery

realmbetweentheEarthandskythathelpedcreatetheworld)withbloodaxesand magical swords, pursuing their ultimate goal of attacking and killing thegods and goddesses ofAsgard andValhalla. Surt’s forceswill eventually joinwiththefrostgiantsastheystormtheBifrost(therainbowbridgeconnectingtheEarth with the home of the gods) and cause it to disintegrate beneath thetramplinghoovesoftheirpreternaturalsteeds.Then,asthegiantsstormthegatesandtheTwilightoftheGodsloomsimminent,thesupernaturalarmieswillmeetonthegreatplainknownasVigrid.Therethefinalbattlebetweengoodandevilwill transpire, and the gods will fall to their knees in a blaze of enormousintensity(Davidson1990,68).All of these godswill die.OnlySurt, the fire giant,will remain to burn the

heavens and the Earth to ashes, and then he too will perish as the thrashingwatersenveloptheentireuniverse.Yet,beyondthistraumaticcatastrophe,hoperekindles: the offspring of the old gods shall remain alive, and Balder, theGermanicgodofpurityandjustice,willbereincarnatedandwillreignwiththeremaininggods.Withtheirassistancehewillcreateanewraceofdivinities,toruleanewlypurifiedandrejuvenateduniverse(Davidson1990,70).TheEarthwillrisefromtheashes—new,fresh,andfertile,morebeautifuland

more enduring than ever before. A man and a woman, having sought shelterfromtheholocaustinYggdrasil,theWorldTree,willsubdueandrepopulatethenewworld.TheyareLifandLifthraser,andaccordingtoauthorFrankJoseph,“NeithertheseanorSurt’sfirehadharmedthem,andtheydwellontheplainsofIda,whereAsgaardwasbefore”(2002,127).ChristianmonkswrotedownthispaganstoryatatimewhenChristianityhad

been entrenched in the lands of the Norse for roughly three centuries, andindeed, Christian elements are reflected in it. For example, the two survivorsrepresentthepurelyNordicAdamandEve,andassuch,markthebeginningofaswitchtomonotheismandtheendoftheoldTeutonicworldviewwithitsmanydeities.Nowthecycleofcreationhadcomefullcircle,forinthecontinuationofthe

story,anewsun,outshiningitspredecessorinradianceandbeauty,wastotravelacross the azure sky, and the nightly heavens would be illuminated by abrillianceunlikeanythathumanshaveeverknown.Thisnewuniverse,purgedoftreacheryandcorruption,willendureforalleternity(Davidson1990,78–80).

AlloftheseTeutonicmythsservetohelpusbetterunderstandtheancientworldintheNorsetradition,onepeopledbygiantsandothercreatures,asisconsistentwiththeliteratureofculturestheworldover.Giventhisconsensus,itwouldbewisetopayattentiontowhatthemessageistryingtotellus.InthenextchapterwewillexploreaccountsofgiantsinAfricaandAustralia,amongothers,inourongoing attempt to determine the ultimate truth about this most compellingaspectofourcollectivepast.

5

GIGANTOPITHECUSANDMEGANTHROPUS

AfricanGiants,AustralianGiants,andGiantsoftheBible

Inthischapterwewillexaminevariousaccountsofgiantsfromacrosstheglobe.Wewill begin with a discussion of an Asian hominid,Gigantopithecus, fromwhich theYeti—an early creature thatwas distinctly notHomosapiens—mayhavedescended.Anotherverylargeapelikehuman,linkedtoHomoerectusandknown asMeganthropus, was found in Java in the 1900s and attracted theattentionof thebestpaleontologistsof theday,whose speculationswe includehere.We next turn our attention to Africa, where intrepid explorers found the

remains of giants in funerary jars in Chad; huge bones buried in a jungle inCentralAfricathatdidnotappeartobehumaninorigin;amummifiedancientEgyptian2.5meterstall;verylargeweaponsunearthedinMorocco;andagiantgroupofpeoplefromSudan,calledtheNilot.Followingthis,wecastourgazedown under to explore Australian reports—including some accounts of giantteeth—before opening the pages of the Bible to examine stories of giantscontained therein, including the story of Goliath—that mighty monster ofyesteryear.

GIGANTOPITHECUSANDMEGANTHROPUS

Evolutionary biologists have identified a giant humanoid race that they callGigantopithecus blacki, standing 9.5 feet tall. Some believe that this creaturemayhavebeen theancestorof theYeti,orBigfoot.Thecolossal,manlikeape,whichruledtheforestsofEastAsiaandotherpartsoftheworldforaboutonemillion years, has been extinct for the past one hundred thousand years. Thespecies coexisted with our immediate predecessor,Homo erectus, before ourownspecies,Homosapiens,madeitsappearance.WhatweknowofGigantopithecus comes from the 1934 discovery ofmore

thanonethousandfossilizedteethbytheDutchpaleontologistandgeologistDr.GustavHeinrichRalphvonKoenigswald,whofoundtheteethinnumerousareasthroughoutSoutheastAsia.TheChinese,overlookingthemasvaluablepiecestoour evolutionary puzzle, were selling these teeth (which they called “dragonbones”)ascuresforvariousillnesses.AfterWorldWarIIbrokeoutinEuropeinSeptemberof1939,localJapaneseauthoritiesarrestedKoenigswaldasanenemyalien,thusendinghisresearch.Hewasliberatedin1945,butmuchofhisworkhadbeendestroyedintheconflict.In their book True Giants: Is Gigantopithecus Still Alive? authors Mark A.

HallandLorenColemanpresenttheirtheorythat“thelivingdescendantsofthefossil typeknownasGigantopithecusmight stillbe inexistence,”albeit in theNewWorld, not inAsia (Hall andColeman 2010, 119). They further exploreanomalousarchaeologicalfindsandsupposedbonesofsuchgiantsthathadbeenexcavated—or were claimed to have been excavated—by an assortment ofprofessionalandamateurarchaeologists.AccordingtoHallandColeman:“TherecordofgiantbonesfromtheNewWorldcanbegroupedintothreecategories:(1)Bones recently foundand lost; (2)Bones foundearly in this century [20thcentury]andinthe19thcentury;(3)Bonesfoundcenturiesago”(2010,121).Theyexplainonefindindetailfromthesecondcategory:

ThelostbonemostfamiliartoSasquatchfollowersislikelytobeonecitedbyJohnGreeninOntheTrackoftheSasquatch.Helearnedfromawomanin British Columbia how she and her husband had found some bones 20yearsearlier(thusinthelate1950s).TheyweretrappingneartheTobaRiverat the time. . . . Over her husband’s objections, she only brought out thejawbone; it was large enough to fit over her face. She kept it around thehouseandshowedittopeopleforthenext10yearsuntilthehouseburneddown.(HallandColeman2010,121)

Inanother report,DanaandGingerLambretrievedacomplete skeletonofagiant from an Indian burial mound in Mexico. A smaller dwarflike skeletonaccompaniedit.Thefingersonthegiant’shandsweretwicethelengthofDana’sown.TheLambsassumedthatfloodwatersinundatedandwashedawaymuchofthe mound, thus exposing the bones for the first time in centuries (Hall andColeman2010,122–23).InadditiontoGigantopithecus,yetanothergiganticmanlikeapeappearsinthe

fossil record, this time in Java. Individuals of this type are grouped under the

umbrella genusMeganthropus and are considered by anthropologists to be asignificantly larger formofHomoerectus, therefore linking thegenus tomorehumanlikeandsubsequentlymoreintelligenthominids.From the beginning, Meganthropus was seen as a seminal find. Franz

Weidenreich,ananthropologistfromtheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory,analyzed fossil remains that had been found throughoutAsia.Hewrote abouttheminhis1946bookApes,Giants,andMan. Inachapterentitled“GiantsasEarliest Ancestors,” and referencing the noted German paleontologist andgeologistG.H.R.vonKoenigswald,mentionedabove,Weidenreichwrites:

Early in 1941, I received a letter from von Koenigswald in which heannouncedthediscoveryofafragmentofanotherlowerjaw,collectedatthesamesiteasthejawfoundearlier(Sangiran).Butthistimethecriticalteethwere still in their place and showed only slight attrition. A sketch of thepiecewasadded.VonKoenigswaldwrotethatitsproportionsareenormous.Iaskedforacast.ItarrivedjustacoupleweeksafterPearlHarbor.Itcouldbegathered from the label thatvonKoenigswald intended togive thenewhuman type, represented by the gigantic jaw, the name Meganthropuspaleojavanicus,whichmeans“giantman fromJava,”and thathe regardedthefragmentasthatofamaleindividual,whichthefragmentearlier,notyetrecognized,wasattributedbyhim toa female individualof thesame type.(1946)

Weidenreichconcludeshischapterby trying toplaceMeganthropuswithinaframeworkcongruentwiththeknownfossilsofthe1940s:

TheonlyskullbonethatchallengestheJavajawinmassivenessisthejawofBroom’sParanthropusrobustus fromsouthernAfrica.This jawbelongs tothat strange group of Australopithecines which shows the typicalorganizationof anthropoidsmixedwith somehuman features.The speciesname, robustus, was given by Broom because of this extraordinaryappearance of the jaw. The robustness of thePithecanthropus skull is thelinkconnectingitwiththegiantjawfromJava,inadditiontotheagreementin primitive human traits shown by both. This suggests that there was acontinuous line of gigantic andnearly gigantic human forms characterizedby a gradual reduction in size, this reduction going hand in hand with aprogressivetrendinotherfeatures.ForthisreasonIdistinguishbetweenthebigPithecanthropus. . . .Thebigskullapparentlyrepresentsaspecial type

already on the way to gigantism; therefore I gave it the name“Pithecanthropusrobustus.”(Weidenreich1946)

Franz Weidenreich also makes the following observation, comparingGigantopithecusandMeganthropus: “ThemolarsofGigantopithecusaremorethan one-third larger than those of Meganthropus, the Java giant, and almosttwice as large as those of the big Pithecanthropus [Homo erectus robustus]”(1946).Weidenreich’scolleaguevonKoenigswaldwastopublishhisownbookonthe

issueofgianthominidevolutionin1962,entitledTheEvolutionofMan.Inithewrites:“Meganthropus had the largest human lower jaw so far discovered. It is

roughly the size of a gorilla’s (length of firstmolar:Meganthropus 14.5mm;gorilla 15.5 mm; average Homo Sapiens 11.5 mm). [John] Robinson, whoconsidersthejawasthatofParanthropus,hasshownthatthetwoarecomparableinsizeandstructure”(HallandColeman2010,119).Let’smoveon from these fascinating accounts to seewhat has turnedup in

Africa.

GIANTSONTHEDARKCONTINENTOFAFRICA

We find several key examples of giants on the Dark Continent of Africa. In1936,FrencharchaeologistsJean-PaulLebeufandG.Calame-GriaulelaunchedanexpeditionintothenorthcentralAfricannationofChad.Whiletraversingtheplains,theystumbleduponanumberofancientburialmounds.Additionalburialmoundswere located around Fort Lamy andGoulfeil. The two archaeologistsdecidedtoexcavatetheburialsitetodeterminewhoorwhatwasinterredthere.Inadditiontojewelryandartwork,theydiscoveredseveralegg-shapedfuneral

jars containing the remains of an ancient race of gigantic stature. Thearchaeologicalteamthenquestionedthenatives.Accordingtothem,thesegiantswereknowntotheirpeopleastheSaos.Theyhada“well-developedreligionandculture”; theywere fruitful andmultiplied; and they established settlements atFort Lamy,Mahaya,Midigue, and Goulfeil. Theymanaged to avoid conflict,either internally or with neighboring tribes, but in the ninth century CE, thewarhorseofMuslimexpansioneventuallybroughtanendtotheircenturies-longpeace.The invadingArabsattempted to forcefullyconvert theSaos,and thosewhoacceptedthenewIslamicfaithlivedinservitudeandslaverytotheArabs.

Thosewhorefusedwereultimatelyexterminated,withtheupshotbeingthat,bytheendofthesixteenthcentury,theSaoshadallbutvanishedfromthefaceoftheEarth.In addition to the mysterious Saos, giants have been reported in the fossil

recordinKigaliRwanda.Thesefindingsareabitodderinthatthecreaturestheyreference may be of extraterrestrial origin. On June 24, 2011, the followingarticleappearedintheRussiannewspaperPravda:

AteamofanthropologistsfoundgiganticcreaturesburiedinthejunglenearthecityofKigaliRwanda(CentralAfrica).Theremainsbelongtogiganticcreatures that bear little resemblance to humans. Head of research groupbelievesthattheycouldbevisitorsfromanotherplanetwhodiedasaresultof a catastrophe.According to the scientists, theywereburiedat least500yearsago.Atfirst,researchersthoughtthattheycameacrosstheremainsofancientsettlements,butnosignsofhumanlifehavebeenfoundnearby.The40 communal graves had approximately 200 bodies in them, all perfectlypreserved.Thecreaturesweretall—approximately7feet.Theirheadsweredisproportionately large and they had no mouth, nose or eyes. Theanthropologistsbelievethatthecreaturesweremembersofanalienlanding,possiblydestroyedbysometerrestrialvirustowhichtheyhadnoimmunity.However, no traces of the landing of the spacecraft or its fragmentswerediscovered.(Troitsina2011)

AcacheofhugehuntingweaponsfoundinMoroccoisanotherindicationthatgiants once roamed the Dark Continent. Peter Kolosimo reports in TimelessEarththatatAgadirinMorocco,theFrenchcaptainLafanechere“discoveredacompletearsenalofhuntingweaponsincludingfivehundreddouble-edgedaxesweighingseventeenandahalfpounds, i.e., twentytimesasheavyaswouldbeconvenient formodernman.Apart from the question ofweight, to handle theaxeatallonewouldneedtohavehandsofasizeappropriatetoagiantwithastatureofatleast13feet”(1973,32).AnotherexampleofAfricangiantsisnotthatofanextinctrace,butaracethat

survives to this day, in the Sudan.Unfortunately, little has beenwritten aboutthis extraordinary people and yetwe do have the brilliant and comprehensivework Inside Africa, by author and explorer John Gunther, that addresses thesubject. In thisseminal tome,Gunthernames therace inquestionas theNilot.Accordingtohim,they“havespreadtheirvirilebloodfarafield,aswitnessthe

MasaiinKenyaandthegiantWatusiinRuanda-Urundi,whoarecousinstotheHamiticSudanese”(Gunther1955).The lateprofessionalbasketball starManuteBol isan idealexemplarof this

giganticbutveryslenderraceofDinka(theDinkaarederivedfromtheNilot).Bol was from the Sudanese region of Africa, where his height of seven feetsevenincheswasnotananomaly.AccordingtothetraditionalcreationmythoftheNilotpeople,inthebeginningtheuniversewascoveredwithsandandrock.Licking his way out of one salty block of rock came a giant, Binbali, whobecamethefirst livingbeing.Thentheskypeoplecameanddecided todivideBinbali’sbodyintotwopartsandtookhisbloodtoformtheriversandlakesofnortheasternAfrica—including theNile and the IndianOcean to the east.TheskygodsnexttookaprimitivecreaturecalledImzadi,raisedhim,andgavehimsuper strength andheight,makinghim the earliestmemberof the first raceofgiants,whoweretheancestorsoftheNilot.Lesa, themost important of these ancient sky gods, came down to Earth to

create theworld. Lesa and the other sky godswere giants. They arrived on ashimmeringcloud,andaftertheylanded,theytraveledeastacrosstheland.Theycreatedeverythingwenowrecognizeasbeingpartof theAfrican landscape—rivers, hills, trees, grass, and sand. The sky people established the variousnations and tribes of the Earth before traveling west and then back to theheavens.Lesapromisedhischildrenthatheandtheskypeoplewouldonedayreturn.Before they left, as theywalkedacross the Itabwaplain, they left theirfootprints in the mud. These footprints later hardened into stone and werepreserved in solid rock.Called “the footprints of giants” due to their colossalsize,theycanbeseentheretothisveryday.The interesting aspect of this myth is how it contains elements of both the

ancientastronaut theoryand theancientgiant theory,anddirectlyconnects thetwo,provingthattheyarecompatible.

THETRUEGIANTSOFTHECOMOROSISLANDS

Located in the Mozambique Channel, four hundred kilometers east of theAfricancontinent,aretheComorosIslands.Thisancientarchipelago,volcanicinorigin,hidesoneof thegreatest secretsof themodernworld—thepresenceoflivinggiants.In2005,MatthewGreenofReutersreportedtheislanders’beliefintheRedHeadband,adangerousandpowerfulcreatureofgiant-sizestature:

Nobodyhaseverseenhimandlived.Quitehowtheancestorseververifiedtheexistenceof“RedHeadband”—theIndianOcean’sanswertoBigFoot,theYetiandtheLochNessMonster—isthusamystery.WhatisclearisthatwhenavolcanoeruptedonthelargestislandintheComorosarchipelagoonApril 17, anold storygained anew twist.Since timebegan, an evil spiritwhichappearsasagianthumanwearinghiseponymous redheadbandhasstalkedthecrateratthesummitofMountKarthala,sometimesappearingastall as a house, or even, deceptively, as a dwarf. That’s only when he’sviewedfromfaraway.“Whenpeopleleavethevillageandtheydon’tcomeback, we suspect they have seen RedHeadband,” said IbrahimAli, 60, afarmerfromthemountainvillageofIdgikoundzi....“Somepeoplesaytheyhaveseenhim,andhelookslikeagiant,”hesaid.

MYSTERIESOFTHEANCIENTAUSTRALIANGIANTS

Movingfromonepartoftheworldtothenextinoursearchfortheremainsofancientgiants,wenowfocusourattentiononAustraliaandsomearchaeologicalfinds that have surfaced there, specifically petroglyphs that are thousands ofyearsoldandassuch,datetoprehistory.Theyaredepictionsoffourgiant-sizedfigureswithbluehalos around their heads, their bodies fittedwith long robes.Includedwiththeseimagesareinscriptionswritteninanunknownlanguage.Whilemanyadherentsoftheancientastronauttheoryconsiderthemanearly

illustrated accountof an extraterrestrial visitation, I think theymight representinstead a forgotten race of giants. According to local Aboriginal belief, thesedrawings illustrate the first humans and were drawn by another race. TheAboriginesalsobelievethatboththeirowntechnologyandtheirfolkmedicinederivefromthissingleculturerace,andpositthatduringtheDreamtimethefirsthumans were beneficiaries of their immense power. There is nothing in thisdescription, nor in the Aborigines’ own words, that implies any kind of anextraterrestrialexplanation.One thing is certain: The Aborigines were not the first to reach Australia.

AnthropologistsmaintainmainlandAboriginesare in factquite recentarrivals.Aborigines themselvesacknowledgein theirancientfolklore that this landwasinhabited by several groups of humans, as well as giants, before they settledhere.Be this as itmay, there also remains the strongpossibility that these figures

represent yet another distinct culture, perhaps travelers from the fabledcontinents ofAtlantis orLemuria, cultureshighly advanced andof thisworld.The question is, of course, where did theAtlanteans and Lemurians get theirtechnology?Let’s drill down a little deeper on the question of whether these figures

represent ancient giants. Stephen Quayle touches upon the issue in hismonumental undertakingGiants: Master Builders of Prehistoric and AncientCivilizations. Regarding the possibility of giants in Australia, Quayle writes:“BecauseAustraliahasbeensettledonlyrecentlyoutsideoftheaboriginaltribesthathaveinhabiteditforsometime,notalotofgiantshavebeendiscoveredonthisvastcontinent.However,therearesignsthatgiantswalkedthiscontinentaswellasotherareasoftheworld,andsomeanthropologistshaveevengonesofaras tosuggest therewasanentire raceof suchbeings that shouldbeclassedasmeganthropus”(2002,308).AccordingtoQuayle,in1970anumberofgiganticfossilizedfootprintswere

discoveredinAustralia’sOutback.ThiscapturedtheattentionofDr.RexGilroy,director of theMountYorkNatural HistoryMuseum atMountVictoria, NewSouthWales.Thisfindingwassosignificantandprovocativethat,afterplastercastsofthefootprintsweremade,GilroyimmediatelystartedexcavationsintheOutback.Soonhugestoneartifacts—clubs,pounders,adzes,chisels,knives,andhandaxes—wereuncovered“alloftremendousweight...scatteredoverawidearea.Theseweighanythingfrom8,10,15,21and25pounds,implementswhichonly men of tremendous proportions could possibly have made and used.Estimatesfortheactualsizeofthesemenrangefrom10to12feettallandover,weighingfrom500–600lbs”(Beckley2009).Gilroybecameenamoredwithhisquestand,throughouthiscareer,attempted

toprovehis theoryof thegiant habitationofAustralia.Hewas to continue tofindampleevidencetoestablishthatanancientraceofgiantsoncedwelledontheAustraliancontinent.Anothercompelling find inAustralia—thatofamassivehumanmolar—was

uncovered by an archaeologist excavating the Winburndale River north ofBathurst. It was far too large to have belonged tomodernHomo sapiens. Anadditional discovery was made near Dubbo, New South Wales, that closelyparallel the tooth found at the Winburndale River. The Bathurst district alsoyielded a number of other intriguing finds. In the 1930s prospectors workingthereallegedlyuncoveredanumberoflargehumanfootprints.Theywerefound

fossilizedinshoalsofredjasper.AdditionalfindswerealsounearthedatGympie,Queensland.Afarmernamed

KeithWalkerdiscovered the largefragmentof thebackportionofa jawwhileplowing his field. The jaw still possessed a hollow cavity for amissing backmolar.Theownerofthetoothmusthaveexceededtenfeetinheight,atruegiantbyanymeans.ThejawandthediscoveredtoothlatercameintothepossessionofRexGilroy,theowneroftheplasterfootprintcastsmentionedabove(Beckley2009).In the Megalong Valley in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, yet

anotherphenomenaldiscoverywasmade.Alargehumanlikefootprintwasfoundin ironstone jutting from a creek bank.According toBeckley: “The printwasthatoftheinstep,withall5toesclearlyshown.Thisfootprintmeasures7inchesacross the toes.Had the footprintbeencomplete itwouldhavebeenat least2feet (60 cm in length, appropriate to a 12 foot human. However, the largestfootprint found on the BlueMountainsmust have belonged to aman 20 feettall!)”(2009).Beckley’scompilationgoeson tomentionadditional findsof thisnature.“A

setof3hugefootprintswasdiscoverednearMulgoa,southofPenrith,N.S.W.These prints, eachmeasuring 2 ft. long and 7 inches across the toes, are 6 ft.apart, indicating thestrideof the12 ft.giantwho left them.Theseprintswerepreserved by volcanic lava and ash flows which ‘occurred millions of years’beforemanissupposedtohaveappearedontheAustraliancontinent(ifoneistobelievetheevolutionarytheory)”(2009).These last remaining relicsof a forgottenage standas a testament to a time

when giants trod the Australian continent. However, in addition to theprevalenceofthesegiants,Australiawasalsohometoanumberofancientandsophisticated civilizations: some sources have proposed that the Egyptians,Celts,andPhoeniciansmayhavebeenregularvisitorstothesoutherncontinent.Artifacts attesting to thishave appeared inmanyareas throughoutAustralia,

specifically,seventeengranitestonesbearingconfirmedPhoenicianinscriptions.Onereads:“TheEyeofRathesunruleSinim.”SinimistheHebrewnameforamysterioussoutherncontinentdescribedintheOldTestament.Thislandhasalsobeen associated with the Phoenician “Ofir,” which was the source of KingSolomon’sgold.TheEgyptiansalso referred to it as“the landofPunt.”Otherartifacts,seeminglyEgyptian,havealsobeenuncovered:In1983,a“hand-madeglassamulet”wasfoundintheNewSouthWalestownofKyogle.Itfeatureda

stretched pyramid shape and Egyptian characters on four sides. A closecomparisonwithothersimilariconsinEgyptandelsewhereledsomeexpertstoconcludethatitmustbeatleastfivethousandyearsold.Another intriguinganomalywas foundon the IsleofNewCaledonia,which

lies approximately 1,210 kilometers east of Australia. Here archaeologistsdiscoveredfourhundredanthill-shapedmoundsofgravelandsandthattheycalltumuli. The mounds average eight feet in height and three hundred feet indiameter. As with the mysterious heads of Easter Island, archaeologists areunsure who built them or why. This mystery was only exacerbated by thediscovery of upright pillars within a number of the tumuli. Current datingmethods indicate that the pillars are between seven thousand and thirteenthousand years old,which engendered speculation from the lost continent andancientalien theorists,who thought theywereeither landingbeacons foralienspacecraftortheremnantsofancienttemplesdedicatedtothegodsofLemuriaorMu. Academic archaeologists, meanwhile, continue to pursue explanationsthatbetterfittheestablishedparadigm.Astheacademicsdebatethevagariesofdifferentfacetsofthisdiscovery,local

nativesassertthatthegodsbuiltthetumuli.Otherlocalsevendaretomentionalegend about a race of giants having created the tumuli andmany other greatmonuments on their islands. Oceanic mythology (covering cultures from theIndianOceaninthewesttoEasterIslandintheeast)isrepletewithreferencestogiantsandgods.

GIANTSINTHEBIBLE

TheBibleisrichingiantsymbolismand,assuch,todayremainsoneofthemostauthoritativeworksonthesubject.Inadditiontothemanypre-ChristianGreekmyths,theBiblelendscredibility,evenprovability,toclaimsoftheexistenceofgiants.TheBookofJobisconsideredtheoldestbookintheHebrewBible.Job26:5–

6reveals:“Theprimevalgiantstrembleimprisonedbeneaththewaterswiththeirinhabitants.Theunseenworld[thebottomofthesea]liesopenbeforethem,andthe place of destruction is uncovered.” Author Frank Joseph links thisdescriptiontoanearlyreferencetoAtlantis.ThegiantsherecouldbeconstruedasbeingtheoriginalchildrenofAtlantis,justasthefoundingfathersofAtlantiswereagiantsuper-raceknownastheTitans,anearlierpopulationofenormous

godsthatonceruledtheprimordialuniverse(Joseph2005).TheBiblealsodescribeswhatisperhapsthemostfamousgiantencounterof

all in Samuel 7:1–4: “And there went out a champion from the camp of thePhilistines,namedGoliath,whoseheightwassixcubitsandaspan . . .andhewas armedwith a coat ofmail; and theweight of the coatwas five thousandshekels of brass and the staff of his spearwas like aweaver’s beam; and hisspear’sheadweighedsixhundredshekelsofiron.”Goliathwas thedirectdescendantofKingOgof theAmmonites.Chronicles

20:3–8 gives a description of Goliath’s lineage and how he came to confrontDavid:

Andhebroughtoutthepeoplethatwereinit,andcutthemwithsaws,andwithharrowsofironandwithaxes.EvensodealtDavidwithallthecitiesofthechildrenofAmmon.AndDavidandall thepeoplereturntoJerusalem.And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with thePhilistinesatwhichtimeSibbechai theHushathiteslewSippai, thatwasofthechildrenofthegiant:andtheyweresubdued.AndtherewaswaragainwiththePhilistines;andElhananthesonofJairslewLahmithebrotherofGoliath the Gittite whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam. And yetagain there was war at Gath [the legendary Philistine city and home ofGoliath]wherewasamanofgreatstature,whosefingersandtoeswerefourandtwenty,sixoneachhand,andsixoneachfootandhealsowasthesonofthegiants.Butwhenhedefied Israel, Jonathan the sonofShimeaDavid’sbrotherslewhim.ThesewerebornuntothegiantinGath;andtheyfellbythehandofDavidandbythehandofhisservants.

Recently,apotteryshardwasfoundintheruinsofGath,datingto950BCE.Itwasinscribedwithtwonon-SemiticnamesetymologicallysimilartothebiblicalnameGoliath.Bothnames,“ALWT” and“WLT” ,werewritten inSemitic“Proto-Canaanite”letters.Thedatingoftheartifactwasconsistentwiththetraditionalbiblicaldateaswell.Itishopedthisrandomdiscoverywilllendcredibilitytothescripturalaccount(Maeiretal.2008,20).In addition to the account of Goliath, the Bible contains more examples of

giants,whichshouldbementionedhere.InhisbookTwilightoftheGods,authorErich vonDäniken devotes several pages to various biblical accounts ofwhatmayhavebeenitemsbelongingtoancientgiants.Forexample,inthefifthbookof the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 3:11), the narrative speaks of a gigantic

sarcophagus: “ForonlyOgkingofBashan remainedof the remnantofgiants;behold,hisbedsteadwasabedsteadofiron;itisnotinRabbathofthechildrenofAmmon?Ninecubitswasthelengthofit[about8.5feet],andfourcubitsthebreadthofit,afterthecubitofaman.”

Thefartherwe travel, themoreevidencewegather; recordsofgiantsexist theworldover.Inthischapterwerecountedmoreofthem,includingthosefoundinthe Bible, which provide scholars with some of the most culturally andreligiouslysignificantaccountsofgiantsavailableinalltheEuropeanandNearEastern traditions. However, other accounts are linked not to the Judaeo-Christianculture,butrathertothediversetraditionsoftheNewWorld.Let’ssetoursightsontheAmericasnext,beginningwithNorthAmerica,beforewemovedowntoCentralAmerica,SouthAmerica,andtheancientislandsknowntodayasPolynesia.

6

GIANTSOFANCIENTNORTHAMERICA

MainstreamarchaeologistsholdtothebasictenetsoftheClovisFirsttheorywithalmostreligiouszeal.Thistheoryisso-namedforaspecifictypeofarrow-pointfound in Clovis, New Mexico, during the early half of the last century, andconsidered by the establishment to be the Holy Grail of North Americanpaleoarchaeology.Intheestimationofthesemainstreamarchaeologists,sporadicwavesofmigrationsbeginningaround fifteen thousandyears agomoved fromSiberia across the Bering Strait and into Alaska. When an ice-free corridoropened up a few thousand years later, the Paleo-Indians, as they are called,roamed southward into virgin territory, soon to occupy the whole of theAmericas. In theirview, thisestablished theClovispeopleas theNewWorld’sfirstculture.Manymainstreamscientistsnowquestion this interpretation,but thenumber

of academicswho still cling to theold theory is truly staggering.As stated inpreviouschapters,ampleevidencesuggeststhatcontrarytothisview—thattheNewWorldwas anunpopulatedgarden that became inhabitedbut a few shortmillenniaago—theNewWorldisinsteadalandofvanishedpeoplesandwastheepicenterof a long-lost ageofhistoricalgiants. Indeed, this evidence suggeststhatgiantsdominatedtheAmericasforhundredsof thousandsyearsbeforethearrivalofAsianpeoplefromSiberia.

EARLYACCOUNTSOFGIANTSBYEUROPEANEXPLORERS

IntheirbookTheSuppressedHistoryofAmerica,PaulSchragandXaviantHazewrite:“MeriwetherLewis,describedasagiantofAmericanhistory,mayhavebeen preceded by an entire race of real, historical giants” (2011, 90). Indeed,this, in short, summarizes themain thesis of the race of giants hypothesis onwhichthisbookisbased.ThroughoutSchragandHaze’swork,theydemonstratehow the famous American explorers and adventurers Lewis and Clarkencountered stories among the Native Americans of a fallen race of giants.

Furthermore, in many cases Lewis and Clark had their own close encounterswith suchbeings.Theywrote thesedownand then suppressed theaccounts inlaterpublications.According to author Stephen Quayle, up until five centuries ago, the New

Worldwasstillpopulatedbylivinggiants.Onlyinveryrecenttimes,thelastfewcenturies, has evidence of living giants faded into the background. The onlylegendsthatpersistarethoseofthemythicalSasquatch,whichmayormaynotbe a living species descended from Gigantopithecus. While the jury on thatparticular question is still out, let’s look at a sixteenth-century account of theNewWorld’sgiantphenomena.In1519,SpanishexplorerAlonsoÁlvarezdePinedamapped theentireGulf

Coast region, marking the various rivers and bays, noticeable landmarks andporting areas, all of which were the exclusive property of the king of Spain.After covering the entire coastlines of Florida and as far south as Tampico,Mexico,hereturneduptheMississippiRiver,ajourneyhewouldneverforget.Pineda was the first European ever to have ventured up the mouth of theMississippi.Hereturnedwithanunbelievableaccount.AccordingtoPineda,hefoundalargesettlementofvillagesinhabitedbygiants.Pinedaalsoclaimedthatthesegiantswere friendly, andafter some timeheandhis crewsettledamongthem.Theretheyrested,maderepairs,andresuppliedtheirfoodstuffs,preparingforthejourneyonward(SchragandHaze2011,91).PinedanotedthattherewasanabundanceofgoldthroughouttheMississippi

and that the natives adorned themselves with gold jewelry and worshippedgolden idols. Rather atypical for a Spaniard of his time, Pineda was lessconcerned with finding gold in the Mississippi and more captivated by thediscoveryofnewlandsandfood,andtheshockoffindingaraceofgiantslivingamongthenativepopulation.AfterPinedaarrivedbackathishomebaseontheCaribbeanislandofJamaica,

hementionedadditionalsettlementsofgiantsencounteredonislandsallthewayuptheTexascoast.HethenpresentedFranciscodeGaray,theSpanishgovernorofJamaica,withhismapsoftheentireGulfCoastalongwithhissketchesandimpressionsof its inhabitants.Thesewritings,archivedby the famousSpanishcompilerMartínFernándezdeNavarrete,canbefoundbyvisitingtheArchivoGeneraldeIndiasinSeville,Spain(SchragandHaze2011,92).Twentyyearslater,therenownedSpanishexplorerFranciscoCoronadoledan

expedition across the American Southwest in search of the legendary Seven

Cities of Cibola, known today as El Dorado. Throughout this quest, theexpedition encounterednumerous tribesof Indiangiants.Theman responsiblefordocumenting thesecloseencounterswasPedrodeCastañeda,who traveledwithCoronadoandwrotefirsthandaccountsandhistoriesoftheexpedition.Castañeda’s book describes this fascinating journey and discusses the

adventuresofakeycrewmember,HernandodeAlarcón, regarding interactionswithlivinggiantsamongtheNorthAmericanIndiansoftheSouthwest.SchragandHazeexplaintheadventure:

Lowon provisions, a franticCoronado sentAlarcón to find a river that couldbring supplies more easily to the Spanish outposts along the California andMexicancoasts.Afternearlydestroyinghisshipsandmissingthewaitingpartyattherendezvouspoint,AlarcónhaphazardlyfloatedupthemouthofthemurkyColoradoRiver.Alarcón and hismen became the first Europeans to fight therough rapids as he brought his fleet into the heart of the Colorado River,reachingasfarasthelowerreachesoftheGrandCanyon.Whilecoastinguptheriver,Alarcónandhismencameuponasettlementofanestimatedtwohundredgiantwarriors.Thesegiants,amazedbyforeignintrudersontheriverbanks,werereadytoattack.Alarcón, however, averted conflict by offering them gifts and entering in a

peace treatywith the imposingnatives.Thisquicklydiffused the situationandAlarcón and his fleet were permitted to continue unmolested by the natives.ThesegiantswerelateridentifiedasbelongingtotheCocopaIndians;evenmoreofthesegianttribesmenwerefoundfurtherupstream.(2011,92)

ORALTRADITIONSOFGIANTNATIVEAMERICANS

Oraltraditionsofmostof thetribesofNorthAmericaalsocontainaccountsofgiants.Diné(Navajo) legendsmentionaraceof“aliengods”calledtheanaye.This name is also associated with a race that spoke a distinctly non-Navajolanguage.ThesetremendousogrestoweredovertheNavajo,“halfastallasthetallestpine-tree.”TheyweredistinguishedasnotbeinglessintelligentthantheNavajo and other Native Americans, but also as being bloodthirsty cannibalswhoravenouslydevouredhumanfleshandevenconsumedoneanother.Anothergiant,whoborethedifficultnameTse’tahotsilta’li,whichmeans“He

WhoKicks (People)Down theCliff,”was felled by theNavajo cultural heroNayenezgani (“Slayerof theAlienGods”).Nayenezganidestroyed thewicked

giantTse’tahotsilta’libyhittinghimrightbetween theeyeswithastoneknife.Tse’tahotsilta’li’stwelvechildrenthenravenouslydevouredhugechunksoftheirfather’s rawandbleedingcorpse,whileNayenezganiwenton thewarpathandslaughteredelevenofthesetwelvechildrenofthegreatgiant.However,thefinalandeldestchildwassofilthy,ugly,anddeformedthatNayenezganitookpityonhimand sparedhis life.Theboygiant,nothingmore thana cannibalmonster,traveledtoNavajoMountain(elevation10,388feet)ontheUtah-Arizonaborderand,accordingtoNativeAmericanlegend,becametheforerunnerofthePaiutes.

ANCIENTGIANTSANDTHELIGHT-SKINNEDPEOPLE

Some of the earliest surviving written and oral accounts tell of fierce, light-skinned peoples who were once the central force of a lost civilization. Theyclaimedthattheirantecedentswerearaceofgiants.InherbookTotheAmericanIndian,LucyThompsonwrites:

When the Indians firstmade their appearance on theKlamath river itwasalreadyinhabitedbyawhiteraceofpeopleknownamongusastheWa-gas.Thesewhitepeoplewere found to inhabit thewholecontinent,andwereahighlymoralandcivilizedrace.TheyheartilywelcomedtheIndianstotheircountryandtaughtusalloftheirartsandsciences.The Indians recognized the rights of these ancient people as the first

possessorsofthesoilandnodifficultieseverarosebetweenthetwopeople... .Theirmoralswerefarsuperior to thewhitepeopleof today, their idealswerehighand inspiredourpeoplewithgreatness.Afterwehad livedwiththese ancientpeople so long, they suddenlycalled theirhosts together andmysteriously disappeared for a distant land,we knownotwhere. . . .Ourpeoplemournedtheirloss,asnomorehavewefoundsuchfriendsasthey,sotrueandloyal.In their farewell journey across this land they left landmarks of stone

monuments,onthetopsofhighmountainsandplacescommandingaviewofthesurroundingcountry.Theseland-markswehavekeptinrepair,downthroughtheagesinlovingremembrance....WhentheWa-gasleftthislandtheyassuredmypeoplethattheywouldreturntothematsomefuturetime.Perchance thousands of years have elapsed since then, and they have notreturned,wehavewaited invain for it seems thatourcherishedhopesarefading.However, someofourpeoplearestill looking for the returnof the

whiteman.ThetraditionshandeddownleadsustobelievethattheWa-gasreturnedto

the land of their birth, in the far north, the valley ofCheek-cheek-alth, astheir traditionswere given to us that their originwas in this same land ofCheek-cheek-alth,astheycamedownfromtheNorthwhentheycametothisland.WhentheWa-gasfirstarrivedonthiscontinenttheyhandeddownthetraditionstousthatitwasinhabitedbyagiantraceofpeoplewhentheyfirstcame.These giants were represented by theWa-gas as being very swarthy in

complexion,andtheyusedimplementssolargethatnoordinarymancouldlift them.Itwasanagewhenlargeanimalsroamedtheearth,anditseemsthebirdsandfowlswereallverylargeinsize.Itappearedtobethefirstage,andwas theageof thegiants.The recollections transmittedby theWa-gaswere that these giants were very cruel and wicked. It was said that Godbecamedispleasedwiththemanddestroyedthemandtheyallperishedfromtheearth.ItwasalsosaidthatGodappearedtotheHighPriestoftheWagasandtold

them that he was going to destroy the giant race and that the Wa-gasthemselveswouldsurviveupontheearthasanewpeople.Smallerbirdsandanimals would appear upon the earth for the use ofman, thus the age ofgiantsperished,buttheWa-gasdonothanddownanytraditionofhowtheyperishedfromtheearth,asmypeoplehavenorecollectionsofeverseeinggiants.Mymother says that our people in ancient times have seenmany relics

belongingtotheseprehistoricgiants,suchashugestonebowls,stoneslabsandotherimplementssogreatthatourpeoplecouldnotmovethem.Duringtheagesofrainsandwearingawayoftheearth,theseimplementshavebeenburied so deep and have sunk into the earth, is the reasonwe cannot findthemtoday.TheIndiannameforthegiantraceisPah-pel-ene,whichmeanspeoplethathavealldiedandpassedaway.WhentheWa-gasreturnedtoCheek-cheek-althitissupposedtheyfounda

ladder in this beautiful valley which extends from earth to Heaven, andclimbed it toWerse-on-now, (Heaven)where theydwellwithGod.All thehalf castes with the exception of a few went away with theWa-gas, andnearly all those thatwere three quarters Indian remainedwith our people.Thisissaidtobethereasonwhysomeofourpeopleareveryfair.Someof

the Indians are still looking for their return to the earth, when they comeback it isbelieved thatpeaceandhappinesswill reignsupremeagainoverthisgreatlandandallevilwillbecastout.When the present race of the white people made their first appearance

upontheAmericancontinent,webelieveditwastheWa-gasreturningandaheartywelcomewasextendedtothemandtherewasgreatrejoicingamongourtribes.Butsoonthesadmistakewasdiscoveredtooursorrow,whenthemenbegantodebauchourwomen,givewhiskeytoourmenandclaimourlandthatourfore-fathershadinhabitedforsomanythousandsofyears,yetnot a single family has ever beendriven from their house on theKlamathriveruptothisday.WenolongertermedthemasWa-gas,butasKen-e-yahs,which means foreigners, who had no right to the land and could neverappreciateourkindness,fortheywereaverydifferentpeoplefromtheWa-gas.Theyhadcorruptmorals thatbroughtdissolutionuponourpeopleandwroughtthehorrorsofuntoldhavoc.(1916,64–66)

ARCHAEOLOGICALFINDINGSTHATSUPPORTTHELEGENDS

Indeed, the evidence for the existence of a superior race of giants in NorthAmerica preceding the Bering Strait population from Siberia is striking.Sophisticated stone tools have been found in an ancient Mexican streambed.These artifactswere considerablymore advanced than even those used by theEuropean andNear Eastern populations thirty-five thousand to forty thousandyearsago.Dr. Ronald Frywell of Washington State University was quoted by Brad

SteigerinhisbookWorldsbeforeOurOwnregardingthesefindings:“Wehaveapparently found geological data that led to a head-on confrontation withapparently sound archaeological data.” Steiger goes on towrite: “People havebeendiscoveringdata thatsimplywillnot fit into theaccepted theoriesfor theorigin of theAmerindian nomatter howmuch one bends, folds, ormutilates.Howlongthesetheorieswillbeallowedtoremainsacrosanctaftersuch‘head-onconfrontations’isaquestionthatbegsaforthrightanswer”(1978).InreferencetothemonumentscitedinThompson’sbookabouttheWa-gas,in

additiontotheincrediblyancientartifacts,somebeingasmuchas250,000yearsold, enormouswalled cities and fortifications were found scattered across the

UnitedStates.AccordingtoSteiger:“InRockwall,Texas’ssmallestcounty,foursquare miles support the great stone walls of ancient fortification—some ofwhich reachheights of forty-nine feet.Thewalls are about eight inches thick.The stones have been placed on top of each otherwith the ends breaking thecenterofthestoneaboveorbelow,justasafinemasonwouldbuildawall.Thestonesgivetheappearanceofhavingbeenbeveledaroundtheiredges”(1978).Therewerealsorumorsofavanishedtribethatconstructedan885footwallon

FortMountaininnorthernGeorgia.Thewallsruneasttowest,andovershadownumerous pits or foxholes from which, it is imagined, defenders repelledinvadingarmies.ExamplesofmassivestonewallsandfortifiedcitiesinancientAmericabefore

thearrivalofEuropeanscouldaddtoarenewedconfidenceinNativeAmericaningenuity,but indigenousgroups themselvesmaintain that these structures andartifactsarenotproductsoftheirownengineeringability,butrathercreditthemtoa raceofgiantsknownbyavarietyofnames throughout theAmericas andancientPolynesia.

THEDISCOVERIESOFAARONWRIGHTIN1800

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, a young settler named AaronWrightchoseahomesteadsituatedonalarge“moundbuilder”burialground.Thereheunearthed the “Conneaut Giants”—the giant-sized, ancient inhabitants ofAshtabulaCounty,Ohio.Thediscoveryandthemoundsthemselves,whichwerefound to contain unusual and enigmatic bones, were described in 1844 byHarveyNettleton:

ThemoundsthatweresituatedintheeasternpartofwhatisnowthevillageofConneautandtheextensiveburyinggroundnearthePresbyterianChurch,appear to have had no connectionwith the burying places of the Indians.Theydoubtlessrefertoamoreremoteperiodandaretherelicsofanextinctrace, of whom the Indians had no knowledge. These mounds were ofcomparativelysmallsize,andofthesamegeneralcharacterofthosethatarewidelyscatteredoverthecountry.Whatismostremarkableconcerningthemis that among the quantity of human bones they contain, there are foundspecimensbelongingtomenoflargestature,andwhomusthavebeennearlyalliedtoaraceofgiants.Skullsweretakenfromthesemounds,thecavitiesofwhichwereofsufficientcapacity toadmit theheadofanordinaryman,

andjaw-bonesthatmightbefittedonoverthefacewithequalfacility.Thebonesofthearmsandlowerlimbswereofthesameproportions,exhibitingocularproofofthedegeneracyofthehumanracesincetheperiodinwhichthesemenoccupiedthesoilwhichwenowinhabit.

WilliamW.Williams’sHistoryofAshtabulaCounty,Ohio,publishedin1878,is the first authoritative publication devoted to northeastern Ohio. In it areextensive accounts of various encounters with the gigantic remains of the“Conneaut Giants.” For chapter 6, entitled, “The Mound-Builders,” localantiquarianStephenD.Peetprovidesthefollowingdetaileddescription:

An impenetrablemysterystillhangsover . . . a racepreceding thevarioustribes of Indians which history has come in contact with, and may beregardedasstrictlypre-historic....Ohiogivesnumerousevidencesofsucharace.Here,itwouldseem,wasthechiefseatoftheancientempire....InthisStatetwoclassesofworkshavebeendiscovered.. . .[In]thesoutherncountiestheworksaremuchmoremassiveanddistinct.Theyarealsomuchmorecomplicatedandmysteriousintheirdesign....Theworksatthenorth,on the other hand, are much simpler in their character, and are mainlyindicativeofamilitaryrace.AshtabulaCountyaboundsinearthworks. . . .These works are generally situated on the banks of streams, or in suchlocationsastohaveattractedattention....[Some]areworksofdefense,andarewell chosen for this purpose. . . . That at Conneaut is situated on thesummitofaloftyhill...whichhasbeenleftbysomeformerchangeofthebed of the stream. . . . A steep ascent protects it on all sides. The onlyapproach isupagradualslope to theeastward, formedby thenarrowstripwhichhasbeenleftbythewashofthewaters.Theheightoftheeminenceis...aboutseventy-fivefeet....Theonlymarkofartificialdefenseisfoundonthesummit.Thisconsistsofasimpleearth-wallbuiltontheveryedgeofthebluff,andfollowingcloselytheverylineofthebluff.Aditchwasontheinsideofthewall,andtheheightofthewallmayhavebeenatonetimefivefeet. Possibly a stockade may have surmounted it, making the inclosuredoublysecurebothfromthenaturalandartificialdefense.Theworkhasbeendescribedbythosewhovisiteditatanearlydate.The

land thus inclosedwasperfectly level, andembracedanareaofabout twoacres,triangularinshape....Asingleopeningtotheinclosureexisted,andthiswas approached only from the level of the streambelowby a narrowpathway....Theworkmighthaveservedforadefensetothevarioustribes

ofIndianswhichinhabitedtheregion,oritmayhavebeentheresidenceoftheancientpeoplecalledthemound-builders.Thereisonthebankoppositethiswork,but fartherdown thestream,a largeburial-mound,whichmightindicate that the occupants of this spot were of the more ancient race oforiginalmound-builders.Thismoundisbeautifullysituatedontheverysummitofthepointofland

wheretheriverturnstothenorthward....Thelocationofthismoundwasfavorable as a lookout, and connectedwith thedefense.Thedefense itselfmight have served as a signal-station, towarn against the approach of anenemy from the lake below. There are also other mounds in thisneighborhood, though they are of comparatively small size. They weresituatedintheeasternpartofthevillage.ItisnotimprobablethattheBookofMormonhassomeconnectionwiththesemounds,andpossiblymayhavebeen suggestedby them. Its author,Rev.Mr.Spalding, lived inConneaut,andthestoryisbasedonthecommonsentimentthatthedescendantsofthelost tribes buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds socommoninthiscountry.TheirartsandsciencesandcivilizationaccountforallthecuriousantiquitiesfoundinNorthandSouthAmerica.(1878,17)

TheBookofMormonof theChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaintshasalwaysbeenassociatedwithmythsandaccountsofgiants.Coulditbethatthesemoundshavesomethingtodowiththismysterioustome?

GIANTSOFTHENEWWORLD

Early nineteenth-century treasure hunters often dug into so-called “Indianmounds” of the American Midwest, hoping to find gold or precious jewels.Instead, they sometimes broke into ancient burials containing the skeletons ofgiants(Joseph2013).Often they couldn’t believe that what they found might actually be giants’

bones, and for nearly two hundred years, scientists rationalized that theseoversizedhumanremainsonlyappearedassuchbecausebonesproportionatelydisarticulate in the soil over time.Beginning in the1960s,however, improvedexcavation techniques and forensic procedures determined that the mounds’skeletal evidence did, in fact, belong to individuals of extraordinary stature.Even mainstream archaeologists came to admit that first-millennium BCEAmericans,academicallyreferredtoasthe“Adena,”wereatleastoccasionally

giventophysicalheightfarabovethemodernaverage.Someofthesespecimenswere seven feet two inches in length, although unofficial sources report otherspecimensbeingaslongaseightfeet.NoneofthiscameasasurprisetoNativeAmericanrecordkeepers,whohave

long told of the Ron-nong-weto-wanca, or “fair-skinned giant sorcerers” thatoncestrodeacrosstheAmericanplains(Joseph2013).Wediscussedthesered-hairedgiantsearlierinthisbookbutbringthemupagaintounderscorethepointthat they are more than an anomaly; they are a link to a forgotten race ofCaucasian-likegiantsthatonceinhabitedmuchoftheNewWorld.JohannFriedrichBlumenbach (1752–1840) first used the termCaucasian in

1795 todescribe thewhitepopulationofEurope.HewasaGermanphysician,physiologist, and anthropologist, and one of the first scientists to studyhumankindasanaspectofnaturalhistory;histeachingsincomparativeanatomywereappliedtotheclassificationofhumanraces.BlumenbachadoptedthetermCaucasian from native inhabitants of theCaucasusMountains in southeasternEurope,aracehebelievedtobethemostbeautifulandvigorousonEarth.ReportsofancientCaucasoidpeoplesthrivinginremotecornersoftheworld

andthenvanishingmysteriouslyfromhistoryhaveexistedforcenturies.Theseaccountsspeakofwhite-skinned,red-hairedgiantsandyellow-hairedbarbariansin countries now almost exclusively populated by non-Caucasian peoples. Intime, modern archaeologists found traces of the existence of these Caucasoidpeoples:millennia-oldcorpsespreservedindesertsandsorfrigidglacierswereunearthed.Inaddition tosuchphysical remains,awealthofhistoricalandmythological

evidence both in written form and oral tradition spoke of lost civilizationsconsisting of fair-skinned gods and light-eyed benefactors who helped toestablishnewcultures.AccordingtonumerousNativeAmericanaccounts,atthedawnof their society theywerevisitedbyaGreatWhiteGodarriving fromafarawaylandlocatedacrossthesea.Hehelpedthemtoestablishtheirnewmodeoflifeandthendeparted,promisingtoreturnsomeday.The discovery of light-skinnedmummies inNewGuinea andNewZealand,

alongwith persistent references to godlike, light-skinned peoples inhabiting anow-sunken landmass in the Pacific Ocean, has upped the ante on thissupposition.In the lastdecadesof the twentiethcenturyinparticularwesawarevolution in our understanding of the magnitude of prehistoric Caucasianmigrationandinfluence.

In 1959, hard, physical evidence of proto-Caucasoid peoples existing in theAmericas duringprehistory began to surface.Archaeologists diggingonSantaRosaIsland,offtheCaliforniacoast,unearthedanumberofskeletalremains—having apparent Caucasian features—dating to 10,000 BCE. During thesixteenth century, as Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo skimmed thesame coastline, he found that native Chumash Indians possessed physicalattributes that set them apart from the rest of the Channel Island Indians. Hereported that the women had “fine forms, beautiful eyes, and a modestdemeanor,”andtheirchildrenwere“white,withlighthair,andruddycheeks.”AlsointheNewWorld,the1990ssawthediscoveryofthemostcontroversial

archaeological find in North American history: Kennewick Man, a nine-thousand-year-old Native American with clearly Caucasian, not Asian, traits.Additionaldiscoveries throughout theAmericashintataprimordialCaucasoidpopulationthatroamedfreelyacrossmuchoftheWesternHemisphere.InMarch2010,thearchaeologicalcommunitywasstunnedbythediscoveryof

yetanotherCaucasianskeleton,thistimeinMongolia.DNAextractedfromthisindividual’sbonesconfirmedadirectgeneticlinktotheWest.Inessence,theseremainswereclearlyEuropean.Thistime,however,theancientcorpsewasnotasold,datingtothefirstcenturyCE.Judgingbytheartifactsfoundattheburialsite, theMongolian individualwasapparentlyheld inhigh regardbyhispeersand seemed to have been a prominent figure in the Xiongnu Empire, amultiethnic melting pot of former Eurasian nomads who challenged the HanDynasty supremacy. This ancient conglomeration of foreign tongues and non-AsianracesnodoubtconsistedofmanyIndoEuropean-speakingpeoples.In Peru in 2007, Peruvian investigators found literally dozens of Caucasian

mummiesinavaultedtombburiedeighty-twofeetbeneaththeforestflooroftheAmazonjungle.Thesebelongtoapre-IncaraceknownastheChachapoyas,or“CloudPeople.”Theirdiscoverycomplementssixteenth-centurySpanishreportsof“strange,whiteIndians”withbeards,foundinthesameregion.EventhegiantstatuesofEasterIsland,2,180milesofftheChileancoast,bear

witnesstothearrivalandpassageofanancientCaucasoidrace.In1915,BritisharchaeologistKatherineRoutledgelearnedfromanativeislanderthetruenatureoftheLongEars:

menwhocamefromfarawayinships.Theysawtheyhadpinkcheeks,andtheysaid theyweregods.Thelast realariki,orchief,wassaid tobequitewhite.“Whitelikeme?”Iinnocentlyasked.

“You!”theysaid,“youarered,”thecolorinEuropeancheeks.(221)

Red is “the term generally applied by Easter Islanders to Europeans. Andurukekuisoftentranslated‘red-haired.’”Indeed,thetoweringstatuesobviouslydisplayedsomethingother thanPolynesianphysiognomy,“andif thefine,ovalfaces,thelargeeyes,theshortupperlipandthethin,oftenApollo’sbowlips,areanyguidetorace,theyindicateaCaucasoidrace.”Anthropologists are also baffled by the apparent presence of Caucasoid

peoples in the prehistoric Pacific.Genetic testing conducted during the 1990sshowed traces of Basque DNA in the people of Easter Island and greaterPolynesia.These age-old, oral traditions are not only being underscored by the latest

stridesmade ingenetic research,but combining to show that theprehistoryoftheAmericasand itsCaucasianandgiantheritage is far richer thanpreviouslysuspected.ThepreponderanceofCaucasian racial types andEuropeanblood in ancient

America is only part of the story, however. Scientists of the North AtlanticBioculturalOrganisation(NABO)havemadeitclearthatAsiaticmigrationviatheBeringStraitwasnottheonlypossiblepathtakenbyprehistoricpeoplesintotheNewWorld. If this is true,couldKennewickMan, thenine-thousand-year-old Caucasoid skeleton found on the banks of Washington State’s ColumbiaRiver,berelatedto theoldestculturesofWesternEurope?AdefinitiveanswermaybeforthcominginanewtheoryconcerningNorthAmerica’shumanoriginsthataddresses thedispersalofpeoplesacross thecontinent fromacircumpolarculture. This theory tackles not onlymassmigration betweenAsia andNorthAmerica,butalsointerbreedingandtheestablishmentofhybridcultures.ExaminationofhumanmitochondriamayproveaCaucasoid link to the first

Americans,whodateasfarbackas28,000BCE.Knownasthe“powerpacks”ofDNA, theseorganelleswithincellshelpedscientistsdevelopfourcategoriesofancestralgroups,orlineages,forNativeAmericans.Congruentwithexistingdogma and fueling arguments in favor of Asiatic origins for the NewWorldpopulation, these lineages can be traced back to Siberia and Northeast Asia,specificallytheBaikalandAltai-Sayanregions.However,afifthlineageisalsorecognizedamongthefoundinggeneticstrains

ofNativeAmericans.Known as “haplogroupX,” this genetic signature is thevestige of either a later population found in Europe and theMiddle East or aprimevalpopulationofCaucasoidethnicitythatinhabitedAsia.MostAmericans

havebeentaughttheBeringStraittheoryasthesoleexplanationforthepeoplingofthecontinent,andarethusunawarethatitisnolongerentirelyaccepted,evenby scientificdogmatists.Archaeological finds inSouthAmerica andalong theNorth American Eastern Seaboard show conclusively that there were severaldistinctandseparatemigrationsofdifferentracialgroupstotheAmericasduringprehistory.Furthermore, recent studies point to the hypothesis of a North Atlantic

Crescent,composedofwaterandice,whichmayhaveservedasa“bridge”thatconnectedEuropewiththeAmericas.InDecember2000,archaic-cartographersoftheNationalGeographicSocietymappeda“Europeantheory”forthepossiblemigration of at least some Native American peoples. Scientific American,DiscoveringArchaeology,withitsJanuary2,2000,issue,hadalreadybroachedthe notion of an Atlantic passage. It depicted northern island-hopping routesfrom Iceland to Greenland, then Labrador, which are still possible today byfollowing areas covered in ice. This theory is entirely plausible in thatArcticwatersprovideanabundanceofseafood,enablingtravelerstoeatastheygo,asexhibitedintheInuitmigrationfromAlaskatoGreenlandsomeeighthundredtoonethousandyearsago.Thissuddenturnabout—theadmissionofapossiblealternatediffusiontothe

Americas—followedhardonthediscoveryofa“rareX-factor”inmitochondrialDNAamong indigenouspeoplesofbothNorthernEuropeandNorthAmerica,anddemonstratesafundamentalshift inmainstreamscientificopinion.The“Xpattern,”or“EuropeanXlineage,”joinsthealreadywell-knownlinkageoftypeObloodamongNorthAmericannatives (or typeB, if fromAsia)andmodernaboriginal populations along the Atlantic fringe of Europe (the mountainousborder of Norway and Sweden, the west coast of Ireland, and the PyreneesMountains).This “Xpattern” linkclearlyproves thatEuropeanspopulated theAmericasatsomepointinourcollectivepast.Referred tovariouslyas“OldEuropean,”“modernCro-Magnon,”or“Paleo-

Atlantid,” the race associatedwith this “X pattern” ismade up of tall, heavy-browed individuals,with ruddy complexions and brunette hair. Light eyes arepossiblebutnotmandatory.ThepercentageofRhnegativeblood is high. (Rhnegative blood is rare.) Transatlantic migrations involving these ancientgenotypesareenumeratedbyagrowingfrequencyofgeneticcomparisonswithNorthAmerican aboriginal tribes. InNewfoundland, descendants fromat leastone of these migrations survived until their forcible extinction in 1829. Theyspoke a linguistic isolate bearing no connection to nearby mainland peoples,

whetherInuit(Eskimo)orAlgonquian.Geneticsequencingofhaplotypesrevealsthatmorethanonemigratoryevent

took place. As one DNA study states, “The notion of a homogeneous,Amerindian genetic pool does not conform with these and other results”(Callegari-Jacquesetal.1993).MummiesofCaucasoidpersonshavebeenfoundat SouthAmerica’s pre-Columbian cities, some ofwhich appear to have beenpopulatedbymore than fifty thousand residents.These ruinscontinue toyieldatypical evidence supporting the theory that many of America’s ancientcivilizations were founded by seafaring peoples with long traditions of open-watervoyages.RatherthanwalkingtenthousandmilesfromMongoliatoChile,thefirstAmericansmayhavesailedfirstclass.AndwheretheycamefromwillsoonbefirmlyresolvedbyDNAtesting.Fromred-headedmummies inPeru’spre-Incagraves toblond-headedToltec

warrior-priests in central Mexico, this is not the history of our parents’generation.Pre-Columbiantombsareshatteringtheadagethat“deadmentellnotales.”GreatstepsinunderstandingtherealoriginsofAmericaarebeingmade.They are striding over the academically dead corpses of fearful, politicallycorrect social historians, who now find themselves haunted by the long-deadbodiesofStoneAgeAmericans.Somearchaeologistshavebuilttheiracademicandfinancialempiresontheoriespresentlyinvalidatedbymoderngenetics.DNAresearchhasplacedallupholdersoftheoldparadigmundersiege.And

whenthelabresultsarein,theywillbeoutlookingforjobretraining.

THEGIANTMOUNDBUILDERSOFERIE

Some of the most significant archaeological artifacts yet discovered in NorthAmericawerefoundinvariousPennsylvaniatownshipsduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury.Rev.RobinSwope,aPittsburghparanormalinvestigator,recently encountered the following article while doing research on ancientgravesitesnearPhiladelphia&ErieRoad:

WhentheroadwayofthePhiladelphia&Erieroad,whereitpassesthroughtheWarfel farm,wasbeingwidened,anotherdepositofboneswasdugupand summarily deposed of as before (Thrown in a neighboring ditch).Among the skeletonswas one of a giant, side by sidewith a smaller one,probably thatofhiswife.Thearmand legbonesof thisNativeAmericanGoliathwereaboutone-halflongerthanthoseofthetallestmanamongthe

laborers; the skullwas immensely large; the lower jawbone easily slippedover the face and whiskers of a full-faced man, and the teeth were in aperfect state of preservation. Another skeleton was dug up in ConneautTownshipafewyearsagothatwasquiteasremarkableinitsdimensions.Asin the other instance, a comparisonwasmadewith the largestman in theneighborhood, and the jawbone readily covered his face, while the lowerbone of the leg was nearly a foot longer than the one with which it wasmeasured,indicatingthatthemanmusthavebeeneighttotenfeetinheight.The bones of a flatheadwere turned up in the same township some two

years agowith a skull of unusual size. Relics of a former time have beengatheredinthatsectionbythepanful,andamongothercuriositiesabrasswatchwasfoundthatwasasbigasacommonsaucer.Anancientgraveyardwas discovered in 1820, on the land now known as Dr. Carter and Dr.Dickinson places in Erie,which created quite a sensation at the time.Dr.AlbertThayerdugupsomeofthebones,andallindicatedaraceofbeingsofimmensesize.(HistoryofErieCounty1884,166–69)

DISCOVERIESINMARIONCOUNTY,WESTVIRGINIA,1852–1974

MarionCounty,WestVirginia,wasoncetheepicenterofanancientcivilization,asindicatedbythearchaeologicalevidence.Examplesoftheuniqueengineeringskills of this early society include earthen forts, burial mounds, andmacadamizedroadways.Pictographs,inscribedstones,andevengiantskeletonshavealsobeendiscovered(AuthenticArtifactCollectorsAssociation).Thishintsatthepossibilityofanadvancedcultureofgiants.Wefindevidence

of this in the 1850s, when workers excavating a root cellar in Palatine (EastFairmont) unearthed the entombed remains of two individuals who measuredmore than seven feet in height.The collectionof bonesvanished several dayslater,butnotbeforeanextensiveexaminationhadbeenperformed.Theserelicsdidnotdisplayanydegreeofphysicalabnormalitydespitetheirtremendoussize.Rather, the bones indicated that this was a normal racial characteristic, theirmorphology perhaps even indicative of a separate species entirely (AuthenticArtifactCollectorsAssociation).These finds were backed up in 1875 when workers discovered three giant

skeletonswhileconstructingabridgenear themouthof thePawPawCreekat

Rivesville.Unearthedinheavyclaysoil,theystillhadfaintwispsofreddishhairclingingtotheirskulls.Theseremainssurvivedandweredeterminedtobemorethaneightfeetinheight(AuthenticArtifactCollectorsAssociation).Inhisweeklynewsletter,“PeopleofOneFire,”architectandauthorRichard

Thornton often suggests that the Creek Indians of ancient times were easternNorth America’s genuine race of giants. He is a member of the Perdido BayMuscogee-CreekTribe.Inaprivatememototheauthorofthisbookhewrites:

TheCreekshaveproducedsomeof thetallest“normal”Homosapiensthathavewalkedtheearth.Bynormal,Imeantherewasnohormonalimbalance.Their inherent genesprogrammed them tobeof natural proportions, but 7feet or more in height. This statement is based both on the discovery ofseven foot tall skeletons in ancestral Creek burials such as Etowah andOcmulgee, plus eyewitness accounts of Spanish, French and Englishexplorers.As awhole, theGeorgia Creeks averaged a foot taller than theEuropeanswhofirstcametotheNewWorld.ThegeneraloftheCreekforcesintheRevolutioninGeorgiawas93yearsoldand7feettall.Anun-naturalselection occurred during the violent period of the late 1700s and early1800s. Extremely tallmen had an advantage in hand to hand combat, butweremore vulnerable tomusket balls. The Creekmenwho carried DNAprogrammingsuperheightweredisproportionatelykilledinbattle.We are still much taller than the Caucasian population in the USA on

average,butdon’tseeasmany7footers.Nevertheless,6'6"–6'7"isnotthatuncommon.Creekwomen are not exceptionally tall, except for thosewhoaredescendedfromthemountainbranchesoftheCreekConfederacy.Wheredid this height come from? In our tradition,we, in the past had extensivecontact with extremely tall extraterrestrials from another galaxy. Someintergalactic visitors mated with the ancestors of the Creeks, giving themtheir height. They also taught us advanced mathematics. Creek calendarswereequallyaccurateas thosetoday.Wehadazero,a10basednumericalsystem,knowledgeoftrigonometryandgeometry,plustwotypesofwritingsystems. One worked like the bar code system in supermarkets, but alsocontainedcolors that transmitted information.Theotherwasmore like theearlysystemsinIberiaandTuscany.Theyoriginallyarrivedbyspacecraft,buteventuallybuiltstargatesontop

ofmassivespiralmoundsatIchese(OcmulgeeNationalMonument)andontheSavannahRiver at its confluencewith theBroadRiver, nearElberton,

GA.SomeKeepers(priests)oftheWindClanweretaughthowtotraveltotheothergalaxy,butitwasadangeroustripforhomosapiens.Someneverreturnedorreturneddead/horriblydeformed.ThesymboloftheWindClanisaspiralgalaxysurroundedbystarsandsmallergalaxies.Thereisnowaythatahumanonearthwouldknowthatagalaxyisspiralshapedunlesstheywereoutsideourgalaxy(orsomebody’sgalaxy)lookingback.Supposedly,the star gates were dismantled before Europeans began to arrive in theAmericas.

As we have seen, the Native American links to giants make fascinatingreading.Followingareafewmore.

NEWSPAPERACCOUNTSOFGIANTSFROMTHENINETEENTHCENTURY

The following account is from theSt. JohnDaily News, dated September 13,1878. Its headline: “The Indian Chief Chickasawba: Skeletons Eight and TenFeetinHeight.”

TwomileswestofBarfieldPoint,inArkansasCounty,Ark,ontheeastbankofthelovelystreamcalledPemiscottRiver,standsanIndianmound,sometwenty-five feet high and about an acre in area at the top. Thismound iscalledChickasawba,andfromitthehighandbeautifulcountrysurroundingsometwelvesquaremilesinarea,derivesitsname,Chickasawba.Themoundderives its name fromChickasawba, a chief of theShawnee

tribe,wholived,died,andwasburiedthere.Thischiefwasoneofthelastoftheraceofhunterswholivedinthatbeautifulregion,andwhooncepeopleditquitethickly,forIndianswemean.From 1820 to 1831 he and his hunters assembled annually at Barfield

Point, thenasnowtheprincipleshippingplaceof thesurroundingcountry,and bartered off their furs, peltries, buffalo robes and honey to the whitesettlersandthetradingboatsontheriver,receivinginreturnpowder,shot,lead, blankets, money, etc. Aunt Kitty Williams, who now resides there,relates thatChickasawbawould frequentlybring in for sale at one timeasmuchas twentygallonsofpurehoney indeer-skinbagsslung tohisback.Hewas always a firm friend of thewhites, aman of gigantic stature andherculeanstrength. Inhisnineteenthyearhe tookayoungwifeandbyher

hadtwochildren.In1831shedied,andtheoldchiefdidnotlongsurviveher,dyinginthe

same year, aged 93 or 94 years. Mr. W. Fitzgerald, who moved in thatcountryin1822,saysthatuptothetimeofhisdeath,Chickasawbasuppliedhimwithgame.Hewasburiedatthefootofthemoundonwhichhelived,by the tribe, most of whom departed for the Nation immediately afterperformingthefuneralrites.Afew,however,lingeredthereuptoalatedate,thelastofthem,webelieve,beingJohnEast,who,in1860,atthebreakingout of thewar, joinedCaptainCharleyBowen’s company of the late “so-called” and fought the war through, as a gallant a “reb” as any of them,comingbackhomein1866toreturntotheartsofpeace.Chickasawbawasperfectlyhonest,andthebestinformedchiefofhistribe.

His contemporary chiefs were Long Knife, Sunshine, Corn Meal,Moonshine, etc.MikeBrennanandQuillburiedhim.He left a sonnamedJohnPemscott.Anumberofyearsago, inmakinganexcavation intoornear thefootof

Chickasawba’smound, a portion of a gigantic human skeletonwas found.The men who were digging becoming interested, unearthed the entireskeleton, and frommeasurementsgivenusby reliableparties the frameofthemantowhomitbelongedcouldnothavebeenlessthaneightorninefeetin height. Under the skull, which easily slipped over the head of ourinformant,wasfoundapeculiarlyshapedearthenjar,resemblingnothinginthe way of Indian pottery which had before been seen by them. It wasexactly the shape of the round bodied, long necked carafes or waterdecanters,aspecimenofwhichmaybeseenonGatson’sdiningtable.Thematerialofwhichthevasewasmadewasapeculiarkindofclay,and

theworkmanshipwasveryfine.Thebellyorbodyofitwasornamentedwithfiguresorhieroglyphicsconsistingofacorrectdelineationofhumanhands,parallel to each other, open palms outward, and running up and down thevase,thewriststothebaseandthefingerstowardstheneck.Oneithersideof the handswere tibiae or thigh bones, also correctly delineated, runningaroundthebase.Therewereotherthingsfoundwiththeskeleton,butthisisall that our informant remembers. Since that timewherever an excavationhas been made in the Chickasawba country in the neighborhood of themoundsimilarskeletonshavebeenfound,andundertheskullofeveryonewerefoundsimilarfuneralvases,almostexactlyliketheonedescribed.

There are now in this city several of the vases andportions of the hugeskeletons.OneoftheeditorsoftheAppeal(newspaper)yesterdaymeasureda thigh bone, which is fully three feet long. The thigh and shin bones,togetherwithbonesofthefoot,stoodupinaproperpositioninaphysician’sofficeinthiscity,measurefivefeetinheightandshowthebodytowhichthelegbelongedtohavebeenninetotenfeetheight.At Beaufort’s Landing, near Barfield, in digging up the leg of which

measuredbetweenfiveandsixfeetinlength,andotherbonesinproportion.In a few days we hope to be able to lay before our readers accuratemeasurementsof skeletonsnow in thecityandof thearticles found in thegraves.Itisnotamatterofdoubtthatthesearehumanremainsbutofalongextinctrace;aracewhichflourished,livedanddiedmanycenturiesago.

Here is another newspaper account from the nineteenth century. It waspublishedintheHuronExpositorNewspaperinOntario,Canada,onOctober13,1893. Its headline: “MenofGreatStatureFound atTwoLargeBurialSites inNebraska.”

AfarmerplowingnearCalhoun,Nebraskarecentlyturnedupahumanskull,and search revealed a large number of other skulls, besides bones. Theserelicswere thoseof a powerful race, andwho theywere is unknown.Theskullsarelargebuttheforeheadisextremelylow.AWorld-Heraldreportervisited the place, and ameasurementwas taken of one of the lower jawsfound and comparedwith the dimensions taken of one of themen on thefield.Therelic’sjawwasfoundtobeaninchlargereachwayinproportion,thanthatofthepersonwhosemeasurementhasbeentaken,althoughhewassix feet three inches in height, weighed nearly 200 pounds, and hadunusually large jaws.Themeasurementof the lowermaxillary found is asfollows: depth, 4 inches; width inside measure from wisdom tooth towisdomtooth2¼inches;totallengthofjaw,5½inches.Theupperwasfullyas large, while the teeth resembled those of a cow more than those of ahumanbeing.Theywerebadlywornandwouldgotoshowthattheowneratemeat,presumablybuffalo,agreatdeal.Adentistwhenshowntheteethsaidthattheyweremuchlargerthananyofthoseofawhitepersonlivinginthisage.AtheoryadvancedisthatthesearetheremainsofsomeMandanIndians,

whoweretheearliestsettlersofthispartofthecountry,butwereultimately

exterminated by the Sioux. The size of these bones would explode thistheory, however, as theMandanswere not a large race [Indeed, nor werethey racially aberrant in any manner with normal cranium and teeth].Anothertheoryisthattheyareperhaps,theremainsofnorthwesternIndianswhowerekilledbyanothertribe.Thistribewaslargeinstature,accordingtotradition,manybeingsixfeetandmoreinheight.Thereporterfoundaboutfiftyfeetfromthelocationofthistrenchanother

inwhichwereburied the remainsof fivegrownpersonsandone infant.Aspade plied to the earth soon brought to view the remains of six humanbeings.Theseskullsweresmallerandnotofsuchextraordinarythicknessasthose exhumed from the first trench. They also bore the appearance ofhavinglaininthegroundforalongperiod,astheywouldcrumbleapartoftheir own weight, while those first discovered were in a fair state ofpreservation.The cavities of the skulls had become filledwith dirt, and itwasonlywithgreatcareinhandlingthataveryfairspecimenwaspreserved.Thetrenchwasthreefeet-squareandabouttwofeetdeep.Inordertoplaceahuman body into so small a grave it must have been fearfully mutilated.When found the armswere over the head,while the tibia and fibulawerefound under all. The skulls were also found in different positions, somebeingstraightupandstraightdown,whileotherswerelyingfaceupandfacedown. No pottery, metal or the like was found by which they could beclassifiedwiththemoundbuilders(300BCE–500CE).

MUMMIESOFTHEAMERICANSOUTHWEST

In1931,anancientrepositoryofmummifiedmalegiantswasdiscoveredintheAmericanSouthwest. (Nofemale remainswere found.)ThemancreditedwithfindingthemummieswasaretiredCincinnatiphysiciannamedF.BruceRussell.The subterranean shafts thatheld the relics formillenniawere locateddirectlybeneaththeColoradoDesert.Theserelicswerebetweeneightandninefeettall.Dr.DanielS.Bovee,whoparticipatedinexcavationsatNewMexico’sfamouscliffdwellings, reportedlydated themummies toaroundeighty thousandyearsold.Theywere discovered alongwith a number of implements that alsowereplaced at around the eighty-thousand-year mark. Dr. Howard E. Hill said,regardingtheancientremains:“Thesegiantsareclothedingarmentsconsistingofamediumlengthjacketandtrousersextendingslightlybelowtheknees.Thetextureofthematerialissaidtoresemblegraydyedsheepskin,butobviouslyit

wastakenfromananimalunknowntoday”(Childress1991,496).Hillalsoclaimedthatanothercavernwasfoundinanelaboratelyconstructed

ritual hall, obviously utilized by the same civilization to which the giganticmummiesbelonged.Amongitsdevicesandmarkingsweresymbolsnotdissimilartothoseusedby

theFreemasons,andhieroglyphsfoundatthesiteseemtoindicateameldingofbothMesoamericanandEgyptianstyle,withsomeMesopotamianinfluence.Thehieroglyphs in question had been chiseled on carefully polished granite(Childress1991,496).Hillaffirmedthattheexplorersofthesitebelievethiswasacemeteryforthe

tribe’s racial hierarchy. Such an elite ruling class did not include women,obviously, as again, the remains of women weren’t found here. The templewasn’ttheonlystructurefoundatthesite.“Alongtunnelfromthistempletookthepartyintoaroomwheresomecatastropheapparentlydrovepeopleintothecaves.Allof theimplementsof theircivilizationwerefound”(Childress1991,496).Hillproudlyproclaimedthatwhattheteamhadultimatelydiscoveredmightbe

“the fabled lost continentofAtlantis.” In fact,Hill continued, “ThisdiscoverymaybemoreimportantthantheunveilingofKingTut’stomb”(Childress1991,497). Such bombastic claims did not go over well with the archaeologicalestablishment,ofcourse,whichhassuchagriponourmainstreammedia.It isnow hoped that the Internet may help to alleviate this deficit between thecontrolledmediaandfreethought.

MOREGIANTS’BONESUNEARTHEDINTHEAMERICANWEST

In1898thebrothersH.FlaglerCowdenandCharlesC.Cowdenundertookoneof the most profoundly interesting series of excavations in North Americanhistory. This sibling team of scientists, studying the antiquity of desertpopulations, conducted archaeological excavations in the desolate and barrenDeathValleyandallegedlyuncoveredtheskeletalremainsofagiantwoman,7.5feet tall. The Cowdens theorized that she was a member of “the race ofunprecedentedlargeprimitiveswhichvanishedfromthefaceoftheearthsome100,000yearsago”(Childress1991,500).The amount of silica in the soil and sands, the state of petrifaction of the

skeleton,andthecrystallizationandopalizationofthebonemarrowhelpedthetwoscientistsdeterminetheageofthewoman’sremains,whichwerefoundatadepth of five feet in a “hard-rock formation of conglomerate containing smallamounts of silica, which required a longer time to petrify than normal desertsands”(Childress1991,500).InLostCitiesandAncientMysteriesoftheSouthwest,Childressquotesauthor

BradSteiger:“EdEarlRepp,awriter,toldofthe‘honorandprivilege’thatwerehis inworkingwith theCowdenbrothers; in theJune1970 issueofWildWestmagazine he recalled that ‘in the same earth-strata where the giant femaleskeletonwas found, theyalso recovered the remainsofprehistoriccamelsandmammalsof. . .anelephant-likecreaturewithfourtusks.. . .Withthemwerethe remains of petrified palm trees, towering ferns, and prehistoric fishlikecreatures.’”TheCowdens theorized that in timesof vast antiquitywhen the lost race of

giantslivedthere,DeathValleymayhavebeenaninletofthePacificOcean,forinthesameareainwhichtheyfoundtheskeletonofthegiantfemalestheyalsounearthedthepetrifiedremainsofmarinelife.Thetwobrothersalsofoundthatthegiantwoman’sskeletonboreanumberof

anomalous physical appendages and attributes not found in contemporaryhumans.Shehadseveralextra“buttons”atthebaseofherspine,andhercanineteethweretwicethelengthofthoseofmodernhumans.The Cowdens hypothesized that when the California we know today was

formed—as the mountains rose and the sea retreated—what had been thetropical climate left the region. The steaming swamps were replaced bywastelands, which still remain in much of the southern portion of the state(Childress1991,500–501).Anotheraccountofanancientgiantunearthed inCalifornia isas follows: In

July 1895, a team of miners excavated the entombed skeletal remains of awomanwhostoodsixfeeteightinchestall.ThediscoverytookplaceinaminenotfarfromthetownofBridlevaleFalls,California.In his bookMontezuma’s Serpent andOther True Supernatural Tales of the

Southwest,BradSteigerreports:

G.E.Martindale,whowasinchargeoftheminers,noticedapileofstonesthat seemed tohavebeenplacedagainst thewallofacliff inanunnaturalformation. Assuming that the rock had been stacked by human hands,

Martindale ordered his men to begin removing the stones in order toinvestigatewhatmightliebeyondtheformation.Theminerswereastonishedwhentheyfoundawallofrockthathadbeen

shaped and fitted together with apparent knowledge of fine masonrytechnique.Convincedthattheyhadstumbleduponsomelosttreasuretrove,they set about tearingdown thewall so that theymight claim their riches.Insteadof ingotsofgoldor trunksof jewels, themen foundamummifiedcorpseof avery largewoman lyingon a ledge that hadbeen carved fromnatural stone. The corpse had been wrapped in animal skins and coveredwithaveryfinepowder.Shewasclutchingachildtoherbreast.WhenthemummywastakentoLosAngeles,scientistsagreedthat thewomanwasamember of a giant race that had thrived on this continent long before theAmericanIndianhadbecomethedominantinhabitant.Theyconcludedthatthemummy’sheightofsixfeeteightincheswouldhaverepresentedaheightin lifeofat leastsevenfeet.Figuring theclassicheightdifferencebetweenmen and women, they supposed that the males of the forgotten specieswouldbeennearlyeightfeettall.(Childress1991,501–2)

Inthe1950s,apopularanti-Darwinistandcreationistauthor,CliffordBurdick,contended that amateur archaeologists had collected substantial physicalevidenceprovingtheexistenceofaraceofgiantsinantiquity.TheseconsistedofanumberofnowextinctracesofgiantsheidentifieswiththeGreekTitans,thefrostandmountaingiantsofancientGermanic lore,“whocuta swath throughJotunheim,” aswell as the ancientChinese race thatwas “twice as tall as us”(Time-Life1991,25).Burdick investigated the work of several hobbyists who claimed to have

plaster casts of gigantic footprints, some supposedly found beside dinosaurtracks.Between1938and1950,aTexanbythenameofJimRyalsfoundseveralsuch tracks in sediments along the banks of the Paluxy River southwest ofDallas. The footprints were some sixteen inches long and eight inches wide.Alongside them were the prints of a three-toed dinosaur or other primordialreptile.Examplesofgiganticfootprintsandsimilararchaeologicalfindsareabundant

throughouttheWesterndeserts,yetfewmainstreampaleontologistsacceptthemasgenuine.Theyinsisttheyarefakes,especiallywhenfacedwiththeassertionthattheywerefoundalongsidedinosaurs,whichwouldmakethefootprintsolderthansixty-fivemillionyears,hintingatthesupposedimpossibilitythathumans

anddinosaurswerecontemporaneous.

In this chapterwe have discussedmany accounts of giants inNorthAmerica.They would indicate to even the most casual observer that we were in factprecededbyaraceofhistoricalgiants.Therecanbelittledoubtofthevalidityoftheseclaims,nor their importance to theheritageofournationand theworld.Butitistrickybusiness,beingaproponentoftheideathatgiantsonceroamedthe Earth, in a world in which the firmly entrenched establishment takes noquarter,noprisoners,intheirattempttointellectuallysubjugatethemasses.Thisauthorbelieves that it isonlyamatterof timeuntil the truthmustandwillberealized.

7

GIANTSINOLDCENTRALAMERICA,OLDSOUTHAMERICA,ANDANCIENTPOLYNESIA

Thefirstgreatwaterscame.Theyengulfedthesevenislands(Atlantis)....And the unholy (necromancers andmilitarists)were annihilated, andwiththemmostofthehugeanimalsbornofthesweatoftheEarth.

No.46STANZAOFARCHAICANDSECRETRECORDSOFOLDASIA

AshisstrengthFailedhimatlength,Hemetapilgrimshadow—“Shadow,”saidhe,“Wherecanitbe—ThislandofElDorado?”“OvertheMountainsOftheMoon,DowntheValleyoftheShadow,Ride,boldlyride,”Theshadereplied—“IfyouseekforElDorado.”

EDGARALLANPOE,ELDORADO

AZTECCREATIONANDTHEGIANTS

FernandodeAlvaCortésIxtlilxóchitl,thesixteenth-centuryMexicanchroniclerandhistorianandgreat-great-grandsonofCuitláhuac(theformerAztecrulerofTenochtitlan), provided European scholars with varied accounts of Aztec andCentralAmericanbeliefsandlegends,includingthoseofgiants.The Spanish viceroy of New Spain commissioned Ixtlilxóchitl to write a

history of the indigenous people of Central America and write he did. As

Ixtlilxóchitl explains, according to Aztec cosmology, creation is not a singleeventbut rather a continual processofbirth, death, and rebirth.Following thedestructionofeachworld,theEarthisrebornbythesanctifiedbloodsacrificeofagod,a realitymimickedby theceremonialbloodsacrificesperformedby theAztecpriests.Througheachdeathanewsuncouldbeborn,andhenceanewagewouldbegin.AccordingtoAztecmyth,during thefirstage,orSun, thegodsQuetzalcoatl

and Tezcatlipoca created a race of giants from ashes, giving them acorns fornourishment.Butthegiantssoenragedthegodsduetotheirwickednessthatthegodsdecided toend thegiants’existenceandsent the jaguars todestroy them.Only seven survived the onslaught of the savage beasts.Later,when the godssummoned forth the waters to flood the Earth and destroy the first race ofhumans, these sevengiants, theXelhua, climbed themountains to seek refugefrom the thrashing waters that were enveloping the planet. Five of the giantssurvived the torrent, and in the end they built the great tower of Cholula tocommemoratetheirsurvivaloftheflood.BostonUniversitygeologistRobertM.Schochdiscussesthismythinhisbook

VoyagesofthePyramidBuilders(2004).Henotesthatinavariationofthesamemyth,theraceofgiantsbuilttheGreatPyramidofCholulanotmerelytomarktheir survival but also, like the Mesopotamian Tower of Babel, to reach theclouds.Themythologicalbackdropfortherealgiantsofantiquityhasgivenusgreatinsightintothetruenatureofthoselong-forgottentimes.Simplyput,everymythbears somenugget of truth.Mythology is a kindof culturalGPSdevicethat guides us through the hidden history of the human race. But mythologyalone cannot give us a clear indication of where the giants came from andultimately where they went—that great task is left up to science and what itteachesabouttheevolutionofEarthandofhumankind.

GIANTSOFCENTRALANDSOUTHAMERICA

AccordingtoStephenQuayleinhisbookGiants:MasterBuildersofPrehistoricandAncientCivilizations,DiegoDurán,a friarandearlySpanishsettler in theNewWorldwhogrewupcloselywith thenativepopulation,wasfamiliarwithgiantIndiantribes.Hewrites:“Itcannotbedeniedthattherehavebeengiantsinthis country. I can confirm this as an eyewitness, for I have met men ofmonstrous stature here. I believe that there are many in Mexico who willremember,asIdo,agiant Indianwhoappeared inaprocessionof thefeastof

CorpusChristi.Heappeareddressedinyellowsilkandahalberdathisshoulderand a helmet on his head.And hewas all of three feet taller than the others”(Quayle2002,288).Durán livedmorecloselywith thenativepopulation thanperhapsanyofhis

contemporaries, and his accounts of the indigenous beliefs of the Aztecs andother Central American groups are by far the most well-respected amongmodern historians.Manywho lived at the same time,Bernardino de SahagúnandJosédeAcostaamongthem,recalledvividlythedayswhenCentralAmericawasdominatedbyacult-drivencenterofgiantswhopredominatedoverAztecandearlierToltecandOlmeccivilizations.AccordingtotheAztecs,originallygiantsandabestialpeopleofaveragesize

dominated the region. Then in 902 CE, emigrants from Teocolhuacan, alsoknownasAztlán,orinEuropeanterms,thelostcivilizationofAtlantis—whichis“foundtowardthenorthandneartheregionofLaFlorida(whereEdgarCayceproposeditwouldbefound)”—begantoarriveinMexico.AccordingtoQuayle,these six kindred tribes included theXochimilca, theChalca, theTepanec, theColhua, the Tlahuica, and the Tlaxcalans. A seventh tribe, the Aztecs, werebrotherstothesepeople,butthey“cametoliveherethreehundredandoneyearsafterthearrivaloftheothers”(Quayle2002,289).According toDurán: “They recorded to their paintedbooks the typeof land

andkindofpeople they found there.”Thesebooks show two typesofpeople,onefromthewestofthesnow-coveredmountainstowardMexico,andtheotherfromtheeast,wherePueblaandCholulaarefound.ThosefromthefirstweretheChichimecs,andpeoplefromPueblaandCholulawerethegiants,orQuiname,whichmeans“menofgreatstature.”In support of this, in his 1952 book, Secret Cities of Old South America,

HaroldT.Wilkinswrites:

In the fall of 1929, Dean Byron Cummings of Arizona University andProfessorManuelSanDomingo,aMexicanGovernmentscientistofSonora,wenttoadangerousspot160milesfromtheinternationalborderwheretheturbulent Yaquis smash excavation work with rifle butts and menaceintruderswith suddendeath.They found three giant skeletons of twomenandonewomaneight feet tall.The skullswere a foot longand ten incheswide, and threewere remains of six children, all six feet tall. In tall ollaswere human ashes suggesting either cremation or human sacrifices. Theremains were in an ancient burial ground called “Cyclopes necropolis.”

Beautiful ceramics were buried with the giants’ remains which were alsocoveredwithfinejewels.Earlier in the same year (1929)Mr. PaxonHayes foundmummies of a

peculiarraceofMongoloidgiantsindrycavesinthesierrasofNewMexico,USA.Hegotout34ofthesemummies,anddidfouryears’hardworkintheregion.Hesawfacialanglesof theseand theirburialcustomsaredifferentfrom those of the Indians.Theyhave slanting eyes and sloping foreheads,and the adults are about seven feet high, though their feet are only seveninches long. Their hair is black, with a peculiarly sun-burnt tinge whenclosely examined. The remains were preserved in asphalt, or resin, andwrappedinburialclothsboundwithfiber.(Childress2010)

Wilkins also notes, “Telegrams from Casas Grandes, Mexico, in 1923,announcedthediscoveryofseveralskeletonsofIndians fifteen feet tall,buriedsidebyside,withvasesofpreciousstones.ThenewscamefromCiudadJuarez”(Childress2010).

GIANTSOFPATAGONIA

Perhaps the most intriguing mystery involving a lost race of giants in SouthAmerica involves thoseofPatagonia, an areaof southernArgentina andChilewhere European explorers repeatedly reported encountering native Indians oftremendousstature.TheverynamePatagoniapointstothepersistentrumorsofgiantsintheregion,forPatagoniameans“LandofthePeoplewithLongFeet”(Childress2010).Ferdinand Magellan discovered Patagonia in 1520, during his monumental

journeyaroundtheEarth.Whilehisfleetlayatanchorinthenaturalharbor,hewitnessed a startling sight: a native, gigantic in stature, approached him.Figafetta,acompanionofMagellan,reportedthat“Thismanwassotallthatourheadsscarcelycameuptohiswaist,andhisvoicewaslikethatofabull.”Later,Magellan learned from normal-sized natives that the giant belonged to aneighboring tribe. “Remarkably,” science writer Terrence Aym writes,“Magellan’slogsshowthatheandhiscrewcapturedtwooftheselivinggiantsand brought them aboard ship, intending to bring them back to Europe.Unfortunately, thegiantsgrew illand theybothdiedduring the returnvoyage.Magellanhadtheirremainsburiedatsea”(Childress2010).The laterBritish explorer Sir FrancisDrake anchored in the same harbor as

Magellan had several decades earlier. In 1578, in that same vicinity, Drakereportedseeingnativesofunusuallyhighstature,somesevenfeet tallormore.Anotherindividual,AnthonyKnyvel,whoparticipatedinanexploratorymissionto the Strait of Magellan in 1592, claimed to have witnessed, firsthand,Patagoniansfromtentotwelvefeetinheight.Hewasalsosaidtohavemeasuredbodies of the same size at Port Desire, in modern-day Argentina. Additionalskeletons, ten or eleven feet long, were discovered in 1615 by two crewmenfromtheDutchschoonerWilhelmSchouten(Childress2010).Itisclearfromthesereportsthattheremnantsofanancientraceofgiantswere

wellestablishedduringthisperiod.However,fornearly150yearsafterthislastsighting,nofurtherreportsweremadeofthePatagoniangiants.OthernativesofPatagoniawereofnormalsize,buteventheyregularlymaintainedthataraceofprimordialgiantsinhabitedtheinterioroftheland(Childress2010).

TIAHUANACO:LANDOFTHEGIANTS

One place on Earth raises the bar on the question of whether giants onceinhabited theworld. It is theancient fallencityofTiahuanaco,which isa fewshortmilesfromtheshoresofLakeTiticacaintheAndeanhighlandsofBolivia,notfarfromtheEcuadorianborder.Fromtheearlyreportswehaveofthecity,whereinitisdescribedwithobvious

amazement,welearnthatitwaspopularlyunderstoodtohavebeenthedwellingplaceofgiants.ThefirstrecordedaccountthatcomesdowntouswaswrittenbytheSpanishchroniclerPedroCiezadeLeón,whovisiteditin1549:

Tiahuanaco is not a small village, rather it is famous for its grandiosebuildings....Ashortdistancefromahillstandtwostonestatuesshapedasmen....Theyaresolargetheylooklikegiants....Butthethingthatelicitsthegreatestamountofwonderisthesize[ofthestoneslabs],whicharesohugewecannotunderstandhowmencouldeverhavemovedthem.Manyoftheseplatformshavebeenworkedinvariousways....Therearealsostoneslabs with doorways, all made from a single block. . . . We do notcomprehend with which tools such work could have been achieved. . . .What’smore, the blocksmust have been even greater in size before theywereworked. . . .Nooneunderstandshow thesegreatweightscouldeverhavebeenmoved....Ihavebeenassuredthattheseconstructionswerealreadytherebeforethe

Inca ruled, and much of what the Inca later erected in Cuzco had beeninspiredbywhat theyhadseeninTiahuanaco. . . . In thepresenceofJuanVaragas,Iaskedthenativeswhetherthesebuildingshadbeenerectedduringthe age of the Incas: they laughed and answered, the buildings had beenthereformanyyearsbeforetheIncasbegantheirrule.Thesestructures,theyassuredme, and they knew this with certainty from their forefathers, hadbeenbuilt in a single night, constructedbybeingswhose provenance theydidnotknow.Andmaythefameofthesethingsremainintactthroughouttheuniverse. . . .Therewerenone still livingwhoknew thisunearthly site asanythingotherthanruins.”(Däniken2010,42–43)

In book 1, chapter 23, of hiswork on the subject, historianGarcilaso de laVega(ElInca)wroteofTiahuanaco:

Ilookedinwonderatagreatwallbuiltofsuchmightystonesthatwecouldnotimaginewhichearthlypowercouldhavebeenusedtoaccomplishsuchafeat....ThenativesmaintainthatthebuildingsweretherebeforetheIncas....Theydonotknowwhothebuilderswere,butknowwithsomedegreeofcertaintyfromtheirancestorsthatallthesewonderswereerectedinasinglenight.(delaVega1723)

It is easy to interpret the undertones. These chroniclers were confident thatsomegreater forces,orgroupofforces,wereathandhere. . . . Itseemslikelythattheywere.AnotheraccountofTiahuanacocomesfromauthorHaroldT.Wilkins. Inhis

bookMysteriesofAncientSouthAmerica(1947,187),hedescribesanencounteratTiahuanacowitha“colossalstatue,wearingastrangelyinflatedskullcap,onehand clasping to his breast a scepter of a condor-head, the other a tabletwithhieroglyphics.” This colossus, according to native sources, represents a giantmasterracethatwasknownastheRa-mac.ThisissimilartothenameofthesungodRa-Muthat,accordingtotheSanskritwritingsofIndia,wasthechiefdeityofthedrownedPacificcontinentofMu,orLemuria.Ra,ofcourse,wasthesungodofancientEgyptandtheearlierOsirianEmpire.Inadditiontodepictionsofgigantic proportions, statuettes of black men were also found in Tiahuanaco—“the cradle of mankind”—which may also be of Lemurian origin (Wilkins1952,110).

ARCHAEOLOGICALEXCAVATIONSATTIAHUANACO,1904–1945

Two individuals are credited with offering some of the most extreme viewsconcerningtheantiquityandoriginofTiahuanaco,althoughtheymostcertainlywerenottheonlyonestodoso.EngineerandavocationalarchaeologistArthurPosnansky andGerman archaeologistDr.EdmundKisswere considered to bethe dominant and unconventional authorities of Tiahuanaco prehistory in theearlytomid-1900s.Thesetwomenofuncompromisingresolvesingle-handedlyrewrotethebooksonTiahuanaco.PosnanskywastheRoyalBavarianProfessorof geodesic engineering from1904 to 1945 and aman ofmany interests. Forhim, Tiahuanacowasmuchmore than a collection of fabulous ruins that hadpossiblybeenerectedbygiants.Itwas,ashecalledit,“thecradleofhumanity.”“Tiahuanaco,” Posnansky affirmed, “is the greatest sun temple ever to be

constructed bymankind—not just in SouthAmerica, but in thewholeworld”(Däniken2010,55).Hewentontoreportthatthenativepopulationhadnamedtheirtemple“Akapana,”whichintheancientAymaralanguagemeans“theplacewheretheobserversdwell.”Dr.EdmundKissspentnineyearsstudyingintheAndesandexcavatingatthe

siteofTiahuanaco.Partofhisresearchinvolvedthemonolithicgatewayknownas“theGatewayoftheSun.”Kissbelievedthattheinscriptionsandsymbolsonthesungatewerefeaturesofacomplexcalendar,thoughinitiallyhewasunsurewhattypeofcalendaritmightbe.Atonepoint,Kissconcludedthatitwasinfactan ice age calendar predicting the cycles of the sun,moon, and stars—and assuchitmarkedthecomingofthewinterandsummersolstices.This provided the scientific basis of yet another theory.Kiss calculated that

Tiahuanaco was built in 27,000 BCE and believed that the city had beenoversweptbyagreatfloodearlyinitshistory,approximatelyeighteenthousandyears in the past. Although Posnansky only partially agreed with this view,further research confirmed this dating. Evidence suggested that the city’sdominantfeaturewasasuntemple:thegreatKalasasaya—anameinspiredbyaconnection to the inundated continent ofMu. This temple comprises the vaststadiumofpresent-dayTiahuanaco,whichwasconstructedbetween21,600BCEand2800BCE—arangeof18,800years(Wilkins1947,18).ColonelPercyFawcett,anadventurerandamateurarchaeologistof theearly

twentieth century, goes even further: “Thesemegalithic ruins of Tiahuanaco,”

saysFawcett,“wereneverbuiltontheAndesatall.TheyarepartofagreatcitysubmergedagesagointhePacificOcean.WhenthecrustoftheearthupheavedandcreatedthegreatAndeancordilleras,theseruinswereelevatedfromthebedoftheoceantowhereyouseethem”(Wilkins1947,186).IfFawcett is indeedcorrect, then the earliest stages of Tiahuanaco could date back as far as onehundredthousandyearsormore.Assuch,Tiahuanacois theperfect laboratoryforthosewishingtoinvestigatemorefullytheraceofgiantshypothesis.

THEGIANTSOFANCIENTPOLYNESIA

HavingexploredtheAmericasfortracesofancientgiants,wewillnowturnourattentiontoPolynesia,comprisingmorethanonethousandislandsinthePacificOcean.Herewewillcontinuetoexplorevarioushistoricalreferencestogiants,as well as spend some fair amount of time on one of the most enigmaticarchaeological anomalies on the planet: the very large human figuresmade ofstoneonEasterIsland,calledtheMoai.

EASTERISLAND:HOMETOARCHAICCAUCASOIDS

Some 4,000 kilometers southeast of Nan Madol, with its canals and templesconstructed of basalt logs, and 3,782 kilometers from thewindswept coast ofChile lies the enigma known as Easter Island, a place that has fascinated andperplexed visitors for more than two centuries. It is also one of the mostgeographically remote and culturally isolated places on Earth. This island’snative inhabitants are of Polynesian ancestry, but centuries of isolation haveallowedthemtoevolveseparatelyintotheirowndistinctrace.Althoughthereisevidenceofcontactbetweentheislandersandforeignvisitors,andvaryingtypesof ethnicity are exhibited within the native population, including Caucasiantraits,theircultureremainsdistinct.ThegiganticMoai,orstonestatuesofEasterIsland,haveoriginsthatstretch

far back into human antiquity. These cyclopean statues seem to hint at someunspeakable connection with a vanished race of giants. The magnificent andcolossalstone figuresare11 to22metershighandweighasmuchas45 tons.Despiterepeatedspeculationbymainstreamscientists,therealityisthatnooneknowsforcertainwhobuiltthem,how,orwhy.Furthermore,howancientistheoccupationoftheisland,andwhowereitsearliestinhabitants?

Today, this tiny speck of land in themiddle of the South Pacific known asEasterIslandisalsocalledRapaNuiinthenativetongue,meaning“LandoftheBirdMen.”The official records attribute the island’s discovery to the Dutch vessel

Afrikaansche Galei, under the command of Admiral Jacob Roggeveen. ThediscoveryoccurredonEasterDay,April5,1722,at5:00p.m.Incommemorationofitsdayofdiscovery,RoggeveendubbedthistinyspeckoflandEasterIsland.Thefollowingday,aftervisitingtheisland,heattemptedtodescribeitsmaterialculture:

Concerning the religion of these people, of this we could get no fullknowledge because of the shortness of our stay, wemerely observed thattheysetfiresbeforesomeparticularlyhigherectedstoneimages....Thesestone imagesat firstcausedus tobestruckwithastonishment,becausewecouldnotcomprehendhowitwaspossiblethatthesepeople,whoaredevoidof heavy thick timber for making any machines, as well as strong ropes,neverthelesshadbeenabletoerectsuchimages,whichwerefullythirtyfeethighandthickinproportion.(FlenleyandBahn2003)

After coming ashore, theDutch sailors, togetherwith their officers, spent aconsiderableamountoftimetouringthetwenty-fivemileisland,marvelingatitsmonumentsandwritingdownfirsthandaccountsofthegiganticfiguresandthepeculiar writings used by the natives. They also had the opportunity to havesexual intercourse with a number of the native females, as tribute from thechieftains and the gods. TheDutch explorers reported that the islandersworeverylittleclothingandinhabitedreedhuts(FlenleyandBahn2003).Tragically,thefirstcontactwiththeseindigenouspeoplesendedingunfireandthekillingofaboutonehundredorsoRapaNui islanders.DavidHatcherChildressexplainsthat Roggeveen ordered his sailors to fire into a crowd of natives who wereengaged in thievery and touching and toyingwith the ship and its technology,mainlyoutofcuriosity(Childress1988,118).Oneofthemostobviousrealitiesofthepeoplepresentontheislandwastheir

mixedracialheritage.AlargenumberofthenativepeopleappearedCaucasian,while others, fewer in number, had brown or red skin. There were manyintermediary groups.A long-eared groupwas tall and fair-skinnedwith ruddycheeks.Theyoftenhadbrown,red,orblondhair(Joseph2006,170).Thisisbutone of many out-of-place Caucasian groups that Western European explorers

wouldencounterastheyventuredtotheremotecornersoftheEarth.Somescholars,suchasRobertLangdon,claimthatRoggeveenandhisshipof

DutchexplorerswerenotthefirstEuropeanstosetfootontheisland.Langdonbelieves that sailors from a lost Spanish caravel, the San Lesmes, whichdisappeared in 1526 and apparently ran aground in Tahiti, survived andintermarriedwiththePolynesianwomen.Langdonsuggeststhatsomehowtheseoffspring made it to Easter Island and entered the gene pool, leaving behindtraces of Basque genetic markers. This would seem incredibly complex andfancifulifnotforthefactthatEasterIslanderDNAcontainsageneticstructurecommonwithin the Basque population ofWestern Europe (Flenley and Bahn2003).According to the French explorer Jean François de Galaup, comte de

Lapérouse, during his visit in 1786, both the statues and people possessed adistinct European quality, which was unmistakable. Other visits were lessconstructive.Forexample, theSpanishexpedition launchedfromPeruearly in1770 came back without any commentary or report whatsoever, and onlymanaged to print a ship’s logmore than a century later, in 1908 (Flenley andBahn2003).In 1774, the era of exploration and scientific investigation began in earnest.

ThisdatemarkedthevisitationofCaptainJamesCooktoEasterIsland.Hewasconsidered theGreatWhiteGod by thePacific Islanders, aswerePizarro andCortésbytheAmericanpeoples.On June 13, 1772, Cook departed Plymouth, England, with two ships, the

ResolutionandtheAdventure.ItwasCook’sintentiontosailaroundtheworld,navigate the southernmost waters, cross the Antarctic Circle, and confirm theexistenceofthelegendarysoutherncontinentofAntarctica.TheyreachedEasterIslandonMarch1, 1774.TheBritish remainedonEaster Island for only fourdays, as they rested and replenishedwhat supplies they could amid thebarrenlandscape. In his log, Cook recorded: “We could hardly conceive how theseislanders, wholly unacquainted with any mechanical power, could raise suchstupendousfigures,andafterwardsplacethelargecylindricalstonesupontheirheads”(Joseph2006,54).Clearly,thebizarrenatureoftheislandanditsinhabitantsbaffleditsEuropean

visitors.KatherineRoutledge, an early twentieth-century investigatorofEasterIsland,putitlikethis:“InEasterIsland,thepastisthepresent.Itisimpossibletoescape from it. The inhabitants of today are less real than themenwho have

gone.Theshadowsofthedepartedbuildersstillpossesstheland”(Joseph2006,54).ErichvonDänikencalledthemagnificentandcolossalstonefigures“robotswhichseemtobewaitingsolelytobesetinmotionagain”(Däniken1970,111).Originally,thestatuesalsoworehats,andtheytraditionallyfacedinlandandnotouttowardtheever-crashingwaves.

Dr.JaredDiamond,authorof thenationalbestsellerGuns,Germs,andSteel,offersuptheseinsightsintoPolynesianarchitecture:

The largest products of Polynesiawere the immense stone structures of afewislands—thefamousgiantstatuesofEasterIsland,thetombsofTonganchiefs,theceremonialplatformsoftheMarquesas,andthetempleofHawaiiand theSocieties.ThismonumentalPolynesian architecturewasobviouslyevolving in the same direction as the pyramids of Egypt, Mesopotamia,Mexico and Peru.Naturally, Polynesia’s structures are not on the scale ofthose pyramids, but that merely reflects the fact that Egyptian pharaohscoulddrawconscriptlaborfromamuchlargerhumanpopulationthancouldthechiefofanyPolynesianisland.Evenso,theEasterIslandersmanagedtoerect 24-ton stone statues—no mean feat for an island with only seventhousand people,who had no power source other than their ownmuscles.(Diamond1999)

Diamond was not privy to the more alternative explanations of themonuments’origins,buthisgeneralconclusions fromamainstreamstandpointarebasicallycorrect.Itisalsoclearthathadthesesocietiesbeenlefttodevelopon their own, untouched by outside influence, they would have undoubtedlycontinuedtoevolvealongthelinesoftheMayas,Aztecs,andOldWorldculturessuchastheEgyptiansandMesopotamians.In The Polynesians: Prehistory of an Island People, Peter Bellwood says,

“Easter Island society of the eighteenth century was not described as highlystratified,andwasdominatedbyindependentwarringtribeswhoprobablyspentmuchoftheirtimefightingoverscarceresources”(1978,113).BellwooddividedEasterIslandprehistoryintothreemainperiods.Duringthe

EarlyPeriod,400–1100CE,theearliestofthestoneplatformswereerected,andduring theMiddlePeriod,1100–1680CE, theseplatformswereequippedwiththegiganticstonestatuesthatdefinetheislandandtheirinhabitantstothisday.During the Late Period, 1680–1868 CE, there was a drastic and devastatingdeclineintheisland’senvironmentandthehealthandstabilityofitspopulation,

prompting thediscontinuationof thepeoples’ religionand their traditions.TheperiodconcludedwiththearrivalanddominationofChristianmissionaries,whofurther undermined the native beliefs and traditions (Bellwood1978, 114–15).ThisspelledcertaindoomfortheageofgiantsonEasterIsland.

Giants,itwouldseem,havebeenallovertheglobe.Iftheycanhavereachedthefar-flungislandsofPolynesia,onemightthinkthattheymust,indeed,havebeenanywhere,andquitepossibly,everywhere.NowleavingPolynesiabehind,inournextchapterwewillagainpeerbackintothemistsoftimetoascertainwhattheworldmighthavebeenlikebeforetheGreatFlood,andwhethergiantswerepartof this ancient landscape. Integral to this will be an assessment of thoseenigmaticfiguresknownastheWatchers,andwhatroletheymayhaveplayedinhumankind’searliestdays.Whoweretheyandwheredidtheycomefrom?Ourdiscussionwillaimtofindout.

8

THERACEOFANTEDILUVIANGIANTS

Theirswasthegiantrace,beforetheflood.JOHNDRYDEN,EPISTLETOCONGREVE

THEWORLDBEFOREADAMANDEVE

In theBible,wecatchglimpsesof an initial “FirstCreation”or “pre-Adamic”worldthatprecededtheemergenceofAdam.AngelsandthesonsofGodruledthisworld.According to certain biblical passages, this primordialEarthwas athrivingcommunitywithvastcitiesandcomplexlife-forms(Quayle2002,51).ThefollowingpassagefromtheBookofJeremiah4:23–26brieflydemonstrateswhatthisworldcouldhavebeenlike:

Ibeheld theearth,and, lo, itwaswithout formandvoid;and theheavens,andtheyhadnolight.Ibeheldthemountains,andlo,theytrembled,andallthehillsmovedlightly.Ibeheld,and,lo,therewasnoman,andallthebirdsof the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was awilderness,andallthecitieswerebrokendownatthepresenceoftheLord,andbyhisfierceanger.

Thekeyphrase“Ibeheld,and,lo,therewasnoman”indicatesthatJeremiahwasreferringtoatimethatpredatedtheemergenceofmankind.Thiswasanear-forgottenepochinwhichanentirelydifferentpopulationinhabitedandruledtheearth. Author Stephen Quayle remarks that the prophet made reference to aworld“withoutformandvoid.”ThisphraseistakendirectlyfromGenesis1.Ittherefore indicates, in Quayle’s mind, that Jeremiah was referring to a timebeforeAdamarosefromthechokingdustoftheEarth.Suchterminologyoffersa brief glimpse of that alternative world history that overturns the acceptedparadigmandforcesustoreexaminelong-heldbeliefs.Inthischapterwereturntotheoriginalsourcesofhumanhistorythatmodern

sciencehasabandonedbutthatnonethelessbridgethegapsleftbyoftendilatory

twenty-first-century historians and archaeologists. Calling upon disparateaccounts,weaimtogetaclearerviewofwhatantediluvianculturewasliketheworldoverandtodeterminewhethertherearesimilarthreadsintheseculturesthatcanbewoventogethertopositaconsistent,universalstory.Partandparcelof this will be to put the strange race known as the Watchers under closescrutiny.InthiswewillalsoexplorepossiblelinksbetweentheWatchersofoldandtheNephilim,beforelaunchingintoadiscussionoftheanticanonicalBookofEnoch and theBookofGiants,whichwasderived froma fragment of textdiscovered at Qumran, among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Last we will attempt toidentifythetrueidentityofNoah.Washe,inalltruth,actuallyagiant?

THEANTEDILUVIANWORLDINANCIENTGREEKACCOUNTS

Through a study of ancient works and their accounts of the antediluvianmonarchsthatwereintegraltotheirculture,itispossibletogleanwhattheworldmay have looked like before the Great Flood. Dardanus, as the son of thefounder of the city ofDardania, in theBalkans, is a good example of one ofthesemonarchs.Plato explains thatwhen the Flood engulfed thewholeworld, the survivors

whowerelivingonmountains,nowislands,splitintotwogroups.OneacceptedDardanus’ssonDeimasaskingofDardania,andtheothergroupsettledontheislandofSamothrace.After thefloodwaterssubsided,Dardanusparticipated intherenewalofhumansociety.HewroteintheancientrecordsthattheEarthwasoncepartlyruledbythegiants.TothedistantancestorsoftheGreeks,whocamefromalostcivilizationalongtheBlackSea,theword“giant”meantadarkandunfathomablebeingthatdatedbacktotheprimordialoriginsofthehumanrace.However,theGreekculturealsoincludedrulersoftheunderseakingdomwho

came forth to impartwisdomandknowledge.The antediluvian lordCecrops IfoundedAthens,butwassaidtohavetheupperbodyofamanandthelowerhalfofafish.HetaughttheAthenianswriting,architecture,science,andlaw.Healsowas said to have defied Zeus and had the Greeks offer up sacrifices to himinstead.InadditiontothesefiguresintheearlyGreekaccountswereothercreaturesof

greatantiquitywhowouldalsoplayapivotalroleintheantediluvianworldandthepreparationforhumanconquestofEarth.OneofthemwasOannes.

OANNESANDTHEBABYLONIACA

In 350BCE,whileAlexander theGreatwas still on the throne ofBabylon, apriest and historian of the Babylonian godMardukwas busy compiling whatwould become the essential historical reference book of his day: theBabyloniaca. This priest was Berossus and his epic work consisted of threevolumes.Eachwaswritten inGreek,whichwas the common language of thetime.TheBabyloniaca is importantformanyreasons,not theleastofwhichisthatitgivesusacontextfortheGreatFloodbysettingitwithinatimelinethatbeginswith the emergence of humankingship.According to theBabyloniaca,which reflects Mesopotamian belief, 432,000 years elapsed between thecrowningofthefirstearthlyking,AlorosI,andtheonsetoftheGreatFlood.*11

AnimportantfigureoftheBabyloniacaisOannes.†2Itwashewho,accordingtoBabylonianmythology, gave the “Tablets of Civilization” to early humans,therebyprovidingthemwithwrittenlanguage,afteremergingfromhiskingdombeneath thePersianGulf.Oanneswasa strangemanand fishhybrid, andwasalso the leader of a group of similar creatures, “a brotherhood of semi-divinebeingsdescribedashalf-men,half-fish,whohadbeensentbythegodstoteachthe art of civilization to humankind before the flood. The collective name bywhichthesecreatureswereknownwasthe‘SevenSages’andthenameoftheirleaderwasOannes”(Hancock2002).AccordingtotheBabyloniaca, theSevenSageswereinstrumentalintheearlydevelopmentoftheSumerncivilization.BerossusdescribestheencounterwithOannesasfollows:

Inthefirstyearthereappeared,fromthatpartoftheErythaeanSea[today’sPersian Gulf], which borders upon Babylonia, an animal endowed withreason,bythenameofOannes....Itsvoicewasarticulateandhuman,andanimageofhimhasbeenpreservedtothisday.Thiscreaturespentitsdaysamong men, but ate no food, and gave them insights into letters andsciences,andartsofeverykind.Hetaughtthemtobuildcitiesandtemples,howtodrawuplawsandmeasuretheland.Heshowedthemhowtosowtheseeds and how to collect the fruits; he instructed them in everything thatcouldhumanizetheirlives.Fromthattime,nothingmaterialhasbeenaddedbywayofimprovementtohisinstructions.Oannesalsowroteabookaboutthe genesis of man and the origin of civil states, which he then gave tomankind.(Däniken2009)

SomesourcesindicatethatOannesandtheSevenSagesdidmuchmorethanimpartsacredtechnologicalknowledgetothehumanrace.Theyalsoestablishedthe five antediluvian cities described in the originalSumern text depicting theFlood and the Sumern version of the Noah story. Indeed, this hints that theengineering giants, the Nephilim, and these half-fish, half-human biologicalentities were closely related and possibly worked together educating andpreparingthefirstrace.ErichvonDänikenequatesOanneswithanextraterrestrialvisitor.Thisauthor

wouldratherkeephisoriginsclosertotheEarth.It’spossiblethatherepresentsan intelligent race*12 that, like thegiants, isallbutextinct. It isalsopossible,evenmorethanlikely,thatOannesisoneofthelegendaryWatchersofbiblicalfame, the sons of God who mated with mortal women and produced theNephilim,araceofgiants.

WHOWERETHEWATCHERS—REALLY?

Inhisessay“WhentheSonsofGodCavortedwiththeDaughtersofMen,”well-known biblical scholar Ronald S. Hendel poses the following question: “Ifsomeoneaskedyou toname theoriginof a storyaboutgodswho takehumanwivesandthengivebirthtoaraceofsemidivineheroes,youmightanswer:It’saGreek myth, or perhaps a Norse legend, or maybe a folktale from Africa orIndia.Surelythisstorycouldn’tcomefromthesacredscripturesofJudaismandChristianity.Orcouldit?”(1987)To answer this question he offers up the following passage, Genesis 6:1–4.

Hereitisinfull:

Whenmankind began tomultiply on the face of the earth, and daughterswere born to them, the Sons of God saw that the daughters ofmenwerebeautiful, and they tookwives of them, from anywhom they chose. AndYahwehsaid,“Myspiritwillnotbestronginmanforever,forindeedheisbut flesh.His lifetimewillbe120years.Giantswereon theearth in thosedays,andalsoafterwards,whentheSonsofGodmatedwiththedaughtersofmenandtheyborechildrenforthem:theseweretheheroesofold,themenofrenown.

According to Hendel, “For thousands of years this story has scandalizedreaders of theBible and for good reason. The story appears to go against the

grain of our traditional understanding of biblical religion.” AsHendel attests,this story remains one of most enduring controversies of modern biblicalscholarship. The term giants is actually a mistranslation of the Hebrew wordNephilim,whichisderivedfromtheHebrewverbnafol,meaning“tofall.”Thus,the Nephilim are often conceived of as a fallen race of giants who ruled theworldpriortotheGreatFlood,theglobaldelugethatengulfedtheantediluvianworld and finally ended their reign. However, others claim that the Nephilimwere actually Greys (aliens), while still others contend that the mysteriousfiguresweretheNeanderthalsofIceAgeEuropeandtheNearEast.ThedescendantsoftheNephilimareknownastheEmin,whoaredescribedin

the King James Bible as “a people greater, and many, and tall.” Thesedescendantswerealso the inheritorsof theantediluvian religiouspracticesandritesthatwereenactedatopSeir,thesacredmountain(Joseph2005).WhilewemayknowwhothedescendantsoftheNephilimwere,thereissome

controversyastowhoexactlytheirancestorswere.TheBibletellsustheywereahybridrace,bornofthesonsofGodandthedaughtersofmen.Thisdoesnotexplain, however,whowere the sons ofGod, sometimes called theWatchers.ThisauthorbelievestheywereasuperiorracethatinhabitedtheEarthsinceitscreationandwereseenasgodsbyourearliestancestors.Itmight evenbe suggested that theWatchers, rather thanbeingany formof

off-worldintelligence,wereapreviouslyevolvedracethatoriginatedandlivedon Earth prior to the emergence ofmodern humans and had always been ourbenefactor. Perhaps tales of these gods are not stories of misinterpretedextraterrestrial visitors, but rather accounts of a now-extinct race whoseindividualswereatonetimesoutterlypowerfulthattheywereinessencegods.In theBookofEnochwe read that theWatchers, alsoknownas the sonsof

God,matedwithmortalwomen,andtheensuingoffspringbecametheNephilimofmyth and legend.The reality ofwho these ancient giantswere,where theycamefrom,andwhatultimatelyhappened to themispreserved inmanyworldmythologies.Forthisreason,mythologycanoffercluestoaforgottenchapterinhumanhistory.AstheologianFrancisA.Schaefferpointsout:

More andmore we are finding that mythology in general, though greatlycontorted,veryoftenhassomehistoricbase.Andtheinterestingthingisthatonemythwhichoccursover andover again inmanypartsof theworld isthatsomewherealongtimeagosupernaturalbeingshadsexual intercoursewithnaturalwomenandproducedaspecialbreedofpeople.(Thomas1986,

107)

THEANUNNAKIANDNEPHILIMSAGA

Here we look to the Babylonian creation story, the Enûma Eliš, for greaterinsight into thesematters.According to lateauthorand independent researcherZecharia Sitchin, the world was once ruled by a race of giants known in theEnûmaEliš as the Anunnaki. These beings were not earthborn creatures, butratherwereextraterrestrialbeingswhocametoEarthtomineforgoldand“otherprecious rawminerals.” In ancient Sumern the name means, literally, “ThoseWhofromHeaventoEarthCame.”AncientalientheoristsseeancientSumerasthegreatestsourceofevidenceof

extraterrestrial intervention in the evolution of the human species and itscivilization.*13In2010,thephenomenalHistorychannellaunchedabrandnewseries,Ancient Aliens, that examines evidence of alien contact in the remotehumanpast.Itproposesthatextraterrestrialsvisitedabackwardhumanity,barelyout of the Stone Age, and imbued it with knowledge of civilization. Theyimpregnated our infant race with technologies and cultural constructs nowconsideredtobefoundationaltoourancientcivilizations,including:megalithicarchitecture (orwhatDavidHatcherChildress calls “Atlantean construction”);advanced science and medicine; organized religious cults and methods ofspiritual healing; and even modes of aerial transportation and weapons ofwarfare—hundredsofmillenniaaheadofourowntime.The reignof theAnunnakimarks thebeginningof thehistoricperiod in the

legacy of the ancient giants. TheHebrew rendering of the nameAnunnaki isAnakim,meaning “giants,” a name that befits their gigantic stature aswell astheir technological sophistication. Anakim is another name for the HebrewNephilim.“TheNephilimwereupontheEarthinthosedaysbeforetheDelugeandthereaftertoo,whenthesonsoftheElohimcohabitatedwiththedaughtersoftheAdamandtheyborechildrenuntothem”(Sitchin,152).

THEBOOKOFENOCHANDTHEBOOKOFGIANTS

ThestoryoftheFloodintheBiblegivesusaninklingofwhatlifehereonEarthmayhavebeenlikebeforetheglobaldeluge.TheBookofGenesisgivesusonlybriefglimpsesofthatalternativeworldhistory,andcontrastsdrasticallywiththe

nonbiblical, evolutionary view of history now maintained as the establishedparadigm.Thenonevolutionaryworld history is explored further and inmuchgreater detail in the apocryphal works known as the Book of Enoch and theBook ofGiants, two books only recently rediscovered thatwere not officiallycanonizedaspartoftheBible.TheBookofEnochwasdiscoveredbyScottishadventurerJamesBruceinthe

eighteenth century when, during an expedition to Africa, he came across anumber of mysterious scrolls. Ethiopian priests explained they were sacredbiblicaltextsnotincludedintheHebreworChristianBibles.Tantalizedbysuchapossibility,BrucemadeeffortstoacquirecopiesandtookthembacktoLondonto be examined and translated. These Ethiopian documents did not becomewidely known, however, until German orientalist and Protestant theologianAugustDillmanntranslatedtheBookofEnochintoGerman(Däniken2009).The Book of Enoch is one of the best sources among the ancient

pseudepigraphatextsforaccountsofgiants,eventhoughithasnotbeenplacedwithin the official canon of either the early Hebrew Bible or the GreekSeptuagint,whichisthebasisofourmodernChristianOldTestament.The Book of Giants is actually a portion of the Book of Enoch that was

unknownuntilthemid-twentiethcentury,whenexcavationsattheQumrancavesontheDeadSeacounted themamongtheDeadSeaScrolls.Thisrich treasuretroveconsistsofdozensofscrollsandhundredsoffragments.WiththeaidoftheManichaean religion, the Book of Giants spread throughout the Old World.Versions were translated into Syriac, Greek, Persian, Sogdian, Uighur, andArabic. Each version took on a life of its own, however, given that everytranslation incorporated the various regional myths and legends of its hostpopulation (Childress 2010). They help provide context for Old TestamentwritingsandtherelativelynewreligionofChristianity—includingtheenigmatic“fallenangels”orNephilim,alsosometimescalledtheWatchers—givingfurtherinsightintotheworldasitwasbeforetheFlood.TheBookofGiantsdescribestheantediluvianworldasfollows:“[Thesefallen

angels]knewthesecretsof[allthings].[Atthistime]sinwasgreatontheearth.Thewickedangelskilledmanypeopleandbegotgiants[withmortalwomen].”BiblicalscholarJohnWilliamsRogersonwrites:“[Accordingto]Genesis6:1–

6,therethe‘childrenofGod’haveintercoursewithwomen,producingaraceofNephilim, ‘mightymenthatwereold,menofrenown’”(DaviesandRogerson,204).

Further passages from The Book of Enoch describe the so-calledWatchers:“Enoch6–11describeshowtheseheavenlybeings(allnamed)teachthewomenaboutspells,rootcuttingandplants,astrology,weaponsofwar,andcosmetics.Thewomen give birth to giants,who turn to cannibalism and blood-drinking.The Earth cries out for help, andGod orders the execution of the giants, thebinding of the Watchers beneath the hill until the Day of Judgment, andthereafter in a fiery chasm” (“Christian Mythology” 2013). Such images asgiants, blood drinking, astrology, spells, and root cutting have been far moreinfluenced by pagan and Greek sources than by anything Hebrew. Butnonetheless, theBookofEnochfills in the tremendousgaps inbiblicalhistorythatwehave,unfortunately,inheritedfromGenesis.Thesepassagesareechoedintheremainingportionsofthebook.Likewise,in

Enoch 7:3–6, the daughters of men “became pregnant, and they bore greatgiants,whoseheightwasthreethousandells[aGermanicformofmeasurementapproximatingthelengthofoneman’sarm]whosummonedalltheacquisitionsofmen.Andwhenmencouldnolongersustainthem,thegiantsturnedagainstthemanddevouredmankind.And they began to sin against birds, and beasts,andreptiles,andfish,andtodevouroneanother’sflesh,anddrinktheirblood.Thentheearthlaidaccusationagainstthelawlessones.”AccordingtoEnochatleast,itwasthiscourseofeventsthatprecipitatedtheGreatFlood.Given all of this, the key question becomes: Who then is Enoch? What

relevancedoeshehaveto theexistenceofgiants in theOldTestament?Enochwas the sonof Jared, the seventhof theantediluvian rulersandoneof the tenpatriarchsofthepre-FloodEarth.EnochisdescribedinJewishlegendas“kingover all men.” In Genesis 5:21–24 Enoch is described only briefly thendisappearsfromthecanonizedbiblicalrecord:“(21)WhenEnochhadlived65years, he became the father ofMethuselah, (22) EnochwalkedwithGod 300yearsandhadothersonsanddaughters.(23)Altogether,Enochlived365years.(24) Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took himaway”(Däniken2009).Enoch is also knownby different names bymany different cultures: Saurid,

Hermes,andIdris,amongthem.He,morethananyindividual,isresponsibleforthegenesisofhumancultureandcivilization.Somescholars,suchasTaqial-DinAhmadibnAliibnAbdal-QadiribnMuhammadal-MaqriziinhisworkKhitat,evencitehimasthebuilderoftheGreatPyramid(Däniken2009).

NOAH:HUMANORGIANT?

The figure of the biblical Noah is also a tantalizing and puzzling one. In theJournal of Biblical Literature, religious scholar John C. Reeves writes: “Onerelatively unexplored motif that can be observed in certain strands of earlyJewishinterpretationofthefigureofNoahas‘Flood-hero’revolvesaroundthequestionof his true lineage and identity” (1993, 110).Reeves asks,wasNoahfully human, the legitimate seed of Lamech? Or was he in reality born of abastardraceofgiantsspawnedthroughthemiscegenationofthefallenWatchersandmortalwomenwhoterrorizedanddefiledtheEarthfromtheepochofJaredtotheonsetoftheGreatFlood?ThoughneverdirectlyaddressedintheHebrewBible,itisclearinsomeextrabiblicalsourcesthelatterwasmostlikelythecase:thattheFlood-heroNoahwas,inallprobability,agiant.ThisfascinatingmotifisfirstintroducedintheGenesisApocryphon,oneofthe

Dead Sea Scrolls, wherein Lamech is confronted by the suspicion that hisnewbornboyNoahisnotlegitimatelyhisson.HesuspectsthatNoah,ratherthanbeing a pure human, is in fact the byproduct of a union between his wife,Batenosh, and one of the angelic Watchers: “Then I considered whether thepregnancywas due to theWatchers andHolyOnes . . . and I grewperturbedaboutthischild.ThenI,Lamech,becameafraidandwenttoBatenosh[mywife...saying,]Everythingwillyoutruthfullytellme...youwilltellmewithoutlies...youwillspeaktruthfullytomeandnotwithlies”(1QapGen2:1–7).BatenoshthenreassuresLamechthatNoahisindeedpureofblood:“Iswearto

youbytheGreatHolyOne,bytheRuler[ofHeaven]thatthisseedisyours,thatthispregnancyisfromyou,thatfromyouistheplantingof[this]fruit...[andthatitis]notfromanyalien,orfromanyoftheWatchers,orfromanyheavenlybeing...Itellyouthistruthfully”(1QapGen2:14–18).Lamech,however, doubtsBatenosh’s truthfulness.He is therefore compelled

toseekcounselfromhisgrandfatherEnoch“tolearnfromhimthetruthofthewholematter”(Reeves1993;1QapGen2:22).Lamechconsultswithhisgrandfather,whothenspeakstohisson,Methuselah

(Lamech’s father), aswe read in 1Enoch 106:18 and 107:2: “AndnowmakeknowntoyoursonLamechthattheonewhohasbeenbornistrulyhisson.AndcallhisnameNoah....Andnow,mysongomakeknowntoyoursonLamechthat thischildwhohasbeenbornis trulyhisson,and(this) isnolie”(Reeves1993).

WhythendidLamechsuspectthatsomethingwaswrong?Thiswasduetothechild’s strange and supernatural appearancewhen hewas born.His bodywas“whitelikesnowandredliketheflowerofarose,andthehairofhishead(was)whitelikewool...andhiseyes(were)beautiful,andwhenheopenedhiseyes,he made the whole house bright like the sun so that the whole house wasexceptionallybright.”Thisseemsalmostextraterrestrial.Italsosaiduponhisentranceintotheworld,thenewbornspoke.Lamechwas

afraidoftheinfantandrantohisfather,Methuselah,saying,“Ihavebegottenastrangeson;heisnotlikeaman,butislikethechildrenoftheangelsofheaven,of a different type, and not like us” (Reeves 1993).While some attribute hisunique countenance to being marked as an agent of God, others, Reevesincluded, suggest another angle entirely. There is in fact strong evidence tosupporttheconclusionthatNoahwasa“giant.”Inathirdtext,fromtheso-calledPseudo-Eupolemusweread:

EupolemusinhisworkOntheJewssaysthatthosewhowererescuedfromtheFloodfirstfoundedtheAssyriancityofBabylon.Theyweregiants(and)built the recordedTower.When it collapsed due to the action ofGod, thegiants dispersed over the whole earth. In some anonymous writings wediscoverthatAbrahamtracedhislineagetothegiants.Whenthese(giants)were living in Babylonia, they were slain by God on account of theirimpiety. One of them, Belos, escaped death (and) settled in Babylon, andafterbuildingatowerlivedinit.ItwascalledBelosafteritsbuilderBelos.

Given that Abrahamwas descended fromNoah, it is here we see the clearaffirmation that Belos was another name for Noah, and that this person wasindeed a giant. His postdiluvian descendants settled in Babylon and wereresponsible for the building of the Tower ofBabel. Theywere then dispersedacrossthefaceoftheplanetaftertheLordconfoundedtheirlanguage.Why thenwas it so important for theGenesisApocryphon and theBook of

Enoch to prove hishuman lineage? Simply because there had already been atraditionofBelos,orNoah,beingagiantthathadgonebackthousandsofyears(the Pseudo-Eupolemus), and it was important to establish the new biblicaltraditionofNoahbeingsimplyahumanagentofGod,andinthat,tosilencethecriticsandultimatelyterminateanyfurtherspeculationregardingthematterastowhether or not Noah was of the race of giants. With this accomplished, anyknowledge of the actual truthwas effectively killed (Reeves 1993;Chouinard

2011).

ThroughoutthischapterwehavesoughttoprovidesomesenseofwhattheEarthanditsinhabitantsmayhavebeenlikeintheagesbeforetheGreatFlood.Thatwehavebeenonlypartiallysuccessfulmaybeduetothefactthatthefascinatingrecordsofthistimecontainaccountsofstrangecreaturesdifficultforthemodernmind to fully imagine. One thing is clear, however: The frequency of similaraccountsofbeingsenormousinsizemightsuggestthatweshouldbemoreapttoaccepttheircommonconsensusascommontruth:giants,whethertheyweretheNephilim or other races of gigantic beings, did, at one point in the earlydevelopment of humans, inhabit the Earth. Given this, we can only speculatewhat wondrous discoveries await us with regard to unearthing and furtherunderstandingthefantasticphenomenonofgiantsthroughtime.Nextwewillbetakingonaveryintriguingaspectofourgeneraldiscussion:

theevidenceforgiantsintheancientcultureofAtlantisandhowtheymayhavehadahandinitsdemise.

9

THEGREATFLOODANDTHEDESTRUCTIONOFTHEGIANTS

THEFLOODANDFLOODLEGENDS

As Graham Hancock promptly notes at the beginning of his epic workUnderworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, millions of squarekilometers of “useful human habitat” equivalent to all of China and Europecombinedwere “swallowedupby rising sea-levels at the endof the IceAge”(2002,24).Proofforthisreality,Hancockinsists,isallaroundus.Descriptions of a cataclysmic worldwide flood, Hancock demonstrates, are

present in nearly every culture onEarth.This tradition is seen in the SanskritwritingsofIndia,inthepre-ColumbianAmericas,andevenintheworksoftheancient Greeks. It is also prevalent in both Sumern and Babylonian writtenrecords,andamong theprehistoricancestorsof theCelticandGermanic tribesincluding the ancientBritons.We find floodmyths among thePolynesian andMicronesian islanders, the Arabs, the Hebrews, and throughout China andSoutheast Asia. Even in remote mountainous regions and scorching desertlandscapes,farfromthepresenceofanysubstantialbodyofwater,floodmythspersist.Theyspeakofamajorcatastrophethatkilledalmosteveryonealiveontheplanetatthattime.Noone,accordingtotherecords,butaselectfewescapedtheonslaughtofthetorrent(Hancock2002).In this chapterwewill lookat these floodmythsmorecloselyand seewhat

theycantellusabouthowgiantsmighthavebeenpartandparcelofthisancientlandscape.

ABIBLICALACCOUNTOFTHEFLOOD

GrahamHancockremarksthatin1923thenotedanthropologistSirJamesFrazerpresentedacommentaryregardingtheever-presentfloodmyths.Frazerwastheauthor of the seminal work The Golden Bough, a collection of observationsregarding folk practices and beliefs worldwide. Regarding prehistoric flood

mythshesaidthefollowing:

Legends of a great flood in which almost all men perished are widelydiffused over the world. . . . Stories of such tremendous cataclysms arealmostcertainlyfabulous;[but]itispossibleandindeedprobablethatunderamythicalhuskmanyofthemhideakerneloftruth;thatistheymaycontainreminiscencesof inundationswhich reallyovertookparticulardistricts,butwhich in passing through the medium of popular tradition have beenmagnifiedintoworldwidecatastrophes.(Hancock2002)

WhetherthebiblicalaccountoftheFloodismerelyareminiscenceofalocalinundation or reflects a worldwide catastrophe, it is notable to us for otherreasons, particularly concerning the issue of giants. Let’s look at one biblicalreferenceinparticulartoascertainwhatmaybeakerneloftruthinitregardingourconvictionthatgiantsoncepeopledtheEarth.ThisinvolvesNoah’sattempttowarn those aroundhimof the coming catastrophe.They respondby saying“However great this deluge, we are so tall that it cannot reach our necks”(Joseph2002,119).Thisreferenceseemstoechothefactthattheywereindeedgiants.AuthorFrankJosephgoesontoidentifymoreconciselytheeventspreceding

the Great Flood by noting that they appear to have been both seismic andcelestial: “Earth shook, her foundations trembled, the sun darkened, lightningflashed, thunder pealed, a deafening voice the like of whichwas never heardbefore rolled across mountain and plain” (Joseph 2002, 119). Massiveearthquakes followed by a dust-veil event and celestial explosions causedunprecedented chaos—death, destruction, floods, and conflagrations—in everycornerof theglobe.Josephsuggests that theseeffectsareexplainedwhenGod“opened Heaven’s sluices by the removal of two Pleiades; thus allowing theUpper andLowerWater—themale and female elements ofTehom,whichHehad separated in the days ofCreation—to re-unite and destroy theworld in acosmicembrace”(Joseph2002,119).Josephpointsoutthatinthispassage“itisapparentthatalthoughtheHeavenly

Fatherpunishedmankindchiefly through theagencyofwater,Healso ‘rainedfireontheevil-doers.’”Josephcontinues:

Manyexistingandpre-existingculturessuchastheHebrewsoftheMiddleEastandtheAztecsofMexicoassociatethePleiadesconstellationwithrainandfloods.Thisconnectiongoesbackhundredsofthousandsofyearstothe

dimmestchapterofhumanantiquity.TheplanetEarthispummeledbytwomassive meteors drawn from the Pleiades as instigated by the will ofYahweh.Later in the Old Testament the full onslaught of this catastrophe is

ultimately revealed. In Psalm 18:7–16, the effects of a massive cosmiccollision and ensuing flood are described: Then the Earth did shake andquiver.The fountainsof themountains shookand spilledoverbecauseHewas angry.Hiswrath steamed inbillowsof black smoke, andHis face allfire,fromwhichcoalsfell.Hebenttheveryheavensincomingdown,whilehe soaredupon theverywingsof thewind.HecoveredHimself inadarkcloud.Out of the blackness of this cloak rained hailstones, flaming coals.TheLordbellowedthunderouslyhighintheheavens.Thenchannelsofthedeepwaters were seen and the foundations of the Earth lay bare. Yet, herescuedmeoutofthegreatwaters.(Joseph2002,120)

DEUCALION’SFLOOD

Anotheraccountofgreatsignificanceinourquesttounderstandthehistoryandmythology of ancient giants is the classicalmyth ofDeucalion’s flood,whichdescribes a catastrophic worldwide extinction. In this myth, as with Plato’saccountofAtlantis,thefloodwasaccompaniedbyviolentstorms,earthquakes,andavalanches.ThewateryabysscoveredtheentireEarth,withonlythehighestpeaksprotrudingthroughthethrashingwatersasislandsinanewlycleansedandrejuvenatedworld.In the classic account,Earth’s life-formspassed through several ages.While

Zeus is credited for at least one of the deluges, someversions indicate that atleastfivefloodsswepttheEarthinthehistoryofhumanity.Eachfloodhappenedin a separate age. This idea supports the idea of the cyclical birth, death, andrebirthofcivilizations.ItmightalsohelpexplaintheconflictingevidencewithregardtodatingtheGreatFlood.The Greek myth of Deucalion is different in some ways from the biblical

accountoftheFlood,inwhichabreedingpairofeveryspeciescreatedbyGodisstoredintheArk.AccordingtotheBible,GodinstructedNoahtodothissothatthe animals, along with Noah’s family, could survive the torrent and thenrepopulate the globe when the waters subsided. In the myth, all life isexterminatedbythefloodbutfortwosurvivors:theTitangiantsDeucalionand

Pyrrha.Theytookrefugeinanark(aswiththebiblicalcounterpart),whichranaground on a high mountain. After the waters receded they looked about inamazement.Theplanetwasabarren,desolate,mud-coveredworld,asightthatmodernreaderscouldcomparetothesurfaceoftheplanetMars.Itwasutterlydevoidoflivingthings.ThegiantswereinstructedbythegoddessThemishowtorepopulatetheEarth.

“Throwthebonesofyourmotherbehindyou”washercrypticcommandment.DeucalionandPyrrha,beingearthborngiants,concludedthatthe“bonesofyourmother”mustbetherocksandbouldersofMotherEarththatlitteredtheground.Deucalionpickeduplargeboulderswithhismassivehandsandtossedthemoverhisshoulders.Beforehisveryeyes,hesawtherocksturntoboneandthemudtoflesh.Thus, one by one, new life evolved. Someof these creatures resembledolderforms,whileotherswereuniquetothenewlydawnedepoch.

THESUMERNFLOODMYTH

In the Sumern flood myth, the gods decided to destroy the human race. ThePriest-KingZiusudrawas forewarned of the coming disaster by the godEnlil,andbyhis command,Ziusudrawas to construct an immense ship, or ark, andassemble amale and female from each animal species and store them on thegreatcraft.Thishedidandsoontherecameaviolentwindstorm;thewatersrushedforth

and submerged the world beneath the tempestuous seas. The downpourcontinued unabated for seven days and nights. Finally, Ziusudra opened awindowintheark.Thelightfromtheblazingsuntouchedhisfacewithwarmthand comfort. He fell down on his knees, and prayed to the sun god Utu. Heeventually landed on a now sunken landmass in the Persian Gulf. At thismoment,heofferedbloodsacrificestoAnuandEnlilintheformofasheepandanox.ZiusudrawasgrantedthegiftofeternallifeforhissuccessinpreservingthehumanraceandtheothercreaturesoftheEarth,forreturninglifebacktoitsusualorder.The similarity between this and a thousand other accounts, including the

biblicalstoryofNoah’sArk,areobvious,andnotablyredundant.Itgoeswithoutsaying that either there is a single original source fromwhich all thesemythsderive or there is something much more profound at work here, namely thatvariousculturesexperiencedthesamemassiveevent,andtheyallwroteaboutit,

giving us these similar accounts. Today we all share, through the collectiveunconscious, memories of this Great Flood—only by and large we haveforgottenit.Along these lines, author Graham Hancock and noted scholar Hertha von

Dechend both haveworked extensively on the phenomenon of racialmemoryandamnesia.What thisauthorwishes toemphasize is that thosesuppressedorforgottenmemoriesreflectapastthatisvastlydifferentfrommodernlifeasweknowittobe.Akeydifference,ofcourse,revolvesaroundasinglecrucialissue:thatofgiantsbeinganintegralpartoftheancientlandscape.

THEBABYLONIANFLOODMYTH

TheBabylonianfloodmythisverysimilartotheSumern,Assyrian,andHebrewaccounts,withanumberof significantdifferences.Firstof all, theBabylonianversionproposesanongoingcycleofdestructionandrenewaldividedintothreeseparate phases. Every 1,200 years the gods became upset, not with people’sevils, but ratherwith the problem of overpopulation.During the first of thesedestructivephases,avirulentplague infectedandkilledoff thehumanrace. Inthe second phase the human race perished from hunger andmalnutrition. Thethird and last phase was marked by a great flood, or deluge, that submergedeveryspeckoflandanddrownedthehumanraceinadeep,waterygrave.However,thiswasnottheendofhumanity’stenureonthisplanet,forthegod

Enki told Atrahasis to build a massive ship, or ark, so that he could escapetogetherwithhisfamilyandacollectionofcattle,wildanimals,andbirds.SoontheskyturnedblackandthestormgodAdadravagedtheland.Afterthedeluge,Atrahasis prayed to thegods andofferedupblood sacrifices in their honor.Acovenantwasmadebetween thegodsandhumans,and infertilityandstillbornbirths were introduced to humanity to ward off repeated periods ofoverpopulation. This is an interesting twist to the usual story, which alwaysblames the gods’ actions on humanity’s wickedness, a position that would nodoubtsitwellamongthemythologiesandbeliefsofourownmodernage.

ASSYRIANFLOODMYTHS

In Assyrian tradition, we see more variations on the original Sumern andBabylonian themes, including the need to depopulate an overpopulatedworld.

ThegodEnlilbecameawareofthisoverpopulationandharnessedthesupportoftheothergods,andtogethertheydecidedtosendafloodtodestroyhumankind.Utnapishtim, theAssyrianNoah,hadadreaminwhich thegodEaforewarnedhimofthecomingdeluge.

PHAETONANDTHEGREATFLOOD

InGreekmythology,theGreatFloodislinkedtoPhaeton,theillegitimatesonofHelio, the god who drove the blazing sun atop a chariot across the heavens.Phaeton demanded the opportunity to command the chariot himself, only tofalterandlosecontrolofthemightyhorses,plummetingtoEarthwithdisastrousconsequences.Astheyhurtledperilouslydowntotheplanet,theyburnedforestsintodesertsandsetvastprehistoricmetropolisessuchasAtlantisonfire.OnlyGaia, theMother Earth goddess, elicited relief with her prayers for salvation.This came in the form of Zeus to the rescue. He hurled one of his mightythunderboltsatPhaeton,therebyturninghischariotintoflames.Atthispoint,thechariot broke into pieces and bombarded the Earth with fireballs, where theycrashed into the oceans, causing them to rise and flood the land inwhatwasalmostatotalworldwideflood.Notonly is there evidence for this in some survivingmonuments and in the

richdiversityofculturalandmythologicalstoriesworldwide,therearestrange,anomalousstructuresandsunkenruinsintheoceansoftheworldthatdatebacktoatimewhenmainstreamscientistsclaimcitiesdidnotexist.

OTHERFLOODMYTHS

TheAztecsandMayasbelievedthattheworldhasgonethroughmanycycles,oreras,whichtheAztecscalled“Suns.”Accordingtotheirculture,thispatternwillcontinueonward,witheachcycleendingwithinvasionsoffireandwater.IntheSanskritwritingsofIndia,asuccessivenumberofcreationsareidentified,afterwhich everything in existence is destroyed by the converging waters; in theaftermath,thesewatersformanewoceaninwhichthenextmajorcreationwilltakeplace(Mahabharata3.188.80,3.189.42).The cyclical periodsof creation anddestruction are part of a larger spiritual

phenomena known as the Hindu yuga cycles, the current one being the KaliYuga, which in contrast to the previous incarnations, is one of iniquity and

chaos.AtlantologistKennethCarolitellsusthat,withregardtotheMahabharataandtheHinduyugacycles:

InterpretingtheHinduYugascanbeexceedinglydifficultwhentryingtolinkeachcyclicalepochtoawesternchronology.ThedatesfortheriseandfallofAtlantis, forexample,andtherelateddeluge,arestrictlyconjecturalbutBlavatsky’sTheosophists set it against theDavparaYuga, theBronzeAgethatprecededthecurrentKaliYuga.WhiletraditionalistHindusbeganKaliYugain3102BCEitwasalso thedeathofKrishnathatgenealogiesputatca.1900–1400BCE.Otherinterpretationshaveplaceditaslateas700BCE.Of course it remains an open question whether Atlantis is to be found inHinduloreatalldespiteferventattemptsbyAtlantistssincethe19thcenturytofinditthere.PhoneticsimilaritiesbetweenAtlantisandAtalamaybemoreduetotherelationshipofVedicandGreeklanguages.IncidentlytherewasaGreekempireinnearbyBactria[mainlyAfghanistanandsomeofPakistan]in the 4th–2nd centuriesBCE. Plato’swritingsmightwell have circulatedthereaswell.Thecommonlink toAtlantismustbe theParthiansand laterSassanids. The neo-Platonists fled to the Sassanid empire when JustinianshutdowntheAcademyin529CE.(Caroli2011)

Inadditionto theyugacyclesofIndia,manymythsfromculturesallaroundtheworldspeakofmassivefloodsthatdestroyedalostcivilization.Someofthemostwell-knownfloodmythstoWesternersarethebiblicaland

Qur’anic floodmyths involvingNoah’sArk, theGreekDeucalion floodmyth,and the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian poem dating to the eighteenthcenturyBCE.IneachmyththerearealwaysaselectfewwhosurvivethetorrenttorebuildcivilizationandrepopulatetheEarth.Inmostmythicalstories,agreatflood is sentby thegods,oftenas anactofdivine retribution forvarious sinscommittedbyhumansociety,suchaswhenZeusbecameangeredattheancientGreeks for their insufferable acts of cannibalismandhuman sacrifice. Inmostcasessuchdelugesaremerelypreludestoamassextinctionorendoftheworld.Therearemanyotherlesser-knownexamples.In amoreobscure floodmyth, thegodFaroof theBambarapeopleofMali

holds back the deluge that will someday come crashing forth to drown thepresentworldinpreparationforthenewworldthatisabouttorise.Knowledgeofthecomingcatastrophehasbeenissuedsothatpeoplemaypreparebyarmingthemselveswithobjectscapableofimbuingthemwitheternalsalvation.

IraniantextsspeakofthecomingsnowsandfloodsthatwillcovertheEarthatthefinalmomentsofthecosmicmillennium.Inresponsetothisterriblefuture,Yimacomes forth,gathers thebest racesofhumanity, anddescends inside theEarthtoawaitthemillennialdestruction.Hethensurfacesfromhisundergroundsanctuaryandrepopulatestheworld(Vendidad2,22–41).There is no question that mythology plays a major role in the quest for

humanity’s ancient mysteries. But is this mythology supported by tangibleevidence?Indeed,archaeologyhasprovidedawealthofevidencethatshowsthatourhistorygoesbackhundredsofthousandsofyears—atimeframemainstreamscience doesn’t even acknowledge. Archaeology also provides clues to morerecent origins. From the Mediterranean to the southern coast of Japan,archaeologists and independent researchers are finding cities that have beensubmergedforthousandsofyears,sincethelasticeage.Also,newerdiscoveriesplacesomeoftheearliersubmergedsettlementsat8000–5000BP.The sunken cities and submerged ruins of the world provide an excellent

opportunity to view human history from an entirely new perspective, andultimately shed lighton someof the imaginative floodmythsand legends thathave become such a vital part of our culture. More important, by coming tounderstandthesevariousmythsthatexisttheworldover,itbecomespossibletoseewhatrolethegiantsofoldmayhaveplayedinthedramadepictingthismostancientofcataclysms.TheGreatFloodwasacatastrophiceventinthedistantpast.Wewillnowlook

atanotherone:themysteryofAtlantisanditsdestruction.

10

GIANTSOFATLANTISTheGreekTradition

NowinthisislandofAtlantistherewasagreatandwonderfulempirewhichhad rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of thecontinent and, furthermore, themen ofAtlantis had subjected the parts ofLibyawithinthecolumnsofHeraclesasfarasEgypt,andofEuropeasfarasTyrrhenia.Thisvastpower,gatheredintoone,endeavoredtosubdueatablowourcountryandyoursand thewholeof theregionwithin thestraits,andthen,Solon,yourcountryshoneforth,intheexcellenceofhervirtueandstrength,amongallmankind.

PLATO,TIMAEUS

I would have you call to mind the strength of the ancient giants, thatundertook to lay the mountain Pelion on the top of Ossa, and set amongthosetheshadyOlympus.

FRANÇOISRABELAIS,WORKS,BOOKIV[1548],CH.38

Author and explorer David Hatcher Childress correctly observed that morebooks have beenwritten aboutAtlantis than any other subject (AncientAliens2011). The mystery of Atlantis has become the embodiment of humankind’ssearch for the unusual and unexplained.Whether you are a skeptic or a truebeliever, this theme resonateswitha largeraudience today thaneverbefore. Itseems to strike some primal chord deepwithin our psyche.We know that wecamefromsomewhereelse.EvenifthemysteryofAtlantisisneverfullysolved,2,500 years of speculation and theory have provided a rich mythologicalbackdropforfuturediscoveries.The popularity of Atlantis is largely due to the writings of the Greek

philosopherPlato.Intwoofhisfamousdialogues,theTimaeusandtheCritias,hedescribesitscultureandgeography,itsmilitaryexploits,anditsrelationswith

foreignpowers.Finally,heconcludeshisaccountwiththedestructionofAtlantisin9600BCE.In600BCE,Plato’sancestor,theAthenianstatesmanSolon,visitedthecityof

Sais in Egypt and met with the Egyptian priesthood. There he learned of aunique connection between their two countries, even rumors that EgyptoriginallyseededGreekcivilization. In theTimaeus,weread:“Thiscity [Sais]wasfoundedbyagoddesswhosenamewas‘Neith’inEgyptian(accordingtothepeoplethere)‘Athena’inGreek”(JowettandHarward1952,443).AccordingtoPlato’saccount,Solon thenbegan to recounthisknowledgeofancienthistory.Hediscussed“Phoroneus—thefirsthumanbeing”andtoldthepriests“thestoryofhowDeucalionandPyrrhasurvivedtheflood.”SolonwentontorecountimportantGreekeventsanddatesofthepast.Oneof

thepriestswasquicktointerrupthim,saying:“Ah,Solon,SolonyouGreeksareforeverchildren.Youdon’tevenknowyourownhistory”(JowettandHarward1952, 447). Solonwas told that there were past ages of suchwonder that hecouldscarcelyimaginethem.Solon then accepted their invitation to see the ancient records, which, they

claimed, would tell him the secrets of a lost civilization, more ancient andmighty than thegreatCorinthiancity-stateHelikeorpowerfulTroycombined.They brought Solon to a nearby temple and showed him ancient hieroglyphsinscribedonastonecolumn.One priest read the words while another translated into Greek. This sacred

knowledgewas then passed on to Solon’s cousinDropides. Later, Plato heardthesestoriesfromhisgreat-grandfatherCritias,whowasadirectdescendantofDropides. Plato then copied them down as his great-grandfather told them.Plato’stwodialogues,theTimaeusandtheCritias,werebasedonthatEgyptianstorytoldtoSolon.The Timaeus presents a general description of Atlantis, outlines its rulers’

planstoconquertheentireknownworld,anddetailshowtheAtheniansthwartedthisactofaggression.ThedefeatofAtlantisforeshadowedthedisastertocome.Shortlyafter,theentirecontinentandallitsinhabitantssankbeneaththewaves,nevertoreturn.TheCritiasprovidesadetailedaccountofAtlanteansocietyanddescribeshowAtlantiswasfounded.ThedialoguefurtherexplainshowAtlantisevolvedintoanear-perfectsociety,onlytobeeventuallydestroyed.IntheTimaeus,thepriestoffersthispieceofhistory,thousandsofyearsinthe

past:

TherewasanislandoppositethestraitthatyoucallthePillarsofHercules,an island larger than Libya andAsia combined; from it travelers could inthose days reach the other islands, and from them the whole oppositecontinentthatsurroundswhatcantrulybecalledtheocean.OnthisislandofAtlantishasarisenapowerful and remarkabledynastyofkings. . . .Theirwealthwasgreaterthanthatpossessedbyanypreviousdynastyofkingsorlikelytobeaccumulatedbyanythatwouldfollow,andbothinthecityandcountrysidetheywereprovidedwitheverythingtheycouldrequire.Becauseoftheextentoftheirpowertheyreceivedmanyimports,butformostoftheirneedstheislanditselfprovided.Ithadmineralresourcesfromwhichwereminedbothsolidmaterialsand

metals,includingonemetalwhichsurvivestodayonlyinname,butwasthenminedinquantitiesinanumberoflocalitiesintheisland,orichalc,inthosedays themostvaluablemetal exceptgold.Therewasaplentiful supplyoftimber for structural purposes and every kind of animal domesticated andwild,amongthemnumerouselephants.For therewasplentyofgrazingforthislargestandmostvoraciousofbeasts,aswellasforallcreatureswhosehabitat ismarsh, swamp and river,mountain or plain.Besides all this, theearthborefreelyallofthearomaticsubstancesitbearstoday....Therewerecultivated crops. . . . There were the fruits of trees. . . . All these wereproduced by their sacred island, then still beneath the sun, in wonderfulqualityandprofusion.(Hancock1992,320)

Butthisgrandiosecivilizationwasnottolastforever.Itsclimacticendcanbeconsidered the most enduring legacy of this ancient account. It inspiredgenerations ofwell-traveled explorers and armchair theorists to rediscover thelostcityofAtlantis,atleastintheirownimaginations.One such speculative theory about Atlantis was formulated by Giorgio A.

Tsoukalos, Erich von Däniken’s business partner and associate in the UnitedStates. He suggests a possible UFO connection to the Atlantis mystery.TsoukalosbelievesthatAtlantiswasneverastationarylandmassatall,butratheramassiveUFOorfloatingcity.Contrarytohistoricaccounts,thelegendarycitywasneverdestroyed;instead,itlauncheditselfbackintospaceinaburstoffireand smoke, generatingmassive oceanic turmoil in its wake. This correspondsdirectly to Plato’s account. Tsoukalos supports this notion by citing ancientlegendsthattalkaboutfloatingcitiesthatdescendedfromtheheavens,appearingsuddenly and without warning. Then, just as quickly as they arrived, the

mysteriousfloatingcitiesoncemoreaimedforthestars,returningtothehomeofthegods(AncientAliens2011).

TECHNOLOGYVERSUSMYTH

IfthecityofAtlantistrulylauncheditselfintotheheavensasTsoukalosposits,thenclearlyancienttechnologywasfarmoreadvancedthanmainstreamthinkingallows.Isitonlynowthatourownscientificunderstandinghasprogressedthatwecanbegintounravelwhattrulyhappenedinthepast?InTechnologyoftheGods,DavidHatcherChildresswrites:

Asourtechnologyhasgottenmoreadvanced,wehavebecomeabletolookinto the future and into outer space with a view different from that ofscientistsand thinkersearlier in thiscentury.Similarly,wearenowable tolookatthepastwithgreaterinsightandtechnologicalknow-how.Justasourminds have been able to imagine a future different from that which ourgrandfatherscouldenvision,wearealsoabletoseeapastdifferentfromthatofthescientistsandexpertsoftheturnofthecentury.(2000)

Ourtechnologyhascertainlybeenausefultoolindecipheringmysteriesofthepast,butitisnottheonlyconduitforspeakingwiththeancients.Mythology,inmy estimation, is a far more powerful method. It is, of course, one that ispsychologically—yes, even psychically—connected to a forgotten chapter inEarth’shistory.Everymythhaswithinitcertainpropertiesthatgiveushintstoahalf-rememberedpast.Let’snowlookagainatoneoftheclassicalworld’smostenduringmyths:that

oftheTitanomachy,*14thestoryoftheepicbattlefoughtoveraten-yearperiodbetweenthegiantTitansandOlympians.InitwemayminecluestothemysterythatwasAtlantis.

AWARINHEAVEN—THETITANSANDTHEOLYMPIANS

According to theTitanomachy, in thebeginning therewasonlyChaos, agreatemptiness fromwhich nothing could escape. Then from Chaos the first threeimmortal beings emerged: Gaea (Mother Earth); Tartarus, ruler of theUnderworld; and Eros (Love) most noted for his divine beauty. Gaea then,without having intercourse, gave birth to another being, Uranus (Father Sky),

whowouldbecomeequal toher in importance,andsurroundingher,createdahomeforthenewlybornraceofimmortalbeings.Duringthisinitialphaseintheevolutionoftheuniverse,GaeaalsogavebirthtoOurea(Mountains)andPontus(Sea), both of whom would play a vital role in the emergence of humancivilization.GaeathenmarriedUranusandhadthreesetsofchildrenwithhim:thethirteen

Titans. They were Helios, Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetos, Theia,Rhea,Themis,Mnemosyne,Phoebe,Tethys,andKronos.GaeaandUranusalsocreated three Cyclopes: Brontes, Steropes, and Arges. Each Cyclopes was ofcourse a giant and possessed but a single massive eye in the middle of itsforehead. Like the Judaic Nephilim, they were excellent architects andcraftsmen,andlikethegiantsofWagner’soperas,theyconstructedtheoriginalhomeof thegods.The couple also sired threenonhumanoidgiants named theHekatoncheires, or hundred-armed giants:Kottos, Briareos, andGyges. Theseawesomegiantswere fully equippedwith fiftyheads and fifty armsextendingfromeachshoulder.Uranushatedandreviledhisoffspring,andbanishedthemtothedarkreaches

oftheunderworld.AfterUranusthrusthischildrendowntotheunderworld,theyfell for nine days and nine nights.On the tenth day, they reached the twelfthlevel of Tartarus. Here the children would remain segregated from the worldabove, never to know the light of day or thewarmth of the sun, in order thatUranuscouldreignforeternity.This disturbed Uranus’s wife, Gaea, and she persuaded her youngest son,

Kronos, toambushhis father.Kronosdidso,andwieldinga sickleheseveredhis father’s genitals and allowed fresh blood to trickle down to Gaea, whobecameimpregnatedwiththecrimsonpaste.Shethengavebirthtothreefurthersets of children: the Erinyes, Giants, and Meliai. In the aftermath, Uranus’sgenitalswere hurled into the sea, and the foam thatwas produced formed thegoddessAphrodite(Hard2004).AsRobinHardwritesinTheRoutledgeHandbookofGreekMythology:

The story of the mutilation of Uranus and his separation from Gaea hasobviouscosmological implications; since theskynowriseshighabove theearth,itissuggestedinthemythsofmanyculturesthatEarthandSky,asthefirstcoupleoratleastaprimordialcouple,mustsomehowhavebeendrawnapartataveryearlystageinthehistoryoftheworld.Thisisoftenachievedinagentler fashion than in thepresentstory. InanancientEgyptianmyth,

for instance, Shu, the personification of air, is said to have interposedhimself between the earth-god Geb and the sky-goddess Nut to raise thelatter’sbodyhighoverthatofherpartner.OrinMaorimyth,fromfarawayinNewZealand,theunionbetweenthecoupleRagniandPapa, thefemaleEarthandmaleSky,becamethefirstsourceoflife,butallthattheybroughtforthremainedimprisonedbetweentheminitiallybecausetheyneverrelaxedfrom their embrace; so the first gods, who formed part of their offspring,consulted together and resolved that Tane, the god of forests and birds,shouldseparateRangiandPapabyusinghisbody tohold themapart;andwhenhedidsolightappearedintheworldforthefirsttime.(2004)

TheimplicationofKronos’smutilationofUranusisclear.Hewasvyingforaposition of power among the highest order of the divine hierarchy. With hisfathersafelydeposedhe,Kronos,ascendedtothethroneofauthority.Bydoingso,heeffectivelybecamethecompletemasterofcreation.Soon Kronos and his sister Rhea were married. They had five children;

however,Kronoswaswarnedbyawitchthathewouldbemurderedbyoneofhischildren.Tosolve thisproblemheswallowedeachbabywhenitwasborn.Butbeingimmortal,thechildrendidnotperish;theysimplyremainedaliveandgrew tomaturity inKronos’s stomach cavity.When the sixth childwas born,Rheahid thechildawayand fooledKronosbywrappingamassive stone inablanketandgivingittohim.Heimmediatelygulpeditdown.Meanwhile,thesixthchild,Zeus,hadbeenhiddenawayinacaveonCreteand

wasbeingraisedbythenymphs.However,hewasalsopreparingforthedayofhis great return to reclaim his birthright, for the Titans’ reign on Earth wasnearingafinalend.Zeusrescuedhisbrothersandsisters, theOlympians,fromKronos’sstomachbyslashingopentheirfather’sbellyandreleasingthem.Andthen,withtheirhelp,ZeususurpedthepoweroftheTitansandestablishedanewpantheonofgods.However,despitehiswoundsKronosremainedalive,soaftertheFallof theTitans,ZeushadhisfatherKronoschained,gagged,and lockedawaydeepwithintheEarth.Ruling over all theEarth fromMountOlympus,Zeus andhis fellowdeities

wouldnowcommandthecosmosforever.Oneofthegiants’strongholdswasthevolcanicislandofPhlegra.Scholarshaveoftenseenitseventualdestructionasametaphor for the destruction of a lost civilization, which may have beenpopulated by humans of enormous size and even supernatural abilities (Caroli2011).

WasPhlegra the lost civilizationofAtlantis?There aremanycontenders forthisrole,andinourensuingdiscussionwewillexaminemanyofthem.Wewillalso discuss where the survivors of Atlantis may have ended up once theirbelovedculturefellbeneaththewavesofthesea.

CONTENDERSFORATLANTIS

In an earlier versionof theTitanomachy,Hesiod described amassive eruptionoccurringduringKronos’sconflictwiththeOlympians.ThismayhavedepictedtheeruptionofThera,avolcanicislandinthesouthernAegean,nearGreece.Itexploded in 1500 BCE. This catastrophic incident is often linked to eventsdescribed in the biblical Exodus. The explosion is also suggestive of Plato’sAtlantis account, and some conservative archaeologists insist that Plato’sAtlantiswasnothingmorethanareinterpretationofthisancientcataclysm.AnotherislandthatmayhavebeentheancientAtlantiswasScheria—laterto

beknownasthelandsofthePhaeacians,whereOdysseuswasthrownafterhiscaptivity at thehandsof thenymphCalypso.ThepeopleofScheriaoriginallydwelled with the Cyclopes, but after being oppressed under their tyranny forcenturies, they migrated to the uninhabited isle and established a superiorcivilization. This was accomplished under the leadership of their wise kingNausithous.InthedaysoftheArgonauts,ScheriabecamePhaeaciaandwasruledbyarace

ofgiants.SomelaterscholarshavedirectlylinkedthisislandtoPlato’sAtlantismyth,citingtherationalethat,similartotheAtlanteantradition,thePhaeaciansworshippedthemightyseagodPoseidon.Anothersunkencivilization thatdeservesconsiderationaspossiblybeing the

mysteriousAtlantisisthelostcivilizationofHelike,aGreekcity-statefoundedduring the Bronze Age. Positioned on the southwestern shore of the Gulf ofCorinth,Helikewas theprincipalmemberofacoalitionof twelveGreekcity-states known as the Achaean League. Helike was also highly expansionistic,establishing colonies in both Asia Minor and southern Italy. In 373 BCE acataclysmicearthquakeandtsunaminearlyobliteratedandthensubmergedthisculturalandreligiouscenter.PlatodescribesaTempleofPoseidoninAtlantis,consideredtobetheholiest

ofshrines,comparableonlytotheTempleofSolomon.Helike,likewise,hosteda sanctuary of the Helikonian Poseidon, which was famous throughout the

classical world (Katsonopoulou 1999, 2002). The citizens of Helike and theAtlanteans shared this cultural tradition, which buttresses the argument thatHelikemayactuallyhavebeenAtlantis.Plato was approximately fifty-four years old when the tsunami engulfed

Helike.Without question, hemust haveknown about its great destruction andtakennote of its key characteristics.The powerwielded byHelike’s ruler, thevastcolonialambitions,and thedestructionbyearthquakeand floodmake itaprimecontenderforAtlantis.Furthermore,theinhabitantsofHelikehadbecomemorally bankrupt and defiled the Temple of Poseidon, which also links it toAtlantis(Katsonopoulou1999,2002).Thecity’sdestructionwasthusassociatedwiththewrathofthemightyseagod,whopunishedHelikeforitsmisdeedsandsacrilege.According to legend, Atlantis had many survivors who left their sinking

homelandforplacesunknown.Wheredidtheygo?Wewillexploreonetheoryinournextsectionbelow.Itoffersupatantalizingideaastowheretherootofallcivilizationmayactuallyhaveoriginated.

DIDTHEFLEEINGATLANTEANSENDUPINSUMER?

ThemythofAtlantiscanbetracedbacktoancientSumernculture.AsBostonUniversity geologist Dr. Robert M. Schoch notes in his book Voyages of thePyramidBuilders,theconventionalviewholdsthatcivilizationbeganinancientSumeraround3500BCE—“ourfirsttasteofcivilization,”asSchochcallsit.Healso mentions a Babylonian legend that says the Sumerns were not native toMesopotamia,butratherarrivedtherefromadistant,forgottenhomelandafteralongjourneybyseaacrosstheWesternOcean(AtlanticOcean).If true, this shifts the emphasis away fromMesopotamia as the root of all

civilizations. It suggests, rather, thatSumergot itsculture fromanothersourceentirely.Thismeans,inturn,thattheentirehumanracepossiblyowesitsculturetoafarmoreancient,andstillunidentified,supercivilization.MightthishavebeenAtlantis?

SUNKENCITIESINTHEMEDITERRANEAN

In his Lost Cities series, author David Childress links the flooding of theMediterranean with the destruction of Atlantis. Although some of Childress’s

theoriesamounttonothingmorethanmerespeculation,thisonemaynotbesofaroffthemark.According to Childress in his 1996 release, Lost Cities of Atlantis, Ancient

Europe and theMediterranean, twenty thousand years ago theMediterraneanwas not a sea, but rather a fertile river valley. Centuries later, the valleywasovercomebyagreatdeluge, transforming it intoa saltwater sea.According toChildress,hundredsofsunkencitiesremainundiscoveredintheMediterranean,their ruins resting on the bottom of the sea floor.A sudden change inEarth’soceanscausedthedeluge,hesays,triggeringamassivetsunamithatdrownedthecontinent of Atlantis in thousands of feet of water, and then flooded andobliteratedMediterraneancitiesandmuchofpredynasticEgypt.Archaeologists have recently discovered the ruins of Pavlopetri, a five-

thousand-year-old town submerged off the southern Laconia coast of Greece.Thismayprovetobetheinspirationformanyofthepre-Platonicfolktraditionsdescribingacivilizationthatwassubmergedinprehistorictimes.Discoveriesattheunderwatersite includevariousbuildingsandtemplestructures,alongwithceramics, dating habitation from the Final Neolithic period (mid–fourthmillenniumBCE)totheendoftheLateBronzeAge(1100BCE),atimeframethat brackets the age of Atlantis, according to Atlantologist Ken Caroli(ScienceDaily2009).This townwas part of the civilization that launched a thousand ships in the

heroic literature of Homer’s epics depicting the TrojanWar and the return ofOdysseus. Itwas also amajor port at the timeofAgamemnon, so its remainsofferarchaeologistsdeepinsightintotheoverallworkingsofMycenaeansociety,whichdatestoapproximately1600–1000BCE(ScienceDaily2009).Thisuniquemaritimesettlementwasanoperationshubforcoordinated local

andlong-distancecommerce.Dr.JonHendersontoldScienceDaily:“Thissiteisunique in that we have almost the complete town plan, the main streets anddomesticbuildings,courtyards,rock-cut tombsandwhatappear tobereligiousbuildings,clearlyvisibleontheseabed.Equallyasaharborsettlement,thestudyof archaeological material we have recovered will be extremely important interms of revealing how maritime trade was conducted and managed in theBronzeAge”(2009).Amegaron—a large rectangular hall—dating to the Early Bronze Age was

discovered among the remains. Also included in the extensive ruins is whatappearstobethefirstpillarcrypteverfound.TwostonecistgravesandaMiddle

Bronze Age pithos burial were also identified amid the crumbling edifices(ScienceDaily2009).

Today,manyquestionwhetherAtlantiseverexistedorwasmerelyafigmentofPlato’simagination,foreveninancienttimes,manyquestionedthelegitimacyofhisclaims.EvenAristotledoubtedhis teacher’saccountandwrote thathehadneverheardanymentionofAtlantispriortoitsappearanceinPlato’sdialogues.Aristotle’spreeminenceamongancientscholarsmakeshimavaluablewitness,forindeed,theRomannaturalphilosopherPlinyreferredtoAristotleas“amanof supreme eminence in every branch of science” (King 2005, 108). He washighlyregardedasanintellectofsupremequalityandmeasure,perhapsrivalingPlatointhisregard.ButregardlessofwhetherAtlantiswasreal,itsmythhascometoembodythe

search for arcane knowledge about humanity’s mysterious past. Other mythsfollowsimilar lines inour search for the truth. Inaddition, thesameargumentthat is used to support the supposition that giantswere real can be usedwithregardtoAtlantis’sveracity.Thesearetheaccountsthathavecomedowntous,andwhentakentogether,theyformaconsensusview,giventhefactthattheyallshare one common denominator: the giants who were part and parcel of ourdistantpast.To believe otherwise is to imply a colossal failure of our collective human

imagination.

AFTERWORD

THEFUTUREWILLDISCLOSETHETRUTHABOUTTHEPAST

Without questionwe are experiencing a rebirth in the study of ancient giants.The presence of giants in human prehistory, and more important, theirrelationship to us, has become a hotly debated topic. New discoveries on aregularbasiscontinuetoprovethatthisisastorythatisasvitaltothestudyofhumanevolutionasanyoftheprehistoricfindsdiscoveredthroughoutsouthernAfrica. Included in the myths and folklore of indigenous cultures and in thehallowed scriptures of our modern-day churches, temples, and mosques, thearchetypeofthegiantisinescapable.Oneofthekeyargumentsofthisbookisthatourancientancestorspossesseda

higherorderofcivilizationthanourpresentglobalculture.Contrarytopopularbelief, our ancestorswere not ignorant and simpleminded, but rather hadverysophisticated and advanced technologies as well as a clear knowledge ofastronomy, medicine, and engineering—among other disciplines. Our distantforebearswerealsoexcellentrecordkeepersaswellascrediblewitnessestotheunusual phenomena of what the modern mind would deem “the alternativehistory of early civilization.”We have also seen, with the introduction of thecosmic ray theory discussed in chapter 2, how it is scientifically possible forradiationtocausemutationsresultinginabnormallylargebeings.However,asweknow,weareimmersedinaglobalconspiracymasterminded

bytheworld’smanynationalgovernmentsthatsuppressesmanynewdiscoveriesthatseek toconfirm thatwewere, inactual fact,precededbya raceofgiants.Because many of these anomalous discoveries have engendered controversy,theyareoftenmetwitha“knowledgefilter”—aself-limitingsystemthattendstodismiss new theories, not judging them on their merits, but instead rejectingthembecausetheydon’tnecessarilyfitwithwhathasbecomethestandardized,codifiedknowledgebase thatestablishmentacademicssupport(Gallegos2009,11).Giventhis,thereislittlechanceofatrulyoriginalandparadigm-shatteringidea ever gaining widespread acceptance within mainstream scientific circles.

The guardians of the establishment simply don’twant to risk their reputationsandcareersonacompetingidea,evenifthatideaisthecorrectone.Ratherthanactingtosupportagenuinesearchfor thetruth, thisfilterrelegatesanyandallideas, evidence, or speculation not officially sanctioned by the academichierarchy to the domain of “fringe science.” This is a death sentence for anyscientistattemptingtogainbroadacceptanceforanewtheory.In contrast to current academic thought regarding the nature of human

evolution, I believe in intelligent intervention, the idea that our evolutionwasacceleratedfivehundredthousandyearsagobyatargetedmutationofourgenesby extraterrestrials. I also believe that giants represent the true earthborn racethat evolved independentlyon thisworld, as a result of thismutation, over itsfour-billion-year history. This mutated culture is described in the Sanskritwritings of India; it possessed the Vimana spacecraft, and it was eventuallyeitheradoptedbyorpassedontothelargerhumanpopulation.Allofthiswastoendduring thegreat ageof cataclysms,whenAtlantis and theworld trembledandthenpassedintooblivion.My beliefs are contrary to those of most scientific elitists who support an

absolutist interpretation of Darwin’s theory and thus reject the concept of atargetedmutationand theensuingdevelopmentofa raceofgiants.Personally,however, I see no evidence that the race of giants hypothesis is incompatiblewiththetheoryofevolutionasimpactedbyanalienintervention.InthepagesofthisbookIhaveattemptedtopresenttheargumentfortherace

ofgiantstheoryand,insodoing,haveprovidedampleevidencefromtheworldover, whether that evidence is found in mythological accounts containingirrefutable references to giants or in findings unearthed in the archaeologicalrecord.Thereisnoquestioninmymindthatthefindingsfromtheseexcavationsaregenuine,asmostifnotallwereunearthedwithinplainviewofnumerous,ifnot hundreds, of eyewitnesses.Manywere widely documented at the time oftheirdiscovery.TheissueofprehistoricgiantssuchasGigantopithecusandMeganthropusisa

closedcase.Theirexistenceisneitherspeculationnorsomesortofhoax.Therereallyweregigantichumanlikecreatureslivinginthedense,tropicalrainforestsofSoutheastAsia—asthereprobablyaretothisday!Theestablishedcryoflackof evidence might fit in well at academic-dominated universities or skepticalpublications, but the plain truth of the matter is that evidence is robust andabundant, fromdocumentary andhistoricaldata, to archaeologicaldiscoveries,

to rich mythological traditions. We are approaching ever closer a realunderstandingoftheremotehumanpastandthemysteriouscreaturesthatsharedthisplanetwithus.In thisbook,I thewriterandyouthereaderhavetakenupanexplorationof

giantsintheancientworld.Ihopethatwhatyouhaveingestedherehasopenedyourmind to the idea thatgiantswere, inallprobability,aseminalpartofourremotepast.Itismybeliefthatinthemonthsandyearsahead,morefossilizedremainsof

giants will be unearthed throughout the world. As a result, the views of themainstreamestablishmentwillbepushedtothetippingpoint,anditwillbesheerfollytocontinuetorefutewhatistheobvioustruth:giantswereapartofhumanevolution, and to themwe owe an immeasurable debt in ways thatmaywellprovetooinnumerabletoeverfullycalibrate.

Footnotes

*1Area51isaremotepartofEdwardsAirForceBaseinNevada,whichisusedfortop-secretexperimentsbytheU.S.AirForce,actinginconjunctionwiththeCIA.

*2TheJoviansystemreferstotheplanetJupiteraswellasitsmoons,itsTrojanasteroids,anditsmagnetosphere.

*3Interestinglyenough,AtlasisalsothenameofamountaininAsiaMinornotfarfromtheincredibleruinsofÇatalhüyük,whichismorethanninethousandyearsold,makingitarguablytheoldestcityonEarth.ItmaydatebacktothedestructionofAtlantisormayevenbethefirstcolonyofitsfleeingsurvivors(Joseph2005).

*4ThisreferencetotheAnakrelatesdirectlytotheAnakin,whichisavariantof Anunnaki. Allegedly the Anunnaki were giants who created humans asslave labor through a targeted mutation in the DNA of Homo erectus.ZechariaSitchinidentifiedtheAnunnakiwithextraterrestrialsfromtheplanetNibiru.(WewillhavemoreontheworkofZechariaSitchinlater.)

*5BritishauthorHaroldT.Wilkinslateridentifiedthesegiantsasthe“giantsofthekingdomofThoth,orTautofAtlantis”(Wilkins1952,404–5).

*6Theoriginof thenameBaalbekremainsamystery. ItmayderivefromthePhoenician termBaal,whichsimplymeans“lord”or“god.”Thenamewaslaterapplied toaSemiticskygod thatpredominated throughout theancientNear East. According to ancient mythology, Baalbek was actually thebirthplaceofBaalhimself,anditishighlyprobablethatBaalwasthecentralfigureinatrinityofgodsveneratedatthesite—includinghisson,Aliyan,andhisdaughter,Anat.

*7Mythologically speaking, Pelopswas the great-grandfather of theHellenicdemigodHeracles,who fought thegiantsandprotected thegodsduring theGigantomachy.We find similarities between this legend and theArkof theCovenant.Inthelattercase,agoldenchesthousingthefragmentsoftheTen

Commandmentswasimbuedwithsupernaturalpowersandhiddeninaholytemple(Mayor2000).

*8 Such large bones indicate that something enormous once existed in thatregion,andit’spossiblethatsuchremainswerenotofagigantichuman,butrather of a prehistoric creature. It’s plausible that the region’s inhabitants,unfamiliarwith creatures of theMiocene epoch—an era ofmammoths andotherenormousbeasts—ortheevenearlierperiodsofdinosaursandmassivereptiles, simply misinterpreted what they saw. However, the ancients whowrote down these records, as stated in the previous chapter,were far fromignorant savages and must have had a level of scientific knowledgecomparabletoorevensurpassingourown.

*9 Hesiod’s main contribution to Greek religion, the Theogony, was widelyconsideredbytheancientGreekstobedivinelyinspired,anditwasviewedasasacredtextcomparabletotheBookofGenesisintheOldTestament.

*10ThisassociationisthebasisforanewtheorylinkingtheIronAgegodThortotheStoneAge.Indeed,HerbertKuhnhastracedThorbacktothedimmestchapterinhumanhistory,theOldStoneAge,whenhunter-gathererslivingincavesdominatedNorthernEurope.

*11ThisismorethanonehundredtimeslongerthanthechronologygivenintheOldTestament,butmatchesthedatesfoundintheBookofEnoch,whichwewillbediscussingshortly.

*12Otherexamplesofthisracearedescribedinancientsacredtexts.Intheholybooksof theParsees, theAvesta, amysteriousbeingknownasYmaeruptsfrom thewatersof the sea to instruct the rulersofEarth.Andaccording toPhoenicianlegend,acreatureofthesameorigins,possessingthesameinnateabilitiesandknownasTaut,alsotaughtthekingsandlordsofEarth.Inathirdexample, during the reign of Chinese emperor Fuk-hi (circa 2953BCE), acreaturecalledMeng-hoarosefromthewater,“amonsterwiththebodyofahorseandtheheadofadragon,whosebackwasladenwithtabletsfilledwithletters”(Däniken2009).

*13WhileproponentsoftheraceofgiantshypothesisregardtheSumerncultureasoneoftheearliestrecordedcivilizations,itisnotnecessarilyconsideredtobeextraterrestrialinorigin(althoughitisassumedthatitwasprecededbya

number of very advanced but lesser-known cultures stretching back intohumankind’sremotepast).

*14AlsoknownastheBattleof theTitans,BattleofGods,orTheTitanWar,theTitanomachy is a classical story of Greek mythology that recounts themightybattlesbetweentheTitansandtheOlympians,specificallythefightofZeusandhissiblingsagainsttheirfather,Kronos.UltimatelytheOlympianswonandZeuslordedovertheentirekingdom.

†1Mars also passed dangerously close to Earth between 776 and 687 BCE,promptingEarth’saxistooscillatebytendegrees(Alexander2005,21–24).

†2 The same Oannes is also present in Mayan cosmology. According toMesoamerican tradition, Oa-ana, a name that means “He Who Has HisResidence in Water,” sparked Mayan civilization after surfacing from asubmerged society and sharing his superb wisdom with the ancientMesoamericans. Stories of this visitor later became confused or combinedwith legendsof theGreatWhiteGodknownasQuetzalcoatlby theAztecs,KukulcanbytheMayas,andViracochabytheIncas.

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INDEX

Allpagenumbersrefertotheprinteditionofthistitle.

AB-hybridrulers,xxi–xxiiiAborigines,91–92Adites,14advancedbeinginterventiontheory(ABIT),xadvancedbeings(ABs),xiAesir,76Africa,giantsof,87–90aircraft,9Alarcón,Hernandode,100–101alphabet,xii–xiiiAncientAliens,31,150ancientcivilizations,26–35,57–59.SeealsospecificcivilizationsAntaeus,tombof,67antediluvianworld,145–48Antikythera,9AntiquitiesoftheJews,29Anunnaki,150–51Apes,Giants,andMan,86Apsu,xiarchaeology,45–46,59–62,105–19,135–37.SeealsofossilrecordArea51,1Ares,47Ari,30Aristotle,179Armenia,30–31Artemis,49Assyrianfloodmyths,164Atlantis,xx–xxicontendersfor,176–77

popularityof,169–71possibleflighttoSumer,177–78technologyand,172AtlantisEncyclopedia,The,17Atlas,16,17Audhumbla,75Australia,giantsof,91–95Aym,Terrence,23,133Aztecs,129–30,131,165

Baalbek,Templeof,31–32Babyloniaca,145–47Babylonianfloodmyth,163–64Balor,12–13Bambarapeople,166Basques,34–35Bellamy,HansSchindler,37Bellwood,Peter,141–42BeringStraittheory,113–14Berossus,146–47Bible,95–97,143–44,148,159–61Binbali,89–90BiSheng,10Blavatsky,HelenaPetrovna,19–20Blumenbach,JohannFriedrich,109–10Bochica,14Bol,Manute,89–90bonerush,46,59–61Boniface,Saint,78bookburnings,10Borr,73,75Bruce,James,151Burdick,Clifford,126–27Burotu,14

Cabrillo,JuanRodriguez,111Calame-Griaule,G.,87–88Camacho,JuanArmenta,2–3

Canaan,27–28Carnacstones,34–35Caroli,Kenneth,165–66,178Castañeda,Pedrode,100–101Caucasians,109–10,112–13Celticmythology,71–72Centaurs,58CentralAmerica,giantsof,130–32Chibchapeople,14Chickasawba,119–21Childress,DavidHatcher,xx–xxiii,9,10–11,29–30,32,34,133,139,169,172,178ChinaandtheChinese,10–11,20–23chlorine-23,33Chouinard,Patrick,ix–x,xiiClovispeople,98Coleman,Loren,84collectiveunconscious,12–15ComorosIslands,giantsof,90–91Confucius,10ConneautGiants,106–9Cook,James,140Corineus,72–73Coronado,Francisco,100Corrales,Scott,19–20cosmicicetheory,35–38cosmicrays,38–42Cosmos,40–41Cowden,CharlesC.,124–25Cowden,H.Flagler,124–25creationmyths,xi,74–76CreekIndians,117–18Critias,169,170Cro-Magnons,34Cyclopes,47,56

Dacia,68

Daityas,15–16Däniken,Erichvon,ix,97,140,147DeathValley,124–25Dechend,Herthavon,163Deloria,Vine,4Deucalion’sflood,161–62devas,x–xiDiamond,Jared,141DietrichofBern,72Dillmann,August,151Dinka,89–90DNA,xviii–xix,113–15dolmens,29–30Drake,Francis,133Dunbavin,Paul,29Durán,Diego,130–31

Earth,rotationof,3–4EarthMagic,35EasterIsland,111–12,137–42Eddas,19,73end-timesmyths,79–82Enoch,Bookof,21,149,151–53Ephialtes,46–47Erie,moundbuildersof,115–16Eugster,Jakob,38–39evolutiontheory,57–59extinction,57–59

Faro,166Fauth,Philip,35–36Fawcett,Percy,137Fenris,80FirstFossilHunters,The,50Formorach,12–13fossilrecord,xvii–xviii,54–55,63–64inAfrica,87–89inAustralia,92–95

inNewWorld,85–87,105–19,124–27Frazer,James,159frostgiants,71–72,77–78Frywell,Ronald,105

Galaup,JeanFrançoisde,139–40Genesis,Bookof,148,152,153GenesisApocryphon,154,156geneticengineering,xiiGeoffreyofMonmouth,33,72geomyths,58Geryon,65giantsasbuildersofancientcivilizations,26–35casefor,4–6ascollectiveunconscious,12cosmicraysand,38–42asmonsters,64–67semanticsofterm,8–9suppressionofevidence,6Seealsomythology;specificculturesGiants,Bookof,151–53Gigantomachy,18,58,63–64Gigantopithecus,83–87,99,182Gilroy,Rex,92–93globalcataclysm,xix–xxGoemagot,72–73Goliath,96–97Graveure,Jules,39GreatFlood,148,158–67GreeceandtheGreeks,43–45,51–57Green,Matthew,90–91Greys,149Guerber,H.A.,76,79gunpowder,10Gunther,John,89

Hall,MarkA.,84Hancock,Graham,158–59,163

haplogroupX,113–14Hard,Robin,174Haze,Xaviant,99,100–101height,55–56,109Helike,176Hendel,RonaldS.,27–28,148Henderson,Jon,179Hercules,58–59,67Hermes,47Herodotus,45,61–62Hesiod,43,44–45,57–58,60Hill,HowardE.,123HinduYugas,165–66Hitching,Francis,35Hittites,13Hobbit,The,71Hoerbiger,Hans,35–36Homer,43,46–48,57–58,68,179Homoerectus,xv,84,85Homosapiens,x,xiii,84,93Homosapiensapiens,xiii,xvi–xvii,xixHrungnir,77Hueyatlaco,2–3Hurrians,13

Iliad,46–48Incas,12India,15–17Ireland,12–13Irwin-Williams,Cynthia,2–3

Jaredites,24Jericho,Battleof,28Job,Bookof,95Jokul,79Joseph,Frank,13–14,17,81,95,160–61Josephus,28–29,45Joshua,Bookof,28

Jotun,79Joviansystem,3Jupiter,32

Kai,13–14KennewickMan,112–13KigaliRwanda,88–89Kimon,60Kiss,Edmund,136–37Knight,Christopher,21–22knowledgefilters,182Koenigswald,GustavHeinrichRalphvon,84,86Kolosimo,Peter,38–39,89Kronos,174–75Kumarbi,13

Lamb,Dana,85Lamb,Ginger,85Lamech,154–55Langdon,Robert,139language,xii–xiiiLebeuf,Jean-Paul,87–88Lemurians,19–20,92León,PedroCiezade,134Leopold,Estella,2–3lightningmotifs,66–67Loki,80Lomas,Robert,21–22LordoftheRings,The,71Luna,37–38

Mackenzie,DonaldA.,71,74Magellan,Ferdinand,132–33Mahabharata,165–66MarionCounty,WestVirginia,116–19Mayas,165Mayor,Adrienne,45,49–51,53,54–55,56,57,59,60,61–62,64–66

Mediterranean,sunkencitiesin,178–80megalithicstructures,13–14,26–35MegalongValley,93–94Meganthropus,83–87,182Merlin,33mitochondria,113–14Mjollnir,77Moai,137–42monsters,64–67MontPeleeexplosion,39moons,36–37Mormon,Bookof,24Moses,27moundbuilders,106–9,115–16mummies,123–24,132Muspelheim,74–75,80–81mutations,38–42mythology,8–11,15–25,46–54giantsascollectiveunconscious,12–15scienceand,45–46SeealsoGreatFlood;specificculturesMythsoftheNorsemen:FromtheEddasandSagas,79

NativeAmericans,101–5Navarrete,Fernándezde,100Nayenezgani,101–2Needham,Joseph,11Ne-Mu,13–14Nephilim,148–50,151Nettleton,Harvey,106–7NewCaledonia,94–95NewGuinea,13–14newspaperaccounts,119–23NewWorld,23–25accountsofgiantsbyexplorers,99–101discoveriesinMarionCounty,116–19giantsof,109–15

mummiesoftheSouthwest,123–24newspaperaccountsfromnineteenthcentury,119–23oraltraditionsofgiantsbyNativeAmericans,101–5Nilot,83,89Nimrod,King,32Noah,154–57Norsedeities,18–19Norsemythology,72–82NorthAmerica.SeeNewWorldNorthAtlanticBioculturalOrganisation(NABO),112

Oannes,145–47Odin,72,75–76Odysseus,179Odyssey,46,47Ohiomounds,5Olympians,173–75OnHeroes,51oracleatDelphi,59,62–63Orestes,52,62–63Orion,48–49,59Otus,46–47

Paiutetribe,23paleontology,54–55Pallene(Phlegra),65P’anKu,xi,20–21Patagonia,giantsof,132–33Pausanias,50Peet,StephenD.,107–8Pelops,49–51Phaeton,164–65PhilostratusofLemnos,51Pineda,AlonsoÁlvarezde,99–100Plato,45,52,54–55,145,169–71,176–77,179PlinytheElder,48,59Plutarch,67

Polynesia,giantsof,137–42Polyphemus,47Poseidon,xxiPosnansky,Arthur,136–37Pravda,88–89punctuatedequilibrium,xiii–xiv

Quayle,Stephen,92,99,130

radiation,38–42Ragnarok,79–82Rakshas,16–17Ramayana,16RedHeadband,90–91Reeves,JohnC.,154roadsystems,4–5Rogerson,JohnWilliams,152Roggeveen,Jacob,138–39Romans,44,51–54Rosenberg,Donna,20–21Routledge,Katherine,112,140Russell,F.Bruce,123

Sagan,Carl,3–4,40–41SaintPierre(city),39SantaRosaIsland,110–11Saos,88SaudiArabia,5–6Schaeffer,FrancisA.,149–50Scheria,176Schliemann,Heinrich,48,68Schoch,RobertM.,130,177–78Schouten,Wilhelm,133Schrag,Paul,99,100–101scienceblackholesof,1–6mythologyand,45–46Saganon,3–4

SecretCitiesofOldSouthAmerica,131–32SevenSages,147Siegfried,72Sinim,94Sitchin,Zecharia,ix,150Skoufos,Theodore,65snowmonsters,71–72solarsystem,36–38Solon,169–70SouthAmerica,giantsof,130–32Spartans,62–63Steen-McIntyre,Virginia,2–3Steiger,Brad,105,125–26Stonehenge,33–34Strabo,55Sturluson,Snorri,73Sumer,177–78Sumernfloodmyth,162–63sunkencities,178–80SuppressedHistoryofAmerica,The,99Surt,80–81Switzerland,79Swope,Robin,115–16

Tarimmummies,22–23technology,9–11,172TempleofBaalbek,31–32TeutonicMythandLegend,74Theseus,60Thompson,Lucy,102–5Thor,67,72,76–78Thornton,Richard,117–18Thrud,73Tiahuanaco,133–37Tiamat,xiTimaeus,169–71TimelessEarth,38,89

Titanomachy,64,173–75,176Titans,17–18,43,173–75Tityus,43Tolkien,J.R.R.,71Tripura,16Troy,48,49–51,68TrueGiants,84Tse’tahotsilta’li,101–2Tsoukalos,GiorgioA.,170TwilightoftheGods,97Typhon,44,65

UnitedStates,4–5,23–25.SeealsoNewWorldUranus,173–75

Vardanyan,Mihran,30–31Ve,75–76Velikovsky,Immanuel,3Venus,3Vili,75–76VonWard,Paul,ix–xxiv,58Voss,Roger,xi,xi–xii

Wa-gas,102–5Wagner,Richard,72Walker,Keith,93Watchers,21–23,148–50,154Weidenreich,Franz,85–87Welteislehre,35–38Wilkins,HaroldT.,131–32Williams,Kitty,119Williams,WilliamW.,107–8WorldTree,81Wright,Aaron,106–9Wright,G.Ernest,27

Yggdrasil,81

Ymir,73,75–76

Zeus,65,161,164,166,175ZoratsKarer,30–31

AbouttheAuthor

Patrick Chouinard is a writer, freelance journalist, and former producer ofArchaeologyTV.TheeditorinchiefofTheNewArchaeologyReview,helivesinNorthLargo,Florida.

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