Ancient "Staff-God" Icon Found Worldwide
EVIDENCE OF A TRANS-ATLANTIC LINK, LONG BEFORE COLUMBUS

The similar "staff-god" icons below were created by ancient civilizations
on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Note the similar bend
in the arms and placement of the hands:

NEW WORLD Viracocha BOLIVIA

OLD WORLD Osiris EGYPT

The Andean SUN-GOD, Viracocha, is depicted at left engulfed in a halo of solar rays, holding twin serpent-staffs symmetrically in each hand (1800 BC). Almost halfway-around-the-world, the ancient Egyptians created virtually the exact same pose, that of Osiris, a SUN-GOD, holding twin palm branches that terminate in serpents. He is also crowned with a solar halo in the form of the aten or sundisk (1700 BC). A fascinating mystery. Archaeologists insist Old & New World civilizations evolved independently, having lacked the navigational skills to cross the Atlantic. Columbus is thought to have been first across. How, then, can this similarity have evolved? The icon was used not only by the Egyptians and Tiahuanacans, but among Old & New World cultures that came after them. The Teotihuacans (below left) succeeded the Tiahuanacans in the New World, while the Greeks (below right) inherited Egyptian wisdom in the Old World:

NEW WORLD TEOTIHUACAN (MEXICO)

OLD WORLD GREECE (EUROPE)

The "Goddess of the Cave" in the city of Teotihuacan in Mexico shows the goddess's hands extended outward, holding green plants (1200 BC). At right, an eerily similar design, that of the Greek Goddess Demeter with both hands outstretched clutching wheat, barley plants, and snakes (1300 BC). The two godesses are striking the exact same pose! Like the crucifix in modern Christianity, could this pose represent a certain Way of life, a higher philosophy to live by, or an undiscovered religion? It seems possible, especially when considering the many other Old & New World Parallels that exist, such as sun-worship, pyramid-construction, and mummification. Are these pieces of a puzzle? Evidence of some powerful yet-to-be-discovered body of wisdom?

NAZCA PERU 200 BC

"heh" ETERNITY EGYPT

In the Egyptian system of hieroglyphics, the staff-god has a clear definition. Used throughout Egyptian history, it was called "heh" (right), which means eternity. There is no certainty among scholars as to the meaning of the Mesoamerican staff-god. However, as in Egypt, it has a long lineage, notably throughout the Andes (left). Beginning with cultures that flourished thousands of years BC, the emblem is widespread and among the most beautiful of all sacred native artwork:

NEW WORLD

CHAVIN 1400 BC

SICAN 200 BC

SIPAN 900 AD

CHIMU 1100 AD

NAVAJO 1600 AD

Like links in a chain forming an invisible religion, these images seem to underscore the interconnectedness of New World cultures. What if this interconnectedness once extended to the Old World? It would testify not only to a common global religion in antiquity, but mark evidence of the existence of a greater body of wisdom once known to man, one that can perhaps be rediscovered and put into practical modern use. As the following images show, the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, and many others all seem to have understood and used the icon, as if practicing the same sophisticated religion:

OLD WORLD

CRETE 1600 BC

PERSIA 1000 BC

MYCENAE 500 BC

BRITAIN CELTIC 300 BC

ROME 200 BC

Countless other images of the staff-god exist housed in museums all around the world. What does this mean for history? What exactly is the staff-god's deeper significance? Where and when did it originate? How and why did it disappear? Just as the simple crucifix can be understood to express a complete and complex metaphysical doctrine involving such themes as "sacrifice," "life," "death," and "resurrection," likewise this staff-god icon encodes a multi-faceted philosophical and metaphysical doctrine. This doctrine is abstract, though not difficult to understand, and will soon be featured on this website.

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RICHARD R. CASSARO