IN-PERSON: Prague – Section B

Abstract

The study initiates with the premise that local traditions of civilizations have global connections that exhibit some common cultural, symbolic, and esoteric features. To decode this, theosophical and philosophical treatises, canonical texts, etymology, myths, epics, and iconographic and architectural evidence of various ancient civilizations are studied. A commonality in the depiction of symbols, belief systems and other factors seems relatable like the worship of ‘Sun’ as God, found in various ancient cultures like the Moai of Easter Island, the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas of Latin America, the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Assyrians, Akkadian, and Babylonians of Mesopotamia, the ancient civilizations of India and Southeast Asia. The concept of an ‘immortal soul’, and the worship of the ‘Sun’ God as “Mitra (Mithra)” practised in Indian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Palestinian, and Early Christian cultures lead to a universal unity of beliefs. Similarly, etymological, and mythological relationships are found in the nomenclature of deities along with their symbolisms like worshipping the mother goddess for ‘fertility’. Mythological stories of “The Great Flood”, as mentioned in most religious texts of ancient civilizations prove the commonality between them. The archaeological sites, and their locations, suggest the continuity and geographical connection establishing ‘Unity’. The study establishes, the civilizations seem to be confined within a region around the globe which might have acted as the then equatorial belt proving the ‘Unity’ among these diverse ancient civilizations. Further, similar investigations can enrich our understanding of discovering harmony through the strains of cultural codes.