3.7 How 19th Century Shamans Gave the 21st Century a New Theory of Rock Art (With the Help of 20th Century Science)

"The /Xam San spoke of the rain as an animal. A rain-bull  the thunderstorm that roared and destroyed the people’s huts; a raincow the gentle, soaking rain; columns of rain falling beneath a thunderstorm were called the ‘rain’s legs’—the rain was said to walk across the land." (discussed at 59:36: https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459918418071552)

rock art discussed at 55:20: https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459942589857797/photo/1

rock art discussed at 1:09:20: https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459938802388992/photo/1

rock painting of trance dance: https://twitter.com/DilettanteryPod/status/1582459942589857797/photo/1

"For the makers, the paintings and engravings *were* visions, not representations of visions."

-James David Lewis-Williams

"High at the head a branching olive grows/

And crowns the pointed cliffs with shady boughs./

A cavern pleasant, though involved in night,/

Beneath it lies, the Naiades delight:/

Where bowls and urns of workmanship divine/

And massy beams in native marble shine;/

On which the Nymphs amazing webs display,/

Of purple hue and exquisite array,/

The busy bees within the urns secure/

Honey delicious, and like nectar pure./

Perpetual waters through the grotto glide,/

A lofty gate unfolds on either side;/

That to the north is pervious to mankind:/

The sacred south t'immortals is consign'd.”

-Homer, Odyssey

Sources: https://old.reddit.com/r/DilettanteryPodcast/comments/zlhzkk/37_how_19th_century_shamans_gave_the_21st_century/?