The one topic that really stood out to me this semester was the Nazca Lines. It is absolutely amazing how people were able to create these designs so long ago, without the use of planes or other tools to help generate and configure the lines. There are several different designs, both geometric and animalistic. No one knows exactly how or why they were created. It is one of the greatest historical mysteries. Looking through all the photographs on the slides in class fascinated me. Some of these designs were nearly seven hundred feet across. Though the designs are not completely accurate, they are legible. For example, if you were to look at the image above, you can tell that it depicts a monkey, even though the proportions and angles are not completely accurate. How were people able to create these massive images in the desert? They had no way of easily accessing a place on a higher elevation to oversee the construction of the lines. It is speculated that the images were created to appease the gods. People believed that creating various images would satisfy the gods and bring them good fortune. I wish that I could side with a theory, but the fact of the matter is that we just don't know their purpose. There isn't even knowledge or evidence to support any one idea. These lines will most likely always remain one of the most fascinating yet confusing discoveries.
No comments:
Post a Comment