Thank you!

I heartfelt 'thank you' to all of my wonderful readers for placing three of my titles at the top of Amazon's bestsellers list in archaeology. I think it serves as a visible message to the mainstream!

Inspired by History: Painting my Office

I painted my office last Saturday. I combed over every paint swatch I could find to get something as close to Tyrian purple as I could. I love Tyrian purple, not just for its beauty, but for its role in history. In this colorful, often digital, world in which we live, it is easy to forget how lucky we are to have easy access to color. Tyrian purple walls in my office would have been a crime punishable by death, not to mention impossible, in antiquity. Why was this reddish-purple color so important?

Legend has it, that the color was discovered by Hercules’ dog. The dog found a snail during a walk on the shores of Phoenicia and after biting into it, his mouth was stained reddish-purple. Hercules’s lover, Tyrus admired the color so much, that she told Hercules she would only marry him if he gave her a robe in that color.

But the archaeological record shows that this reddish-purple color, called Tyrian purple, was first produced by the Ancient Phoenicians in the city of Tyre using the mucous secretion of small sea snails called Murex Trunculus and Purpura Haemastoma. It took at least 60,000 snails to make only one pound of Tyrian purple. When the Horites of Mesopotamia reached the Mediterranean, they described the shore as "knaggi" meaning, "belonging to (the land) of purple." This word became "kena" in Phoenician, "kena'an" in Hebrew and finally "Canaan," an Old Testament term for Palestine. It was the Greeks who applied to the Canaanites (with whom they first traded) the term Phoenicia, from the Greek "phoinix," meaning purple-red.

Its rarity made it very expensive in classical antiquity, costing its weight in silver. It was also the official royal color of the Ancient Roman Empire. Wearing Tyrian purple was reserved for royalty. During the 5th century, only the emperor could wear purple. Violators of this law were punished with death.

The color was a symbol of royalty, power, and privilege, not just because it was rare or expensive, but because it resembled blood. Scholars have been baffled at how ancient historians have described bloody battle scenes as being this particular purple, or how Homeric writings have also referred to blood as purple, rather than red.

After taking samples of the dye, the late Dr. William Harris, Prof. Emeritus at Middlebury College, studied the substance in comparison to human blood. What he found was striking. After viewing a film record of heart surgery, he noticed that the blood pulsing out of a cut artery was identical to Tyrian purple. Freshly spilled arterial blood has a bright shining, almost iridescent quality, different than when it begins to coagulate, resembling purple in sunlight. The royal accounts of blood spill being Tyrian purple were explained. Thus, the emperor’s robes were valued not only for their extravagance, but also their representation of the freshly spilled blood of enemies of the state; a symbol of power through the fear of death.

How amazing it is that in modernity, I can simply walk into a Home Depot and pay $43.00 for a can of Tyrian purple (or close enough to Tyrian) paint. There are so many things we take for granted. Throughout the majority of human history, the notion of cheap reddish-purple pigment synthesized trough artificial means and available to the masses, would have been crazy talk. Now, it is just another weekend project and pic to share online.

Getty Villa and my Personal Reflection

This fall, while I was in L.A. to be interviewed for the program Ancient Aliens, I took some time to visit a place that I have always wanted to see —The Getty Villa.

Although I had lived in L.A. some years ago, my life's circumstances prevented me from visiting. It was a beautiful experience in so many ways. It may come as no surprise that someone who has studied antiquity would enjoy this museum. However, I felt it meant something even more personal to me.

When I was a child, I went to a private school where most of the other children came from wealthier families. I was often bullied for being too quiet and bookish. It also didn't help that my teeth were rather large. I became a real target when I was seen carrying my favorite book, Bulfinch's Mythology. This book was huge! It contained quite readable versions of various myths, especially, Greek myths. I loved this book so much that I would carry it everywhere, even on the playground.

One day, some children stole my book and pushed me off playground equipment, cracking a small chip from my front tooth that can still be seen today. Still, I carried my huge volume of Bulfinch's Mythology, in protest.

It's a little silly, but it's time like these that make us into the people we are. My love of classical antiquity and mythology has endured since childhood. As I perused the beautiful halls of the Getty Villa in solitude, carefully examining each artifact, I felt a sense of 'being me', of coming full circle in so many ways.
I will not "fix" my front tooth, as it serves as a constant reminder. In every one of my smiles, the world will always be able to see my deep love of history, learning, and perseverance.



Take a look, at some of my favorite pictures from the museum below.

Post by Heather Lynn.

Announcement!

I am excited to announce that I have signed with OWRN – Other World Radio Network™, as permanent radio show host. I am really looking forward to being part of this amazing team of truthseekers. The OWRN team is on the leading edge of bringing forward the truth on exopolitics, alternative history, ancient mysteries, hidden technologies, forbidden sciences, and real health solutions. 

I will be premiering on OWRN on “Other World Radio” in June 2013. Additional information will be released on show dates and times by going to www.OtherWorldRadio.com. 

I will also update everyone on my Facebook.

Mysterious Realms, Saturday, April 21 from 9:00-10:30 PM EST

Dr. Heather Lynn will co-host the show with Dr. John DeSalvo with special guest Joshua Shapiro. He will discuss his Indiana Jones adventures tracking down crystal skulls, investigating unusual archaeological sites, and his recent quest trying to locate a mysterious Blue Crystal Skull.

Don't miss it! 

www.drjohnradio.com

My New Site Launched Today

Just a quick note to say that my website has undergone a face-lift and now acts as a centralized hub for everything else. 

Hopefully there are not any issues with it. If you notice something, let me know so my webmaster can get it fixed. 

Thanks!!!

Unveiling the Cover of My New Book, Anthrotheology

Here is a sneak peek at the cover of my new book, available this fall. I will be posting free sample chapters in the weeks to come. Stay tuned...