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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 15572
[Archaeology]
Date Posted:
6/2/2006
2:44:42 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,608
RSS: 18,216
Comments: 9
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Saudis Hope Stones Mystery Will Appeal To Tourists
Author: Andrew Hammond, Reuters Source: Washington Post
Title: SAUDIS HOPE STONES MYSTERY WILL APPEAL TO TOURISTS
The stones of Rajajil form a striking pattern against the clear desert sky, the fallen and tilting sand-colored slabs conjuring up visions of England's Stonehenge.
Nobody really knows why the 50 groups of about five pillars each are clustered on the edge of the Nafud desert in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Local legend says they are a lost tribe punished by God.
Archeologists believe the Rajajil stones date from before 3,000 BC -- when human civilization first began to thrive in ancient Egypt and Iraq. The stones also have graffiti linking them to pre-Islamic deities such as the female goddess Widd.
As with Stonehenge, there is no consensus on whether the site was a temple, a burial ground, a place used for astronomy or something else. Scholars believe Stonehenge was built between 3,000 and 1,600 BC.
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Community Thoughts: There are 9 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| The Pagan Arabs | Jun 5th. at 10:24:23 pm EDT
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Greenman (Columbus, Indiana) - Email Me
I think they'd get more tourists coming if they called these stones "The Fingers of Allah" instead of the "Arabian Stonehenge", since Muslims are the main tourists anyway. No Pagan in his or her right mind would step foot in Wahhabi-land.
I would like to see a photo of these stones, though, and compare them to the Ka'ba stone in Makkah. If there were any connections, it would be evidence that the Ka'ba was truly a Pagan, and not Abrahamic which Islamic tradition claims.
However, it will be a *long* time until the Ka'ba is "reclaimed" by any Pagans as long as present politics in Saudi Arabia continue. And I expect the same for the the stones of Rajajil.
blessed be,
Greenman
aka, Cern
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| NO THANKS.... | Jun 4th. at 10:08:16 am EDT
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Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
As much as I might be curious about the supposed monoliths, as long as they treat my fellow women the way they do over there, they can KMA.......
Love & wisdom to all
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| Oh Joy....... | Jun 4th. at 5:41:26 am EDT
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Patrick McKinnion (Seattle, Qatar) - Email Me
Yeah, like I want to drive across the border to go play tourist in the fundementalist, male-bigoted, sandbox known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Especially since living in the more "liberal" Gulf countries makes my teeth itch and forces me to remain in the broom closet??
Thanks, will pass.
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| Middle-Eastern Goddess Worship... | Jun 3rd. at 4:06:24 pm EDT
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Jeanne Lisbet (Calgary, Alberta) - Email Me
... appeals to this traveller.
The fact that I'm barred from driving - b/c I'm female - does not.
I would love to visit that part of the world, but as it stands, I'm not too crazy about their restrictions on women. Sorry, SA. Maybe some other time.
Blessed Be!
JL
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| There Are Nicer Places To Visit | Jun 3rd. at 11:29:41 am EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
Once upon a time, the Middle East was an interesting place to visit-- but then the "big three" religions came to power- and it was all downhill since. Sorry, but I and my tourist dollars have far more hospitable places to visit-- and sights to see that don't involve my having to disguise myself because I have the strange fortune of being born female.
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| Keep On The Low | Jun 3rd. at 3:34:57 am EDT
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AX (Little Rock, Kuwait) - Email Me
According to the true Muslim faith anything not muslim is considered evil. Divination and casting spells is allowed in the name of Allah in the Middle East. Spells by Wiccan and Pagans are considered sorcerry and thats evil. Crime is jail in Kuwait but in Saudi death unless you can get deported first. It's surprizing that this article exists and says what it says. Any Pagans on a trip to the Middle East stay on the low unless you are military.
On the upside its good to see that a female deity was worshipped in this part of the world. Truth will not be contained any more.
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| Is This April 1st?? | Jun 2nd. at 3:09:53 pm EDT
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R. Cicero (Seattle, Washington) - Email Me
Yeah, don't forget to bring a camera, because the 'political situation' shouldn't get in the way of your tourist dollars! Just be sure your lady is fully covered in a burka, and god help you if you do a pagan ritual anywhere near these stones. The religious police will have your head--literally! After it gets chopped off by a burly swordsman in a public square. And why not take a casual stroll through Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan while youre' at it. Let the good times roll, traveler.
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