Despite the fact that the Olmec civilization is surrounded by several mysteries, the researchers believe that all the classical cultures of Central America originated from this mysterious civilization.
We know very little about this being one of the most influential ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica.
His stone skills are notoriously impressive, with incredible buildings and monuments such as giant Olmec heads, much pre-Aztec, Mayan and other civilizations of the Americas exist.
The question that intrigues everyone is where the ancient Olmecs gained their knowledge and some researchers suggest that the ancient Olmecs could be the survivors of the legendary Atlantis.
The Olmecs and Atlantis
The Olmecs were a very advanced civilization, which existed before the Maya and Aztecs and their incredible knowledge of geology made it possible to literally terraform certain regions.
The Plateau of San Lorenzo is one of these examples, and is considered one of the most important architectural projects of antiquity, this project consisted of the removal of tons of land and rock that allowed the construction of gigantic terraces, temples, monuments and the first pyramids of America, with height of 30 meters, transforming the environment into a sacred space for its inhabitants.
Is it possible that the ancient atlantes who survived the destruction of their continent had migrated to America and started some of the most incredible ancient civilizations on Earth such as the Olmecs, the Aztecs, the Mayans and possibly even the Incas?
Atlantis is an island or continent treated as mythological, the first mention of which is attributed to the Greek philosopher Plato in his works “Timeu” and “Cryptias”, in these two tales we came to know that Atlantis was a naval power, located beyond the Columns of Hercules, which conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa around 9600 BC and would have sunk into the ocean in a single day and night of misfortune.
No one can explain for sure where the Olmecs came from, but there are some clues that deal with their origin and show their rulers as giants, physically very different from the natives of Central America, and many believe that the Olmec civilization may have come from elsewhere on Earth, as survivors of the Atlantean culture, which would have originally developed in the region now known as the Bermuda Triangle , bringing with him what was left of his knowledge.
This ancient civilization reached an incredible degree of development, a society that knew the domestication of animals and beekeeping before any other ancient civilization, also had a form of writing composed of hieroglyphics and a calendar based on a year of 365 days.
The Giant Olmec Heads, which measure up to 3 meters high and weigh 20 to 40 tons each, are still unexplained and several theories have been proposed to explain how these monumental heads were carved and, in particular, how they were transported to their destination sites, since, it seems, these peoples did not use metal tools , did not have vehicles with wheels, animal traction and no advanced technology.
Traditional archaeology defends the idea that the transport of the huge basalt blocks was done through the vast network of rivers that cut through the region, but taking into account this theory, there remains the problem of how the Olmecs would have landed these blocks of several tons and pushed them uphill, in an unnóspito terrain and full of obstacles, with swampy regions , dense forests, hills and valleys.
One estimate suggests that it would take 1,500 men to drag one of these heads for three to four months to their destination.
Another theory supports the idea that knowledge to move these and other massive and gigantic megaliths scattered around various locations in the world like Stonehenge, Puma Punku, Gobekli Tepe, Easter Island and Machu Pichu, were transmitted to ancient peoples by extraterrestes beings or more advanced civilizations, such as the atlantes, who taught men how to move such stones, and some kind of “levitation” could have been the means by which the enormous stones would have been put in their definitive places.
Another finding, even more mysterious and directly related to the ancient Olmec civilization, is a 3.5 cm hematite bar that, when placed in water, has its axis pointed north and, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, this device would be a compass.
This undoubtedly changes the history we know, as it would mean that the ancient Olmecs would be the inventors of the compass and not the Chinese, as previously thought.
The device is believed to have been used not only for navigation, but also for positioning its buildings facing north.
The Olmec Legacy
Several supernatural beings appear in Olmec art and the various gods that formed their religion were mainly linked to agriculture, animals and nature.
The Olmec deities are represented in stone sculptures, rock paintings and ceramics, and the gods are described as humans or hybrids of humans and animals.
According to Olmec beliefs, every living element that surrounded them was full of spirits that had supernatural powers, and likewise the rulers were also part of this circle of deities, because they considered themselves direct descendants of the gods and therefore also enjoyed powers.
According to an Olmec legend, the carnal union between an ounce (or jaguar) and a woman resulted in the so-called jaguar men. Another version indicates that the jaguar men were conceived after the union of the rulers with the “jaguar beings”.
Most Olmec gods would evolve into the main deities of later civilizations. The Feathered Serpent, for example, seems to have been a minor god to the Olmecs, but would gain prominence in Aztec and Mayan societies.
In addition to the gigantic heads, the Olmecs left other pieces of great artistic value, such as thrones, aisle and human figures, and no other Mesoamerican culture has achieved perfection and the level of dominion of the Olmecs with regard to the art of sculpture.
The ancient Olmecs, like many other great ancient civilizations, disappeared without a trace around the year 400 BC remaining a legacy of mysteries and questions still unanswered.
