The Parthenon Code: Mankind's History in Marble

by Robert Bowie Johnson Jr.

Book Overview

The events of Eden were part of the Greeks' collective cultural memory, and their special interpretation of those events made up the very basis of their religious system. Greek myth/art is human... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970543832
• ISBN13: 9780970543837
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Solving Light Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

The dilemma of transcendentalism versus humanism

I found "The Parthenon Code" to be well researched, logically presented and generally explaining many mysteries of both the Genesis story and Greek mythology. As a person who grew up on Old Testament doctrine, it was easy to see the parallels presented, however non-biblical readers may find the idea insulting that the Greeks knew about history at that time. It would be a dead-scratcher as to why. Mr. Bowie's thesis really boils down to one polarized concept... that of absolute versus relative morality. Biblical social ethics were all determined by an external authority (theocracy), while Greek culture glorified internal authority (democracy). This dialectic is still manifested today as the dilemma of transcendentalism versus humanism, nature versus nurture. Male versus female. "The Parthenon Code" understands the ancient semites (descendants of Seth) to be inherently "transcendental", while everyone else (descendants of Cain) were inherently "humanists". This is the drama that ancient civilizations entertained themselves with. Just like today most of entertainment is all about moral dilemmas, likewise the history of mankind is fraught with clashes over morality and loyalties. Good versus evil. Self-preservation versus sacrifice. It is a relief that the author at no time makes value judgements of the various parties to the conflict. Many biblical/mythical situations are represented in orthodox terms, but it is explained in the first chapter that one extreme cannot exist without the other. The story needs polar opposites to be transmitted through history, and that is the role played by both Greek mythology and The Bible.

Greek is History, Not Myth

I can see why the academic world would have trouble accepting this book. It's an embarrassment to them. Mr. Johnson's writing style exemplifies clarity and simplicity, and the evidence is overwhelming. If the Garden of the Hesperides with its serpent-entwined apple tree isn't the Greek counterpart of Eden, what is it? The Jefferson and Lincoln memorials do not portray myth, but rather, history. In the same way, Athena's great temple, the Parthenon, did not portray myth, but history. The Parthenon sculptures tell the same basic story as the Book of Genesis except from the opposite viewpoint: mankind exalted as the measure of all things, instead of the Creator. It's humanism made into a religion of ancestor worship. I also recommend Mr. Johnson's latest book, NOAH IN ANCIENT GREEK ARTNoah in Ancient Greek Art. In it, he explains in some detail the reason for the mainstream's blindness to our true origins. Greek art was meant to be understood by us. Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for seeing through the shallow, pretentious, and mostly nonsensical "interpretations" of Greek art the academics foist upon each other in their insulated little worlds.

Amazing!

The Greeks traced their ancestry back to a first couple in an ancient paradise they called the Garden of the Hesperides, always depicted on vases with a serpent-entwined apple tree. Sound familiar? This first couple, Zeus and Hera, were brother and sister, and husband and wife, just like Adam and Eve. They also had two sons who had offspring, just like Adam and Eve. Their sons, Hephaistos and Ares, correspond to Kain (the author uses the Greek spelling for reasons he makes clear) and Abel. It's so amazing and so simple once you see it. Greek artists tell the same story as Genesis except from the opposite standpoint that the serpent enlightened the first couple, rather than deluding them, in paradise. Nereus of Greek "myth" (whose name means the "Wet One") is Noah. There's no doubt about it. You can check the author's overwhelming evidence for yourself. Herakles is Nimrod transplanted to Greek soil. Hermes is Cush. Chiron is Ham. I commend the author for shining light on truth that's been there in the dark all along. THE PARTHENON CODE is a very well-written book with great depth, and many ancient illustrations confirming the author's thesis. He has cracked a genuine ancient artists' code. The big question in my mind is, Why have the academics for so long been so blind to the obvious? Kari Joys, Author of "Choosing Light-Heartedness"

A Genuine Ancient Artists' Code Deciphered

The Greeks summarized who they were, where they came from, and what they believed on the east pediment of the Parthenon. In the last hundred pages of the book, Mr. Johnson takes the reader through the computer reconstruction of the figures there based on the physical evidence, one extant sculpture at a time. Holmes Bryant's computer reconstructions are magnificent (Click on "Search Inside" "Back Cover" to see his reconstruction of the Three Fates from the left side of the pediment, and click on "Front Cover" to see the Hesperides from the right side). Reading those hundred pages gave me the same feeling as putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The author supplies all the pieces of the puzzle so you can evaluate his reconstruction for yourself. When you have finished THE PARTHENON CODE, you will understand what the Greeks were telling us in their myth/art, and on the sculptures of Athena's magnificent temple. Mr. Johnson has deciphered a genuine ancient artists' code.

Mind-stimulating, and strongly recommended read for students

In The Parthenon Code: Mankind's History In Marble, author Robert Bowie Johnson Jr. draws upon his own unique approach to combine elements of mythology, religion, spirituality, art, antiquarian classics, and world history to craft one of the most original, engaging, thoughtful and thought-provoking works advocating a kind of "alternative history" explanation for a post-Biblical Deluge association of Greek pagan themes and symbolism with the Hebrew biblical account of Noah's flood and its aftermath. The revelation that the Greeks knew Noah as Nereus and referred to him as the "Wet One" and built the Parthenon to celebrate a "victory" over Noah and his God, and in honor of the serpent-worshiping Eve of Genesis, makes The Parthenon Code an iconoclastic, mind-stimulating, and strongly recommended read for students of religion and Hellenic history!