Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery that provides new insights into the ancient Zapotec civilization and its religious beliefs. A team discovered beautifully preserved wall paintings inside the Statue of the Rainmaker temple, part of the Zapotec city of Monte Alban in remote Mexico. Monte Alban was one of the most important Mesoamerican cities, inhabited from about 600 BC to 900 AD. The paintings feature two principal deities – a rain and wind god, and a war god. They also show mythical creatures and stylized animal representations. The rain god in particular appears to have held religious significance for the Zapotec people.

The discovery of these striking artworks highlights the artistic and spiritual sophistication of the Zapotec civilization. Studying the symbols and imagery in the paintings promises to yield more details into the religious practices and mythological stories of this lost culture. The paintings bring the ancient world of the Zapotecs to stunning life, providing a rare and precious glimpse into their history.

The wall paintings were found inside the temple by a joint Mexican-American archaeological team. Their work shows the value of international cooperation in advancing knowledge about past cultures and histories. Continuing to explore the site has the potential to lead to further groundbreaking discoveries about the Zapotec people and Mesoamerica.

Through sheer aesthetic power and cultural significance, the temple paintings captivate. They feature mythical creatures, stylized animal forms, and symbols of deities central to Zapotec religious belief. Under their spell, one can almost imagine ancient priests conducting rituals inside the temple’s dim chambers, and commoners venerating the gods and spiritual forces the artworks represent.

The discovery of five reliefs of human faces at the ancient Tartessian site of Casas del Turuñuelo has revealed unexpected details about this Bronze Age society that mysteriously vanished around 2,500 years ago. Though these peoples produced an abundance of gorgeous artifacts, these reliefs are the first human representations of Gods excavated at the site, adding a surprising new layer to our understanding of this vibrant culture.

Finding ancient forgotten Gods seems like the beginning of a fantastic SciFi flick, so let’s drink some maybe juice and consider what finding a lost God might mean in all ways.

In the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) universe, gods are powerful beings who often wield tremendous influence over the world and its inhabitants. However, what happens when a god is forgotten, and their worshipers abandon them? There are a few different interpretations of how this might play out, each with its own implications and potential consequences.

The idea that gods in D&D are powered by the faith and worship of their followers is a popular interpretation of how the divine works in this universe. In this view, the gods are sustained by the devotion and offerings of their worshipers, and if they are forgotten or abandoned, they gradually lose power and influence.

The implications of this interpretation are significant for the world of D&D. If gods rely on worship to survive, then their interactions with mortals become more complex and fraught. They may be more likely to demand sacrifices or require strict obedience from their followers in order to maintain their power. They may also be more prone to petty jealousies and rivalries with other gods, as they compete for a limited pool of worshipers.

If a god is forgotten, they may become weaker and less able to affect the world around them. This could mean that their powers and abilities become less potent or that they are unable to manifest in physical form as easily. It may also mean that their followers become more vulnerable to the influence of other gods or supernatural beings.

The concept of forgotten gods also opens up interesting story possibilities in a D&D campaign. A group of adventurers might stumble upon an ancient temple dedicated to a long-forgotten deity, and inadvertently awaken their power through their actions. Or, a once-great god might fall from grace and seek to regain their followers by any means necessary, leading to a dangerous conflict with other gods or mortal factions.

The idea that the power of gods in D&D is independent of mortal worship suggests that the gods are self-sufficient and do not require the faith of their followers to maintain their strength. Under this interpretation, a god’s power may be influenced by other factors, such as their relationships with other deities, their actions in the world, or their innate strength and abilities.

This view of the divine has several potential implications for the world of D&D. First, it suggests that gods are not necessarily beholden to their worshipers, and may act according to their own agendas and motivations. This could make interactions with deities more unpredictable, as players may not be able to rely on their expectations of what a god “should” do based on their worshippers’ beliefs.

Second, if a god’s power is not tied to their worshipers, then it may be more difficult for mortals to influence or affect them. This could make it harder for players to gain the favor of a god or seek their aid in a time of need, as they would have to find alternative ways to prove their worthiness or demonstrate their value.

On the other hand, this interpretation of the divine could also allow for more freedom and flexibility in creating and developing gods and their relationships with mortals. Players and DMs could create unique and powerful deities with their own motivations and personalities, without being constrained by the need to tie them to a specific group of worshipers.

The concept of gods in D&D waning and waxing in power based on the amount of worship they receive suggests a cyclical relationship between gods and their followers. In this interpretation, a god’s strength and influence may rise and fall depending on the level of worship and devotion they receive from their followers. If a god is forgotten, they may become weaker, but if they are rediscovered and worshiped again, they may regain their former strength.

The implications of this idea are significant for the world of D&D. It suggests that the actions and beliefs of mortals can have a direct impact on the power and influence of the divine, and that the relationship between gods and their followers is dynamic and subject to change over time. This could create interesting opportunities for players and DMs to explore the complex and evolving relationships between deities and mortals in their campaigns.

If a god is forgotten, their followers may become vulnerable to the influence of other deities or supernatural forces, as they lack the protection and guidance of their patron god. This could lead to conflicts between different groups of worshipers, as they seek to gain the favor and protection of the strongest or most influential gods.

On the other hand, the rediscovery of a forgotten god could also lead to new alliances and power struggles within the divine realm. A group of adventurers who discover an ancient temple dedicated to a forgotten god may find themselves caught up in a conflict between different factions of deities, as they seek to gain control of the newly revived god and its followers.

The idea that gods in D&D are beings of such immense power that they are not affected by the belief or disbelief of mortals suggests that the divine exists on a level beyond mortal perception or understanding. In this view, gods are transcendent beings who exist outside of mortal concerns and are not limited by mortal perception or belief.

This interpretation has several potential implications for the world of D&D. First, it suggests that the gods are beyond mortal comprehension and may be difficult or impossible to communicate with or influence. This could make interactions with deities more mysterious and unpredictable, as players may not be able to understand the motivations or intentions of a god that operates on a level beyond their understanding.

Second, if the power of gods is not affected by mortal belief, then the relationships between gods and mortals may be less fraught or contentious. There may be less competition or conflict between different groups of worshipers, as the gods themselves are not competing for a limited pool of followers.

However, this interpretation could also create challenges for players and DMs in terms of creating interesting and engaging storylines involving the divine. Without the ability to influence or communicate with the gods directly, it may be difficult to create compelling conflicts or goals related to the divine.

The idea that gods in D&D exist as archetypes within the collective unconscious of all living beings is a fascinating interpretation of the divine. In this view, the power of a god is not tied to the worship of any particular group of followers, but rather is an inherent aspect of the collective unconscious mind.

If a god is forgotten, they may disappear from conscious awareness, but their influence may still be felt within the collective unconscious. They may exist as a powerful symbol or archetype, representing concepts and ideals that are still relevant to the thoughts and emotions of mortal beings. If enough individuals begin to remember or worship the forgotten god again, their power may manifest once more in the world, as the god’s archetype gains strength and influence within the collective unconscious.

The implications of this interpretation are significant for the world of D&D. It suggests that the divine is not dependent on any particular group of worshipers, but rather is a part of the fabric of the universe itself. It also suggests that the actions and beliefs of mortals may have a direct impact on the power and influence of the divine, even if they are not aware of it.

If a god is rediscovered, the rekindling of their power may manifest in unexpected ways. The forgotten god’s archetype may become more prominent in the thoughts and emotions of mortals, influencing their behavior and shaping the world around them. The rediscovery of a forgotten god may also lead to conflicts with other deities or supernatural beings, as they seek to gain control of the newly awakened god’s power and influence.

The idea that the power of gods in D&D is tied to the flow of energy and magic through the world opens up interesting possibilities for understanding the divine in the game. In this interpretation, a god’s power is intimately connected to the natural forces of the universe, and may be influenced by the ebbs and flows of energy and magic that flow through the world.

If a god is forgotten, their influence on the energy flow may diminish, but they may still be able to exert some control over the ley lines and magical forces of the world. This could manifest in various ways, such as through the creation of magical artifacts or the appearance of powerful magical creatures associated with the forgotten god.

If the god is rediscovered, they may be able to tap into the magical energies of the world once more and regain their former strength. This could lead to conflicts with other deities or supernatural beings, as they seek to gain control over the powerful ley lines and energy flows associated with the rediscovered god.

The implications of this interpretation for the world of D&D are significant. It suggests that the power of the divine is closely tied to the natural forces of the universe, and that the actions and beliefs of mortals may have a direct impact on the flow of energy and magic in the world. This could create opportunities for players and DMs to engage with the world on a deeper level, by exploring the ways in which the actions of their characters can affect the magical balance of the world.

The idea that gods in D&D are beings of immense power who are able to grant a portion of their power to mortals through the bestowal of a divine spark is a fascinating interpretation of the divine. In this view, a god’s power is not tied to their worshipers, but rather is something that can be shared with mortals through a direct and personal connection.

If a god is forgotten, the mortals who once held these divine sparks may lose their powers or become vulnerable to attack by other supernatural forces. Rediscovering the forgotten god may allow for the rekindling of these sparks and the restoration of divine power to their followers.

The implications of this interpretation are significant for the world of D&D. It suggests that the divine is not a fixed or immutable aspect of the world, but rather is something that can be shared and passed down through direct contact between gods and mortals. This could create opportunities for players and DMs to engage with the divine on a more personal level, by seeking out and interacting with individuals who hold a divine spark.

If a group of adventurers discovers an individual who holds a divine spark, they may need to protect them from attack by other supernatural forces who seek to destroy or corrupt the spark. Alternatively, they may need to seek out a forgotten god and petition them to bestow a divine spark on one of their members, in order to gain access to the god’s power and influence.

The idea that a forgotten god in D&D may become vulnerable to demonic corruption is a dark and intriguing interpretation of the divine. In this view, a forgotten god may become weakened and exposed, leaving them open to attack by demonic forces seeking to subvert and co-opt their power for their own purposes.

If a forgotten god falls victim to demonic corruption, they may become a shadow of their former selves, twisted and distorted by the dark energies that have taken hold of them. They may begin to demand darker sacrifices and rituals from their followers, or may actively seek to corrupt and subvert other supernatural forces in the world.

The implications of this interpretation for the world of D&D are significant. It suggests that the divine is not invulnerable or infallible, and that even the most powerful gods may be subject to the corrupting influence of demonic forces. This could create opportunities for players and DMs to engage with the darker and more dangerous aspects of the supernatural world, as they seek to protect the power and influence of the divine from demonic corruption.

If a group of adventurers discovers that a forgotten god has fallen victim to demonic corruption, they may need to intervene to save the god from this fate. They may need to seek out powerful artifacts or weapons capable of combating the demonic forces, or may need to ally themselves with other supernatural beings in order to combat the demonic corruption. Alternatively, they may need to navigate the dangerous political landscape of demonic power struggles in order to protect the god from harm.