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Know_files/FINGERPRINTS OF THE GODS.pdf - D Ank Unlimited

Know_files/FINGERPRINTS OF THE GODS.pdf - D Ank Unlimited

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Graham Hancock – <strong>FINGERPRINTS</strong> <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> <strong>GODS</strong><br />

Tiahuanaco.<br />

That was in the sixteenth century. More than 400 years later, at the end<br />

of the twentieth century, I shared Garcilaso’s puzzlement. Scattered<br />

around Tiahuanaco, in defiance of the looters who had robbed the site of<br />

so much in recent years, were monoliths so big and cumbersome yet so<br />

well cut that they almost seemed to be the work of super-beings.<br />

Sunken temple<br />

Like a disciple at the feet of his master, I sat on the floor of the sunken<br />

temple and looked up at the enigmatic face which all the scholars of<br />

Tiahuanaco believed was intended to represent Viracocha. Untold<br />

centuries ago, unknown hands had carved this likeness into a tall pillar of<br />

red rock. Though now much eroded, it was the likeness of a man at peace<br />

with himself. It was the likeness of a man of power ...<br />

He had a high forehead, and large, round eyes. His nose was straight,<br />

narrow at the bridge but flaring towards the nostrils. His lips were full.<br />

His distinguishing feature, however, was his stylish and imposing beard,<br />

which had the effect of making his face broader at the jaws than at the<br />

temples. Looking more closely, I could see that the sculptor had<br />

portrayed a man whose skin was shaved all around his lips with the result<br />

that his moustache began high on his cheeks, roughly parallel with the<br />

end of his nose. From there it curved extravagantly down beside the<br />

corners of his mouth, forming an exaggerated goatee at the chin, and<br />

then followed his jawline back to his ears.<br />

Above and below the ears, on the side of the head, were carved odd<br />

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