{
  "trx_id": "bde579b7aa15ec859d1d9d08f1cb65166ce30d03",
  "block": 106144922,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2026-05-18T01:29:21",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "7119.593569 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "64eb2a0ce915de5c14bf52749910acc2092ed66b",
  "block": 105981719,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2026-05-12T08:51:27",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "4407.383164 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "f771c1fdab60d0543dc8701d22429ba9466bca23",
  "block": 105512541,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2026-04-26T00:48:15",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "7132.109325 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "69f27aead77eff3b20d5182591fbf305e1f3a826",
  "block": 102855801,
  "trx_in_block": 8,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2026-01-23T11:07:48",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "4448.929983 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "bf7a7770c9ea9a5a69cef7ceab031dc8d0d4c753",
  "block": 91302159,
  "trx_in_block": 9,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2024-12-17T06:24:57",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "4613.149180 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "aa796377f542868664e5c7dca2e41a4c0d79c7d5",
  "block": 79856342,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2023-11-13T22:06:51",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "4782.282712 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "75ef460834aa2ba4dd47f8b5d35d0ab49383dcc6",
  "block": 78349580,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2023-09-21T23:17:33",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "7719.561498 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "113d6d856c9691503821d16098bd5e7fca8b5c3f",
  "block": 69114682,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-11-03T12:53:36",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "7941.242936 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "dd6dd9792e72698b4c386ed8510c093653ef65fa",
  "block": 60810732,
  "trx_in_block": 8,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-01-17T12:03:33",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8161.776167 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "c6d05e8fd3dfe3e8388112f40b9dc4c23faefe22",
  "block": 54609053,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2021-06-14T01:55:48",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8345.544825 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "6a32b3b55f014b6251a8e659db8b9eee3b8d5847",
  "block": 49356464,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-11T12:12:57",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8532.966799 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "27f3ee2be5b722b01cfe3b2567990df3fecd4f40",
  "block": 49208022,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-06T05:49:54",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "1912.543513 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "cec0094b1f93d7b278b88a966e3715164df6b5ac",
  "block": 49191557,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-05T15:50:48",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8539.174653 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "e802bbea4b27865f37a4825309513e5d79cd5d49",
  "block": 48260489,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-02T17:55:12",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "1920.017158 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "389a661b5c13bb7338bc914088f35dbb77ab6654",
  "block": 43218288,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-05-09T06:48:21",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8741.980012 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8b7143becfe0122b8c6911d8072d627a982191d5",
  "block": 43194575,
  "trx_in_block": 8,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-05-08T10:34:18",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "1953.311140 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "1e1cb976a3948a1c2e2cc1436992317b33fe7641",
  "block": 42566020,
  "trx_in_block": 21,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-04-16T00:35:36",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8754.867460 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "f2a1dcbc139efb2635db193f3aeefe795537f767",
  "block": 39832563,
  "trx_in_block": 5,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-01-11T10:39:57",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "ioannis",
      "parent_permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "author": "steemitboard",
      "permlink": "steemitboard-notify-ioannis-20200111t103956000z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Congratulations @ioannis! You received a personal award!\n\n<table><tr><td>https://steemitimages.com/70x70/http://steemitboard.com/@ioannis/birthday2.png</td><td>Happy Birthday! - You are on the Steem blockchain for 2 years!</td></tr></table>\n\n<sub>_You can view [your badges on your Steem Board](https://steemitboard.com/@ioannis) and compare to others on the [Steem Ranking](https://steemitboard.com/ranking/index.php?name=ioannis)_</sub>\n\n\n###### [Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=steemitboard&approve=1) to get one more award and increased upvotes!",
      "json_metadata": "{\"image\":[\"https://steemitboard.com/img/notify.png\"]}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "e85f7f842ddb54e8926c55a35f5f5d91e30cd81a",
  "block": 32848822,
  "trx_in_block": 10,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2019-05-12T17:40:57",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "8950.484273 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "c936856568686d5148c0ff2f509d8fa1e0173a9b",
  "block": 30151611,
  "trx_in_block": 7,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2019-02-07T23:15:30",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mrmore",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "mythbusting-ancient-rome-cruel-and-unusual-punishment",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "a634d31a8cb67ad42b8de486c2dbaf4f565c9fb2",
  "block": 29359148,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2019-01-11T10:12:42",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "ioannis",
      "parent_permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "author": "steemitboard",
      "permlink": "steemitboard-notify-ioannis-20190111t101242000z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Congratulations @ioannis! You received a personal award!\n\n<table><tr><td>https://steemitimages.com/70x70/http://steemitboard.com/@ioannis/birthday1.png</td><td>1 Year on Steemit</td></tr></table>\n\n<sub>_[Click here to view your Board](https://steemitboard.com/@ioannis)_</sub>\n\n\n**Do not miss the last post from @steemitboard:**\n<table><tr><td><a href=\"https://steemit.com/steem/@steemitboard/steemwhales-has-officially-moved-to-steemitboard-ranking\"><img src=\"https://steemitimages.com/64x128/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfRVpHQhLDhnjDtqck8GPv9NPvNKPfMsDaAFDE1D9Er2Z/header_ranking.png\"></a></td><td><a href=\"https://steemit.com/steem/@steemitboard/steemwhales-has-officially-moved-to-steemitboard-ranking\">SteemWhales has officially moved to SteemitBoard Ranking</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href=\"https://steemit.com/steemitboard/@steemitboard/steemitboard-witness-update-2019-01-07\"><img src=\"https://steemitimages.com/64x128/http://i.cubeupload.com/7CiQEO.png\"></a></td><td><a href=\"https://steemit.com/steemitboard/@steemitboard/steemitboard-witness-update-2019-01-07\">SteemitBoard - Witness Update</a></td></tr></table>\n\n> Support [SteemitBoard's project](https://steemit.com/@steemitboard)! **[Vote for its witness](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=steemitboard&approve=1)** and **get one more award**!",
      "json_metadata": "{\"image\":[\"https://steemitboard.com/img/notify.png\"]}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "e24de0c04c1ebee94d763e918cb33437cffb53fb",
  "block": 22489938,
  "trx_in_block": 13,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-05-16T20:21:51",
  "op": [
    "delegate_vesting_shares",
    {
      "delegator": "steem",
      "delegatee": "ioannis",
      "vesting_shares": "9150.132671 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b41b982c1d6fd68a17ebb04a22e30410a460644a",
  "block": 20834862,
  "trx_in_block": 51,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-03-20T07:39:30",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "ioannis",
      "parent_permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "author": "upv0t3",
      "permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods-1521531570207t7d8863af-2580-49de-aa83-da1d01d6fbdfuid",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Hola @ioannis, upv0t3\r\nEste es un servicio <b>gratuito</b> para nuevos usuarios de steemit, para apoyarlos y motivarlos a seguir generando contenido de valor para la comunidad.\r\n<3 Este es un corazón, o un helado, tu eliges\r.\r\n\n<h1> : ) </h1>\r\nN0. R4ND0M: \r\n8429 1067 5724 5140\n1306 2082 2230 9637\n4309 8965 4216 7037\n5284 4091 3958 8858\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"spanish\",\"kame\"],\"users\":[\"ioannis\"],\"app\":\"null/null\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0dd3f56772fd0bb72c523fdbb78a39c30e93b83c",
  "block": 20834862,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-03-20T07:39:30",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "upv0t3",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 1200
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8466c0b08ff3b1fe17035efe12a4aa0f5b4437a7",
  "block": 19974894,
  "trx_in_block": 34,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-18T10:21:27",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "franyeligonzalez",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 100
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "40d0d70e297adebb253d1f9a4601594112fed988",
  "block": 19968395,
  "trx_in_block": 21,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-18T04:56:30",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "luiscordon",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 800
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 19728880,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 3,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-09T21:11:15",
  "op": [
    "author_reward",
    {
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "sbd_payout": "0.202 SBD",
      "steem_payout": "0.000 STEEM",
      "vesting_payout": "114.525991 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 19687004,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 10,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-08T10:12:15",
  "op": [
    "author_reward",
    {
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "sbd_payout": "0.595 SBD",
      "steem_payout": "0.000 STEEM",
      "vesting_payout": "343.603719 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "c722ca02499a9de5705d00aff318d30712b77760",
  "block": 19636985,
  "trx_in_block": 52,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-06T16:22:21",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"upvotevoter\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "d70125f8331e6e567248340ed1f42e9827b4bdf6",
  "block": 19593351,
  "trx_in_block": 41,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-05T03:59:57",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "bridnyan",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ed20f3dcd6003969f2407ecac0bef37f21dd44d5",
  "block": 19593351,
  "trx_in_block": 28,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-05T03:59:57",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "smretninikol",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "9d4e8c43ec7e698bb8aea7b4bc4e39736cb32ba5",
  "block": 19580697,
  "trx_in_block": 27,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:26:54",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "9d4e8c43ec7e698bb8aea7b4bc4e39736cb32ba5",
  "block": 19580697,
  "trx_in_block": 27,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:26:54",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-thor-s-shattered-viking-army-and-their-sacred-hammer-of-the-gods",
      "title": "Discovered: Thor's Shattered Viking Army and their Sacred Hammer of the Gods",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXosfeSyziRVs4jeizYCNLnPxPu84Xvjq3LoJTimBwnAW/image.png)\n\nThe mysterious origins of almost 300 violently broken bodies discovered in a mass grave in Derbyshire, England, are “the Viking Great Army!”, announced archeologist Cat Jarman this week. \n\nJarman is Head of the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the The [University of Bristol](http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2018/february/radiocarbon-viking-grave-.html) and she explained that the initial dating of the skeletons discovered in the 80s found them to “span several centuries”. However, Jarman doubted this dating because “the previous radiocarbon dates from this site were all affected by something called marine reservoir effects, which is what made them seem too old.” Basically, the carbon in fish is much older than in terrestrial foods and this confused the radiocarbon dating tests. When this error was accounted for, says Jarman, the bodies all date to the 9th century. \n\n*Land-Hungry Warriors*\n\nKnown to the Anglo-Saxons as ‘The Great Heathen Army’, these land-hungry warriors formed a united army from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. They invaded the four kingdoms of England in 865AD and according to Historian Thomas Charles-Edwards in his bestselling 2013 book Wales and the Britons 350–1064 “having taken East Anglia and then York the following year, they were paid to leave Wessex by Alfred the Great and marched on Northumbria and London.” They reached Mercia by 873AD and spent winter at Repton, where they dethroned King Burgred and installed Cleowulf as ruler of the kingdom.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbs1NS5CVxReoZSL7dF7n6BJhX6zJ1tcggCDAPsy8ohM9/image.png)\n(Viking army in battle ([public domain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stiklestad#/media/File:Arbo-Olav_den_helliges_fall_i_slaget_p%C3%A5_Stiklestad.jpg)))\n\n*This Was No Ordinary Burial*\n\nThis week’s University of Bristol report informs that “80 percent of the remains were men, mostly aged 18 to 45, with several showing signs of violent injury.” Strewn among the Viking skeletons were “axes, knives and five silver pennies dating to the period 872-875 AD.” And, among the bodies four children aged between eight and 18 years old were discovered “in a single grave with traumatic injuries.” Archaeologist Cat Jarman said of these burial irregularities “The grave is very unusual…they are also placed in unusual positions - two of them back-to-back - and they have a sheep jaw placed at their feet. All these obscurities suggest human sacrifice formed part of Viking funeral rites.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYY6TUyWVBUzyZFjeKivYDtVpBdpfeBw4BJ4dr8e6rwxT/image.png)\n(One of the female skulls excavated from the Repton burial site. Credit: [Cat Jarman / University of Bristol](http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2018/february/radiocarbon-viking-grave-.html))\n\nA [National Geographic](https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/viking-burial-grave-site-derbyshire-england-carbon-dating-spd/) article this week detailed the contents of another double grave containing two men, the older of whom was buried with a “Thor’s hammer pendant and a [Viking](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-features/10663035/The-Vikings-Mean-marauding-and-misunderstood.html) sword and had received numerous fatal injuries including a large cut to his left femur.” Furthermore, a boar’s tusk had been “placed between his legs, and it has been suggested that the injury may have severed his penis or testicles, and the tusk positioned to replace what he had lost in preparation for the afterworld.”\n\n*Thor’s Hammer Pendant May Settle Long-Standing Debate*\n\nRightly, this week’s headlines are focusing on the discovery of one of the most successful forces to have ever invaded Britain. However, to me, the presence of a “Thor’s Hammer pendant” stands sentinel above all other discoveries. Outshines the lot! This truly is a Norse cultural treasure and its discovery, among Norse warriors, settles a long-standing archeological debate. \n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdtrta95mnzNWfEZ1DDHbNm9jBw91Jg9VaQenaXhF4Aug/image.png)\n(Example of a Viking Thor’s hammer pendant ([Swedish History Museum / flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/historiska/6880530365))\n\nFist-size stone tools resembling the Norse god Thor's Hammer are known as “thunderstones” and are found in Viking graves in Norway. While one faction of specialists hold that Viking warriors worshiped Thor with grave deposits, others argue that thunderstones actually belonged to earlier, lower burials, and get accidentally unearthed in Viking graves. To settle this debate, Archaeologist [Eva Thäte](http://www.chester.ac.uk/departments/history-and-archaeology/associate-and-honorary-staff/th%C3%A4te) of the University of Chester in the U.K., with fellow archaeologist Olle Hemdorff excavated hundreds of Viking graves in Scandinavia and trawled through thousands of grave deposits. They found “ten Viking burials containing thunderstones up to 5,000 years older than the graves themselves” indicating Vikings reused prehistoric stone hammers as talismans and good luck charms to assist them in the afterlife. \n\nBut even with this data, many archeologists still maintain Thor’s Hammers are accidental finds. This Thor’s Hammer debate was highlighted in a 2010 in a [National Geographic](https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100810-thor-thors-hammer-viking-graves-thunderstones-science/?beta=true) feature which claimed it was generally “accepted that they (thunderstones) were actually purposely placed by Vikings in graves as good-luck talismans,” but there are still skeptics out there. This week’s announcement, that the skeletons belong to the “Great Viking Army” married with the fact that a “Thor’s Hammer pendant” was discovered, is the smoking gun - the hard evidence that Viking warriors did indeed worship Thor, and “Thor’s Hammers” were used in burial rites. \n\nThere are two things skeptics have to accept here. Neolithic people in England were not wearing Thor’s Hammer pendants, so it did not belong to an earlier, lower grave, and did not get “accidentally” dug up. And finally, deceased Viking warriors were stripped naked and buried with carefully chosen items, to help them in the afterlife, so the pendant was a deliberate placement within the Viking warrior grave. The pendant suggests that 9th century England was taken by a band of merciless warriors under the command of their ancient god of thunder and war - Thor. That accepted, I wonder what the battle cry of Thor’s Army sounded like? Thunderous I’d imagine.\n\n*Other References*\nWales and the Britons, 350-1064 (History of Wales) Hardcover – 1 Feb 2013\n\nEnjoy more on [Ancient Origins](http://www.ancient-origins.net)\nJoin our 650k+ [Facebook](https://business.facebook.com/ancientoriginsweb/) followers.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"england\",\"archaeology\",\"vikings\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmXosfeSyziRVs4jeizYCNLnPxPu84Xvjq3LoJTimBwnAW/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmbs1NS5CVxReoZSL7dF7n6BJhX6zJ1tcggCDAPsy8ohM9/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmYY6TUyWVBUzyZFjeKivYDtVpBdpfeBw4BJ4dr8e6rwxT/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmdtrta95mnzNWfEZ1DDHbNm9jBw91Jg9VaQenaXhF4Aug/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2018/february/radiocarbon-viking-grave-.html\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stiklestad#/media/File:Arbo-Olav_den_helliges_fall_i_slaget_p%C3%A5_Stiklestad.jpg\",\"https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/viking-burial-grave-site-derbyshire-england-carbon-dating-spd/\",\"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-features/10663035/The-Vikings-Mean-marauding-and-misunderstood.html\",\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/historiska/6880530365\",\"http://www.chester.ac.uk/departments/history-and-archaeology/associate-and-honorary-staff/th%C3%A4te\",\"https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100810-thor-thors-hammer-viking-graves-thunderstones-science/?beta=true\",\"http://www.ancient-origins.net\",\"https://business.facebook.com/ancientoriginsweb/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "24c77b64a18041b27836fb2f057d659b317876cf",
  "block": 19580486,
  "trx_in_block": 28,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:18",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"anomadiclove\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "1e278387ad20f971ba9630007d40b260786928d3",
  "block": 19580486,
  "trx_in_block": 20,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:18",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"byresteem\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "116305577dfe40240ddba1dc82598eeedeeded21",
  "block": 19580486,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:18",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"doobby\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "398985216b7b8a787734db50bceb0a75e8bb5d11",
  "block": 19580485,
  "trx_in_block": 44,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:15",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"hotlist\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "36f5f0dcd07df2d5948018d2e311ca79d27600f4",
  "block": 19580485,
  "trx_in_block": 33,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:15",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"hugewhale\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "6c8e3da4b1c75e50deac4108fc7e6729885b307b",
  "block": 19580485,
  "trx_in_block": 22,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:15",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"lordsnek\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "475eabf2064547a3aceec42a327cd2c5e91567ce",
  "block": 19580485,
  "trx_in_block": 11,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:15",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"syarial\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "07e4c0d97a277e4c39ac1e28af16b9db040584a4",
  "block": 19580485,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-04T17:16:15",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"voteme\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "72c31b30c08afc53c125e989405cbbd5662d6355",
  "block": 19546266,
  "trx_in_block": 26,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T12:39:39",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "lordsnek",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "the-thunder-stone-and-the-bronze-horseman-the-monolithic-savior-of-st-petersburg",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ba386330bfcb99d06fc6f7611fe453baa31f7c0b",
  "block": 19543779,
  "trx_in_block": 30,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:35:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "the-thunder-stone-and-the-bronze-horseman-the-monolithic-savior-of-st-petersburg",
      "title": "The Thunder Stone and the Bronze Horseman: The Monolithic Savior of St Petersburg?",
      "body": "@@ -5936,24 +5936,83 @@\n numents/bronze-horseman/\n+%0A%0AMore on (Ancient Origins)%5Bhttp://www.ancient-origins.net%5D\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"russia\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmf4dGURAXBehxkr1Neq72pEa1HVQo6Nu7zqkZwo9ki4hy/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmbmbxsSzWnVB2ut2Ay5nW5q2ZukWSKcvuzMZz8HHZiqPN/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmQXk5SPdQmnzzTR5sKcHbQqtsaSoU3J651zGQJZNGFfWM/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmPjgtHyW2cmruJugNPvQi15K6VEKcMLvNgDfaUmBGpZ8m/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThe_Bronze_Horseman_(St._Petersburg%2C_Russia).jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACatherine_II_by_D.Levitskiy_(1794%2C_Novgorod_museum).jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThunder_Stone.jpg\",\"https://www.visitrussia.org.uk/blog/the-amazing-story-of-st-petersburgs-bronze-horseman/\",\"https://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/st-petersburg/attractions/bronze-horseman/a/poi-sig/374307/360547\",\"http://www.messagetoeagle.com/the-thunder-stone-worlds-largest-monolith-moved-by-man/\",\"http://www.prospektmag.com/2016/11/bronze-horseman/\",\"https://lidenz.ru/bronze-horseman-defender-st-petersburg/\",\"http://www.saint-petersburg.com/monuments/bronze-horseman/\",\"http://www.ancient-origins.net\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "dae457de242545632e8e1830965c6e5b9899a5a1",
  "block": 19543759,
  "trx_in_block": 14,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:34:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "thisisjhonny",
      "parent_permlink": "short-history-of-china",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "re-thisisjhonny-short-history-of-china-20180203t103406842z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Very good introduction!",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "62e8d491c8eb07b9013473e75c35033813f3043c",
  "block": 19543746,
  "trx_in_block": 37,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:33:30",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "lordsnek",
      "permlink": "postcards-from-asgard-odin-s-eye-part-2",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "669d1e853fd3ce52e1a72167d8dc5cf449692cf8",
  "block": 19543725,
  "trx_in_block": 11,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:32:27",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "the-thunder-stone-and-the-bronze-horseman-the-monolithic-savior-of-st-petersburg",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "669d1e853fd3ce52e1a72167d8dc5cf449692cf8",
  "block": 19543725,
  "trx_in_block": 11,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:32:27",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "the-thunder-stone-and-the-bronze-horseman-the-monolithic-savior-of-st-petersburg",
      "title": "The Thunder Stone and the Bronze Horseman: The Monolithic Savior of St Petersburg?",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmf4dGURAXBehxkr1Neq72pEa1HVQo6Nu7zqkZwo9ki4hy/image.png)\n\nThe Bronze Horseman is a monument located in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. This equestrian statue has for its pedestal the Thunder Stone, a monolith claimed to be the largest block of stone to have ever been moved by human beings. The Bronze Horseman is today one of the most recognizable symbols in Saint Petersburg. In addition, the transporting of the Thunder Stone to the city during the 18th century is also an incredible feat in itself.\n\nAlthough the Bronze Horseman was created during the 18th century, its current name is derived from Alexander Pushkin’s 1833 poem, The Bronze Horseman: A Petersburg Tale, which is often considered to be one of the greatest works of Russian literature. As its name suggests, this monument is an equestrian statue, and is a representation of the first Emperor of Russia, Peter the Great. The monument was commissioned by Catherine the Great, one of Peter’s successors, and an Enlightened, Westernised monarch like the first Russian emperor himself. \n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbmbxsSzWnVB2ut2Ay5nW5q2ZukWSKcvuzMZz8HHZiqPN/image.png)\n(The Bronze Horseman statue of Peter the Great. ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThe_Bronze_Horseman_(St._Petersburg%2C_Russia).jpg)))\n\nFor the creation of this grand statue, the commission was given by Catherine to a renowned French sculptor by the name of Étienne Maurice Falconet. Work on the statue began in 1770, and was finally completed 12 years later, in 1782. It may be mentioned that Falconet did not see the unveiling of his masterpiece, as the sculptor had a falling-out with his Russian patron (or, according to another source, years of arguing with the head of the Academy of Fine Arts), resulting in the former leaving the country four years before the sculpture was completed. An inscription on the monument, written in both Russian and Latin, reads ‘To Peter I from Catherine II’. As Catherine had no legal claims to the Russian throne, the monument has been interpreted by some as an attempt by the empress to legitimise her rule by forming a connection with this illustrious monarch and representing herself as Peter’s rightful heir.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQXk5SPdQmnzzTR5sKcHbQqtsaSoU3J651zGQJZNGFfWM/image.png)\n(Portrait of Catherine II of Russia by Dmitri Levitzky, 1794. ([Public Domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACatherine_II_by_D.Levitskiy_(1794%2C_Novgorod_museum).jpg)))\n\nBefore the work on the equestrian statue even began, the pedestal on which it would be standing on was being prepared. This is the so-called Thunder Stone, a huge granitic rock that is widely claimed to be the largest monolith to have been moved by humans. The Thunder Stone was originally located at Lakhta, an area not far from the centre of Saint Petersburg. According to an ancient local legend, a piece of this monolith was split off by thunder (or more likely, perhaps, lightning), hence the name given to it. In 1768, it was determined that the Thunder Stone would form the pedestal for Falconet’s statue of Peter the Great.\n\nIt has been estimated that originally, the Thunder Stone weighed a total of 1500 tonnes. Whilst Falconet intended to cut the monolith before having it transported to Saint Petersburg, Catherine did not allow him to do so. Thus, the Thunder Stone was first transported to the city, and then shaped to resemble a cliff. The task of transporting the Thunder Stone fell on the shoulders of Marinos Carburis, a Greek who was serving as a lieutenant-colonel in the Russian Army. \n\nCarburis’ plan was to wait for winter to set in, and then have the monolith dragged by the workmen on the frozen ground to the sea (Lakhna is situated about 6 km inland from the Gulf of Finland), so that it could then be transported by water to Saint Petersburg. To further aid the transportation of the monolith, Carburis developed a metal sledge that slid over bronze spheres on a track. Remarkably, only manpower was used to move the Thunder Stone. It took 400 men 9 months to move the monolith to the sea, and in 1770, about two years after the work began, the Thunder Stone reached its destination.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPjgtHyW2cmruJugNPvQi15K6VEKcMLvNgDfaUmBGpZ8m/image.png)\n(An engraving depicting the transportation of the Thunder Stone. ([Public Domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThunder_Stone.jpg)))\n\nFinally, it may be recounted that, according to a 19th century legend, Saint Petersburg would never be captured by enemies as long as the Bronze Horseman stood in the city. Thus, during the Second World War, instead of taking the statue down to protect it from enemy bombardment, it was covered with sandbags and a wooden shelter. There may have been some truth in the legend, as the city, then known as Leningrad, was not able to be taken by the invading Nazis, despite a siege of almost 2 ½ years.\n\n*References*\nLinn, N., 2017. The amazing story of St Petersburg’s Bronze Horseman. [Online] \nAvailable at: https://www.visitrussia.org.uk/blog/the-amazing-story-of-st-petersburgs-bronze-horseman/\nLonely Planet, 2018. Bronze Horseman. [Online] \nAvailable at: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/st-petersburg/attractions/bronze-horseman/a/poi-sig/374307/360547\nMessageToEagle, 2016. The Thunder Stone: World’s Largest Monolith Moved By Man. [Online] \nAvailable at: http://www.messagetoeagle.com/the-thunder-stone-worlds-largest-monolith-moved-by-man/\nOuzilevski, A., 2016. The Enigma of the Bronze Horseman. [Online] \nAvailable at: http://www.prospektmag.com/2016/11/bronze-horseman/\nStirling, A., 2014. The Bronze Horseman – Eternal Defender of St Petersburg!. [Online] \nAvailable at: https://lidenz.ru/bronze-horseman-defender-st-petersburg/\nwww.saint-petersburg.com, 2018. \"The Bronze Horseman\". [Online] \nAvailable at: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/monuments/bronze-horseman/",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"russia\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmf4dGURAXBehxkr1Neq72pEa1HVQo6Nu7zqkZwo9ki4hy/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmbmbxsSzWnVB2ut2Ay5nW5q2ZukWSKcvuzMZz8HHZiqPN/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmQXk5SPdQmnzzTR5sKcHbQqtsaSoU3J651zGQJZNGFfWM/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmPjgtHyW2cmruJugNPvQi15K6VEKcMLvNgDfaUmBGpZ8m/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThe_Bronze_Horseman_(St._Petersburg%2C_Russia).jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACatherine_II_by_D.Levitskiy_(1794%2C_Novgorod_museum).jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThunder_Stone.jpg\",\"https://www.visitrussia.org.uk/blog/the-amazing-story-of-st-petersburgs-bronze-horseman/\",\"https://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/st-petersburg/attractions/bronze-horseman/a/poi-sig/374307/360547\",\"http://www.messagetoeagle.com/the-thunder-stone-worlds-largest-monolith-moved-by-man/\",\"http://www.prospektmag.com/2016/11/bronze-horseman/\",\"https://lidenz.ru/bronze-horseman-defender-st-petersburg/\",\"http://www.saint-petersburg.com/monuments/bronze-horseman/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b719be5211640eb5caf9561efc60ecf2a51631a9",
  "block": 19543511,
  "trx_in_block": 14,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:21:45",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"alihasnain3k\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b62ed6ea5bfaf4499444a92881a99157c3ef66ed",
  "block": 19543509,
  "trx_in_block": 52,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:21:39",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"symphonyofechoes\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "fa4e000768c233ffef3e1f96bbb37e94c319e51a",
  "block": 19543502,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:21:18",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "symphonyofechoes",
      "permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180203t012227666z",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "913e6c772a36f4921058885e1234a12bbd2eb6ce",
  "block": 19543496,
  "trx_in_block": 25,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:21:00",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "alihasnain3k",
      "parent_permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180202t213409357z",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "re-alihasnain3k-re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180203t102058723z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Thank you @alihasnaik3k!",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"archaeology\"],\"users\":[\"alihasnaik3k\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "de7b91bcd58487292fcc0003d6c2e2979c2d9cab",
  "block": 19543491,
  "trx_in_block": 15,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T10:20:45",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "alihasnain3k",
      "permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180202t213409357z",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "1cd6b1e2ae57278dc043a615b1deb9d69065b699",
  "block": 19539660,
  "trx_in_block": 38,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T07:09:06",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "vashukov",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "cead77e6e28a197a2a07017668587cf266664ce3",
  "block": 19532888,
  "trx_in_block": 50,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T01:30:15",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "lordsnek",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "5b44634e6327252df230672f1e566b56c1a27e49",
  "block": 19532734,
  "trx_in_block": 36,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T01:22:33",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "symphonyofechoes",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "fa4f000c0e2d590d2371bbb4ae1b593dde2ed081",
  "block": 19532732,
  "trx_in_block": 14,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-03T01:22:27",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "ioannis",
      "parent_permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "author": "symphonyofechoes",
      "permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180203t012227666z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Congratulations! Your post has been selected to receieve a free upvote from the communal account @symphonyofechoes.\n\n@symphonyofechoes is a curation project aimed at encouraging the production of good quality, historically relevant content on Steemit.\n\nWell done on your post. Keep up the good work and follow us if you would like quality content posted under the #history tag resteemed to your feed.\n\n![quote-history-is-a-symphony-of-echoes-heard-and-unheard-it-is-a-poem-with-events-as-verses-charles-angoff-91-0-027.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQzw4MjiC4eCQDRqsmqQA5oCNENg2iVZuS6vSPximc9zi/quote-history-is-a-symphony-of-echoes-heard-and-unheard-it-is-a-poem-with-events-as-verses-charles-angoff-91-0-027.jpg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"archaeology\",\"history\"],\"users\":[\"symphonyofechoes\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmQzw4MjiC4eCQDRqsmqQA5oCNENg2iVZuS6vSPximc9zi/quote-history-is-a-symphony-of-echoes-heard-and-unheard-it-is-a-poem-with-events-as-verses-charles-angoff-91-0-027.jpg\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "28006a4c619450b9e378a61487fd919a9451bead",
  "block": 19528169,
  "trx_in_block": 42,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:34:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "ioannis",
      "parent_permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "author": "alihasnain3k",
      "permlink": "re-ioannis-discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death-20180202t213409357z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Beautifully written! You've just gained a new follower. Am looking forward to reading your future pieces :)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"archaeology\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "e94b45ba0314aa1858772ae633088d0102d055c8",
  "block": 19528127,
  "trx_in_block": 49,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:32:03",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "alihasnain3k",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "3a65f61f815e489220bf484650aefb2745f121cb",
  "block": 19527784,
  "trx_in_block": 42,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:14:48",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "coconut",
      "parent_permlink": "3-reasons-why-abortion-should-be-avoided",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "re-coconut-3-reasons-why-abortion-should-be-avoided-20180202t211449142z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Absolutely! I am with you @coconat. It is a crime from any perspective. Very good post.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"family\"],\"users\":[\"coconat\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0d785d4f75b25cb8bfa75fef51d953956b4af7e3",
  "block": 19527728,
  "trx_in_block": 28,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:12:00",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "geopolis",
      "parent_permlink": "re-stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands-20180201t132638",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "re-geopolis-re-stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands-20180201t132638-20180202t211200297z",
      "title": "",
      "body": "Thank you @geopolis.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\"],\"users\":[\"geopolis\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "de9545fda0937bbc246b0f76e720ddd3421688ce",
  "block": 19527713,
  "trx_in_block": 14,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:11:15",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "de9545fda0937bbc246b0f76e720ddd3421688ce",
  "block": 19527713,
  "trx_in_block": 14,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T21:11:15",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "archaeology",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "discovered-ancient-mexican-spiral-of-death",
      "title": "Discovered! Ancient Mexican Spiral of Death",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVvdymwnC3oSm6f6RtUEHZ96U6PsRREV59BmWB7aU1S4t/image.png)\n\nTen ancient skeletons have been unearthed in Mexico this week including a baby of around one-month-old! Ritualistically deformed, in that their skull shapes and teeth had been altered, they were arranged in a spiral shape with interlocking arms - confirming that they were buried in some sort of ancient death ritual. Estimated to be over 2,400-years old, this occult discovery is creating a typhoon of ideas in the archeological world.\n\nAccording to a BBC report, archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), who are excavating the grounds of the Pontifical University of Mexico (UPM) in the borough of Tlalpan in southern Mexico City, discovered the skeletons under a building that once served as “classrooms, chapel as well as dorm room for the priests.” Bone dating revealed the people once belonged to the Pre-Classical period in Mexico around 1600 BC, predating the rise of the Aztec Empire. The bodies had been “buried with cajetes and tecomates - earthenware bowls and pots of various sizes” and some of them grasped “stones or ceramic spheres,” according to the [BBC](http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141013-why-we-reshape-childrens-skulls).\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb5X9wEMKWfKWxGbKifHPh8Ef4Y8227MawuDkLAwicDff/image.png)\n(Area of the archaeological excavations in Tlalpan, Mexico City. (INAH/ [Youtube Screenshot](https://youtu.be/NHscDZwJNgE?t=51)))\n\n[Scientists Examiner](https://sciexaminer.com/news/science/spirally-arranged-ancient-human-skeletons-mexico-baffles-scientists-3801.html) revealed this week that archeologists at (INAH) believe this skeleton ritual might have been performed by “the hunters and gatherers that existed in the villages during the ancient time.” Furthermore, a researcher from the Pontifical University of Mexico, Jimena Rivera Escamilla, told Scientists Examiner that “the head part of one of the bodies is lying upon the chest part of another body, or the hands from one body have been placed upon the back of another and so on.” Escamilla interpreted this as “the circle of life that starts from a baby growing into a child followed by being an adult and ultimately the death of that particular individual again to start with the baby phase.”\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXKzSUJwyY424TQpFKvrF7r46gL7oqCFDCpuehjUKf9rh/image.png)\n(The bodies were arranged in a spiral with interlocking arms. (INAH/ [Youtube Screenshot](https://youtu.be/NHscDZwJNgE?t=206)))\n\nAs early as 1400 BC this part of the Valley of Mexico was populated and according to [Mexico News Daily](https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/remains-of-10-people-are-2400-years-old/) “this discovery is significant because It’s the first time archaeologists have found a grave containing such a large number of people, in this area.” The archaeologist who heads the INAH team said in a prepared statement “the discovery and ongoing excavation of the site could be of equal importance to the study of the pre-classical period in the Valley of Mexico as digs that were completed between 1960 and 1990 at sites including Tlatilco and Temamatla.” Adding to the unfolding mystery, researcher Escamilla said that her team has “found more than 20 graves at the UPM site, of which six contained the remains of a single person” and she explained that the graves were dug as perfect circles, with diameters of up to 2.3 meters” according to Mexico News Daily. So what are we to make of all these ancient spirals and circles?\n\nSpiral designs can be found across the ancient world and in South America they are among the Nazca Lines in the coastal desert of Peru, dating from 200 BC to 500 AD. Prehistoric spiral petroglyphs in Colombia have been discovered at altitudes of 3,200 meters above sea level and in 2006 the International Council on Monuments & Sites published Rock Art Of Latin America & The Caribbean which stated that “more than 1,400 petroglyphs (rock engravings) in Las Plazuelas, Guanajuato Mexico, dating 750-1200 AD, predominantly depict spirals.”\n\nThis is where archeologists take a step back! They know that any, and all efforts to interpret what a spiral grave of skeletons actually meant to the people who created it, are futile meanderings in one’s creative imagination! Many experts are convinced spirals represented water in Ancient Mexico, while others believe they are the circumpolar stars wheeling around the pole star. Others will tell you they generate, or contain, powerful Earth energies where a dryer expert might see them as simple references to swirling winds that affected hunting and fishing efforts.\n\nWhat the spiral grave burial meant to its designers, we might never know. But what we can take from this incredibly thought provoking discovery, is, reaffirmation that our forebears had developed not only a set of rich cosmological beliefs, but that they had managed to simplify them and express them in the most simple, mystical and natural of all symbols - the spiral. \n\nReferences:\n\"Rock Art of Latin America & The Caribbean\" June 2006. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.\n\n\nEnjoy more on [Ancient Origins](http://www.ancient-origins.net)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"archaeology\",\"history\",\"ancient\",\"mexico\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVvdymwnC3oSm6f6RtUEHZ96U6PsRREV59BmWB7aU1S4t/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmb5X9wEMKWfKWxGbKifHPh8Ef4Y8227MawuDkLAwicDff/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmXKzSUJwyY424TQpFKvrF7r46gL7oqCFDCpuehjUKf9rh/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141013-why-we-reshape-childrens-skulls\",\"https://youtu.be/NHscDZwJNgE?t=51\",\"https://sciexaminer.com/news/science/spirally-arranged-ancient-human-skeletons-mexico-baffles-scientists-3801.html\",\"https://youtu.be/NHscDZwJNgE?t=206\",\"https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/remains-of-10-people-are-2400-years-old/\",\"http://www.ancient-origins.net\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8015c8ee2d8e6084e1ce44aeefead15181f72e91",
  "block": 19516820,
  "trx_in_block": 54,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T12:05:27",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "sacred-mummified-arm-traverses-canada-on-a-holy-relic-road-show",
      "title": "Sacred Mummified Arm Traverses Canada on a Holy Relic Road Show",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png)\nA highly-venerated sacred arm and hand once belonging to St. Francis Xavier is being displayed on Canadian soil for the first time ever, and Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach says, “It’s a big deal.” Almost 100,000 Canadians are expected to view the relic during its national tour which was evident when thousands lined up outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Toronto two weeks ago to catch a mere glimpse. \n\n*The Legacy of St. Francis Xavier*\n\nKnown as the \"Apostle of Japan” Xavier is considered by historians like Giuseppe De Rosa as “one of the greatest Catholic missionaries since Saint Paul.” (2006).  Having visited Goa, India, South East Asia and Japan, Xavier died in 1552 in China and his body was returned to India. His corpse didn’t decompose like it should have and this perceived “incorruptibility” was taken by Catholic church officials as being symbolic of his holiness. Sixty years after Xavier’s death the church removed his forearm and hand and displayed them at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, where he was canonized in 1622. Never since have Catholic historians mentioned the words “Chinese” and “embalmers” in the same sentence, cynics might say.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png)\n(The limb has been touring Canada for a month. (Catholic Christian Outreach))\n\n*A Warm Welcome*\n\nBelievers, however, are ecstatic that Xavier has come to town, “I consider him one of my friends,\" said Brian Cordeiro, the associate finance director of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, reported CBC News Montreal, as the city prepared to receive the relic last weekend. Those of faith see the arrival of Xavier’s limb in Canada as a blinding act of compassion from Rome, while those of little faith would suggest all relics are, and always have been, a big money business! And they are not wrong! Get your calculator out for a second.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png)\n(Reliquary with the relic of St. Francis Xavier, at its usual home at the Church of the Gesù, Rome, Italy. ([Public Domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg)))\n\nBefore hitting the midpoint of the tour in Toronto, the relic had already been seen by over “20,000 people in five cities and towns” according to the Globe and Mail, and after three days in Toronto it moved westwards to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria before returning east to Montreal and finally its current appearance in Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral.\n\n“The entire tour will cost $200,000,” said Ms. Regnier, as reported by The Globe and Mail, and was uncertain how the tour would be funded but added faithfully, \"We're trusting that God will provide.\"\n\nWhen one considers the fuel, food and transport costs of every pilgrim getting to the relic then adds the hard cash donations, it’s a lot! Now, think about the number of people employed in transporting, safeguarding and insuring every step of the relic. It really is a big operation, but project Xavier is a sure winner, for the “art of relics”, as I like to call it, was mastered by the church over 800 years ago.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png)\n(St. Francis Xavier recovering his cross brought back by a crab. Chapel of St. Francis, Gesu, Rome. ([CC BY 2.5](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg)))\n\n*The Place of Pilgrimage in History*\n\nA Christian pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance to a place where the birth or death of founders or saints occurred and where a person’s beliefs and faith are expressed in the physical relics of these saints which are displayed. Since the 11th century Kings and farmers alike traveled vast distances to see these divine devices which they believed “gave blessings directly from God himself,” commented Coleman and Elsner (1995). We are told in The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm that holy relics attracted pilgrims to Palestine and Rome and the millions of “religious tourists needed to be fed, housed” bringing new economy into abbeys, churches, and towns en route.\n\n*Guardians and Profiteers*\n\nD’Arcy Murphy, a University of Ottawa student took the whole semester off school to become the Official Guardian of the Relic, which means he travels alongside it every day. Murphy says the experience has been “a real honor” reports CTV News Ottawa, but he has no idea that his role as “guardian of the sacred relic” is one from an industry with ancient origins. \n\nIn the middle ages, such noble volunteering of services certainly occurred. At the same time possessing, selling and guarding the bones of Christian martyrs caused a lucrative underground economy which supplied a growing demand for all things supernatural. Like with any big money trade, behind the theatrical presentation of relics, a highly-effective network of financial experts, logicians, transport specialists and insurance agents maximized the profits accumulated from their elaborate spiritual productions. One of histories most renowned relic traders was an 8th century Roman deacon named Deus-dona who along with his brothers Lunisus and Theodorus, ran a highly-profitable business raiding tombs along the “Via Appia and the Via Pinciana-Salaria and selling them to cathedrals beyond the Alps.” \n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png)\n(St-Francis-Xavier (artist not stated). ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg)))\n\n*The Real Deal*\n\nHowever, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of Xavier’s arm and hand and this is precisely why I think it’s so special. Unlike almost all other relics this one has a proven pedigree from the 16th century, therefore, for those who care little about God it is a monument to a brave and bold historical figure who walked further than Alexander the Great. And to those who do maintain a relationship with God, this relic provides a direct connection with divinity which was perfectly expressed by Peter Bisson, the provincial superior for the Jesuits in English Canada, who claimed the relic provides “physical contact with people who have given themselves over to God.”\n\n*References:*\nDe Rosa, Giuseppe (2006). Gesuiti (in Italian). Elledici. p. 148.\nColeman, Simon and John Elsner (1995), Pilgrimage: Past and Present in the World Religions. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.\nEkelund, Robert B., Tollison, Robert D., Gary M. Anderson, Gary M., Hebert, Robert F., and Davidson, Audrey B., Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm, Oxford University Press, 1996",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"canada\",\"archaeology\",\"church\",\"religion\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8c834eabc4003ca96872d8e748835bd92d1d9e9a",
  "block": 19516806,
  "trx_in_block": 10,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T12:04:45",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "sacred-mummified-arm-traverses-canada-on-a-holy-relic-road-show",
      "title": "Sacred Mummified Arm Traverses Canada on a Holy Relic Road Show",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png)\nA highly-venerated sacred arm and hand once belonging to St. Francis Xavier is being displayed on Canadian soil for the first time ever, and Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach says, “It’s a big deal.” Almost 100,000 Canadians are expected to view the relic during its national tour which was evident when thousands lined up outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Toronto two weeks ago to catch a mere glimpse. \n\n*The Legacy of St. Francis Xavier*\n\nKnown as the \"Apostle of Japan” Xavier is considered by historians like Giuseppe De Rosa as “one of the greatest Catholic missionaries since Saint Paul.” (2006).  Having visited Goa, India, South East Asia and Japan, Xavier died in 1552 in China and his body was returned to India. His corpse didn’t decompose like it should have and this perceived “incorruptibility” was taken by Catholic church officials as being symbolic of his holiness. Sixty years after Xavier’s death the church removed his forearm and hand and displayed them at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, where he was canonized in 1622. Never since have Catholic historians mentioned the words “Chinese” and “embalmers” in the same sentence, cynics might say.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png)\n(The limb has been touring Canada for a month. (Catholic Christian Outreach))\n\n*A Warm Welcome*\n\nBelievers, however, are ecstatic that Xavier has come to town, “I consider him one of my friends,\" said Brian Cordeiro, the associate finance director of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, reported CBC News Montreal, as the city prepared to receive the relic last weekend. Those of faith see the arrival of Xavier’s limb in Canada as a blinding act of compassion from Rome, while those of little faith would suggest all relics are, and always have been, a big money business! And they are not wrong! Get your calculator out for a second.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png)\n(Reliquary with the relic of St. Francis Xavier, at its usual home at the Church of the Gesù, Rome, Italy. ([Public Domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg)))\n\nBefore hitting the midpoint of the tour in Toronto, the relic had already been seen by over “20,000 people in five cities and towns” according to the Globe and Mail, and after three days in Toronto it moved westwards to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria before returning east to Montreal and finally its current appearance in Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral.\n\n“The entire tour will cost $200,000,” said Ms. Regnier, as reported by The Globe and Mail, and was uncertain how the tour would be funded but added faithfully, \"We're trusting that God will provide.\"\n\nWhen one considers the fuel, food and transport costs of every pilgrim getting to the relic then adds the hard cash donations, it’s a lot! Now, think about the number of people employed in transporting, safeguarding and insuring every step of the relic. It really is a big operation, but project Xavier is a sure winner, for the “art of relics”, as I like to call it, was mastered by the church over 800 years ago.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png)\n(St. Francis Xavier recovering his cross brought back by a crab. Chapel of St. Francis, Gesu, Rome. ([CC BY 2.5](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg)))\n\n*The Place of Pilgrimage in History*\n\nA Christian pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance to a place where the birth or death of founders or saints occurred and where a person’s beliefs and faith are expressed in the physical relics of these saints which are displayed. Since the 11th century Kings and farmers alike traveled vast distances to see these divine devices which they believed “gave blessings directly from God himself,” commented Coleman and Elsner (1995). We are told in The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm that holy relics attracted pilgrims to Palestine and Rome and the millions of “religious tourists needed to be fed, housed” bringing new economy into abbeys, churches, and towns en route.\n\n*Guardians and Profiteers*\n\nD’Arcy Murphy, a University of Ottawa student took the whole semester off school to become the Official Guardian of the Relic, which means he travels alongside it every day. Murphy says the experience has been “a real honor” reports CTV News Ottawa, but he has no idea that his role as “guardian of the sacred relic” is one from an industry with ancient origins. \n\nIn the middle ages, such noble volunteering of services certainly occurred. At the same time possessing, selling and guarding the bones of Christian martyrs caused a lucrative underground economy which supplied a growing demand for all things supernatural. Like with any big money trade, behind the theatrical presentation of relics, a highly-effective network of financial experts, logicians, transport specialists and insurance agents maximized the profits accumulated from their elaborate spiritual productions. One of histories most renowned relic traders was an 8th century Roman deacon named Deus-dona who along with his brothers Lunisus and Theodorus, ran a highly-profitable business raiding tombs along the “Via Appia and the Via Pinciana-Salaria and selling them to cathedrals beyond the Alps.” \n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png)\n(St-Francis-Xavier (artist not stated). ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg)))\n\n*The Real Deal*\n\nHowever, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of Xavier’s arm and hand and this is precisely why I think it’s so special. Unlike almost all other relics this one has a proven pedigree from the 16th century, therefore, for those who care little about God it is a monument to a brave and bold historical figure who walked further than Alexander the Great. And to those who do maintain a relationship with God, this relic provides a direct connection with divinity which was perfectly expressed by Peter Bisson, the provincial superior for the Jesuits in English Canada, who claimed the relic provides “physical contact with people who have given themselves over to God.”\n\n*References:*\nDe Rosa, Giuseppe (2006). Gesuiti (in Italian). Elledici. p. 148.\nColeman, Simon and John Elsner (1995), Pilgrimage: Past and Present in the World Religions. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.\nEkelund, Robert B., Tollison, Robert D., Gary M. Anderson, Gary M., Hebert, Robert F., and Davidson, Audrey B., Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm, Oxford University Press, 1996",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"canada\",\"archaeology\",\"church\",\"religion\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "5d3ffe936bb7faabf7dc70d7721875a6877a86b7",
  "block": 19516775,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T12:03:12",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "sacred-mummified-arm-traverses-canada-on-a-holy-relic-road-show",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "5d3ffe936bb7faabf7dc70d7721875a6877a86b7",
  "block": 19516775,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T12:03:12",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "history",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "sacred-mummified-arm-traverses-canada-on-a-holy-relic-road-show",
      "title": "Sacred Mummified Arm Traverses Canada on a Holy Relic Road Show",
      "body": "![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png)\nA highly-venerated sacred arm and hand once belonging to St. Francis Xavier is being displayed on Canadian soil for the first time ever, and Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach says, “It’s a big deal.” Almost 100,000 Canadians are expected to view the relic during its national tour which was evident when thousands lined up outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Toronto two weeks ago to catch a mere glimpse. \n\n*The Legacy of St. Francis Xavier*\n\nKnown as the \"Apostle of Japan” Xavier is considered by historians like Giuseppe De Rosa as “one of the greatest Catholic missionaries since Saint Paul.” (2006).  Having visited Goa, India, South East Asia and Japan, Xavier died in 1552 in China and his body was returned to India. His corpse didn’t decompose like it should have and this perceived “incorruptibility” was taken by Catholic church officials as being symbolic of his holiness. Sixty years after Xavier’s death the church removed his forearm and hand and displayed them at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, where he was canonized in 1622. Never since have Catholic historians mentioned the words “Chinese” and “embalmers” in the same sentence, cynics might say.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png)\n(The limb has been touring Canada for a month. (Catholic Christian Outreach))\n\n*A Warm Welcome*\n\nBelievers, however, are ecstatic that Xavier has come to town, “I consider him one of my friends,\" said Brian Cordeiro, the associate finance director of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, reported CBC News Montreal, as the city prepared to receive the relic last weekend. Those of faith see the arrival of Xavier’s limb in Canada as a blinding act of compassion from Rome, while those of little faith would suggest all relics are, and always have been, a big money business! And they are not wrong! Get your calculator out for a second.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png)\n(Reliquary with the relic of St. Francis Xavier, at its usual home at the Church of the Gesù, Rome, Italy. ([Public Domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg)))\n\nBefore hitting the midpoint of the tour in Toronto, the relic had already been seen by over “20,000 people in five cities and towns” according to the Globe and Mail, and after three days in Toronto it moved westwards to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria before returning east to Montreal and finally its current appearance in Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral.\n\n“The entire tour will cost $200,000,” said Ms. Regnier, as reported by The Globe and Mail, and was uncertain how the tour would be funded but added faithfully, \"We're trusting that God will provide.\"\n\nWhen one considers the fuel, food and transport costs of every pilgrim getting to the relic then adds the hard cash donations, it’s a lot! Now, think about the number of people employed in transporting, safeguarding and insuring every step of the relic. It really is a big operation, but project Xavier is a sure winner, for the “art of relics”, as I like to call it, was mastered by the church over 800 years ago.\n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png)\n(St. Francis Xavier recovering his cross brought back by a crab. Chapel of St. Francis, Gesu, Rome. ([CC BY 2.5](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg)))\n\n*The Place of Pilgrimage in History*\n\nA Christian pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance to a place where the birth or death of founders or saints occurred and where a person’s beliefs and faith are expressed in the physical relics of these saints which are displayed. Since the 11th century Kings and farmers alike traveled vast distances to see these divine devices which they believed “gave blessings directly from God himself,” commented Coleman and Elsner (1995). We are told in The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm that holy relics attracted pilgrims to Palestine and Rome and the millions of “religious tourists needed to be fed, housed” bringing new economy into abbeys, churches, and towns en route.\n\n*Guardians and Profiteers*\n\nD’Arcy Murphy, a University of Ottawa student took the whole semester off school to become the Official Guardian of the Relic, which means he travels alongside it every day. Murphy says the experience has been “a real honor” reports CTV News Ottawa, but he has no idea that his role as “guardian of the sacred relic” is one from an industry with ancient origins. \n\nIn the middle ages, such noble volunteering of services certainly occurred. At the same time possessing, selling and guarding the bones of Christian martyrs caused a lucrative underground economy which supplied a growing demand for all things supernatural. Like with any big money trade, behind the theatrical presentation of relics, a highly-effective network of financial experts, logicians, transport specialists and insurance agents maximized the profits accumulated from their elaborate spiritual productions. One of histories most renowned relic traders was an 8th century Roman deacon named Deus-dona who along with his brothers Lunisus and Theodorus, ran a highly-profitable business raiding tombs along the “Via Appia and the Via Pinciana-Salaria and selling them to cathedrals beyond the Alps.” \n\n![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png)\n(St-Francis-Xavier (artist not stated). ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg)))\n\n*The Real Deal*\n\nHowever, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of Xavier’s arm and hand and this is precisely why I think it’s so special. Unlike almost all other relics this one has a proven pedigree from the 16th century, therefore, for those who care little about God it is a monument to a brave and bold historical figure who walked further than Alexander the Great. And to those who do maintain a relationship with God, this relic provides a direct connection with divinity which was perfectly expressed by Peter Bisson, the provincial superior for the Jesuits in English Canada, who claimed the relic provides “physical contact with people who have given themselves over to God.”\n\n*References:*\nDe Rosa, Giuseppe (2006). Gesuiti (in Italian). Elledici. p. 148.\nColeman, Simon and John Elsner (1995), Pilgrimage: Past and Present in the World Religions. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.\nEkelund, Robert B., Tollison, Robert D., Gary M. Anderson, Gary M., Hebert, Robert F., and Davidson, Audrey B., Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm, Oxford University Press, 1996",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"history\",\"canada\",\"archaology\",\"church\",\"religion\"],\"image\":[\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVmNFSsimAHRhv7hEB3iGVdeVU2mDVYkTiDDmkLoeYRAX/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmechwbFrSqJedeQWHA5dLGSujr1T5XcbhDATP5txiebNP/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmT6wKzZ15atNt6yrsWTDUr5Lk8QnwFdsTgkgiCecrbwak/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmVKP3c9RTz9xRJnWqdJLJ2ZSPU3nS2nDdtYSR34WqVmgF/image.png\",\"https://steemitimages.com/DQmPGKJJuQngmUHH9q7azVg1JN6pN5EjGBeDMsxi9dtas5k/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltar_Francis_Xavier_Gesu.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APreaching_St_Francis_Xavier_Carlone_Gesu_Rome.jpg\",\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASt-Francis-Xavier-3.jpg\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "98a895ab3758ce2eadcae4b3bccba1f9e5604ca0",
  "block": 19515449,
  "trx_in_block": 48,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T10:56:45",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "ioannis"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"ioannis\",\"following\":\"geopolis\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0ebe05d030a5b2aca63eec491bd9c0b1963db6a1",
  "block": 19515442,
  "trx_in_block": 23,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-02T10:56:24",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ioannis",
      "author": "geopolis",
      "permlink": "re-stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands-20180201t132638",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ca3ede9dca64542802d1f4211791a4ccf2821514",
  "block": 19498913,
  "trx_in_block": 19,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T21:08:48",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "zija2022",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "506e595828e473bc21e83a2a23f0bc42b111800d",
  "block": 19498534,
  "trx_in_block": 13,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T20:49:48",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "bloom",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 5000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "3ea422c8619c2fc739e28add1febb6c5b2ce33c1",
  "block": 19496940,
  "trx_in_block": 56,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T19:29:57",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "spiry-btc",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 2500
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "f9fc77437041084e90b42523a6bdaa461c2a3ad2",
  "block": 19489706,
  "trx_in_block": 33,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T13:27:33",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "ausbitbank",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 100
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "2fa62cd72ce57cb1a9d4298675eddbb59a0890a4",
  "block": 19489695,
  "trx_in_block": 18,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T13:27:00",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "the-geekiest-one",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 1000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "14d0a341c08629026c033df29d5ce02dcd1624b3",
  "block": 19489695,
  "trx_in_block": 17,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T13:27:00",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "pratique007",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 1000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ae55b859a21c332b10324cfd455cba51a8507315",
  "block": 19489695,
  "trx_in_block": 16,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2018-02-01T13:27:00",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "samve",
      "author": "ioannis",
      "permlink": "stone-age-grave-of-a-mother-and-child-is-the-oldest-baby-burial-in-the-netherlands",
      "weight": 1000
    }
  ]
}