There was a couple of things this week that caught my imagination – one was the wonderful confirmation that the minute primitive skeleton found in Flores, Indonesia known as Homo Florensienses is an entirely separate species of an man-like creature. Giving raise to the idea that many of the mythological creatures that exist in folklore and fairytale might have their genesis in actual fact and the early co-existence of Homo Sapian and his ‘human’ brothers. After all we know that Neanderthal man lived alongside Homo Sapien and human skeletons in Portugal have been found with Neanderthal traits leading to the probability that they interbred.
Much folklore has its genesis in fact and perhaps the next wondrous discovery will be a Giant skeleton, or perhaps remains of a Big-foot type of man-like creature – even a Cyclops. The Homo Florensienses is only about the size of a three-year old child and possibly related to the leprechaun. There is evidence that the early sightings of unicorns were in fact antelopes or rhinoceros, sea cows – mermaids, and that the notion of the centaur came from horse riding invaders witnessed by peoples who had never seen men riding horses.
It did make me think about seemingly never ending cycle of invasion and colonisation that we, homo sapiens embark upon – a trait of our species which, no doubt, lead to the alienation of our humanoid brothers (that and the accidental bringing of strange viruses). A theme that is carried through many great works of literature and one that is the premise of another great modern on-going epic – Star Trek.
Yes, I confess, I’ve grown up with the series (both of them) and even followed Enterprise – which initially took some adaptation to the nuts and bolt frontier design of the space ship and more hard edged testosterone-pumped Captain Archer. But the latest film is fantastic. Apart from the tight plot and unashamed homage to the original series – there’s a kind of furtive tribal pleasure in sitting in a huge auditorium being swept out to Space with your fellow Homo sapiens on a mission to save other galaxy dwellers from their inherent murderous tendencies and evil neighbours. Why doesn’t this ring true when I think of the poor old Homo Florensienses or the Neanderthal?
Please Note: I shall now be blogging
