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Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
The 'untouched' village of India: This Himalayan village has no roads, no outsiders, and a unique democratic system
Hidden high in the Himalayan peaks lies Malana, a village that feels more like a living legend than a typical mountain region with human settlements. There's a very famous story of ancient customs, mysterious origins, and a society that has resisted outside influence for centuries. This hidden gem has no proper roads and only a sense of forbidding privacy. This is one of the oldest places on Earth that houses an old and unique democratic system. Here, decisions are influenced by a local deity, directional wisdom prevails over modern politics, and their mother tongue is a language spoken by no one else in the world. Malana is not just about rolling hills or potent hash. Where is Malana located? This unique village is located in Himachal Pradesh's Parvati Valley, and spreads to around 2,652 m, which is accessible only by a steep four-hour trek from Jari. With around 1,700 inhabitants, the villagers are famously private, and outsiders aren't allowed to touch anything, and fines of ₹2,500–3,500 are imposed if rules are broken. What is famous about this 'untouched' village? What draws attention first is Malana Cream, a prized hashish known worldwide. Made through traditional hand-rubbing techniques, it's considered sacred by locals and legendary among cannabis users. But a closer look into the pages of history leads to many legends associated with this village, and it's governance is different from any other place in India. What are the legends and myths associated with it? Local lore claims Malanis descend from Alexander the Great's troops, who may have remained after his 326 BC battle with Porus, in Punjab, though genetic evidence suggests Indo-Aryan ancestry instead, according to East Coast Daily. Linguistically, the villagers speak Kanashi, a Sino-Tibetan tongue with no script, shared only within the community. An ancient democracy ruled by a spirit Malana is often called one of the world's oldest democracies. Its governance is bicameral, with a lower house called Kanishthang and an upper house known as Jayeshthang, but ultimate authority lies with Jamlu Devta, the village deity. A spiritually connected oracle or Gur, who relays his decisions. As explained on local council workings: 'Devta is the ultimate word and we have a set‑up of a council and three political figures … one of whom – the Gur, or the vessel who is possessed by Jamlu – communicates to us the decisions of Jamlu Devta,' said a local to A guarded society preserving purity According various reports available online, the Jamlu Devta-directed council had also banned overnight stays by outsiders to protect traditional culture. Strangers are allowed in during the day only, and all interactions are tightly regulated; this includes no shaking hands, no physical contact, no temple photography. Houses follow a multi-level design, with ground floors or Khudang for livestock, upper palaces or Gaying for storage and weaving. Marriage outside the village can result in social isolation. Language, lineage, and lifestyle are the tools through which identity is preserved and the community resists outside influence.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess
Researchers said the city had a "complex urban infrastructure" ANCIENT SECRETS Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A ONCE bustling city with multi-storey tower houses and a cobra goddess temple built 2,400 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists. The densely built city dates back to the 4th century BCE - and even used to have a thriving local economy and religious traditions, researchers said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient lost city Credit: University of Manchester 5 The city of Imet existed around 2,400 years ago Credit: Dr Nicky Nielsen et al 5 Scientists found artefacts to prove the groundbreaking city was a bustling hub Credit: University of Manchester Buried under modern day Tell el-Fara'in, Egypt, state-of-the-art technology has been used to uncover the ancient city of Imet. Boffins from the University of Manchester and the University of Sadat City in Cairo made the groundbreaking discovery in the African nation's Nile Delta. A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Nicky Nielsen excavated an array of extraordinary artefacts - which point to the location's booming economy and religious practice. The team said: "The University of Manchester is bringing the ancient Delta back one discovery at a time." They said locating the forgotten city of Imet allowed them to have a greater understanding of "daily life, spirituality, and urban planning in the Delta". The incredible city dates back to the Late Period in Egypt - the final era of Egyptian rule which was killed off by Alexander the Great's conquest. Archaeologists used remote sensing including high-resolution satellite imagery. They first detected ancient mudbricks, which led them to discover 'dense architectural remains'. These included multi-storey buildings with "exceptionally thick foundation walls". The team dubbed these "tower houses". Mystery as body of footless Roman with KNIFE in back found at ancient fort The 4th-century Egyptians are understood to have built them to accommodate their soaring population. Imet, as well as the Delta region, became an urban center, the scientists said following their breakthrough finding. Leading researcher Dr Nielsen said: "These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt. "Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely built city with a complex urban infrastructure." In another shocking revelation, the scientists also discovered a large building dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period - even older than the Late Period. This fascinating find meant that the city may have had even more ancient roots. The building, which is understood to be older than the rest of the city, had a limestone plaster floor and massive pilars. It was also built across a processional road that connected it to a temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, Wadjet, the cobra goddess. But it was abandoned around the mid-Ptolemaic era, sparking theories that religious beliefs may have changed at the time, the experts said. Archaeologists also uncovered a grain-processing area and animal pens - proof that Imet had a developed local economy and religious traditions. And they found artefacts which supported the idea that the Delta centre was once a thriving Ancient Egyptian community. Their most prized discoveries included a green faience ushabti from the 26th Dynasty, a stela of the god Harpocrates with protective iconography, and a bronze sistrum adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and joy. These finds have helped experts piece together one of Ancient Egypt's long-lost cities - shining new light on the empire's final days. 5 The scientists said the discovery will help them unearth more about the empire's final days Credit: University of Manchester
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess
A ONCE bustling city with multi-storey tower houses and a cobra goddess temple built 2,400 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists. The densely built city dates back to the 4th century BCE - and even used to have a thriving local economy and religious traditions, researchers said. Advertisement 5 Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient lost city Credit: University of Manchester 5 The city of Imet existed around 2,400 years ago Credit: Dr Nicky Nielsen et al 5 Scientists found artefacts to prove the groundbreaking city was a bustling hub Credit: University of Manchester Buried under modern day Tell el-Fara'in, Egypt, state-of-the-art technology has been used to uncover the ancient city of Imet. Boffins from the University of Manchester and the University of Sadat City in Cairo made the A team of The team said: "The University of Manchester is bringing the ancient Delta back Advertisement They said locating the The incredible city dates back to the Late Period in Egypt - the final era of Egyptian rule which was killed off by Alexander the Great's conquest. Archaeologists used remote sensing including high-resolution satellite imagery. They first Advertisement Most read in The US Sun These included multi-storey buildings with "exceptionally thick foundation walls". The team dubbed these "tower houses". Mystery as body of footless Roman with KNIFE in back found at ancient fort The 4th-century Egyptians are understood to have built them to accommodate their soaring population. Imet, as well as the Delta region, became an urban center, the scientists said following their breakthrough finding. Advertisement Leading researcher Dr Nielsen said: "These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt . "Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely built city with a complex urban infrastructure." In another shocking revelation, the scientists also discovered a large building dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period - even older than the Late Period. This fascinating find meant that the city may have had even more ancient roots. Advertisement The building, which is understood to be older than the rest of the city, had a limestone plaster floor and massive pilars. It was also built across a processional road that connected it to a temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, Wadjet, the cobra goddess. But it was abandoned around the mid-Ptolemaic era, sparking theories that religious beliefs may have changed at the time, the experts said. Archaeologists also uncovered a grain-processing area and animal pens - proof that Imet had a developed local economy and religious traditions. Advertisement And they found artefacts which supported the idea that the Delta centre was once a thriving Ancient Egyptian community. Read more on the Irish Sun Their most prized discoveries included a green faience ushabti from the 26 th Dynasty, a stela of the god Harpocrates with protective iconography, and a bronze sistrum adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and joy. These finds have helped experts piece together one of Ancient Egypt's long-lost cities - shining new light on the empire's final days. 5 The scientists said the discovery will help them unearth more about the empire's final days Credit: University of Manchester Advertisement 5 They found a range of stunning artefacts Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
National Geographic
27-06-2025
- Health
- National Geographic
Was Alexander the Great really poisoned? Science sheds new light on an age-old question.
The sick Alexander (Alessandro infermo), by Domenico Induno, 19th Century, oil on canvas. Alexander drinks from a cup to show his trust in the doctor who gave it to him and condemns Parmenione who told him he would be poisoned. This event was said to take place in 333 B.C., 10 years prior to Alexander's death. Photograph by Sergio Anelli / Mondadori Portfolio, Getty Images The young conqueror fell suddenly and fatally ill at an all-night feast. Now, a Stanford historian has found a potential culprit. In June 323 BCE, in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, the most powerful man in the world died. Just 13 days earlier, Alexander the Great—the greatest conqueror the world had seen—had been drinking at one of his many all-night banquets when he suddenly cried out in pain. He was sent to bed suffering from abdominal pain and a fever, and over the following days his condition deteriorated. He suffered from weakness, thirst, possible convulsion, pain, partial paralysis and dozed in and out of consciousness. Towards the end he slipped into a death-like state and was unable to speak or move. For six days after his death, the body of Alexander the Great showed no signs of decomposition. To the ancient Greeks it was a sign that Alexander was more god than man. To everyone else, for more than 2,000 years, the cause of his death and his body's preservation has been a mystery. Despite numerous theories, and a great deal of speculation, the death of the 32-year-old Alexander has been one of history's greatest cold cases. Fragment from the "Alexander Mosaic" showing Alexander the Great in battle against Persian King Darius III. (From a Roman copy of a Hellenistic painting.) Photograph by Universal History Archive, Getty Images Even in antiquity people debated the cause of Alexander's death. Some thought it was caused by illness or infection, but throughout the ages, many historians from Pliny to Voltaire suspected foul play. The conspiracy to murder Alexander, wrote Diodorus, 'was suppressed by the power of Alexander's successors.' Those who suspected poisoning even claimed to know the toxin at work: Roman intellectual Pausanias (2nd century CE) wrote of the 'lethal power' of the River Styx and added that he had heard it said that water from the Styx 'was the poison that killed Alexander.' Others, including Plutarch a biographer of Alexander, even claimed that it was Alexander's former teacher, the philosopher Aristotle, who provided the fatal dose. Apparently, Aristotle feared the man that Alexander had become. (Whatever else happened Aristotle is undeniably innocent—he was in Athens at the time of Alexander's death). (How suspicion and intrigue eroded Alexander the Great's empire) It is here that history appears to bleed into mythology. To moderns, the River Styx is best known from legends about the underworld. According to numerous ancient myths, the souls (or shades) of the deceased have to cross the River Styx on their way to Hades. But the Styx was not only a portal to the underworld, it was also a real place. Based on ancient accounts and modern investigation, the Styx has been securely identified as the Mavroneri (Black Water), a tributary of the Karathis River that empties into the Corinthian Gulf. Why would people think that the waters of the Styx were poisonous and that this poison was used to assassinate Alexander the Great? In a new article, published in Geoheritage, Adrienne Mayor, a renowned research scholar in Classics and History of Science at Stanford, decided to investigate. Bulgaria's cultural capital Many people in antiquity recognized the noxious properties of the River Styx. Plato refers to the 'fearful powers' of the Styx, the geographer Strabo described it as 'deadly water,' and the natural historian Pliny said that 'drinking [the water] causes immediate death.' The waters of the Styx were even thought to corrode metals and ceramic containers. As late as the 1860, when famed German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt commented on the Styx, he remarked that the stream has an 'evil reputation' among the 'present inhabitants' of the region. Even in the twentieth century locals avoided drinking from the stream and complained that it corrupted clay vessels. Poisonous waters were well known in antiquity—one mentioned in the Bible was used as part of a truth trial for potentially adulterous women—but this fact alone does not explain the Styx's dark and persistent reputation. (Were Alexander the Great and Hephaestion more than friends?) Mayor, a historian of ancient science, wanted to understand how the mythology of the Styx's waters had developed. She told National Geographic that the project was years in the making. As someone who has specialized in unearthing the genuine natural knowledge embedded in ancient legends, the project was something of a natural fit. Fifteen years ago, in 2010, Antoinette Hayes, a pharmaceutical toxicologist, told Mayor about the possibility of a toxic crust that forms on limestone, and a recent report on the mass death of an elk herd after eating toxic lichen that piqued Mayor's imagination. Together with the assistance of geologists, chemists, toxicologists and other scientists, Mayor began to investigate the possibility that in antiquity the Styx harbored naturally occurring toxins. In the resulting article and her forthcoming book Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore, Mayor argues that the limestone-lined pools of the Styx are 'ideal for harboring two extremely lethal natural substances, both only recently discovered by science: calicheamicin and toxic lichen.' (Alexander the Great's warrior mother wielded unprecedented power) Calicheamicin from limestone Calicheamicin is a crusty deposit that precipitates out of limestone, particularly in places where water drips, pools, and evaporates. As Mayor notes in her article, 'These are the conditions described by ancient observers of the rock-ringed pool by the Styx/Mavroneri waterfall. The water that flows through limestone is charged with calcium carbonate, which deposits hardened caliche crusts on rock surfaces, moss, and lichen' It can also form crusts on metal or clay (which might explain the myths about corroding vessels). A number of organisms are known to colonize the surface of caliche. Some, like algae, are comparatively harmless. Others, like cyanobacteria, are 'neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, and endotoxic at levels very dangerous to humans and animals.' In the 1980s a toxicologist collected a sample of caliche in Texas that led to the discovery of calicheamicin, a toxic substance that has been used to develop potent antibody-targeted chemotherapy but in its original form has a 'cellular lethality greater than that of ricin.' We cannot say for certain if it was present in antiquity at the limestone rimmed pool of the Styx. A great deal depends on the presence—in antiquity—of the proper nutrients and soil conditions for its growth. Depending on the dose, mortality from a substance like this would 'probably take days or weeks due to the toxic mechanisms of DNA destruction.' This process would ultimately have led to multiple organ failure. Because it dissolves in alcohol it would have been the perfect poison to slip into Alexander's drinking vessel at a banquet. (Alexander the Great had daddy issues) Oxalic acid from lichen Mayor also posits a second soil-based toxin that may have been collected from the limestone rock ledges and pools of the Styx. Many fungi, molds and lichens produce toxic mycotoxin. While the harmful effects of certain species of mushrooms have been well known for centuries, until relatively recently lichen were thought to be benign. A recent study noted by Mayor discovered that 'one in eight species of lichens contain…poisons [microcystins] that cause liver damage.' Because ancient people did not recognize lichen as distinct from host trees and rocks, they were not identifiable as a source of poisoning. If goats died at the River Styx, as the ancient geographer Pausanias says that they did, 'water,' writes Mayor, 'might be logically identified as the culprit, rather than the rocks on the banks.' The most common lichen forming fungi on limestone in this region, Mayor writes, are 'black meristematic aureobasidium-like and Penicillium-like species, which can be highly toxic when ingested by animals and humans.' The fact that lichenizing fungi produce a black patina on rocks recalls the use of the adjective 'black' in description of the Styx. These fungi also excrete toxic oxalic acid, which is highly corrosive. This, too, might explain the rumors that the waters of the Styx destroyed metal. Today, oxalic acid used to dissolve rust. The roots of a legend 'The results of ingesting [either of these] these substances,' Mayor says, 'would have been observed and remembered over generations.' Even if only a few animals and people died, the memory of the events would have added to the ancient lore surrounding a river already saturated with myths about the underworld. In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's death, says Mayor, 'I think it was reasonable for Alexander's companions to believe that he had been poisoned—many in his circle had motives and opportunities. And his detailed symptoms match those long associated with Styx water.' Mayor stressed that her study does not solve the debate over the death of Alexander the Great. For that, she noted, we need a time machine and a toxicological autopsy. The problem is ultimately unsolvable. Scientists could test the waters of the Styx/Mavroneri today for calicheamicin and lichen but their findings—whether positive or negative—would not tell us if these poisons were present in the stream in antiquity. What Mayor's study does explain is why people thought Alexander had ingested the waters of the Styx. Once members of his circle decided that Alexander had been poisoned, they identified the poison with the River Styx because, like Alexander, the River Styx was the stuff of legend. After the association was made, people began to narrate his death with this idea in mind.
Metro
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
This is where Keir Starmer will go if World War Three comes to London
In 335 BC, Alexander the Great burned the Greek city of Thebes to the ground, spreading destruction and devastation to send a firm message to the cityfolk who tried to revolt against him. One of the only buildings he left standing in the middle of the ruins was the home of a poet he admired, whose name was Pindar. If nuclear war was to break out today, and central London was flattened by several megatons of explosive force, the Prime Minister and top military figures would likely be sheltering in one of the few places left unaffected. It is also called Pindar. That evocative name demonstrates with chilling clarity the purpose of the Whitehall bunker, located deeper than the tunnels of the London Underground: it is meant to be the last place remaining when all around it is smoking rubble. Today, with Russia bearing down on the eastern border of Nato and Iran threatening to develop its nuclear technology without international oversight, concerns about World War Three are growing louder. Construction of Pindar began as the Cold War – perhaps the last time those fears were so prominent – was drawing to a close, with the aim of ensuring the government could continue in the event of armageddon. Much about Pindar is a closely guarded secret, but a few details were provided by then-armed forces minister Jeremy Hanley in the House of Commons two years after the facility opened in 1992. He said: 'The purpose of the Pindar joint operations centre is to provide the government with a protected crisis management facility.' The complex is 'manned by a permanent staff, which is augmented as necessary in times of crisis', he added, and includes allocated space for 'ministers, senior military and civilian personnel, plus service and civilian operational and support staff'. Situated deep below the Ministry of Defence HQ, just north of the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames, Pindar contains enough beds, toilets and food to keep its inhabitants alive for as long as may be necessary. It's thought the facility can be accessed directly from Downing Street and other government buildings via a system of tunnels. This is where Sir Keir Starmer would likely make his escape if he was at home in Number 10 when the unthinkable was to take place. Other than the staff who maintain the facility and run regular exercises, very few people have had the opportunity to see inside Pindar. One of them is David Moore, who was given access to take pictures for an art project between 2006 and 2007. His images show a green sign reading 'To Bomb Shelter Area' at the top of a nondescript flight of stairs; a 'decontamination suite' with a container of fuller's earth; a broadcast studio with a green screen; and a lectern where the PM might address what remains of the nation. Perhaps most alarmingly, given the events of the last two weeks, the pictures also include a large map of Iran – digitally altered before publication, to remove any information the military would rather keep hidden. David told Metro he made between 25 and 30 visits to the 'industrial' and 'slightly surreal' place over the course of six months. He said: 'Everyone sort of imagines this space. You know, we all know that spaces like this exist.' The photographer, now a principal lecturer at the University of Westminster, remembered the basement smelling of oil where generators were used to 'keep the place running independently is necessary'. There were also attempts to 'prettify' the bunker, he recalled, such as impressionist posters on the wall. Even if London was to face a Thebes-level event which laid waste to the Ministry of Defence building above it, the inhabitants of Pindar would be able to emerge at some point to survey the landscape. In 1994, Minister Hanley reassured MPs: 'A variety of routes exist which would enable the occupants to escape from the facility in the event that the building above it had collapsed.' But of course, even a state-of-the-art bunker equipped with enough supplies to last 'as long as is considered operationally necessary' couldn't possibly fit in everyone needed to keep the country running. More Trending So there are several other bunkers dotted around the country, largely at military bases in places such as Buckinghamshire and north-east London, to ensure the chain of command stays intact as far as possible. If it did end up breaking, officials may need to crack out the famous letters of last resort, which Starmer wrote shortly after getting the keys to Number 10. The four letters outline how the people in charge of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons should react if all communication is lost. They show that if London falls and even the house of Pindar no longer remains, there should always be another person with their finger on the button. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Samurai swordsman guilty of murdering schoolboy he nearly decapitated during rampage MORE: Emily Eavis insists 'everyone's welcome' at Glastonbury after Kneecap backlash MORE: Man chased around Tube station for his watch before attacker is pinned down
