There were giants in the past

Other View vs Mainstream View

There is a non-mainstream point of view that "There were giants in the past". Let's take a look into pros and cons of this statement:

1. Pros: Many ancient mythologies, such as Greek, Norse, and Hindu, feature giant beings like the Titans, Jötnar, and Daityas, which could suggest a shared cultural memory of giant-like creatures.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Mythological stories are not considered reliable evidence for the existence of giants, as they often serve symbolic or allegorical purposes rather than representing historical facts.

2. Pros: Some ancient texts, like the Hebrew Bible, mention the Nephilim, a race of giants born from the union of divine beings and humans.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Religious texts are open to interpretation and are not typically treated as scientific evidence.

3. Pros: Certain archaeological findings, such as unusually large bones or artifacts, have been interpreted by some as evidence of giants.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): These findings can often be explained by other factors, such as genetic disorders or the misidentification of animal bones.

4. Pros: Since dinosaurs, which were much larger than humans, existed in the past, it is plausible that giant humans could have also existed.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): While dinosaurs did exist, they were not humans or primates. The existence of large animals does not necessarily imply that giant humans could have existed, as human biology and evolution follow different patterns and constraints. The square-cube law also suggests that the anatomy and physiology of a giant human would be unsustainable, as the body's volume would increase faster than its surface area, leading to issues with strength, heat dissipation, and other vital functions.

5. Pros: Some fringe researchers claim that the remains of giants have been found in various parts of the world, such as the "Giant of Kandahar" in Afghanistan and the "Red-Haired Giants" in Nevada.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): These claims lack credible evidence and are not accepted by the scientific community. The alleged discoveries are often based on unverified reports, misinterpretations, or hoaxes.

Terms

• Mythology: A collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition, often featuring supernatural beings, heroes, and ancestral figures.

• Nephilim: A race of giants mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 6:1-4), said to be the offspring of "the sons of God" (often interpreted as fallen angels) and human women.

• Square-cube law: A mathematical principle stating that as an object increases in size, its volume grows faster than its surface area, which has implications for the physical limitations of living organisms. This law affects various aspects of biomechanics, including strength, surface area for heat dissipation, and the ratio of muscle cross-section to body mass.

• Fringe researchers: Investigators who explore topics that are considered unconventional, controversial, or unaccepted by mainstream academia, often related to pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, or alternative history.

Analogy

The belief in the existence of giants in the past is like believing in the existence of ancient advanced civilizations, such as Atlantis or Lemuria. While these ideas are popular in fiction and alternative history theories, there is no substantial scientific evidence to support their existence. Just as the legend of Atlantis is often attributed to Plato's allegorical dialogues, stories of giants in various cultures may serve symbolic or mythological purposes rather than representing historical realities.

History

1. Ancient times: Numerous cultures worldwide have myths and legends featuring giant beings, such as the Titans in Greek mythology, the Jötnar in Norse mythology, the Daityas in Hindu mythology, and the Nephilim in the Hebrew Bible. These stories often portray giants as primordial entities, ancestors, or adversaries of gods and heroes.

2. 19th century: The discovery of large bones in New York sparked interest in the possibility of ancient giants. In 1869, workers digging a well near Cardiff, New York, uncovered a 10-foot-tall (3 m) stone figure, which became known as the "Cardiff Giant". Although it was later revealed to be a hoax, it generated significant public interest and debate.

3. Early 20th century: In 1912, the Piltdown Man hoax involved the alleged discovery of a giant human skull and ape-like jawbone in Sussex, England. The remains were claimed to be a "missing link" between apes and humans. However, in 1953, the Piltdown Man was exposed as a forgery, consisting of a human skull combined with the lower jaw of an orangutan and the teeth of a chimpanzee.

4. Late 20th-early 21st century: Some fringe researchers and conspiracy theorists claim that the remains of giants have been found in various parts of the world. For example, the "Giant of Kandahar" allegedly discovered in Afghanistan in 2002, and the "Red-Haired Giants" supposedly found in a cave in Nevada in the early 1900s. However, these claims lack credible evidence and are not accepted by the scientific community.

Facts

• The tallest confirmed person in modern history was Robert Wadlow (1918-1940), who reached a height of 8 feet 11.1 inches (2.72 meters) due to a rare genetic condition called hyperplasia of the pituitary gland. His exceptional growth began in early childhood and continued throughout his life, causing various health issues.

• Gigantopithecus, the largest known primate, is estimated to have stood up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed up to 1,200 pounds (544 kg). This extinct genus of ape lived in Southeast Asia during the Pleistocene epoch, approximately 2 million to 300,000 years ago. Despite its impressive size, Gigantopithecus is not closely related to humans.

• In 2017, a study of ancient DNA from a 5,000-year-old skeleton found in Longshan, China, suggested that the man may have reached a height of 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters). While tall for his time and place, this individual would not be considered a giant by modern standards.

• The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is a spectacular natural rock formation consisting of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, some of which reach heights of up to 39 feet (12 meters). According to Irish legend, the causeway was built by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool) to cross the North Channel and face his Scottish rival, Benandonner.

• The sauropod dinosaurs, which included genera like Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, and Argentinosaurus, are the largest known land animals to have ever existed. Some species are estimated to have reached lengths of up to 130 feet (40 meters) and heights of up to 56 feet (17 meters). However, these enormous creatures were not humans or primates, and their existence does not support the idea of giant humans in the past.