Why is Jesus missing from the historical record? Jesus was an influential king (the King of the Jews) and probably the most famous monarch of the last two millennia, so why can we not find archaeological evidence for ... more abstractWhy is Jesus missing from the historical record? Jesus was an influential king (the King of the Jews) and probably the most famous monarch of the last two millennia, so why can we not find archaeological evidence for his life? The answer is that historians and theologians have been looking in the wrong location and era. Following 25 years of research, Ralph Ellis has discovered that Jesus was actually a prince of Edessa in northern Syria, who tried to become the king of Judaea. Not only does this minor monarch have a very similar life-history to the biblical Jesus, he also has the same names. But this novel identification would have been rejected by the Church, even if they had discovered it, because the wise pauper prince of peace was actually a wise warrior monarch. So if any Christian had the opportunity to meet their hero god-figure, King Jesus, they would dismiss him as an impostor.

New Testament and Christian Origins, Historical Jesus, Roman Judaea, and Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian History; International Relations and Diplomacy between Roman-Byzantine and Persian Empires

An exhibition has been touring the world, called 1001 Islamic Inventions. However, all of the inventions highlighted in this exhibition predate Islam, and some by many, many centuries. Most of them are Roman, and ther... more abstractAn exhibition has been touring the world, called 1001 Islamic Inventions. However, all of the inventions highlighted in this exhibition predate Islam, and some by many, many centuries. Most of them are Roman, and therefore often derived from ancient Greece and ancient Egypt. This short polemic is an attempt to put the record straight.

History of Science, Islamic History, and Ancient Greek History

The current situation in Iraq, with fundamentalist ISIS rebel fighters waging a ruthless and lightning war against the people of the region, is remarkably similar to the rapid expansion of the armies of Muhummad in th... more abstractThe current situation in Iraq, with fundamentalist ISIS rebel fighters waging a ruthless and lightning war against the people of the region, is remarkably similar to the rapid expansion of the armies of Muhummad in the 7th century. Like ISIS, the armies of Muhummad were extremely ruthless, with the Koran urging these fighters into carrying out beheadings, crucifixions, boilings, rape and the subjugation of entire populations. Indeed, with the imposition of the Jizya tax on these subjugated populations, for their 'protection', Islam had become and still is a giant protection racket. Based upon this historic precedent, this article seeks to follow the barbaric campaigns of Muhummad's armies, and superimpose those 7th century campaigns upon the future expansion of ISIS across the Middle and Near East. If ISIS does indeed follow in the footsteps of Muhummad's armies, the future of the Middle and Near East looks very bleak indeed.

Terrorism and Political Violence and Terrorism

Alexander the Great

Akhenaton, Garden of Eden, Nefertiti, and Historical Adam and Eve

Reformation Studies, Reformation Theology, and Political Violence and Terrorism

History of Astrology and Biblical Archaeology

Arthurian Studies, History of Astrology, and Biblical Archaeology