Episode Details

Join Bernie Taylor, naturalist, archaeo-astronomer, and author of Before Orion: Finding the Face of the Hero, as we explore cave and rock art that could predate the Orion cult, the Sphinx, and even established myth frameworks. Taylor argues that Paleolithic cave paintings—some more than 40,000 years old—encode the monomyth of the “Cosmic Man” and foundational human narratives, representing a shared biological timekeeping system across early cultures.

We interpret his analysis of sites like the El Castillo Gallery of Discs and Gorham’s Cave, decoding lunar-symbol syntax, animistic calendars, and primal pareidolia that may explain recurring mythic figures such as hunters, bird-people, and the hero’s face itself. We critically assess how these symbols might have informed later mythologies, Sphinx imagery, and astronomical observation—long before Orion was widely recognized.

This episode contrasts Taylor’s archeological and mythological decoding with mainstream archaeological consensus, clarifying where interpretation becomes speculation. We discuss whether these cave paintings represent early astronomical attempts, social law codification, or embryonic spiritual systems—and ask: is the origin of the Sphinx narrative external projection, psychological projection, or cross-cultural memory encoded in rock?