A mysterious northern country from ancient Greek mythology, the second Atlantis, which is mentioned in many legends and tales. The history of Hyperborea is directly related to the idea of the past Golden Age of mankind - the time of immortal heroes, sorcerers and wizards.
The name of this arctic continent comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of the north wind, Boreas. Evidence of the existence of Hyperborea is already found in the ancient treatises of Hesiod, however, ancient historians described the origin of the northern people in different ways: either they were the descendants of the mythological titans, or the heirs of the legendary Athenian king Hyperborea. However, the undoubted fact from the life of the Hyperboreans, according to all authors, was the patronage of the god Apollo.
The god of arts often traveled to his beloved northern country, arriving there in a chariot driven by swans. In Hyperborea, Apollo preferred to spend time until his return to the city of Delphi, home of the famous Oracle. Apollo awarded his favorites Hyperboreans with extraordinary talents and abilities in art: their pastime actually consisted in dancing and merry festivities, in the incessant chanting of Apollo. Some authors point out that in the course of their turbulent life, the Hyperboreans managed to get so fed up with pleasures that they considered their death as deliverance from constant sybarism. Probably, the daily lifestyle of the Hyperboreans was completely subordinated to the service of the cult of Apollo. One of the most famous representatives of this mysterious people was the soothsayer and priest Abaris. He was a truly extraordinary person: he could do without food for a long time, and as a vehicle he actively used the magic arrow donated by Apollo, which could instantly deliver the passenger to the destination.
In general, Hyperborea seemed to the ancient Greeks as a fabulous, utopian country - this idea was inherited by subsequent seekers and admirers of Hyperborea. Thus, the ancient Roman historian Pliny wrote that “the luminaries there rises only once a year at the summer solstice, and sets only at the winter solstice. This country is all in the sun, with a favorable climate and devoid of any harmful wind. Homes for these residents are groves, forests; the cult of the gods is managed by individuals and all societies; there are no discords and no diseases of any kind."
The search for the mysterious country of Hyperborea has been actively interested in scientists and geographers since the early modern times. Thus, the famous Franciscan geographer Sebastian Munster and the Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator wrote about the existence of Hyperborea.
There are many versions about the location of Hyperborea. The ancient historian Herodotus spoke of the common roots of the Hyperboreans and the ancestors of the Scythians, Massagets, who inhabited the steppes of modern Kazakhstan. These lands in the view of Herodotus were practically the end of the earth. Further - only one-eyed giants and huge griffins, who guarded the innumerable gold reserves. At the end of the 19th century, a theory appeared that the Kola Peninsula could be a possible habitat for the Hyperboreans. By the way, let us note: the myth of the existence of a distant northern country among the ancient Greeks strikingly resembles the legends about the arctic ancestral home of the ancient Aryans, which are mentioned in the ancient Vedas.
Bulk pyramids on the Kola Peninsula.
During the 20th century, the version of the Kola Peninsula as a probable region of the Hyperborean habitat has become more and more popular. A unique place of power located in the east of the modern Murmansk region, although it is located beyond the Arctic Circle, but the local climate is relatively mild and temperate. Incidentally, gigantic rock paintings were discovered here, which depict mysterious aircraft and winged people.
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The perception of the myth about the mysterious country of Hyperborea at the beginning of the XXI century is very curious. In a strange way, this legendary country was transformed into the ancestral home of the ancient Slavic peoples. This happened largely with the light hand of the authors of the popular genre of Slavic fantasy novels today. So, thanks to the glorification of the past and the search for ancient roots, the formation of national self-identity takes place. True, this new "mythology" is less and less based on real archaeological facts and finds, and more and more serves as a source of speculation and false theories.