The mythology and folklore of indigenous peoples is often attributed to legends and parables used in order to remember the elders and teach the younger generations moral lessons. But what about a tribe whose knowledge provides the exact location of astronomical bodies and phenomena that have not been discovered by modern science for hundreds of years?
The Dogons are a tribe, and they have known for centuries that their ancestors are descendants of a species from the Sirius star system, eight and a half light-years away.
Knowledge of the hidden star "Sirius B"
The Dogons inhabit the Bandiagara region of Mali, an area of upland nearly 160 kilometers long and up to 450 meters high. Taking advantage of this area for its natural protection, the tribe built their homes away from the cliffs during the 3rd century BC, and have remained there ever since. But it was not until the 1930s that French anthropologists discovered their surprisingly advanced astronomical knowledge despite maintaining a very primitive lifestyle.
The Sirius star map.
Although the Dogons live more than 3,200 kilometers from Egypt, they have a history that seems to have some intriguing connections to a famous ancient civilization. The Dogon are incredibly familiar with the system from where they say the aliens from the star Sirius traveled, passing on their knowledge hundreds of years ago. These creatures, known as "Nummos", were amphibious beings who came from the same star system as the Egyptian god "Isis".
While Sirius A is visible to the naked eye, its white dwarf companion, Sirius B, was not discovered until the 1950s with an advanced telescope. However, the Dogons were well aware of its presence, as well as its orbital period, and informed anthropologists of its existence even before it was confirmed by modern telescopes. The Dogons also claim that there is a third star in the Sirius system that has yet to be discovered, and gravitational observations may support their claim. Did spirit beings or ancient astronauts visit the Dogon?
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Carl Sagan weighed his opinion of the Dogon tribe and their supposed heavenly knowledge, denying the idea that it could have come from otherworldly beings. The Dogons knew about the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as about its rings, but Sagan said that their ignorance of any other planets in our solar system indicates that they are only repeating some fragments of the knowledge they received when interacting with by French anthropologists. However, Sagan's cursory analysis of the Dogons did not address the fact that their knowledge of the Sirius star system was represented in 400-year-old artifacts, and he did not acknowledge their understanding of subatomic particles and their theory of creating a universe that was similar to the Big Bang.
The Dogon were also well aware of our location within the Milky Way galaxy and knew about the location of Sirius B, an incredibly dense and dying star. This curiosity also led them to further discoveries in the field of human anatomy, long before Western discoveries were made.
So, who were these Sirius stars that this mysterious tribe met more than 600 years ago? The Dogon call them "Nummos" or "Nommos" - creatures that were mostly aquatic, but were also mobile on land. They only appeared in a small community of the "Dogon" tribe, because extensive contact with people would negatively affect their well-being. According to some accounts, the Dogons speak of Nummos as non-physical.
Dogon statues.
Every 60 years, when Sirius appears between two mountain peaks, marking a cycle in its orbit, the Dogon celebrate a festival called Sigui. On the eve of the holiday, young men of the tribe isolate themselves from the rest of the group for several months. At this time, they speak a secret language. Sigui itself can last for a long period of time; the most recent celebration lasted six years. During these celebrations, the knowledge of the "Dogon" is passed on to future generations, but there is supposedly secret information about their knowledge that has not yet left the tribe.
Strange connections with other civilizations
Amphibians - godlike creatures, appeared in other ancient cultures, outside the "Dogon". Ancient civilizations from Babylonia to Greece and even Slavic peoples depicted aquatic creatures in their mythology. One interesting connection that some associate with the Dogons is the Dogu connection with Japan. Alternative theories point to "dogu" statues, whose name is similar to "Dogon", which resemble an astronaut or a creature in a spacesuit.
Japanese statues "dogu".
It is believed that the "dogu" arrived on flying ships, bringing the Japanese writing and many aspects of civilization. Interestingly, in ancient Mesopotamian traditions, there is a deity known as "Dagon" or "Dagan", depicted as a water or fish god - this image can also be seen in the Hebrew Bible.
But the Dogon's connection to Egypt is the most intriguing argument in their defense against criticism from Sagan and the pragmatists. The language the Dogons use to describe the Sirius star system is composed of ancient Egyptian words that have not been used for centuries. Other similarities between the two cultures can be seen in the way they organized their civilizations, such as the creation of the upper and lower kingdoms and the 360-day calendar. The Dogons still do not have a written language, and continue to pass on their history to select members of the tribe - by word of mouth.