Netflix’s Ancient Apocalypse controversy and Deucalion’s flood
The Netflix series Ancient Apocalypse, hosted by journalist and author Graham Hancock, presents a controversial take on the possibility of advanced prehistoric civilizations that existed before recorded history and were wiped out by a cataclysmic flood. Hancock, who is known for his alternative archaeology theories, explores ancient sites around the world in this series, proposing that human civilization may have a more complex and forgotten history than mainstream archaeology suggests. He speculates that these lost civilizations were destroyed by a global flood around 12,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the last Ice Age.
Hancock’s ideas in Ancient Apocalypse are based on his long-standing belief that a sophisticated, ancient society once existed and influenced early human culture and technology. He suggests that these civilizations left architectural and mythological legacies that can still be seen in ancient structures, oral histories, and myths worldwide. Hancock takes viewers to notable ancient sites around the world which he claims could be remnants or markers of this lost culture.
Why Ancient Apocalypse is Controversial
The controversy surrounding Ancient Apocalypse largely stems from its challenge to established scientific and archaeological theories about human history and prehistory. Archaeologists generally argue that human civilization began with the development of agriculture around 10,000 BCE and that complex societies only started to emerge later, with Mesopotamia being the cradle of civilization. Hancock’s theories, which suggest an advanced prehistoric civilization that predates these developments, are seen as pseudoscientific by many experts. They argue that there is a lack of empirical evidence to support his claims and that Ancient Apocalypse might mislead viewers into believing unproven or speculative ideas.
Another point of contention is that Hancock often attributes advanced structures and knowledge to an ancient, sophisticated society without providing concrete evidence of its existence. His interpretations are frequently based on circumstantial evidence, such as similarities in architectural styles and myths across cultures, rather than direct archaeological findings. This leads to criticisms from archaeologists, who argue that Hancock’s methods and conclusions lack rigor and do not adhere to accepted scientific standards. As a result, the series has been criticized for promoting “pseudo-archaeology” and undermining the credibility of academic archaeological research.
Additionally, Hancock’s ideas have sometimes been linked to cultural appropriation, as he occasionally suggests that indigenous cultures may not have been capable of creating their own monumental structures or technologies. Critics argue that his theories risk diminishing the accomplishments of ancient societies by attributing them to an unknown “lost civilization” rather than recognizing the ingenuity of the people themselves. This approach is seen as potentially dismissive of indigenous knowledge systems and achievements.
Despite these criticisms, Ancient Apocalypse has resonated with a significant audience, who are intrigued by the idea of a forgotten chapter in human history. Hancock’s storytelling, combined with stunning visuals of ancient sites, has captivated viewers who are open to alternative narratives about the past. The show’s popularity underscores a public fascination with unsolved mysteries and the potential for hidden knowledge from ancient times.
The Theory of a Cataclysmic Flood in Ancient Apocalypse
One of the core theories presented in Ancient Apocalypse is that an ancient cataclysm—likely a flood—wiped out this lost civilization. Hancock points to the sudden melting of glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age, around 12,000 years ago, as a potential cause of massive flooding worldwide. This event, known scientifically as the Younger Dryas, was a period of sudden cooling followed by rapid warming, likely caused by large-scale glacial melt. According to Hancock, this event could have triggered widespread flooding that devastated human populations and erased nearly all evidence of these supposed ancient civilizations.
Hancock also references ancient myths from various cultures to support his theory. Many mythologies, from the story of Noah’s Ark in the Bible to the flood myth of Deucalion and Pyrrha in Greek mythology, tell of a great flood that wiped out humanity. Hancock suggests that these stories may reflect a historical memory of an actual event, passed down through oral tradition over thousands of years. In this view, ancient flood myths are not just allegories but possible accounts of real cataclysmic events that shaped early human history.
Hancock’s theory challenges mainstream views that categorize these myths as either allegorical or as isolated responses to local flooding events. Instead, he posits that the consistent themes across different flood myths worldwide could imply that they share a common origin in a global catastrophe.
Linking the Theory to the Greek Flood Myth of Deucalion
One of the most well-known flood myths in Western mythology is the Greek story of Deucalion and Pyrrha. According to the myth, the gods decided to destroy humanity because of its wickedness, much like in the story of Noah’s Ark. Zeus, the king of the gods, sent a flood to cleanse the earth, but he allowed Deucalion and his wife, Pyrrha, to survive by warning them in advance. The couple built a boat, survived the deluge, and eventually repopulated the world by casting stones over their shoulders, which transformed into men and women.
The Greek flood myth is remarkably similar to other flood narratives, especially those found in the Near East. For instance, the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh contains a flood story with striking parallels to the Greek myth, involving a righteous man named Utnapishtim who survives a flood sent by the gods. Scholars generally interpret these similarities as evidence of cultural diffusion rather than a shared historical event. However, Hancock’s theory suggests that these myths may not only be products of cultural exchange but could instead be historical accounts of a shared, ancient catastrophe remembered by different cultures.
Hancock argues that it is more than a coincidence that a flood myth is told by so many different cultures worldwide. Such similar stories worldwide might originate from a collective human memory of an actual flood event, preserved through generations as oral tradition and myth. He posits that the end of the last Ice Age, with its dramatic environmental changes, would have left a deep impact on early human societies, possibly giving rise to these flood legends. If this hypothesis holds, then the flood myths such as Deucalion could be a symbolic record of an ancient, forgotten civilization’s demise—just as Ancient Apocalypse suggests for many other mythologies worldwide. Note that while Graham Hancock mentions many flood myths around the world in his show, he actually never mentions the Greek version of Deucalion’s flood in the show. We bring it up to make you notice another culture that also tells that story.
Could There Be Some Truth to the Ancient Flood Theory?
The idea of an ancient flood as presented in Ancient Apocalypse is not entirely implausible. The end of the last Ice Age did indeed see rising sea levels and significant flooding due to melting glaciers. Known as the Younger Dryas period, this epoch brought abrupt climate changes that could have led to dramatic shifts in the environment, forcing prehistoric humans to adapt or migrate. This period may well have influenced the creation of flood myths as ancient people tried to explain the overwhelming forces of nature they experienced.
Some archaeologists and geologists acknowledge that certain flood myths might indeed reflect real events, though on a smaller, regional scale. For instance, the Black Sea deluge hypothesis suggests that a massive flooding event in the Black Sea region around 5600 BCE could have inspired various flood legends in the Near East. This hypothesis, while not universally accepted, has opened discussions about how local or regional flood events might have influenced mythological narratives.
However, critics of Hancock’s theory argue that there is no concrete evidence for a global flood on the scale he describes, especially not one that would have erased entire civilizations. Archaeological records, such as sediment layers, artifacts, and structures, do not indicate a sudden and complete destruction of any advanced civilization by a flood. Instead, they show gradual developments in human society that align with the mainstream archaeological view of early agricultural societies and the gradual rise of complex civilizations.
Furthermore, scientists point out that the end of the last Ice Age, while associated with climate changes and rising sea levels, would have primarily affected coastal regions rather than causing a worldwide inundation. Hancock’s theory, while intriguing, relies heavily on circumstantial evidence rather than definitive proof, making it difficult to substantiate his claims of a global flood that destroyed an advanced civilization.
Despite these limitations, Ancient Apocalypse has sparked renewed interest in exploring ancient history from new perspectives. While it may not provide conclusive evidence for its theories, the series has opened discussions on the role of myth, memory, and environmental change in shaping human culture. In that sense, the show taps into a broader fascination with human origins and the possibility that there are still hidden layers to our collective past. Whether or not one accepts Hancock’s theories, Ancient Apocalypse highlights the importance of questioning and exploring historical narratives, even if mainstream academia does not fully endorse these views.
Ancient Apocalypse is a provocative series that challenges conventional understandings of human history by proposing the existence of a forgotten civilization destroyed by a global flood. By linking this idea to global flood myths, Hancock suggests that these ancient myths may hold hidden truths about humanity’s past. While the series remains controversial, it invites viewers to consider the possibility of ancient cataclysms and their impact on early human societies. Whether or not such theories are ultimately proven, Ancient Apocalypse serves as a reminder of the enduring mystery of human history and the potential for ancient myths to preserve echoes of a distant, forgotten world.
For more info on these topics, you can visit Graham Hancock’s website, or the official Netflix page of the show.
Discover more from Hellenic Moon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
