Those readers who subscribe to National Geographic Magazine (as I do) have an excellent historical article to read in the November, 2011 issue. Its feature article is entitled “Magical Mystery Treasure,” and it details a massive hoard of ancient Saxon golden artifacts unearthed not long ago in Central England. It is totally consistent with information and sources I cite in my book series on the history and migrations of the ancient ten tribes of Israel.
Briefly, Genesis 21:12 prophesies the birthright seed of Abraham (which would eventually be the Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, Genesis 48) would be perpetually known by the name of Abraham’s son, Isaac. Just prior to the removal of the northern ten tribes of Israel into Asia, they were known as the “house of Isaac” (Amos 7:16), confirming Genesis 21:12’s prophecy was already then being fulfilled. After their removal into Asia, the ten tribes retained the name of Isaac, being called “Sacae” by the Greeks, “Saka” by the Persians, and “Saxons,” “Saxa” or “Saxones” by the Romans. The Greeks also called them Scythians (a name for them used by Paul in Colossians 3:11) while the Romans later called them by such names as Saxons, Germans, Goths, etc. Hosea 1:10 prophesied that the ten tribes would be immensely increased in population by God after their exile into Asia (a fact almost totally ignored by Christians) so their Asian descendants would have to be found among the large kingdoms and empires of Asia, not the little or insignificant ones. Indeed, Isaiah 14:2 prophesied the “house of Israel” (the ten tribes) would eventually become so powerful that they would later rule over the empires (Assyria, Babylon and Persia) that took or held them as captives. This was fulfilled by the mighty Parthian Empire, an Israelite empire which dominated south-central Asia for almost 500 years and sent the Wise Men/Magi that visited the young Christ-child. Josephus writes a great deal about the Parthians as do the Roman writers, but it is almost totally censored out of modern textbooks. Why? If much at all was written about Parthia in modern textbooks, Parthia’s Israelite origins could not be hidden, and the Bible would be validated.
Although Parthia dominated the region of Mesopotamia and Persia, other Israelite tribes migrated to the region north and east of the Black Sea and they were called Scythians or Sacae (a form of the name, Isaac). These Scythians were some of the most skilled goldsmiths in the ancient world, and their self-portrayals depict them as Germans, Goths and Saxons are portrayed in historical accounts. My book, Israel’s Lost Empires, discusses the Scythian Sacae in great detail. When the Parthian and Scythian tribes migrated into Europe, the Romans called them Germans, Goths, Saxons, etc. My book, Israel’s Tribes Today, cites a secular book, The Scythians, by Tamara Talbot Rice, which thoroughly documents that the Scythian art styles spread into and throughout Europe (including England) as the re-named Scythians (and Parthians) spread into Europe and formed the population bases for the modern European nations.
Now back to the gold hoard featured by the National Geographic article. The article itself is in the first link (below) and the photographs are in the second link. I was instantly struck when reading this article that the Saxon gold artifacts were strikingly Scythian in nature. Many of the artifacts exhibited clearly Scythian art themes and patterns. Indeed, some were so remarkably Scythian in nature that they look like they could have been unearthed from an Asian Scythian burial site. My books, Israel’s Lost Empires and Israel’s Tribes Today, both cite a book by Russian authors with extensive photographs of many Scythian gold artifacts. That book is Scythian Art, by Boris Piotrovsky with Ludmilla Galanina and Nonna Grach. Many of the gold artifacts in the Saxon gold hoard found in England practically duplicate the gold artwork patterns of the Asian Scythians, confirming the Saxons descended from the Asian Scythian Sacae and brought their artwork patterns into Europe and England with them.
The National Geographic article states that “barbarian tribes” (including the Germans and Saxons) “had been moving westward across Europe since the mid-third century and may have made raids on Britain around this time.” I document this same migrational path in my books from many secular sources, and this date is extremely important as the mid-3rd century is just after the time the Parthians and their related Scythian (Goth) tribes were driven out of Asia into Europe due to the fall of the massive Parthian Empire in the early third century AD (at the hands of the Sassanian Persians). The National Geographic article notes the Saxon artifacts found in England were made by a “master goldsmith,” and the Scythian Sacae were famous as being master goldsmiths. Gold being highly valuable, the Scythian tribes (called Saxons as they migrated into Europe) would surely have brought their gold hoards and goldsmithing skills with them.
The National Geographic article states the source of the Saxons gold hoard “is a mystery,” and opines it may have been originally Roman gold. It is my view that the source of this gold is hardly a mystery. It was fashioned and used by Saxons, who were the direct descendants of the Scythians who migrated out of Asia with much gold about three centuries before this gold hoard was buried in mid-England. The Saxon gold was almost certainly Scythian/Sacae gold brought out of Asia, especially since the gold artifacts exhibit clear Scythian/Sacae artwork patterns. The Saxon gold hoard consists almost exclusively of military objects so the article states the hoard likely “could represent the elite military gear that distinguished the retinue of a certain lord.” I concur with that conclusion. A tiny portion of the gold hoard exhibits Christian themes (one has Bible verses) so it is evident that there were some Christians among the Saxons of the 6th century AD. This is hardly surprising as there were many Christians among the Parthian/Scythian refugees who migrated into Europe after the fall of the massive Parthian Empire (which was essentially the Asian equal of the Roman Empire, as the Romans themselves concede).
This National Geographic article is recommended to all readers of this blog. It is entirely consistent with the content and conclusions of my books about the migrations, empires and modern locations of the ancient ten tribes of Israel. The entire 4-book set can be ordered via the books link of this website and you can read a large sample of each book by clicking on the link underneath each book’s cover photo). Those who wish to order the basic information included in the larger 4-book set can order my downloadable e-book, The “Lost” Ten Tribes of Israel…Found! for only $12.99 on the home page of my website. If you read these books, you will understand the Divine Hand of God that has always guided the destinies of nations and is still doing so today. You don’t have to “take it on faith.” You can prove it!
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/featurehub
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/11/gold-hoard/clark-photography
