L. sent in a FAQ question. She asks,
What’s the coolest researchy thing you found for Magic Rises?
Abkhazia is full of interesting research material. They have a very cool mythological cycle with nahrty, the knights, who fight giants and dragons. But the coolest thing is probably the atsany.
Atsany are an ancient race of dwarfs – or hobbits – that was rumored to inhabit that region. They are supposed to have incredible strength and be small enough to ride on rabbits. Nobody knows where atsany went, but thousands of their houses remain.
From the back this might look just like a mossy rock.
But if you circle it…
These two images are of Volkonski Dolmen, and came from this site. This particular structure is dated roughly two thousand years before the common era.
You can see detailed images from one of these structures at this Russian photo site. The blocks of stone are enormously heavy and the structures are water tight. Atsany, despite their small size, were incredibly strong.
Atsany also were skilled herdsmen and left behind their fences where they had kept their goats.
Sigh – yet another “must visit” location on my lengthy list. Thanks for shring the coolness.
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Whoa! Surely those photos alone would get the imagination wheels spinning. If that hole in the front is a door, they must have had some serious stone carving skills.
wow, that is so cool! thanks so much for taking time to post this
That’s so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
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That is SO amazing! Thank you for sharing that with us!
I love how the steps up are worn smooth. At that size, my first thought was it was fairy-sized. But if they walked the steps smooth, then no wings. See, imagination going all over!
Wow
This planet is so full of magic places it boggles the mind! thank you for sharing and giving my imagination an interesting place to drift.
What she said. Thanks for the post.
Way cool & thanks for posting the pictures. These sites look so magical and wonderful & now can let my imagination run wild as to what made them.
Wow, that really makes you think. Thanks for sharing!
Is it just me or does this post get everybody excited about the first Hobbit movie as well?
I was until I read a review at salon.com now I’m a bit leary about seeing it. Peter Jackson is very creative and focused on his vision of The Hobbit, but Jackson”s version is inspired by Tolkein’s story not based on it. My boys are going tonight, but I’m going to wait and see.
These are amazing photos.
I heard the Hobbit movie is making people dizzy in the 2d and 3d version. I guess because of the way that they filmed it.
That is the most interesting thing I have heard all week.
This is why you’re my favorite author. I think it’s so cool how you merge so many mythologies into the Kate Daniels series. You two make these fantastic characters seem plausible. Ya’ll stories aren’t fictional tales but engaging historic chronicles. Like this is a true story but you make it seem so whimsical. i wuuuve ya’ll
Thanks. This world is a fascinating place, isn’t it?
I am feeling skeptical (that’s just the way I roll). It looks to me like the “people” in the last picture are action figures. (Yay Gordon!) I don’t mean to be a horrible person, but I don’t believe this… um, stuff.
I am totally keeping my folklore major now
I looked at the linked sites, with automatic translations from russian to English. The result was confusing, but comical. Here are some quotes from the 2nd linked website:
“Note the reddish color that distinguishes the original surface of the dolmen from the gray column, which can be seen in areas of mashed tourists.”
“On this side of the dolmen of the same gray color as the inside (see cleavage cover)”
LOL
WoW!!!
They seem awesome!!
I will enjoy how you use them in Kate’s story, I can already see it!
She or Kurran with the look “what the f*k?” (and Curran who thinks they aren’t even wort notice at first)
In the second link some pictures are moving.. are they for point out something?
So cool Thanks for the pic of yet wonderflu place of magic in our world to see.
That is so cool
It reminded me of the ‘Hobbit like’ Homo floresienses skeletons that were found on the Indonesian Island of Flores several years ago.
http://news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/news/2004/10/1027_041027_homo_floresiensis.html
…Forget the houses. Rabbit cavalry sounds AWESOME. First Longear Brigade, charge!
Now, that is cool. You find the neatest things to share with us. Thanks
Finding fascinating stuff like that can make study hobbit-forming.
Reading through the blog post I couldn’t tell if this was real or at the end you’d say “Just Kidding… but wouldn’t that be amazing!” Still can’t figure it out!
There are several houses made like that all over the world. I know that there are several in South America and even a few in the UK. I had a link to a site that showcased about 2 dozen of them but lost it.
could you give a link to a non Russian language site for the region? dont get too many results on google and the place looks incredible!
thank you!
Here is a wikipedia link to a couple of cities in the region. That should get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sochi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagra