User:Avatartar20/Nephilim

Nephilim (Hebrew: meaning “bully, tyrant, giant”) is a Hebrew word that was used in second century BCE Jewish writings to describe the offspring of certain angels. The concept can be found in the creation stories of the Hebrew Bible and the Books of Enoch. In Genesis 6:1-4 they were the offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Great Deluge.

Ancient aliens
The Ancient Aliens hypothesis speculates that Earth was once visited by extraterrestrials. Based on Mesopotamian and Semitic stories, like that of the nephilim, Ancient Alien supporters promote the idea that hybrid humans were bred by extraterrestrials who mated with human women.

The earliest known pantheon in recorded human history are the Anunna (Anunnaki) who are said to have helped mankind become civilized, and thus develop the civilization of Sumer. Supporters of the Ancient aliens hypothesis, such as Zecharia Sitchin, point to the Anunnaki as the extraterrestrials who came to Earth and who became the root of all known mythologies (ie. Hindu, Egyptian, Jewish).

Historicity
According to 2nd century BCE Jewish writings, a notable characteristic of nephilim was that they were described as giants, hence the meaning of the word. Enthusiasts, such as L. A. Marzulli, attempt to connect the dots in folklore from other cultures regarding giants.

One of the most famous Native American tales of giants is in Paiute myth, regarding the legendary tribe of the Si-Te-Cah, whose mummified remains were allegedly discovered by miners in a cave known as "Lovelock cave" in Lovelock, Nevada, United States. Although the cave had been extracted since 1911, it was not until 1912, when the miners notified the authorities. An archaeological excavation continued to produce 10,000 artifacts. "Si-Te-Cah" literally means "eaters of tulle" in the language of the Paiute Indians. Tulle is a fibrous water plant. In order to distance themselves from the Paiute, the Si-Te-CAHS have lived on rafts made of tulle in lago. According to the Paiute, the Si-Te-Cah were a hostile tribe that practiced cannibalism. The Si-Te-Cah and Paiute rivaled until the giants were annihilated.

Such Native American myths from North to South America can be attributed to oral traditions passed down from as early as what the Bearing Straight hypothesis indicates, where ancestors of Native Americans migrated from Asia and were likely influenced by the stories of giants in Mesopotamian mythology. However, there has been little to no substantial proof, for the general populous, that giant human remains exist, nor have any trace amounts of extraterrestrial DNA been produced. Excavations of said and unsaid giant human remains are clouded in conspiracy theory.

Anunna mythology
The Anunna (Anunnaki) were often represented as giants themselves in Mesopotamian mythology which heavily influenced the Egyptian Ennead and later Greek mythologies.

Popular culture

 * Nephilim is a living Relic in the Senki Zesshou Symphogear universe.
 * Aliens known as Nephilim are the primary antagonists of the 2011 film Alien Armageddon.
 * In Babylon 5, Nephilim is the name given to the Vorlons' genetic experiments created with the intent of developing viable humanoid telepaths.

Resources

 * UFO-Alien database, Nephilim
 * Exopolitics, Anunna