Olmec (Jaredite) Empire
(Text by Duane R. Hurst © 2013)
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See Book of Mormon Map for Locations.
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OLMEC LINKS: Significant Event: Construction of Great Pyramid Records kept at Hill Shim Main Cities: La Venta; Monte Alban (aka Moron); San Lorenzo (aka Lib) Time: 2500-600 BC Language: Jaredite; Proto-Mixe; Proto-Zoquean Personage: Jared; Mahonri Moriancumer Religion: Olmec (Jaredite) Gods Related Country: Mexico |
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Brief History: I have included only a few items concerning the history of this empire. A good source for more details can be found on Wikipedia or in history books. ORIGIN: Current knowledge about this civilization is inaccurate and spotty speculation. The actual history of the "Olmecs" can be found in the Book of Ether. According to this record, Jared and his younger brother, Mahonri Moriancumer, led their followers from a home in ancient Mesopotamia to find a new location near the Pánuco River in Veracruz State, Mexico. Events at the Tower of Babel caused them to make the distant exodus via ships and barges. The people foolishly chose to live under a king, despite prior experience with a kleptocratic royalty. Jaredite history was a series of internecine warfare and regicide throughout a 2,000-year period. EXPANSION: Olmecs valued artifacts, a source of which was in the Motagua River Valley. An early center was located at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, famous for large stone heads, which were destroyed circa 950 BC. Around 900 BC, La Venta became a population center until its abandonment in 400 BC. Other important Olmec cities were located at Laguna de los Cerros and Tres Zapotes. Other centers of Jaredite culture were at Moron (modern Monte Alban), Lib (modern San Lorenzo) and Kooja (Moon halo) in Guatemala -- Mayans called it Takalik Abaj (Standing Stone). WAR OF DESTRUCTION: Circa 400 BC the eastern Olmec heartland became depopulated. The Book of Ether chronicled a war of destruction between rival kingdoms that terminated in battle at the Hill Ramah (aka Cumorah). After the war, a prophet named Ether hid the chronicle in the Hill Shim (modern Cerro la Malinche). The last surviving Jaredite king, Coriantumr, found refuge among the Mulekites prior to his death. Despite popular belief among some people today, it is evident that other groups lived north and south of Jaredite lands, and many others were not involved with the last war. Otherwise, The newly arrived Nephites and Lamanites could not have engaged in battles within a few years after Lehi's death. |
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© Page Publisher: Duane R. Hurst
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