From History to Myth, and Back Again | Ahmad Al-Jallad | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

Why do myths of lost worlds, like Atlantis, fascinate us? Can there be a kernel of truth at their core? Many would love to believe so. Join Dr. Ahmad Al-Jallad as he guides us through ancient Arabian myth in the historic search for the legendary people of ʿĀd and their lost city of Iram. Recent archaeological and epigraphic discoveries bring us face to face with a civilization long thought to be stuff of fairytales. Ahmad Al-Jallad is a professor of ancient languages and cultures of Arabia and the Near East. He deciphers archaic texts to better understand a lost world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@T-19-]

Ahmad Al Jallad needs his own channel, his work is really unique.

[@manlike2323]

Prof jallad , absolutely the best historian on early Islam. What an honor to watch him speak everytime.

[@J1WE]

Not early Islam, Pre Islam..

[@stevesmith4901]

@@J1WE Actually Paleo-Arabic the language.

[@J1WE]

@@stevesmith4901 that as well but im using his words though. He says Pre-Islamic.. obviously arabic was existing before Islams inception though. And Paleo Arabic before that

[@stevesmith4901]

Find of the century is hidden on a barely viewed TEDx Talk on KZbin. Incredible!

[@hlechgar]

He is not a Prof , rather a Maestro

[@MF_Omar]

Prof Jallad is like a real life Indiana Jones.

[@qasematic2186]

Noooooo. Only 9 mins?!

[@zahifar3936]

But was this tribe Aad of minor importance in that time? If it was, why would this myth of giants that lived around the time of the mythical Noah be built around them?

[@stevesmith4901]

The myth is about the tribe of Ad, not about giants. The Arabs turned people of Ad into giants in the process of myth making. Makes a big difference in how you look at it. Also, it would make sense that Arabs would have a myth about earlier Arab people and cities, just like the Greeks had a myth about Troy.

[@BenM61]

Aad were a people who were in the land right after the time of Noah and before the people of Thamoud. We can say for sure Aad existed way before two thousand years ago. What Ahmad Aljallad was talking about could be a people who were in some way related to the people of Aad.

[@stevesmith4901]

Unlike you, Ahmad Al-Jallad provided actual archeological evidence for his claim. I bet your evidence is just some folk tale you read in a book of folk tales.

[@AJ-uw8hi]

Not convinced, how can you know if it’s the same ad

[@mx3126]

The name of the region also coincide. Not definitive since the names of the region and the clan are short. But, this make the conclusion reasonable.

[@everyzylrian]

Al Jallad answers this clearly in Al-Jallad, "The Epigraphy of the Tribe of ʿĀd"

[@stevesmith4901]

The same way we know the Tory of Turkey is the same Troy of Greek legends. Sufficient evidence points to it.

[@sk-pd8zw]

Just prove to to me that Moses even existed in ancient Egypt...nice try

[@tylerdordon99]

Absence of evidence isn't evidence for absence.

[@stevesmith4901]

How is Ad linked with Moses? Why would proof of Moses prove Ad of Iram?

[@santhiramorgan8329]

SORRY, you are jumping to conclusion without sufficient data.