Discovered by Nazi Buddhist statue made of meteorite

1000 year-old ancient Buddhist statue, first recovered by a Nazi expedition in 1938. Discovered by Nazi Buddhist statue made of meteorite

Discovered by Nazi Buddhist statue made of meteorite
New Study reveals priceless thousand year old statue is in fact, first carving of a human on a meteorite. According to scientists, this 1000 year-old ancient Buddhist statue, first recovered by a Nazi expedition in 1938, is undoubtedly, carved from a meteorite. The findings, published in Meteorite and Planetary Science, reveal the priceless statue made of a rare ataxia class of meteorite. Known as the Iron Man, a thousand year-old ancient Buddhist statue weighs 10kg. Besides, it represents a stylistic hybrid between the Buddhist and pre-Buddhist Bon culture that portrays the god Vaisravana, the Buddhist King of the North, also known in Tibet as Jambhala.

The expedition, supported by Nazi SS Chief Heinrich Himmler, consisted of SS members. According to historians, Himmler believed that the origins of the Aryan race was in Tibet, and that encouraged him to support the expedition.

Noteworthy, the details of the expedition still remain unknown. However, it was particularly large swastika carved in the center of the figure, that encouraged the team to take it to Germany. So, once it arrived in Munich it became part of a private collection. And fortunately, it became available for study just before the following auction in 2007.

Meanwhile, since prehistoric times, multitudinous cultures interpreted the fall of meteorites as divine messages, and accordingly, worshiped and adored them as heavenly bodies. From stony meteorites carved birds and created other works of art. For example, in Inuit society produced jewelry and knifes of meteoric iron.