Could the Paintings be a Test?

Garethvk

MemberOvomorphMay 23, 2012945 Views13 Replies

I got to thinking about an episode of Babylon 5 where a probe comes near the station and informs them that is a high yield bomb, and gives them a series of very complex questions in science, math, physics, etc. It then says if you do not answer them I will detonate and destroy you and gives them a time limit. The questions are tough, and they have to call to Earth for answers, some are still in theoretical states but they get them answered before the deadline. Captain Sheridan refuses to send the answers and instead allows the time to expire. When it happens, the probe leaves. Playing a hunch, the captain sends the probe the answers when it has reached a safe distance where it then detonates. The idea was that this race sent the probe out with questions that if a race could answer them, they had become advanced enough to pose a threat to the builders of the probe. In Prometheus, could the paintings be a similar test? If you can figure it out, locate the planets, and the big step, get to us, then you have progressed to a point where you are now a threat to us and the grand plan, and as such you must be put in your place, but we will make the paintings seem inviting to give you incentive. Your thoughts.....

Xenomancer
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May 23, 2012

That's actually what I have been thinking all along

Cyberdeath
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May 23, 2012

Like an intelligence trap? what a neat idea, i've never heard of this. Some of the temple does seem like it's just set up and waiting for visitors.

Garethvk
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May 23, 2012

I keep thinking about the paintings, why would you put them up, obviously early man would not know the planets in question so they had to be directed to do so. If you do not want peoiple to come to you, then why would you put out a destination for people to aspire to. If it was a warning would it not be more overt or simply nothing at all? It does seem like a puzzle, if you can solve this, then you are a force to be considered with. In our world it is Nuclear Power in Star Trek it is Warp Drive. Once you get to those levels it is a sit up and take notice moment for you in the larger community.

sukkal
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May 23, 2012

Are you talking about the images on Earth, that Shaw and Holloway discover? OR, the images in the temple on the ceiling after they arrive? I just want to be sure.

Xenomancer
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May 23, 2012

but also why would a vastly superior race give a lesser one the chance to find them and tamper with their technology. Possibly harming them in return...why would they even take the risk? Perhaps arrogance. who knows? .....Ridley knows... OVER TWO WEEKS LEFT! AHHHHHHHHH!

Xenomancer
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May 23, 2012

Talking about the cave paintings

sukkal
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May 23, 2012

@Xenomancer— THX! Managing to decipher the "sign posts" could go a number of different ways in terms of interpretation on the side of the Engineers. One of the most interesting ideas to me is that of the Engineers creating humanity so that human civilization can grow to produce 10 billion people. We do all the work. They do nothing except to expend the energy to get here and back; how ever many times. The default idea is that they would come EAT us or some such, but they could just come and modify us into something useful; or 10,000 DIFFERENT species that are handy to have around. That might be via genetic "magic" or via psycho-social reengineering of our societies... Earth, even with all of our issues, is a much NICER planet than the one on which Prometheus lands. They might want to just come hang out for a few eons. 100 of them could come take an island somewhere for there own and have very little or nothing to do with humans. I don't see what they have to gain by simply destroying us. The logic eludes me...

MVMNT
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May 23, 2012

Great theory. This would also explain why they already have the huge saucer flying over the waterfall, they have done it once before. Maybe we catch it after they have just flattened the earth once before to start again. Hence the idea that if they are allowed to go back to Earth "we won't have a home to go back to"

Ruth
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May 23, 2012

Never thought about this, but that's a good idea.

Your not reading it right!!!
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May 23, 2012

LOL you saying they killed the dinosaurs MVMNT?

Fan
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May 23, 2012

Although this theme has been played out many times before, there may be a chance that we are going to witness a revision of the old "benevolent alien race learns of humanities horrors" and decides to eliminate us. In the abyss the alien race nearly decides to wipe us out because of our various atrocities. In the fifth element, leelu almost decides to let earth be destroyed for the same reason. Bad examples, I know.. It would stand to reason that maybe the engineers learn about us through our snooping around their temples and maybe learn of our history of violence and decide to rework the earth. We did see that shot with davids head torn off...maybe they realized he was a glorified computer and viewed his database and in turn learned some basics about us that lead them to believe we are dangerous. I am excited to find out whether or not the engineers are evil, good or neither. Even though they may have created humans on some level, they may not have the ability to understand us or our actions. This may lead to a conclusion on there part that is unfounded...ie we are ALL dangerous and must be cleansed.

ALL generalizations are WRONG!

Molecular
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May 23, 2012

Garethvk, this is a great post and my gut feeling is that you really hit upon something and got very close to the bullseye. There *is* something uneasy about both the Earth and temple painting, something much more deceptive than even that probe from Babylon 5. That's one of the best episodes of Babylon 5 that didn't tie into the core 5-year story arc, by the way. God, I miss that show. =(

Rubirosa
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May 24, 2012

I do not think that the paintings are a test. I think that the space jockeys ( the engineers) in the movie helped the human race evolve. They then before leaving let the humans know who there creaters, or gods were. That is were the different myths of gods coming down from heaven originate from. I do not think that they expected one of there many creations could evolve into a highly intelligent being. The space jockeys were almost cocky in doing this. I think that in the movie the space jockeys will be surprised to see how much the human race has evolved. But the evolution of the human race for the space jockeys has not been the way it should have been. I say this because I really think that the humans in the film are going to steal equipment, touch things that they are not supposed to touch, and be very nosey. This is a no no for the Space Jockeys. This shows signs of desrespect for other life forms, which can only lead to destruction. Also maybe, just maybe the space jockeys could feel threatened by the evolution of the human race so quickly. These are just some ideas.