THE GREAT GOD OF SEFAR: THE SAHARA’S “MARTIAN GOD”
THE GREAT GOD OF SEFAR: THE SAHARA’S “MARTIAN GOD” Tassili n’Ajjer and the Enigma of the Mysterious Round Head Figures Roughly 8,000 to 10,000 years ago—when the modern-day Sahara was a lush expanse of savannas, rivers, lakes, and abundant wildlife—prehistoric communities left some of the most bewildering imagery in human history across the rock walls of Tassili n’Ajjer. Among these works stands a colossal anthropomorphic figure known today as the “Great God of Sefar.” Decades later, a daring interpretation transformed this single painting into one of the central icons of ancient astronaut lore. But where did the name “Martian God” actually come from? Who created this image? Was it a deity, a spirit, a masked shaman—or are we looking at something we still don't fully understand? Sorting out the answer requires carefully disentangling archaeology, research history, comparative religion, and speculation. The name itself carries a fascinating history: “Great God of Sefar” is a modern ...