Robert F. Marx

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Sir
Robert F. Marx
Bob Marx (left) with Israeli marine archaeologist Elisha Linder
Born(1936-12-08)December 8, 1936
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died4 July 2019(2019-07-04) (aged 82)
NationalityAmerican
Known forExcavation of Port Royal, Discovery of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, extensive writing about White gods
AwardsOrder of Isabella the Catholic
Scientific career
FieldsUnderwater archaeology

Maritime history

Naval history

Robert F. Marx (December 8, 1936 – July 4, 2019)

marine archaeologist. Over his career, he discovered over 5000 shipwrecks in over 60 countries[citation needed]. Although some accused him of treasure hunting, fellow avocational archeologist E. Lee Spence described Marx as the "true father of underwater archaeology".[2] Marx also helped write UNESCO
legislation regarding shipwrecks.

Marx wrote extensively about the concept of White gods. Marx came to the conclusion that White Gods "figure in almost every indigenous culture in the Americas".

Career

Marx was born on December 8, 1936, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.[3]

Marine Corps

In 1953, at the age of 17, Marx joined the

Vieques, Puerto Rico.[3]

Discoveries

Marx claimed to have discovered the USS Monitor.

He went on to make over 5,000 dives[4] and authored over 800 reports and articles and 59 books on history, archaeology, shipwrecks and exploration.[5] He was a founding member of the Council on Underwater Archaeology and of the Sea Research Society and served on the Society's Board of Advisors. Marx claimed to have discovered the USS Monitor. He said he had dived on the wreck and placed a Coke bottle with his name on it in one of the gun barrels, although he never provided any proof of his story.[6] In 1972 he participated in the creation of the research/professional degree of Doctor of Marine Histories.[7] In 1972, Marx discovered and salvaged the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, which wrecked off the coast of Grand Bahama in 1656. His expedition later became the subject of the network television documentary Treasure Galleon narrated by Rod Serling.[8]

Alleged discovery of Roman amphorae

Also when Marx went to

amphorae had been brought there by ship.[9] In 1985 Marx claimed that the Brazilian government covered up the amphorae, an allegation the government denied. A businessman named Americo Santarelli said that he had 16 amphora replicas made which he dropped in the bay to age them but had only recovered four. A year before this dispute the government charged Marx of contraband backing this claim with a catalogue of a 1983 Amsterdam auction where gold coins and other artefacts were offered for sale by Marx and his associates that had not been declared by Marx despite an agreement to do so. Several attempts to let Marx respond to this allegation were rebuffed, including Marx answering the phone saying "Don't call me".[10]

Recreated voyages

Marx recreated Columbus's voyage on a replica of the Niña.

In 1962, Marx organized and led a re-enactment of

Bahamas on Christmas Eve. According to Marx, "It’s likely the closest modern sailors had come to experiencing the conditions, the determination, and the incredible amount of luck that was needed to cross an ocean 500 years ago."[11] As a result of his endeavor, Marx was made a Knight-commander in the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the Spanish
government. In 1964 and 1969 he was the organizer and captain of two voyages of replica Viking ships from Europe to the Americas. He sought to demonstrate the possibility of pre-Columbian transatlantic contact.

Following his trip, Marx appeared as himself on the January 14, 1963 episode of the game show To Tell the Truth. He received three of four possible votes.[12]

Writings

Marx authored 59 books and over 900 articles. He was also the Adventure Editor of the

Explorer's Club.[15]

White gods

Marx wrote extensively about the concept of White gods. Marx came to the conclusion that White Gods "figure in almost every indigenous culture in the Americas."[16][17] A review by Jonathan Kirsch in the Los Angeles Times concluded that "Quest" was a good yarn, but Marx tried hard to dress it up as something slightly scandalous. In that sense, "Quest" was the archeological equivalent of Oliver Stone's JFK—Marx seeks to prove the existence of "great white gods" by offering us a haphazard collection of oddities, rumors and coincidences, but what's on display here is really nothing more than the passions and obsessions of a born showman."[18]

Marx argued that the Vikings created the Mayan civilisation, arguing that "Their kingdom was founded by a great eastern ruler named Votan. Votan was a white man who with his crew of tall, fair-haired, blue eyed men in dragon-prowed "serpent ships" brought the Mayan people across the sea and settled them in their new land." The problem is that the

Popul Vuh has no mention of a Votan. This claim originates in the mistaken translations by Diego de Landa who thought that Mayan glyphs were letters corresponding to the Roman alphabet.[19]

Personal life

Marx met his wife, Jenifer, during the excavation of

Indialantic, Florida with their three daughters. Together, they co-authored over 30 non-fiction
books.

Death

Marx died on July 4, 2019, at the age of 82.[20]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Robert Marx Obituary - Melbourne, FL". Legacy.com. Florida Today. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. ^ Spence's Guide to South Carolina : diving, 639 shipwrecks (1520-1813), saltwater sport fishing, recreational shrimping, crabbing, oystering, clamming, saltwater aquarium, 136 campgrounds, 281 boat landings by E. Lee Spence, (Nelson Southern Printing, Sullivan's Island, S.C.: Spence, ©1976)
  3. ^ a b "Robert F. Marx Obituary". Florida Today. July 10, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  4. ^ PlatinumPro 5000 Diver web site Archived 2007-11-11 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ RS Operations LLC web site Archived 2007-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ISBN 978-1-938467-11-0
    . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ Sea Research Society web site
  8. ^ "Robert F. Marx Obituary". Florida Today. July 10, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Walter (1982-10-10). "RIO ARTIFACTS MAY INDICATE ROMAN VISIT". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  10. ^ Simons, Marlise (25 June 1985). "UNDERWATER EXPLORING IS BANNED IN BRAZIL". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Recreating the Voyage of Christopher Columbus". 8 October 2018.
  12. ^ "To Tell the Truth". You Tube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. ^ "History's Mysteries (TV Series 1998–2011) - IMDb". IMDb.
  14. ^ "Robert Marx".
  15. ^ "Robert F. Marx Obituary". Florida Today. July 10, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  16. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 22 January 1992.
  17. ^ Robert Marx, In quest of the great white gods: contact between the Old and New World from the dawn of history, Crown, 1992
  18. ^ Kirsch, Jonathan (January 22, 1992). "BOOK REVIEW : Memoir Masquerades as History in 'Quest of Great White Gods'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  19. ^ Callahan, Tim (Winter 2008). "A new mythology: ancient astronauts, lost civilizations, and the new age paradigm". Skeptic Magazine. 13 (4).
  20. ^ "Robert F. Marx Obituary". Florida Today. July 10, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.

External links

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