[rapjr9]

Seems like the author is neglecting the possibility of human intervention. The priests and priestesses may have found a way to collect ethylene gas from the stream and released it intentionally at the right time. A trade secret so to speak. Hidden secrets in religion are not uncommon.

[pbhjpbhj]

> Hidden secrets in religion are not uncommon. //

It's not clear what you mean here, could you give some examples?

[coeneedell]

Not the person you replied to of course, but when I saw this the concept of mystery religions comes to mind for me. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_mysteries They were even widespread in the same region at the same time.

[rapjr9]

I was referring to "hidden knowledge", see Wikipedia's entry on "esotericism":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_esotericism#Esotericis...