Methuselah (disambiguation) facts for kids

Methuselah is a famous name from the Bible. He was known for living an incredibly long time, making him a symbol of old age.

Because of this, the name Methuselah is often used for other things that are very old or live for a long time.

Who Was the Biblical Methuselah?

Methuselah is a character mentioned in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. He was the grandfather of Noah, who built the Ark. The Bible says Methuselah lived for 969 years, which is the longest lifespan recorded in the Bible. This is why his name is now used to describe anything that is very old.

Methuselah in Science and Nature

Ancient Stars and Planets

• Methuselah Star: This is the nickname for a star called HD 140283. Scientists believe it is one of the oldest stars ever discovered, possibly around 14 billion years old! It's like a cosmic grandparent.
• Methuselah Planet: This is the nickname for an exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) called PSR B1620-26 b. It's thought to be one of the oldest planets known, orbiting two stars in a cluster far away.

Long-Lived Organisms

Many living things that are very old have been given the name Methuselah.

Trees with Ancient Roots

• Methuselah (pine tree): This is a famous Great Basin bristlecone pine tree in California, USA. For many years, it was known as the oldest living tree in the world, estimated to be over 4,850 years old! It's still one of the oldest known living trees.
• Methuselah (Judean date palm): This is a special date palm tree grown in Israel. What makes it amazing is that it sprouted from a seed that was about 2,000 years old! The seed was found during an archaeological dig.
• Methuselah (sequoia tree): This is a giant sequoia tree located in California's Sequoia National Forest. It's known for its massive size, being one of the largest trees in the world.

Animals with Long Lives

• Methuselah (lungfish): This is an Australian lungfish that lives at the California Academy of Sciences. It is currently the oldest living fish in captivity, having lived for over 90 years!

Helping People Live Longer

• The Methuselah Foundation is a group that works to extend healthy human life. They support research into ways to help people live longer, healthier lives, inspired by the idea of Methuselah's long life.

Methuselah in Stories and Entertainment

Characters and Creatures

• Methuselah (Redwall): In the popular Redwall fantasy books by Brian Jacques, Methuselah is a wise old owl character.
• Methuselah (Immortal Rain): In the Immortal Rain manga series, a character named Rain Jewlitt is nicknamed Methuselah because he is 624 years old.
• Methuselah (The Poisonwood Bible): In the book The Poisonwood Bible, Methuselah is the name of the Price family's pet parrot.
• Methuselah (Godzilla: King of the Monsters): In the movie Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Methuselah is the name of a giant monster, or "Titan," that awakens.

Music

• Methuselah (band): This was an English rock band from the 1960s. They also released an album called Methuselah in 1969.

See also

• Methuselah's Children: A science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a family that lives for a very long time.
• "Requiem for Methuselah": An episode from the original Star Trek television series that features a character who has lived for thousands of years, taking on many identities, including the biblical Methuselah.