This is now, but the story described there takes place a couple of hundred years ago. I don't think something like that existed back then. Unless aliens helped, haha.
But I wouldn't take myths from 200 years ago too seriously. After all, it's obvious that it was beneficial for the priests to spread and maintain these rumors.
Знание некоторых закономерностей освобождает от изучения многих фактов.
Мечты сбываются рано или поздно, так или иначе.