Elias Zandi

From MYSTlore

Elias Zandi ( -1996 AD ^{(9652 DE)}), a wealthy archaeologist, was the father of Jeff Zandi and founder of D'ni Restoration Foundation.

His particular area of expertise and interest was the southwestern United States. He paid large sums of money for artifacts that John Loftin found for him. Zandi claimed they were somehow connected to artifacts he found.

When Loftin found the entrance to the caves of D'ni, the two men were the first persons to enter the tunnels after years (March 19, 1988). The next year they managed to enter the cave itself.

Zandi made a few trips to the D'ni city in the late 80s and early 90s, together with Dr. Watson and Loftin and the Miller brothers.

In 1991 AD ^{(9647 DE)}, Loftin did not manage to make it to the surface, apparently dying in an accident about which little has been reported. As Elias became more consumed with the restoration, his health began to deteriorate. In 1993 AD ^{(9649 DE)} he underwent open-heart surgery, and his doctors warned him to slow down.

In December 1995 ^{(Leevobro 9651)}, Elias had escorted Rand and Robyn back to the city, and Jeff was with them, with whom he had a rather large philosophical disagreement over the restoration of the city. Jeff felt that the restoration of D'ni did not mean reinhabitation, but that it was primarily a spiritual renewal. Elias didn't understand him, and the arguments grew heated at many points. The two parted ways after that.^{[Citation needed]}

In 1996 AD ^{(9652 DE)} Elias died of a massive heart attack and left his fortune to the D'ni Restoration Foundation. He left to his son the land in New Mexico.