Ancient Skies - Vol 07 No 2 - 1980-81

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 7, Number 2
Date: May-June, 1980
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Content Focus: Ancient Astronauts, UFOs, Mythology, Archaeology, Biblical Interpretation.

Zecharia Sitchin's Address to the House of Lords UFO Study Group

Zecharia Sitchin, a prominent figure in the ancient astronaut field, delivered an address to the House of Lords UFO Study Group in London on March 11, 1980. He expressed gratitude to the Chairman, the Earl of Clancarty, for the invitation to discuss the UFO phenomenon. Sitchin stated that he had not personally seen a UFO but had read reports, including one about a young man who witnessed a UFO while hiking. This incident is likened to the biblical tale of Jacob's Vision, where a gateway to the skies was discovered.

Sitchin's central argument is that if one believes in the Bible, one must maintain an open mind about the UFO enigma. He contends that biblical accounts, such as the Whirlwind that carried the Prophet Elijah and the 'Glory' in which the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, are evidence of vehicles appearing from and disappearing into the skies. He believes these accounts are merely the 'tip of the iceberg' of a vast written and pictorial heritage left by ancient civilizations.

He asserts that civilizations in the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamia, accepted Identified Flying Objects (IFOs) as fact. These beings were known by various names: 'Deus' (The Shining Ones) by Indo-Europeans, 'Neteru' (The Guardians) by Egyptians, 'Ilu' (The Lofty Ones) by Semitic peoples, and 'Din-Gir' (The Righteous Ones of the Rocketships) by the Sumerians. Sitchin refers to these beings as the 'Gods' of antiquity.

The Sumerian Civilization and the Twelfth Planet

Sitchin highlights the ancient city of Ur in southern Mesopotamia as a starting point for understanding the Old Testament. He notes that archaeological work, led by pioneers like Sir Henry Layard, uncovered royal cities such as Nineveh and Nimrud, confirming biblical descriptions. The Bible also mentions earlier cities like Erech and Ur, and a land named Shin'ar where Mankind built cities after the Great Flood. Scholars were amazed by the possibility of a civilization existing before Assyria and Babylonia, which had already pushed back history by 4,000 years.

Further exploration south in Mesopotamia revealed older remains and inscriptions in a language predating Assyrian and Babylonian. These discoveries confirmed the existence of the civilization referred to as Shin'ar in the Bible, which is now known as Sumer (pronounced SHumer). Sitchin points out that the name 'Sumer' meant 'Land of the Guardians,' the same name the Egyptians used for their gods. The Sumerian civilization, dating back almost six thousand years, emerged suddenly and unexpectedly, with advanced knowledge in various fields, including agriculture, irrigation, city building, law, writing, and music.

Sitchin emphasizes that the Sumerians themselves attributed their knowledge to the 'gods.' He presents figures (A, B, C) depicting goddesses like Ishtar wearing what appear to be goggles and equipped with panels, suggesting advanced technology. Figure C clearly shows a pilot's helmet and an instrument box. He also mentions texts describing Ishtar's special attire for flight.

Male gods are also discussed, with texts detailing unique weapons that could stun or kill, described as 'Ray-Guns.' Figure D shows a clay statuette of a helmet-wearing 'god' holding a bent weapon, which Sitchin likens to the biblical account of Angels using weapons to stun and blind people in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sitchin argues that these 'gods' were not from Earth but from the Heavens, capable of traversing interplanetary space in rocketships. The pilots were called 'Ea-gles,' and their spacecraft were depicted in various ancient drawings. He addresses potential skepticism by showing a depiction of a rocketship inside an underground silo (Figure H).

He then introduces the concept of the 'Twelfth Planet,' based on Sumerian texts. These texts describe a large celestial body that invaded the Solar System eons ago, causing dislocations and eventually being captured as the twelfth member. This planet, called Nibiru by Sumerians and Marduk by Babylonians, has an elliptical orbit that takes it beyond Pluto and brings it back to Earth's vicinity every 3,600 years.

Sitchin presents a cylinder seal (Figure I) depicting the granting of the plough by gods to Mankind. In the upper left corner of this seal is a depiction of the Solar System (Figure J). He compares this ancient depiction (Figure K) to the modern understanding of the Solar System, noting that the Sumerian version shows the Sun at the center, includes all known planets in their relative sizes, and crucially, shows an additional large planet between Mars and Jupiter – the 'Twelfth Planet.'

Ancient Visitors and Their Legacy

Sitchin explains that on this Twelfth Planet, a ruler's people lived in a magnificent palace. Approximately 450,000 years ago, their astronauts, led by Enki ('Lord of Earth'), landed on Earth. Later, Enlil ('Lord of Command') was sent to take over command. Sitchin draws a parallel between these names and the current House of Lords, suggesting an ancient tradition originating from another planet.

He reiterates that this information is found in ancient texts and pictures, which scholars have historically dismissed as mythology. Sitchin challenges this view, asking if these 'mythologies' are not fiction but records of actual prehistoric events. He concludes that if such events could happen then, they could happen now, implying a continued relevance to the UFO enigma.

More on the South Africa Metal Spheres

Brenda J. Sullivan provides a correction to a previous article in 'Ancient Skies' regarding metal spheres found in a pyrophyllite mine near Ottosdal, Western Transvaal, South Africa. She clarifies that these spheres are extremely rare, not hundreds as previously stated. Sullivan visited Witchdoctor Credo Mutwa, who explained that the 'gods' flew in air machines and mined gold and diamonds in South Africa. The metal balls are identified as 'Lodestones,' magnetic objects used by ancients in navigation. According to Zulu history, these were left as offerings of thanks to Mother Earth. Sullivan tested one ball and found it to be faintly magnetic.

Announcements and Book Recommendations

Walter Joerg Langbein has published his book 'Astronautengoetter-Versuch einer Chronik unserer phantastischen Vergangenheit' and was a speaker at previous Ancient Astronaut Society conferences. Erich von Daniken has completed a lecture tour in Germany and is promoting his latest book, 'Prophet of the Past,' in Austria and England.

The issue also lists recommended books for members, including 'The Ancient Stones Speak' by David Zink, 'The Complete Book of Extraterrestrial Encounters' by Randall Fitzgerald, 'The Atlas of the Unexplained' by Francis Hitching, 'Atlas of Early Man' by Jaquetta Hawkes, 'In Search of Ancient Astronomies' by E. F. Kruppe, and 'The Secret Vaults of Time' by Stephen A. Schwartz.

Bep-Kororoti in the South Pacific?

Johannes Fiebag explores a potential connection between the Kayapo Indian legend of Bep-Kororoti, a sky-god who taught civilization, and Polynesian legends of the god 'Maui.' Fiebag notes that a 'worship-suit' from the Polynesian display in the Volkerkunde Museum in Berlin, made of matted straw with a helmet-like head covering and a staff, bears a striking resemblance to the description of Bep-Kororoti and astronaut suits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the interpretation of ancient texts and artifacts as evidence of extraterrestrial visitation and advanced ancient technology. The magazine strongly supports the ancient astronaut hypothesis, presenting Sitchin's theories as factual and challenging conventional archaeological and historical interpretations. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, and a belief that ancient myths hold keys to understanding our past and potentially our future.