ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 7, Number 3
Date: July-August, 1980
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Price: $2.00

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES features a prominent article titled "MESSENGERS FROM THE STARS: TEXT OF ADDRESS BY W. RAYMOND DRAKE BEFORE THE HOUSE OF LORDS UFO STUDY GROUP, LONDON, ENGLAND, February 19, 1980." The magazine's cover art depicts a winged, haloed figure descending from the sky towards Earth, reinforcing the theme of celestial visitors.

Messengers from the Stars: An Address by W. Raymond Drake

W. Raymond Drake, introduced as a "Dean" of the ancient astronaut field and author of "Gods and Spacemen" books, delivered an address to the House of Lords UFO Study Group. He posits that humanity's first ancestors were "Celestials from the Stars." Drake draws parallels between ancient legends and modern concepts, suggesting that the "aristocracy" and "royal colour" of blue blood symbolize the ancient spacemen who had thin atmospheres and deficient oxygen.

He argues that current space exploration, while significant, offers a greater reward in revolutionizing human thought, ushering in a "new Cosmic Age." Drake recounts ancient legends of glorious days when "Celestials descended from the stars," bringing a "Golden Age," followed by wars with "titanic bombs" and cataclysms that led to humanity's regression into barbarism. Survivors then prayed to "sky-teachers" who were worshipped as Gods.

Drake touches upon the vastness of the universe, the number of stars and planets, and the possibility of advanced civilizations. He proposes that humans are not descended from apes but from these "glorious Celestials." He also entertains theories of parallel universes and the potential for extraterrestrials to use shortcuts like black holes and hyper-space for travel.

Ancient Civilizations and Celestial Visitors:

Drake presents a chronological survey of ancient texts and legends from around the world to support his thesis:

• 2400BC (China): The "Shan-hai-Ching" mentions the Miao, a race that lost the power to fly and was exiled after quarreling with the "Lord."
• 2346BC (China): The "Hsui-nan-tzu" describes ten suns in the sky, with the Emperor Yao ordering his "Divine Archer" to shoot down nine false suns, questioning if these were spaceships.
• 2300BC (Korea): The "Sei-to-ki" mentions a "Divine Man" who ruled for a thousand years, evoking Count St. Germain.
• 2000BC (Japan): A tomb depicts an ancient King waving to seven sun disks, possibly spaceships.
• 2000BC (Crete): Dionysius of Halicarnassus states Minos received laws from Zeus on Mt. Ida, questioning if Zeus was a spaceman.
• 1950BC: Abraham was visited by the "Lord" and two "Angels," and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven, possibly nuclear bombs.
• 1800BC (India): The "Ramayana" describes Prince Rama's war with "flying chariots and nuclear bombs."
• 1780BC (Babylon): Hammurabi received laws from Shamash, the Sun God.
• 1500BC (Egypt): Circles of fire hovered over Pharaoh Thutmosis III's palace, mentioned in the Tulli papyrus.
• 1400BC (India): The "Mahabharata" describes a fantastic war with "flying machines, guided missiles and nuclear weapons."
• 1400BC (Crete): The destruction of Knossos is linked to the Santorini volcanic explosion, with speculation about celestial intervention.
• 1375BC (Egypt): Pharaoh Akhnaton displayed "cosmic idealism," possibly taught by spacemen.
• 1287BC (Lebanon): Ramses II was saved by "Amun" near Kadesh, with the Baalbek stone platform suggested as a landing site.
• 1280BC: The "Lord" inspired Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.
• 1275BC (Mt. Sinai): The "Lord" descended amid fire and smoke, giving Moses the Ten Commandments.
• 1200BC (Troy): Homer's "Iliad" describes Gods fighting in the Trojan War.
• 950BC (Jerusalem): Solomon's Temple was built for the "Lord."
• 880BC & 860BC (Babylon): Sculptures show Shalmaneser II and Assurnasirpal III accompanied by "Winged Counsellors."
• 850BC: Elijah was translated to Heaven in a "whirlwind."
• 800BC: Semiramis, Queen of Babylon, is suggested to be a spacewoman.
• 716BC (Rome): Romulus was translated to the skies in a "cloud."
• 687BC: Sennacherib's army was annihilated by an "Angel" of the "Lord."
• 660BC (Japan): Heavenly Deities assisted Emperor Jimmu.
• 640BC (Rome): Tullus Hostilius was killed by "fire from Heaven."
• 630BC (Persia): Zoroaster received laws from Ahura-Mazda on Mt. Sabalan.
• 593BC (Babylon): Ezekiel saw a "space-wheel" by the River Kebar.
• 536BC (Babylon): Daniel saw an "Angel" near Babylon.
• 508BC (Italy): Bolsena was destroyed by "fire from Heaven."
• 498BC (Italy): Castor and Pollux saved the Roman army.
• 490BC & 480BC: The "Gods" aided the Athenians against the Persians at Marathon and Salamis.

Drake also references legends from Mexico, South America, Africa, and the "Great White Spirit" worshipped by American Indians, all pointing to celestial visitors.

Submarines and Space Cities in Ancient India?

This section, authored by Prof. Dr. Dileep Kumar Kanjilal, delves into descriptions from the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It details battles between Arjuna and the Asuras, including references to "submarine cities" and a "revolving city in space" called Hiranyapura. Kanjilal discusses the concept of aerial assembly-halls built by demons and gods, citing examples like Indra's hall (10 miles high, 5 miles wide, 750 miles long) and Kuvera's hall (350 miles by 500 miles). These descriptions, Kanjilal argues, suggest artificial vehicles capable of carrying many people and materials, and moving through space, echoing modern concepts of satellite cities proposed by NASA and Stanford University.

New Hardcover Books

The issue lists two new hardcover books: "SIGNS OF THE GODS?" by Erich von Daniken and "PREHISTORIC GERM WARFARE" by Robin Collyns.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the "ancient astronaut" theory, which posits that extraterrestrial beings visited Earth in antiquity and influenced human civilization, religion, and technology. The magazine, published by the Ancient Astronaut Society, clearly supports this perspective, presenting evidence from ancient texts, myths, and legends as proof of these historical encounters. The editorial stance is one of advocating for a re-evaluation of humanity's past, suggesting that a deeper understanding of ancient writings can reveal the truth about our origins and the return of these "Gods" or "spacemen."