Ancient Skies - Vol 10 No 1 - 1983-84

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 10, Number 1
Date: March-April, 1983
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES, the official logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, features a lead article by Gene M. Phillips, the society's founder, focusing on the mysteries of Peru and the Inca Empire. The magazine also includes an article offering an alternative interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs and announcements for upcoming society events.

Some Notes on Peru

The article "Some Notes on Peru" by Gene M. Phillips explores the vast Inca Empire, its technological achievements, and its archaeological sites. Phillips describes the empire's extent, its orderly societal structure, and its impressive infrastructure, including a network of stone-paved roads and suspension bridges. He highlights the Inca's unique system of relay runners, 'chasquis,' who could rapidly transmit messages across vast distances, even delivering fresh fish from the Pacific Ocean to Cuzco.

Phillips notes the similarity in facial features, skin coloring, and eye shape between Tibetans and the Quechua and Aymara Indians of Peru, as well as the presence of an 'Oriental' birthmark on Peruvian babies. He discusses the Inca's lack of a written language but their sophisticated 'quipu' system of knotted cords for record-keeping, which he likens to a hand-operated computer.

The article details the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in 1533 and the subsequent plundering of its gold and silver. Despite this, Peru is presented as a storehouse of archaeological treasures, particularly in the Cuzco region. Phillips focuses on the incredible construction of stone walls at Cuzco, especially at Sacsayhuaman, a fortress with massive, precisely fitted stones. He describes Sacsayhuaman's three parallel walls, the largest of which is 30 feet high and built from enormous stone blocks, one estimated at 360 tons.

Further exploration is given to Ollantaytambo, an ancient Inca village in the Urubamba River gorge, known for its narrowly-terraced stone walls and gigantic sculpted stones. The article highlights a unique wall at Ollantaytambo made of six enormous red porphyry stones, each weighing an estimated 50 tons. Phillips suggests that the precision and scale of these constructions, particularly the maneuvering of massive stones, indicate the work of a much earlier, more advanced civilization than the Incas.

He also touches upon the 'lost city' of Machu Picchu, accessible via a difficult journey. The article posits that while the Incas may have rebuilt some structures, the original massive stonework at sites like Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo was likely constructed by a precursor civilization.

Light for the Pharaoh - Another View

In an article titled "Light for the Pharaoh - Another View," Oddvar Eriksen offers a dissenting interpretation of a relief found in the Hathor Temple at Dendera, Egypt. While previous interpretations suggested the depiction showed electric light bulbs, Eriksen proposes that the 'bulb' contains an electric eel, not a filament. He theorizes that Egyptians placed an electric eel inside a glass bulb filled with water to produce electrical charges, citing the eel's known voltage output (40 to 650 volts). Eriksen suggests the eel acted as a living power station, returned to a water pool with fish when not in use. He connects the jagged line symbol often associated with water to magnetism and electric power, further supporting his theory.

Tenth Anniversary World Conference

Announcements are made for the Ancient Astronaut Society's Tenth Anniversary World Conference, scheduled for August 6-7, 1983, at the Holiday Inn-O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, Illinois. The conference will feature lectures, slide presentations, and audience discussions. A gala banquet is planned for Saturday evening. Notable speakers include Erich von Daniken, Zecharia Sitchin, George Sassoon, Walter Ernsting, Andrew Tomas, Vaughn M. Greene, Pasqual S. Schievella, Gerardo Levet, Johannes von Buttlar, and Gene M. Phillips. Admission fees are US$10.00 per day for members and US$14.00 for non-members, with special rates for the banquet and hotel rooms available through advance reservations made with the Society.

Member Expedition to South America and Easter Island

A member expedition to Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Easter Island is announced for September 225, 1983. The tour includes visits to archaeological sites and museums, such as Chan Chan, the Great Wall of Peru, Cuzco, Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Machu Picchu. The itinerary also features flights over the Nazca lines, a hydrofoil trip across Lake Titicaca, and visits to Tiahuanaco and Puma Punku in Bolivia. The price is US$2,500 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare, with limited space available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the ancient astronaut theory, suggesting that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations influenced or constructed ancient human civilizations and their monumental structures. The editorial stance favors interpretations that challenge conventional historical and archaeological explanations, often highlighting perceived anomalies in ancient technology, architecture, and art. The society actively organizes conferences and expeditions to further explore these theories and engage its members in research and discussion.