Ancient Skies - Vol 10 No 4 - 1983-84

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 10, Number 4
Date: September-October, 1983
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Theme: This issue critically examines popular theories and media portrayals related to ancient mysteries, including Easter Island, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the controversial book 'The Third Eye'.

One Easter Island Mystery Solved

This article, written by Gene M. Phillips, founder of the Ancient Astronaut Society, scrutinizes the 1978 PBS 'Nova' television special titled "The Case of the Ancient Astronauts." Phillips asserts that the program was designed to discredit Erich von Daniken and the ancient astronaut theory by misrepresenting facts and employing misleading tactics. He focuses on the segment about Easter Island, where the program presented Thor Heyerdahl's account of an experiment to carve a statue.

Phillips challenges Heyerdahl's claims, as presented by Nova, that islanders carved and erected a statue before his eyes. He argues that Heyerdahl witnessed the carving of an outline in relief on a rock face, not a statue, and that this was misrepresented as a statue being carved. Phillips points out a contradiction in Heyerdahl's accounts regarding the hardness of the rock, with his book 'Aku-Aku' stating the outer surface is softer, while the Nova program implied the outer shelf was harder. The program also showed a picture of an original, unfinished statue, implying it was the one Heyerdahl commissioned, which Phillips states is a misrepresentation.

Phillips further criticizes the Nova program's assertion that Heyerdahl found evidence of wood for levers on Easter Island. He argues that the island's forests were destroyed long ago and that there is no evidence of extensive forests at the time the statues were carved. He concludes that the Nova program engaged in distortion and misrepresentation, calling it a "masterpiece of deception."

Phillips recounts his own visit to Easter Island in 1983, where he located the relief carved by islanders at Heyerdahl's request, confirming it was not a statue and looked nothing like the original statues.

Were Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed by an Atomic Bomb?

This article by Yong Check Yoon proposes that the destruction of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was not a natural disaster but a nuclear explosion. Yoon analyzes the biblical account, suggesting the events were "time-detonated" and predictable. He interprets the "angels" who visited Lot as beings aware of the impending destruction and involved in the decision-making process.

Yoon posits that the "angels" knew the cities' inhabitants were wicked and that the destruction would involve "fire and brimstone." He argues that the "angels" prepared Lot and his family for evacuation, knowing that the mountains would shield them from radiation, shock, and heat waves. The urgency of their plea for Lot to escape before the event implies foreknowledge of the blast.

The article highlights Lot's wife's fate (turned into a pillar of salt for looking back) and Lot's observation of "thick smoke ascended from the land like the thick smoke of a kiln!" as evidence of a nuclear event. Yoon concludes that the effects described in the Bible are consistent with a nuclear explosion, not a natural disaster.

More on The Third Eye

Andrew Tomas responds to a previous article about 'The Third Eye,' questioning the authenticity of its author, Lobsang Rampa. Tomas, who has lived in Asia and studied Tibetan culture, points out inaccuracies and suspicious elements in the book's publication. He notes that the name "Lobsang Rampa" and the author's reference to his grandmother as "Grandma Rampa" raised concerns among Tibetan scholars.

Tomas reveals that the author was actually Cyril Hoskins, an Englishman born in 1911, who had no knowledge of Tibetan or Chinese and worked as an office clerk. Hoskins later claimed his body was possessed by a deceased Tibetan lama. Tomas also corrects a misconception about the rank of an "abbot" in relation to the Dalai Lama, stating there were many abbots in Tibet.

Despite the fictional nature of "Lobsang Rampa's" books, Tomas acknowledges that some elements, such as the cave under the Potala Palace and astronomical collisions, are true and mentioned in the works of European scholars. He notes that "Lobsang Rampa" now lives in Canada.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Ancient Skies revolve around the critical examination of established narratives and media presentations of ancient mysteries. The magazine consistently adopts a skeptical stance towards mainstream interpretations and documentaries, particularly those that dismiss or downplay ancient astronaut theories. The editorial stance is one of challenging perceived distortions of facts and promoting a more open-minded investigation into alternative explanations for historical and archaeological enigmas. The publication champions the work of researchers like Erich von Daniken and presents theories that often fall outside conventional scientific or historical consensus, advocating for a deeper search for truth beyond accepted paradigms.