ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 13, Number 3
Date: July-August, 1986
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Tagline: "Come Search With Us!"

This issue of Ancient Skies, the Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, features a deep dive into the mysteries of Teotihuacan and explores ancient legends from China and Tibet that suggest extraterrestrial influence on early civilizations.

Teotihuacan: More Mysterious Each Day

Written by Erich von Daniken, this article examines the ancient Mexican city of Teotihuacan, a site whose origins and builders remain unknown. Even the Aztecs, who found the city in ruins, believed it was built by gods. Modern archaeology has revealed a city of immense scale, with a population estimated at 200,000 and an infrastructure comparable to a modern metropolis, all planned with astronomical precision. The builders, dubbed Teotihuacanos, are thought to have been stone-age people, yet they executed a construction project of incredible complexity.

Laurrette Sejourne, who led excavations at Teotihuacan, is quoted expressing the profound mystery surrounding the culture's origins and the seemingly sudden development of complex intellectual requirements.

The article describes the "Avenue of the Dead," the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon, noting that while their original names are lost, the city's design is undeniably astronomical, possibly representing a miniature model of our solar system. Archaeological findings of etched drawings on rocks around Teotihuacan, forming a network of coordinates, further suggest a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and geography.

A significant discovery detailed is the presence of mica layers found embedded within the ruins. Engineer Gerardo Levet highlights that mica, a rare material with exceptional heat resistance and electrical insulating properties, was used in Teotihuacan. This raises questions about how a stone-age civilization could have acquired and utilized such a material, especially given its properties which would be relevant to modern high-frequency technology or hazardous processes.

Levet suggests that the mica layers might have been used to insulate rooms where high heat was produced, such as a foundry furnace, or to protect something from external heat. The rooms, some reportedly connected by pipes to the Sun Pyramid, remain inaccessible, fueling speculation about what was stored or processed within them. The article concludes that the planners and builders of Teotihuacan must have possessed knowledge far beyond that of contemporary stone-age people.

The Living Heaven and the Living Earth

Authored by Andrew Tomas, this section explores ancient Chinese legends and their connection to extraterrestrial visitors. Teng-mu, a scholar from the Sung Dynasty, is cited for his belief in multiple skies and earths, reflecting a cosmic outlook prevalent in China for millennia.

The article posits that China's historical designation as the "Celestial Empire" and the depiction of a red dragon on its flag are linked to the landing of "fiery dragons" in the Gobi Desert around 2698 BC. These beings, referred to as "Sons of Heaven," are credited with bestowing upon the Chinese people the knowledge of agriculture, animal domestication, silk production, and various arts and sciences, mirroring "cosmic civilizer" myths found in other ancient cultures.

Emperor Huang-Ti is mentioned as having aligned a special tripod with the star Regulus, and his second name, Sian-Yuan, is said to be a reminder of his cosmic origin. The "dragon-like" vehicles are described as having metallic sheens and carrying numerous passengers, possibly utilizing suspended animation for long journeys.

The text touches upon the scientific accomplishments attributed to these "Dragon Emperors," including Huang-Ti's role in Chinese medicine and the ancient text "I Ching," which Leibniz later recognized as a precursor to the binary system used in modern computers.

A particularly intriguing anecdote involves George Rosen, who in the 1930s witnessed a ginseng prospector in China demonstrate a form of "cinema" on a handkerchief, displaying future events such as the Japanese occupation of Manchuria and World War II. This is presented as evidence of a surviving archaic science.

The article also references Tibetan legends of "celestial kings" and "iron serpents" from "other worlds," and the concept of Shambhala, a mythical abode of immortals, which aligns with Chinese beliefs.

Other Items

Soviet Expedition to Tibet: The issue recounts a story from Peter Kolosimo's "Timeless Earth" about a Soviet expedition to the Gandan monastery in Tibet. A learned lama reportedly projected a three-dimensional miniature image of the solar system, including a planet unknown to Soviet astronomers, raising questions about archaic scientific knowledge.

Emperor Kublai Khan and Levitation: An episode from the life of Emperor Kublai Khan is described, where Lama Turjo Gamba of Tibet levitated a golden goblet, impressing the Emperor and leading to the adoption of Tibetan Buddhism as the official religion. This event is presented as a potential instance of antigravitation.

Tibetan Buddhism and Astronomy: The Kangyur and Tengyur, sacred books of Tibetan Buddhism, are mentioned as stating that the "Wheel of Time" system originated from Shambhala. These texts reportedly taught that the Earth revolves around the sun centuries before Copernicus.

Ancient Astronaut Society World Conference: Plans are announced for the next World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society, to be held in Novi Vinodolski, Yugoslavia, from September 9-13, 1987. The conference will feature numerous speakers from various countries and will coincide with a joint USA-USSR Space Exhibition.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the enduring mysteries of ancient civilizations, particularly Teotihuacan, and the persistent idea that extraterrestrial visitors, or "ancient astronauts," played a significant role in shaping human history and technology. The magazine consistently promotes the ancient astronaut theory, presenting legends and archaeological anomalies as evidence of advanced, non-human intervention. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into these possibilities, encouraging readers to question conventional historical narratives and explore alternative explanations for humanity's past achievements.