Ancient Skies - Vol 13 No 4 - 1986-87

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 13, Number 4
Date: September-October, 1986
Publisher: Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Cover Headline: THE HOLY GRAIL: CHALICE OR MANNA MACHINE?

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into a controversial theory connecting the biblical Manna Machine with the legendary Holy Grail. The article, "THE HOLY GRAIL: CHALICE OR MANNA MACHINE?" by Peter and Johannes Fiebag, translated from German, proposes that these two seemingly disparate concepts are, in fact, the same object of extraterrestrial origin.

The Manna Machine and the Kabbalah

The article begins by examining the Kabbalah, a body of Jewish traditional knowledge. It highlights the work of English engineers George Sassoon and Rodney Dale, who concluded that the description of the "Ancient of Days" in the Zohar, a key text of the Kabbalah, did not refer to a deity but to a machine. This machine, called "Othiq Yomin" in the Zohar, is believed to have produced the biblical "manna" that sustained the Israelites during their desert wanderings.

Sassoon and Dale's reconstruction of the machine, based on a fresh translation of the Zohar, reveals a complex device. It featured a dew-distilling apparatus, a central vessel with a light source and an algae-culture system (likely chlorella species) circulating through pipes. This system facilitated oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and dissipated heat. The processed algae was then converted into a starch-based substance with a "honey and wafer" taste, stored in collection containers.

The Zohar's descriptions, though detailed, used terminology from around 1000 BC, referring to parts as "heads" and "skulls." The machine was considered a deity, a composite of male and female parts, and was likely powered by a nuclear source. The article notes that the machine was kept in the "Ark of the Covenant," which served as its transport container.

The Ark of the Covenant and its Disappearance

The last mention of the Ark in the Old Testament is when the prophet Jeremiah hides it and the Manna Machine on Mount Nebo. After this, its trace is lost for over 2500 years. The authors of the article began investigating in 1980, questioning how such an important object could disappear and if it might have reappeared.

Their research led them to conclude that the Manna Machine was brought from Israel to Europe. This conclusion is based on two main pieces of evidence: the Parsifal epic and the history of the Order of the Brotherhood of the Templars.

The Parsifal Epic and the Holy Grail

The Parsifal epic, a medieval story of a young hero, is seen as a repository of ancient traditions. The article notes that medieval authors avoided exact descriptions of the Grail, suggesting they had not seen the "holy machine" themselves. While some described it as a "handsome vessel" or "metal bowl," de Boron linked it to the chalice used at the Last Supper, reflecting Christian influence.

Wolfram von Eschenbach, another author, was more reticent, describing the Grail as a "thing" or a "stone" that provided "all earthly desires in abundance." Etymologically, the word "Grail" has various derivations, including "bowl" and "milk-jug," but also "pleasure," "charity," and "bread." A Nordic version refers to the grail as a machine called "gangandi greidi," meaning "transformer of consumable material."

Crucially, the translation of "lapsit exillis," a term associated with the Grail, is explored. One interpretation is "the stone that came down from the stars," which the authors find a fitting description for an extraterrestrial machine. Another interpretation is "lapis lapsus ex illis stellis," meaning "the stone that came down from the stars."

Von Eschenbach's account of the Grail's origin is particularly striking: "Once upon a time it brought a troop, which flew back to the high stars, because their innocence drew them homewards." This suggests beings who brought the Grail to Earth before returning to their home stars.

Based on these parallels, the article posits that the "Holy Grail" of the Middle Ages was the same as the Manna Machine of the Israelites.

The "Shekhina" and the Manna Machine

The research also uncovered the Jewish concept of the "Shekhina," which appears frequently in the Talmud. "Shekhina" literally means "that which descends" or "dwelling," and originally signified "God's presence among men" in a bodily sense. Theologian A. Hauck noted that "Shekhina" was a cover-name for God, bringing Him nearer to human consciousness through His actual presence in the world.

The "Shekhina" accompanied the Israelites and was housed in the Ark of the Covenant. The article argues that the Ark could not have contained the Creator, but rather a material object. The term "face of the Shekhina" and descriptions of receiving its "brilliance" suggest a physical, tangible object.

The article summarizes the "Shekhina" as:
1. Not identical with God, but venerated similarly.
2. Located in the Ark of the Covenant.
3. A physical object that can be seen and handled.
4. Accompanied the people of Israel and was housed in Solomon's Temple.
5. Possessed a "face."
6. Could be "received" and one could "refresh oneself" with it.

The authors conclude that these characteristics align perfectly with the Manna Machine, suggesting "Shekhina" is another name for it.

The Templars and the Grail

The article then explores the connection to the Order of the Templars. The Parsifal tradition mentions a "grail knighthood" or "Templeisen," which is reminiscent of the Knights Templar. The Templars were founded in 1128 and dissolved in 1312. The authors question if they possessed the Manna Machine and were the "guardians of the grail."

Evidence suggests that the Templars, during their eight-year stay in Palestine from 1105 to 1128, were not fighting but excavating in the Temple area and searching for something extraordinary. The article proposes they found the "Holy Grail," the Manna Machine, in Israel.

During the Templar inquisition, charges included the veneration of "idols" called "heads" with "carbuncle-eyes" and a "beard." These descriptions, particularly the "beard," are linked to the Zohar's description of the "Othiq Yomin." The Templars' "handsome vessel" description also matches the Grail.

The Origin of the Grail Tradition

The article traces the Grail tradition to a "great book" of "sublime mysteries" found by a master named Kyot in Toledo. This manuscript, possibly in Arabic, contained the Grail tradition. The author of this text is identified as Flegetanis, a Phoenician who worshipped Baal, but was also knowledgeable in natural sciences and of Israelitic descent through his mother.

Hiram-Abi, the architect of King Solomon's Temple, is also implicated. As an "outsider" involved in building the Holy of Holies, he would have known about the Manna Machine. It is suggested that he sent a report about it to the Phoenician King, which later entered the Moslem world and eventually reached Toledo.

The Fate of the Manna Machine

While the exact fate of the Manna Machine remains a mystery, the article notes that during the Templar dissolution proceedings, a convoy of wagons loaded with heavy wooden chests left Paris for the coast. The authors believe their investigations are continuing and that future grail-seekers will be equipped with modern technology like metal detectors and Geiger counters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of ancient texts, religious traditions, and technological artifacts, particularly those of potential extraterrestrial origin. The editorial stance, as presented through the Fiebag brothers' research, is one of open inquiry into alternative interpretations of historical and religious narratives, suggesting that ancient myths and scriptures may contain literal accounts of advanced technologies and non-human visitors. The magazine actively promotes the exploration of these mysteries, as evidenced by the "COMING EVENTS" section detailing expeditions and conferences.