Ancient Skies - Vol 13 No 5 - 1986-87

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 13, Number 5
Date: November-December, 1986
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Theme: Ancient Astronauts, Ancient Science, Cosmology, Evolution, Ancient Civilizations

This issue of "Ancient Skies" explores the profound scientific knowledge that existed in ancient civilizations, suggesting it may be a legacy from an advanced extraterrestrial source. The publication serves as the official logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, dedicated to scientific, literary, and educational pursuits.

Advanced Science in Antiquity by Andrew Tomas

Andrew Tomas presents a compelling case for the existence of theoretical science in remote antiquity, far exceeding the expected gradual development of human knowledge. He highlights several key areas:

The Concept of the Atom

• China: The concept of atomic polarity, with positive (Yang) and negative (Yin) principles, was known. The Yin-Yang symbol, a circle divided by an 'S' and two dots, may represent the atom and is linked to the Emperor Fu Hsi (2953-2838 BC).
• India: Ancient Indian philosophers like Uluka (c.500 BC) proposed that all matter was composed of tiny "anu" (seeds or atoms). The Vaisesika school considered atoms eternal, and the Vasishtha scriptures alluded to "worlds within the hollows of each atom" and subatomic particles ("param-anu"). Indian nuclear pioneers understood that homogeneous atoms produce different elements through combinations, a concept modern science confirms.
• Greece and Rome: Greek philosopher Democritus famously stated that "In reality there is nothing but atoms and space." Roman writer Lucretius, in "On Nature," described atoms rushing through space, explaining their invisibility due to their minute size. Tomas questions the origin of this knowledge for thinkers of that era.

Peculiar Divisions of Time

• The Surya Siddhanta, an ancient Indian astronomical treatise, reveals an archaic division of time with units like "kalas," "vikalas," "paras," "tatparas," "vitatparas," "imas," and "kashtas." A "kashta" was equivalent to one 300-millionth of a second (3 x 10^-8). This level of temporal fragmentation is remarkable for ancient India.
• The Brahmins attribute this knowledge to an ancient tradition whose original meaning has been lost. Tomas notes that modern science, particularly concerning the lifespan of mesons and hyperons, has only recently discovered particles with lifespans on the order of a "kashta."
• He questions whether ancient India possessed knowledge of nuclear physics around 1500 BC, when the Surya Siddhanta was compiled.

Cosmology and the Universe

• Western Europe: Until only 300-400 years ago, the Earth was considered the immobile center of the universe.
• Cosmological Viewpoints: Tomas distinguishes between ideologies of sudden creation (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and those where the cosmos has always existed in some form (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism). Modern cosmology's theories of entropy, expansion, and potential contraction into a "black-hole" are mentioned.
• Ancient Greek Cosmology: Greeks believed the universe created the gods, who were idealized humans or "supermen" traveling in space. Hermes is cited as an example of a celestial visitor.
• Chinese Cosmology: The Huai Nan Tzu (c.120 BC) described world formation from primary matter via "whirlpools," akin to modern understanding of solar system and galaxy generation. The concept of "Tao" (Universal Essence) encompasses creation and destruction, with a critical point in the universe's cycle passed 100 million years ago.
• Chinese Legends: The legend of Pan Ku, patriarch of earth, who lived in 96,962,219 BC, indicates an ancient Chinese conception of creation in terms of millions of years, contrasting with Archbishop Usher's 1654 AD calculation of creation in 4004 BC.
• Egyptian Calendrics: The ancient Egyptians' first calendrical date is 4241 BC. The "Book of the Dead" speaks of "millions and hundreds of thousands of years" passing over the world.
• Mayan Cosmology: Mayan inscriptions refer to times over a million years ago, and a stela at Tikal shows a date of 400 million years in the past. The Vatican Codex A-3738 records Mayan time cycles beginning at 18,612 BC. The precision of the Mayan calendar is noted.
• Brahmin Cosmology: The "Kalpa" (Day of Brahma) lasted 4,320 million years, with a full diurnal cycle of 8,640 million years. This aligns with the estimated age of the planet (4,600 million years) and the sun (5,000 million years). The "Surya Siddhanta" describes the dimensions of "Brahma's Egg" with a circumference of 18,712,080,864,000,000 yohanas (one yohana approx. 4-7 miles), suggesting a sphere with a diameter of roughly 4,000 light years, comparable to distances to nearby stars and dwarfed by the Milky Way's 100,000 light-year diameter.
• Gnostic Texts: A Coptic Manuscript describes the creation of 27 universes, suggesting a concept of stellar systems beyond our own planetary world.

Concepts of Evolution

• Hinduism: The incarnations of Vishnu (Matsya/fish, Kurma/tortoise, Varaha/boar, Narasimha/man-lion) allegorize the slow stages of evolution from aquatic life to mammals and man, mirroring modern scientific understanding.
• Tibetan Buddhism: A text by Sonam Gyantschen (1388 AD) describes the Tibetan race descending from a union of a macaque monkey and an ogress, who eventually learned to speak and became human, aligning with modern Darwinian conclusions.
• Anaximander of Greece: Proposed early versions of evolution, suggesting all animal life originated from a common stock.
• Roman Lucretius: Wrote about the "survival of the fittest" centuries before Darwin.
• Manu (India): The "Book of Manu" (before 1200 BC) stated, "The first germ of life was developed by water and heat."

The Enigma of Archaic Science

Tomas concludes that the advanced knowledge of atoms, time, cosmology, and evolution found in ancient cultures suggests a legacy from an outside source, possibly an advanced galactic civilization observing Earth for millions of years.

• Soviet Scientist Alexander Kazantsev: Noted that Egyptians knew the Earth was a globe and revolved around the sun, and that ancients possessed results of calculations without the methods.
• Hermann Oberth: Believed intelligent beings from other star systems ("Uranides") have been observing humanity for ages and may have imparted knowledge.
• Tsiolkovsky: Interpreted myths of celestial visitors as sojourns of space travelers from distant worlds.

A Message to My Readers by Erich von Daniken

Erich von Daniken shares his personal journey and reflections on the reception of his theories, particularly those presented in "Chariots of the Gods?"

The Genesis of "Chariots of the Gods?"

• Von Daniken recounts the difficulty in finding a publisher for his first book in Germany in 1965. He eventually found a publisher in Dusseldorf who agreed to a small initial print run of 3,000 copies in February 1968.
• The book's success was phenomenal, especially after being serialized in the Swiss weekly "Die Weltwoche." It sold 20,000 copies in Switzerland alone and quickly spread to Germany and Austria.
• By March 1970, "Chariots of the Gods?" had reached its 30th edition in German, with a total of 600,000 copies sold. Including book club and paperback editions, the German total reached 2.1 million copies.
• The book was translated into 28 languages and sold in 36 countries. A motion picture based on the book further popularized his ideas, leading to "Danikenism" as described by Time magazine.

Criticism and Vindication

• Von Daniken acknowledges that his initial work was written with enthusiasm and perhaps less self-criticism than he would later employ. He faced significant criticism from scientists and academics.
• He admits to sometimes accepting information too readily if it served his purpose, and later discovering it was incorrect or had been refuted by serious scientific authors.
• Despite criticism, he asserts that the cornerstone of his theories has not been overturned. He points out that his first book was filled with questions (323 in total), indicated by question marks, a fact often overlooked by his critics.

Examples of Criticisms and Corrections

• Piri Reis Map: In "Chariots of the Gods?", he stated the Piri Reis map accurately depicted North and South American coasts. This was refuted, with the correction that the map only showed rudimentary contours. However, he maintains the map's accurate depiction of the Antarctic coast, buried under snow and ice, remains an unanswered question.
• Aluminum Belt in China: A report of an aluminum belt found in a Chinese grave was later corrected to be a specially hardened silver alloy.
• Delhi Iron Pillar: The claim that a newly discovered ancient iron pillar in Delhi was impermeable to weather and did not corrode was proven wrong, as it has since started to rust.
• "Sun-Gate" Speculation: His speculation about a connection between the Sumerian "Sun-Gate" and the "Gate of the Sun" in Tiahuanaco was dismissed by modern archaeologists who named the Bolivian monolith, making the connection unsubstantiated.
• "Elephantine" Island: The story that an island in the Nile River was named "Elephantine" because it resembled an elephant from the air was later understood in the context of Egyptian expeditions passing the southern border fortress on their way to Nubia with elephants.

Scientific Confirmation and Support

• Despite criticism, scientists and technicians have produced books that confirm his theories. Josef F. Blumrich, a NASA engineer, is cited as an example.
• Blumrich, initially skeptical, analyzed the biblical account of Ezekiel and concluded that Ezekiel described a helicopter-like spacecraft, detailed in his book "The Spaceships of Ezekiel."
• Von Daniken notes that despite the sale of 46 million copies of his books, his last three have not been translated into English due to perceived lack of interest by publishers. He expresses gratitude to the Ancient Astronaut Society members who wrote to Bantam Books to urge publication.

Publishing Challenges

• Von Daniken expresses frustration that Bantam Books still shows no interest in publishing his newer works. He questions whether this is due to a genuine lack of public interest or pressure from the "scientific community."
• He remains committed to finding a publisher in the United States.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the existence of advanced scientific knowledge in ancient civilizations, the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on human development, and the re-evaluation of historical and religious texts through a scientific and technological lens. The magazine's stance, as represented by the Ancient Astronaut Society, is one of open inquiry into these possibilities, encouraging readers to question conventional historical narratives and explore alternative explanations for humanity's past.