Ancient Skies - Vol 16 No 4 - 1989-90

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4
Date: SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1989
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of Ancient Skies features two main articles exploring ancient mysteries through the lens of ancient astronaut theories. The first, "THE MANNA-MACHINE AND AFTER" by George T. Sassoon, delves into the origins of the manna-machine, its connection to the Holy Grail, the Knights Templar, and the rise of Freemasonry. The second article, "A FRESH LOOK AT AN OLD FISH STORY" by Dr. Franklin R. Ruehl, re-examines the biblical account of Jonah, proposing an extraterrestrial submersible spacecraft as the 'great fish' that swallowed him.

The Manna-Machine and After by George T. Sassoon

George T. Sassoon, son of the renowned poet Siegfried Sassoon, presents his research and theories on the 'manna-machine'. He begins by reflecting on his 12 years of involvement with the Ancient Astronaut Society, emphasizing the subjective nature of evidence in this field. Sassoon recounts his initial encounter with the concept through his mother's collection of occult books, specifically 'The Kabbalah Unveiled' by S.L. MacGregor Mathers. He was struck by the description of the 'Ancient of Days', which he interpreted not as a religious figure but as a mechanical description of a machine.

Sassoon's research, in collaboration with Rodney Dale, led to a mechanical interpretation of the text, suggesting the 'Ancient of Days' was a 'manna-machine'. This device, described as a nuclear-powered mechanical entity that manufactured a high-protein food from an alga similar to chlorella, sustained the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert. Sassoon posits that this technology was far beyond that of the ancient Israelites and must have originated from beyond Earth, with the 'Lord' being an extraterrestrial.

He then explores the broader consequences of this technology on human history. Sassoon uses the hypothetical scenario of a crashed alien spacecraft in the Sahara, the 'Chariot of the Gods', to illustrate how such an event could lead to myths and legends that persist despite scientific investigation. He argues that the manna-machine tradition is responsible for major historical events like the Crusades and the American Revolution.

The article traces the lineage of the manna-machine tradition through the Holy Grail legend, which the Fiebag brothers helped connect to Jewish origins. The Grail, described as a miraculous object of medieval legend, was believed to have come from the stars and was a source of unlimited food. Sassoon suggests that a secret group, both Jewish and Christian, organized the Crusades with the primary objective of recovering the Grail/manna-machine from Palestine.

Sassoon then focuses on the Knights Templar, a religious order of soldier-monks founded around 1100 AD. He suggests that this group recovered a part of the manna-machine, possibly a large concave dish, which gave rise to the Grail legend. The manna-machine itself, he elaborates, was a more complex affair. The Templars, described as being rich and corrupt by the time of their dissolution by King Philip of France, were accused of having a private, non-Christian religion centered around an idol named Baphomet.

Sassoon analyzes the name 'Baphomet', suggesting it is a Hebrew cipher. Using the Athbash cipher, he decodes it to 'Sophia', the Greek word for 'wisdom'. He notes that 'wisdom' (Chokmah) was a common name for the manna-machine in Jewish texts, indicating the Templars' knowledge and veneration of it. He also points out the Templars' practice of wearing heavy beards, mirroring the description of the 'Ancient of Days', as symbolic rather than practical.

The article further connects the Templars to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English. Sassoon argues that the advanced strategy and tactics used suggest the Scots were advised and trained by highly skilled individuals, likely the Knights Templars, who had scattered after the dissolution of their order.

Sassoon posits that Templars who fled to Scotland influenced the development of Freemasonry. He challenges the official history of Masonic Lodges originating from trade guilds, suggesting that refugee Templars joined these guilds. He highlights the Jewish content of Masonic rituals, particularly concerning the legend of Hiram Abiff, the architect of the Temple, and the Masonic password 'Machenach', which he translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Son of the High Mountain', linking it to the name of a Templar leader, Pierre d'Aumont.

He also discusses the Templars' use of linguistic tricks, such as incorporating place names like 'Heredom' (derived from 'Hor Adom', Hebrew for 'Red Mountain') into their rituals to conceal their refuge on the Isle of Mull. The article touches upon Masonic philosophy, emphasizing their belief in the rights of man and equality, which Sassoon attributes to their ancient roots and extraterrestrial influences.

Finally, Sassoon credits the Masons, Templars, and the manna-machine with the founding of the United States of America, citing Masonic symbols on the dollar bill and the Great Seal as evidence of their influence. He concludes by urging readers to adjust their thinking to recognize the profound influence of extraterrestrials on human history, religion, science, and revolutions.

A Fresh Look at an Old Fish Story by Dr. Franklin R. Ruehl

Dr. Franklin R. Ruehl, a Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics, offers a scientific reinterpretation of the biblical story of Jonah. He questions whether Jonah was swallowed by a whale, a fish, or a submersible spacecraft.

Ruehl dismisses the possibility of a whale or shark swallowing Jonah in the freshwater Sea of Galilee, as they are saltwater creatures and unlikely to be found there. He also argues that even if a fish did ingest Jonah, the crushing forces and digestive juices within its stomach would have been fatal.

Instead, Ruehl proposes that Jonah was taken aboard a submersible craft. He cites Jonah's reference to observing the "bottoms of the mountains" while in the "belly" of the beast as evidence, suggesting this observation could only be made through a viewing window of a vessel, not a biological creature. He further argues that if it was a submersible craft, it must have been extraterrestrial, as terrestrial submarines were unknown at the time.

Ruehl theorizes that aliens from a high-pressure environment might establish underwater bases on Earth to approximate their native conditions. He notes that the pressure in the Sea of Galilee, while significant, is manageable for such beings. Alternatively, he suggests the aliens could have originated from a planet with higher atmospheric pressure or even a moon like Titan, which has a surface pressure greater than Earth's, or from an ethane sea within Titan.

Ruehl concludes that the evidence strongly suggests Jonah was within a spacecraft, regardless of its origin within or outside our solar system.

Society News and Events

The issue also includes announcements for upcoming events and publications:

• Next World Conference: Scheduled for August 22-25, 1991, at the Hotel Berlin in Berlin, West Germany. Interested speakers are invited to submit proposals.
• Member Expedition to Turkey: A planned expedition for 1991 to visit various archaeological sites in Turkey, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Cappadocia.
• 16th Anniversary World Conference Success: The August 1989 conference in Chicago was deemed a success, with over 500 attendees and 22 speakers presenting on topics like the Face on Mars and Noah's Ark.
• Souvenir Copies: Official programs from the 16th Anniversary World Conference are available for purchase.
• Erich von Daniken's Books: Information is provided on four of his latest books, which were bestsellers in Germany but not yet translated into English.
• Publication Information: Ancient Skies is published bi-monthly by the Ancient Astronaut Society, located in Highland Park, Illinois. The society is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reinterpretation of ancient texts and biblical stories through the lens of ancient astronaut theories. The editorial stance clearly supports the idea that extraterrestrial intelligence has significantly influenced human history, religion, technology, and culture. The articles present speculative but detailed arguments, drawing connections between seemingly disparate historical events, religious texts, and ancient artifacts to build a case for alien intervention. The society promotes scientific research into these phenomena and encourages an open-minded approach to understanding our past and potential future encounters with extraterrestrial beings.