Ancient Skies - Vol 17 No 1 - 1990

Magazine Overview

Title: Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society
Issue: Volume 17, Number 1
Date: March-April, 1990
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Price: $3.00

This issue of the Ancient Astronaut Society's logbook explores various facets of ancient knowledge and potential extraterrestrial influence on human history and understanding.

Mayan Pointers to Surface Variations on Venus

Dr. Stuart W. Greenwood proposes that the ancient Maya's recorded periods of Venus visibility, which differed between its appearance as the Morning Star and Evening Star, support the idea that Venus once possessed a more Earth-like atmosphere. Unlike today's uniformly cloudy Venus, a partial atmosphere would have allowed for variations in surface reflectivity due to sunlight. The coupling of Venus's rotational motion with Earth's orbit is discussed, and it's suggested that differences in visibility periods recorded in the Dresden and Borgia Mayan Codices could be explained by a more Earth-like, partially reflective atmosphere on Venus in the past. This would have allowed for substantial radiation to reach the surface and be reflected, with potential variations due to surface features like bodies of water. Greenwood concludes that these Mayan records are valuable for reconstructing Venus's physical evolution.

The Dilemma of a High Science in Ancient Epochs

Andrew Tomas examines the advanced scientific knowledge possessed by ancient civilizations, which often predates modern discoveries. He highlights Hindu cosmology's vast time cycles (Manvataras and Pralayas), Sumerian and Assyro-Babylonian myths describing continental drift (Pangaea and Panthalassa), and Democritus's atomic theory and explanation of the Milky Way. The article also mentions Hipparchus's accurate calculation of the Earth-Moon distance and Thales of Miletus's discovery of electricity. Tomas questions how ancient peoples could have known about geography and maps, citing Plutarch's account of Phoenician circumnavigation of Africa, where sailors observed the sun in the north, indicating they were in the southern hemisphere. Herodotus's explanation for the Nile's flooding (melting snow) is also discussed, which was initially met with skepticism but later confirmed by the discovery of glaciers on the Ruwenzori Range. The Harris Egyptian Papyrus's mention of a cosmic upheaval reversing the Earth's poles is linked to modern scientific findings about magnetic pole reversals. The Piri Reis map, dated 1518, is presented as a puzzle due to its depiction of Antarctica without ice, a feature only confirmed by 20th-century science. Seneca's prediction of America's discovery and Plato's mention of Atlantis are also noted. The article touches upon the Mayan calendrical system predicting cataclysms around 2012 AD and the Hindu text Surya Siddhanta's description of 'Brahma's Egg' as a star cluster. Finally, it explores ancient Chinese knowledge of acupuncture points, linking them to modern bio-energy concepts and their correlation with solar flares.

Our Egyptian Ancestors

Maurice Chatelain discusses the complexity of ancient Egyptian chronologies, comparing them to Mayan systems. He notes specific dates like 49611 and 49214, suggesting intervals related to planetary conjunctions of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Earth, and Venus. Chatelain posits that ancient times, with more elliptical planetary orbits, may have experienced catastrophes due to close planetary proximities, particularly Mars. He references biblical accounts of such events. The article delves into various proposed starting dates for the Egyptian chronology, such as 72860 BC (with Osiris's arrival) and 49500 BC, linking these to cycles of Sirius. Chatelain believes the Egyptians used multiple chronologies based on astronomical observations following catastrophic events. He highlights a French discovery of a hieroglyphic inscription in the temple of Isis at Dendera, representing an immense period of time (36,159,177,600 years), which is an exact multiple of various Egyptian astronomical and monumental measurements.

The Glory of the Lord

George T. Sassoon analyzes the biblical term 'glory of the Lord,' moving beyond its common interpretations of fame or a divine aura. Drawing from the Oxford Dictionary's definitions and biblical passages, Sassoon argues that the 'glory' often refers to a tangible object, specifically a vehicle. He cites descriptions in Exodus and Ezekiel, particularly Ezekiel's detailed account, which Josef F. Blumrich worked out to be a type of space shuttle-craft. Sassoon further supports this by examining the Hebrew word 'kavod' (glory), noting its relation to 'kavudah' (cart or carriage) and 'rechev' (chariot). He suggests that 'kavod' originally meant 'chariot' and that the biblical 'cherubim' might have been model spacecraft. Sassoon concludes that the original Bible text indicates the 'glory of the Lord' was a space vehicle, offering this as the simplest explanation for the biblical descriptions.

Coming Events

The issue concludes with announcements for upcoming events hosted by the Ancient Astronaut Society, including a one-day meeting in Zurich, Switzerland (August 25, 1990), a World Conference in Berlin, West Germany (August 22-25, 1991), and a member expedition to Turkey (August 16 - September 6, 1991).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the advanced scientific understanding of ancient civilizations, the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on human history (ancient astronauts), and the reinterpretation of ancient texts and artifacts through a modern, often technological, lens. The editorial stance consistently supports the idea that ancient peoples possessed knowledge far beyond what is commonly attributed to them, often suggesting external sources, such as space visitors or lost advanced civilizations, for this knowledge. There is a strong emphasis on re-examining religious and historical texts for evidence of advanced technology and cosmic events.