Ancient Skies - Vol 20 No 5 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 20, Number 5
Date: November-December, 1993
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Theme: Exploration of ancient mysteries, ancient technology, and the ancient astronaut theory.

Sensation Inside the Great Pyramid

This article, written by Erich von Daniken, details a groundbreaking discovery made by German engineer Rudolf Gantenbrink within the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. Gantenbrink constructed a sophisticated, remote-controlled robot, a small caterpillar-like vehicle equipped with electronics, laser beams, and a miniature video camera. Technical support for the project was provided by Swiss firm ESCAP, HILIT AB in Liechtenstein, and the GORE Company in Munich.

The robot moved through a narrow passage, approximately 65 meters long, leading from the Queen's Chamber towards the top of the structure. This passage, previously thought by Egyptologists to be an airshaft, was found to be only 20cm wide and had smoothly polished walls, with small accumulations of sand and natural stone. The robot's journey revealed finely polished sandstone or alabaster walls, and ultimately, a mysterious, closed, metal-plated door. On the floor near this door, the robot found a broken-off piece of metal, which British experts suggest could indicate organic material like bones or linen.

Von Daniken criticizes the reaction of Egyptologists and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in Cairo. He notes that experts like Prof. Dr. Rainer Stadelmann and Dr. Gunter Dreyer outright denied the possibility of a secret chamber, claiming that all treasures had long been plundered and that nothing was behind the door. Von Daniken finds this stance dogmatic and unscientific, especially given the robot's findings. He points out that the robot did not have humidity gauges, contradicting claims that it was used solely for measuring humidity.

The article references a study by Waseda University in Tokyo from 1987, which used electronic equipment to X-ray the Great Pyramid and located a maze of unknown corridors and chambers. Von Daniken suggests that the current discovery validates these earlier findings, which were dismissed by Egyptologists.

He also brings up historical Arabic manuscripts, citing the work of Takiad-Din Ahmad ben 'Ali ben 'Abel al-Kadir ben Muhammad al-Makrizi (14th century) in his book "Hitat." These manuscripts describe thirty treasure chambers of colored granite in the western pyramid, filled with treasures, instruments, and weapons. The texts attribute the building of the pyramids to "the first Hermes," also known as Henoch (Enoch) or Idris, who supposedly built them before the flood to preserve knowledge and treasures.

Further historical accounts from Muhammad ben Abdallah ben Abel al-Hakam (12th century) and the 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta are cited, suggesting the pyramids were built before the flood to preserve knowledge.

Von Daniken questions the experts' insistence that nothing is behind the door, highlighting that the tunnel traveled by the robot must have been part of the pyramid's original design, as it would be impossible to chisel such a shaft after construction. He expresses frustration with the lack of transparency and the experts' reluctance to admit they might be wrong, emphasizing that the Great Pyramid belongs to all of mankind and should be subject to honest and extensive information.

Thumbing Through an Old Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings

This section presents information from a circa 1970 newspaper clipping, discussing evidence of unsuspected ancient civilizations and sophisticated metalworking knowledge. It mentions pre-Inca Peruvian ornaments made of platinum, requiring temperatures of 1,755 degrees Celsius to melt, and questions how ancient Peruvians achieved this. It also details a metal belt-fastener found in China from the 3rd century AD, made of an alloy of manganese, copper, and aluminum, which was supposedly not discovered until the 19th century. The article also notes the advanced metal-hardening techniques of ancient Palestinians, citing a bronze statue of Baal that modern metalworkers could not duplicate.

Expedition to Peru and Bolivia

Announcements are made for an upcoming member expedition to Peru and Bolivia scheduled for May 5-19, 1994. The itinerary includes visits to museums and archaeological sites in Lima, Pisco, Paracas, Ica, La Paz, and Cuzco, including Machu Picchu. Details on pricing and booking are provided.

Space Travel and Technology in Ancient Epics

This article by Dr. Gultekin Caymaz explores the concept of ancient space travel as described in ancient Indian texts like the Mahabharata, which mention "Vimanas" as vehicles for such journeys. Caymaz argues that these descriptions should not be dismissed as mere imagination, drawing parallels to Homer's epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. He points out that Homer described advanced ships of the Phaeacians that could travel around the world in a day, possessing self-intelligence and navigating without rudders or steermen. Caymaz suggests that these advanced civilizations, including the Phaeacians, the builders of the Vimanas, and potentially the Atlanteans, possessed superior technology, including space travel, electricity, and robots.

He references the psychic Edgar Cayce, who claimed that documents indicating Atlantean activities could be found in Egyptian museums. Cayce reportedly spoke of Atlanteans using electricity, radio communication, crystal energy, and light energy for travel. Caymaz, a medical doctor, finds Cayce's medical diagnoses and predictions to be accurate, lending credibility to his views on ancient civilizations. He notes that Cayce mentioned civilizations with spaceships existing around 50,000 to 10,500 BC.

The article also touches upon the advanced stonework found in Troy, suggesting a level of engineering beyond current capabilities. Caymaz posits that these advanced ancient peoples were collectively referred to as Atlanteans, and that Plato's account of Atlantis may have omitted crucial details about their technology.

Dr. Caymaz presented this paper at the 20th Anniversary World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society in Las Vegas in August 1993. He is a practicing physician and author.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Ancient Skies revolve around challenging conventional archaeological and historical narratives with evidence of advanced ancient technology and extraterrestrial influence. The magazine consistently promotes the ancient astronaut theory, suggesting that ancient civilizations possessed knowledge and capabilities far beyond what is currently accepted by mainstream science. There is a strong emphasis on re-examining ancient texts, artifacts, and myths as potential evidence of past contact with advanced beings or civilizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards established authorities in fields like Egyptology and archaeology, advocating for open-mindedness and a willingness to consider unconventional explanations for historical mysteries. The publication also serves as a platform for promoting upcoming events, such as expeditions and conferences related to the ancient astronaut field.