Ancient Skies - Vol 24 No 2 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: VOLUME 24, NUMBER 2
Date: MAY-JUNE, 1997
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES, the Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, features articles exploring ancient technologies and biblical mysteries, with a strong emphasis on potential extraterrestrial involvement.

The Miracle Device - Shamir

Dr. Matest M. Agrest's lead article, "The Miracle Device - Shamir," delves into ancient texts mentioning a device called the Shamir, used for cutting hard stones and engraving without iron tools, particularly for building the Temples in Jerusalem and crafting the Ephod for the high priest. Agrest cites the Babylonian Talmud ('Abot,' 'Mishnajot,' 'Sotah,' 'Gitin') and Exodus 28:9 as sources. He posits that the Shamir's ability to engrave names on stones without ink or iron tools, and its use in building the Temple where iron tools were forbidden, suggests a technology far beyond ancient capabilities. Agrest draws a parallel between the Shamir and the modern laser, first constructed by T.H. Maiman in 1960. He concludes that the Shamir's origin might be extraterrestrial, suggesting a 'paleocontact' where Moses was given the device and instructions for its use. The Shamir was reportedly destroyed with the second Temple of Solomon.

Dr. Agrest's credentials include a PhD in Science, Physics, and Mathematics, over 100 scientific articles, and five monographs. His 1961 book, 'Astronauts of Yore,' first proposed the theory of prehistoric visits by intelligent beings from outer space. He also reinterpreted the biblical term 'nefilim' not as 'giants' but as 'the fallen ones.' Agrest retired from the University of Leningrad's Science Laboratory in 1992 and now resides in Charleston, SC.

More on the Shamir - Another View

Thomas H. Alfred Fuss, translated by George T. Sassoon, offers another perspective on the 'shamir,' linking it to Jewish mythology as a 'magic worm' or diamond drill from the 'Watchers of Heaven.' Fuss suggests this could explain mysterious boreholes in ancient structures like the Temple pyramid of Sahura at Abuzir, Egypt, dating from the Old Kingdom (ca. 2475-2345 BC). He notes that the Talmud describes the shamir as a 'cutting-worm' capable of boring through hard minerals and splitting metal, and that Jeremiah 17:1 refers to a 'diamond (shamir).' Fuss emphasizes that it was a rare, 'divine tool,' not accessible to everyone. He recounts that Bezaleel and Aholiab, instructed by Moses, used the shamir to engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the Ephod's stones. Fuss also references the 'Juedische Lexikon,' which identifies the shamir as a legendary worm used by Solomon for building the Temple, splitting stones to adhere to the biblical prohibition against using iron tools on altars (Exodus 20:25). The legend states Solomon obtained it from Ashmedai, the Prince of Demons. Fuss concludes that these 'shamir' tools, in various sizes, could explain inexplicable stone works globally, citing Tiahuanaco, Puma Punku, Sacsayhuaman, Anatolia, and elsewhere as examples of ancient extraterrestrial activity.

A translator's memo by George T. Sassoon suggests the term 'worm' might be a mistranslation of 'insectator' or 'cutter-in,' and that the Israelites might have acquired the shamir while in Egypt, similar to how workers might steal tools.

Sensational Find in Russia

Hartwig Hausdorf reports on astonishing finds made in Russia between 1991-1993. Gold prospectors near the Narada River in the Ural Mountains discovered thousands of unusual, mostly spiral-shaped objects ranging in size from 3 cm down to an incredible 0.003mm. Composed of copper, tungsten, and molybdenum, these objects have been dated between 20,000 and 318,000 years old. Hausdorf highlights that the dimensions of these micro-filigree objects conform to the 'Golden Section' ratio ('phi proportion'), a principle used in architecture and geometry. He likens this technology to 'nanomachines,' which are only now being developed. The finds are being investigated by the Russian Academy of Sciences and institutes in Finland. Hausdorf suggests that such advanced technology implies the existence of highly advanced creators, possibly extraterrestrials, active long before Moses.

An editorial note references Michael A. Cremo's book 'Forbidden Archeology' and mentions Cremo as a speaker at the upcoming Ancient Astronaut Society conference.

In Search of the Ark of the Covenant

Dr. Robert Goodman's article explores the enduring mystery of the Ark of the Covenant. He recounts its biblical description: a gold-covered acacia wood box, about 42 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high, holding the Tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, with two cherubs on the lid. The Ark was central to the Israelites' mobile temple and later placed in the 'Holy of Holies' in Solomon's Temple. Its fate after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD remains unknown.

Goodman presents several hypotheses:

• The Ethiopian Hypothesis: Based on a legend that King Solomon's son, Menelik I, sired by the Queen of Sheba, secretly exchanged a replica for the original Ark and took it to Ethiopia, where it is allegedly guarded in the Church of Saint Mary of Sion. Author Graham Hancock reportedly traced it there but was denied access.
• The Israeli Hypotheses: Rabbinic archives suggest the Ark was hidden beneath the wood store of the Second Temple. An old Hebrew text, Shekalim 6:1-2, describes a priest who fell dead after noticing different colored floor slabs, interpreted as evidence of the Ark's presence. Randall Price suggests a tunnel leads to a chamber 48 feet below the surface. Rabbis Shlomo Goren and Yehuda Getz claimed to know its location but were prevented from revealing it due to government sealing of the area.
• Ron Wyatt's Claim: The American archaeologist claimed to have found the Ark in the Grotto of Jeremiah in Jerusalem in 1982, within a chamber containing other First Temple items, under the hill of Golgotha.
• Dr. Vendyl Jones's Claim: In 1994, this Texas archaeologist announced he knew the Ark's location based on NASA photos, but excavations at a site that was a small-scale reproduction of Solomon's Temple did not unearth the Ark.
• The Spanish Hypothesis: Researcher Jose Maria Kaydeda believes the Ark is in Toledo, Spain, hidden in the lowest floor of a five-story building beneath a synagogue, but lacked funds to continue his search.
• The Egyptian Hypothesis: A Hollywood fiction film placed the Ark near the pyramids in Cairo. A channeled spirit named Mosec claimed to have stolen the Ark and hidden it in Egypt, but died in a sandstorm. His spirit now seeks to reveal its location.

Goodman emphasizes the potential danger of the Ark, citing biblical accounts of deaths occurring when people approached or looked into it (deaths of Aaron's sons, 50,070 men of Bet-Semesh). He warns that finding the Ark could be like uncovering a 'Doomsday Pandora's Box.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of ancient religious texts, archaeological mysteries, and advanced technologies, strongly suggesting extraterrestrial influence as a unifying explanation. The articles present biblical narratives and historical accounts not as purely spiritual or human endeavors, but as evidence of 'paleocontact' and the intervention of advanced beings. The editorial stance appears to favor the ancient astronaut theory, interpreting historical artifacts and texts through this lens. The recurring themes include the interpretation of ancient texts (Talmud, Bible), the existence of lost or hidden advanced technologies, and the search for physical evidence of extraterrestrial visitation in Earth's past. The magazine promotes its upcoming 24th Anniversary World Conference, highlighting speakers and topics that align with these themes.