ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: VOLUME 25, NUMBER 5
Date: NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1998
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into ancient mysteries, focusing on enigmatic archaeological sites, advanced ancient technology, and potential extraterrestrial influences.

Ancient Flight Technology

Gene M. Phillips, President of the Ancient Astronaut Society, reports on Erich von Daniken's 1997 exploration of Peru. Von Daniken photographed over 150 color photos of enigmatic markings near Nazca, including complex geometric patterns in the Palpa region. One complex, described in von Daniken's book 'Arrival of the Gods,' features concentric circles, superimposed rectangles, and is approximately 500 meters in diameter, spanning over a kilometre. Intriguingly, a geological cleft runs through the pattern, which the markings pass over as if it were insignificant. Von Daniken initially questioned if these were modern designs or fakes, but his pilot confirmed the markings had always been there. A photo of this complex had previously appeared in Ancient Skies in 1988. Phillips recounts his own flight over the Nazca-Palpa area in 1983 with his wife Doris and Society member June Choate, during which they photographed similar circle patterns.

Another significant discovery detailed is a new diagram found in the Palpa area, described by von Daniken as a 'chessboard' design. This rectangular pattern, also crossed by a cleft, consists of 36 lines across and 15 lengthways, arranged in dots and dashes. Von Daniken posits that these patterns, along with the larger geometric form, were designed to be visible only from the air, requiring pilots to recognize them. He notes that pilots refer to similar patterns as VASIS (Visual Approach Side Indicator System) or PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) sites, which are visual landing-approach systems.

The article further explores the possibility of ancient flight capabilities through the example of a wooden bird artifact displayed in the Cairo Museum. Egyptologists have dismissed it as a child's toy, but Captain Peter Belting, a German Air Force officer and glider pilot, built a functional model based on its design. Belting's model, featuring a propeller-driven and a jet-propelled version, demonstrated exceptional aerodynamics and maneuverability, proving that the ancient artifact represented a sophisticated aerodynamic design. This Egyptian 'bird' is estimated to be 2,100 years old, predating Leonardo da Vinci's designs by approximately 1,600 years. Belting successfully flew one of his models in Florida in 1997. Dr. Algund Eenboom is also mentioned as collaborating on this project, and they plan to demonstrate the model to the Egyptian Ambassador.

In contrast, models built by Belting based on Colombian artifacts were derived from smaller decorative pieces.

India's Iron Pillar

Doris L. Phillips, Secretary of the Ancient Astronaut Society, writes about a member expedition to Tibet, Nepal, and India in October-November 1998. During the trip, they visited the ruins of the first city of Delhi, Qutb Minar, and examined the 24-foot tall Iron Pillar. The pillar is notable for being rust-free despite being 1,500 years old. Recent analysis by Indian archaeologists determined the metal to be 99.9% pure iron.

Sarnath

Doug Nelson, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor's Public Employee Safety Inspection and Education Division, discusses Sarnath, one of Buddhism's holiest sites, located near Varanasi, India. Buddha preached his First Sermon here. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka erected monuments, including a large stupa and a monolithic red sandstone pillar, originally 50 feet tall, now in pieces. The famous lion-capital, carved from red sandstone, is over seven and a half feet tall and features four seated lions. It was once crowned by a large stone wheel, the 'dharmachakra' or Buddha's Wheel of Law, of which only fragments remain. The Ashoka lion-capital, dated to the 3rd century BC, is considered a masterpiece of art.

Nelson highlights a surprising discovery at Sarnath: foundation stones with grooves or channels carved into adjoining blocks, designed to hold metal clamps. These grooves are identical to those found in stone blocks at Puma Punku, part of the Tiahuanaco Archaeological Zone in Bolivia, South America, suggesting a connection between these distant ancient sites.

New Books

This section reviews two books related to ancient astronaut theories:

• THE COSMIC CODE by Zecharia Sitchin: This is the sixth book in his 'The Earth Chronicles' series. Sitchin reconstructs Earth's history from the time of the Anunnaki's arrival for gold, their creation of Adam, and their subsequent interventions. The book explores the 'cosmic code,' genetic engineering used to create Homo sapiens, and the astronomical knowledge embedded in ancient traditions. It discusses monolithic structures on Earth and Mars and delves into prophecies and the secret code linking humanity to the stars, recounting events from the last millennium BC.
• THE PHOENIX SOLUTION by Alan F. Alford: This book addresses profound questions about ancient Egyptian kings viewing themselves as 'gods,' their obsession with the afterlife, and beliefs about hell. Alford provides scientific answers and solves mysteries concerning the location of Atlantis, the contents of the 'Hall of Records,' the relationship between Egypt and 'the heavens,' and the meaning of the 'Phoenix-bird.' It also offers definitive proof that the Great Pyramid was not built by the Egyptian 4th Dynasty, unlocking the meaning of Egyptian 'pyramid texts' and revealing a legacy of astronomical knowledge.

Letters and Interpretations

Jim Kindle's interpretation of markings on page 3 of Ancient Skies 25:4, suggesting they represent the Sun and nine planets, is discussed by Dr. Stuart W. Greenwood. Greenwood references astronomer Tom Van Flandern's book 'Dark Matter, Missing Planets and New Comets' for evidence of a planetary breakup in the Asteroid Belt. Greenwood postulates that a planet orbited at 2.74 A.U. from the Sun, based on his interpretation of the Mayan Sacred Almanac and its Synodic Period of Venus with respect to Earth, suggesting Mayan concern with space flights between planets.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the possibility of advanced ancient civilizations possessing knowledge of flight and sophisticated engineering, as evidenced by the Nazca lines, the Egyptian wooden bird, and the construction techniques at Sarnath and Puma Punku. The magazine consistently explores theories linking ancient cultures with extraterrestrial intervention, as promoted by authors like Erich von Daniken and Zecharia Sitchin. The editorial stance, as represented by the Ancient Astronaut Society, is one of open inquiry into these possibilities, presenting evidence and interpretations that challenge conventional historical and scientific narratives. The publication serves as a platform for disseminating research and theories related to ancient mysteries and the potential influence of non-human intelligence on human history.