1975 03 00 SAGA - John Keel - Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAGA magazine, titled "Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries," delves into the controversial theories surrounding the ancient astronaut hypothesis, exploring the idea that ancient myths and legends are rooted in the visits of extraterrestrial beings. The issue is written by John A. Keel and examines how these ancient beliefs have resurfaced in modern times, particularly in relation to UFO sightings.

Heritage of the Gods

The lead article, "Heritage of the Gods," posits that thousands of years ago, a gigantic spacecraft from a distant star entered Earth's atmosphere, suffered a disaster, and its occupants fled into the jungles. These marooned extraterrestrials, described as having 'dumb and vacant' eyes, encountered primitive, ape-like Earthlings. The visitors experimented with these beings, creating a hybrid race that eventually inherited the Earth as their teachers died out. The survivors taught the hybrids agriculture, mathematics, and science, and the hybrids preserved these memories in folklore, often burying their teachers in mounds or pyramids. The extraterrestrials reportedly identified the Pleiades star system, or the 'Seven Sisters,' as their home.

The article notes that in the 1950s and '60s, scholars like Brinsley Le Poer Trench, W. Raymond Drake, Andrew Tomas, and Robert Charroux began questioning the conventional scientific view and exploring the idea that humanity might be descended from an advanced alien race. Erich von Daniken's subsequent book, which achieved spectacular success, popularized this concept among millions.

The idea of ancient gods being spacemen is presented as an old belief shared by cultures worldwide. The Hopi Indians, for instance, believe their gods came from a distant star and would return, viewing modern UFOs as proof of this promise. Similar legends exist among African natives and Australian aborigines, who also credit the 'Seven Sisters' as the origin of their 'Sky People,' while the constellation Orion is associated with 'evil space people.' These traditions are even referenced in the Bible, in the Book of Job.

The article questions whether humanity descended from lizards and apes or from inhabitants of a 'long forgotten planet in the Pleiades.'

A Doomed Universe

This section discusses the Pleiades star cluster, noting that while only six stars are visible to the naked eye, folklore universally refers to seven. It explains that the Pleiades are located hundreds of light-years away and are 'doomed' due to gravitational interactions and passage through gas clouds. Some stars are imploding, and any planets within the cluster would face extreme conditions, alternating between freezing temperatures and scorching heat from gas clouds, with violent energy vortices causing frequent tremors.

If the ancient astronaut theorists are correct, and the Pleiades harbor an advanced civilization, their scientists would have foreseen their world's destruction and sought new homes via space travel. The article suggests they built 'giant space arks' that eventually found Earth, a planet rich in life but inhabited only by primitive creatures. These creatures, mistaking the newcomers for gods, initiated beliefs that would shape human-hybrid affairs for millennia. Meanwhile, on the doomed Pleiades, a search party was dispatched for the missing ark, but due to the relativity of time, thousands of years had passed on Earth by the time they arrived. The original 'gods' were long dead, buried in pyramids, and the hybrids had begun their own primitive space exploration, hoping for, but not expecting, contact with other beings.

Cosmic Disaster

In 1908, a Pleiadian search party encountered 'strange forces' upon approaching Earth, causing their nuclear engine to malfunction. Their craft exploded violently over Tunguska, Siberia, flattening vast areas of forest and creating a flash visible for thousands of miles. The article refers readers to page 16 for more information on this event.

Years later, another Pleiadian search party approached Earth but maintained a safe distance, sending smaller scout ships to explore. One of these scout ships experienced an accident near Farmington, New Mexico. The article states that American scientists allegedly examined the crashed saucer and the bodies of 'little men' found inside, which were then transported by U.S. Air Force trucks to an unknown warehouse. This account is attributed to Variety reporter Frank Scully.

Ancient Astros (Continued)

This section continues the account of the Farmington incident. Frank Scully's story, published in March 1950, reported hundreds of unidentified flying objects appearing over Farmington for two weeks. Scully interpreted this as a search for the crashed saucer or a tribute to fallen comrades. However, Air Force investigators offered a mundane explanation: the objects were fragments of a balloon that had drifted apart in the upper atmosphere.

Later, it is revealed that the crashed saucer story was based on an informant's tale that turned out to be a 'flight of fancy,' and Scully publicly apologized for printing it. Despite this, the Air Force reportedly still receives letters from UFO enthusiasts seeking information about 'little aliens' allegedly preserved in jars at military bases.

Fiction or Fact

The article draws a parallel between these theories and the late 1960s television series "The Invaders," which featured an alien race from a doomed planet seeking a new home. Many episodes of the show were reportedly based on real events from ufology. The fictional alien agents in the show were depicted as looking human and exploiting human beliefs, dissolving into thin air when cornered, similar to alleged 'Men In Black' sightings.

Where Do They Come From?

This section addresses the origin of the 'mysterious teachers.' When ancient peoples asked where they were from, they were reportedly directed to the Pleiades. Modern UFO contactees have received similar answers. The article notes that in the early 1950s, many UFO entities claimed to be from Venus or Mars, but as space satellites revealed these planets to be barren, the entities changed their stories to more distant star systems.

Today, hundreds of cults are devoted to UFO contactees, with an estimated 5 million members worldwide. These groups often publish magazines, build temples, and spread 'propaganda' about these 'mischievous space people,' drawing parallels to esoteric religious cults that disseminated dangerous ideologies.

The Pleiadians are described as having infiltrated society over the past 30 years, with polls indicating that over half the population now accepts the idea of benign spacecraft from other planets. The ranks of believers include scientists, journalists, lawyers, doctors, and politicians. The article concludes that 'the gods of the ancients are still with us,' and many are engaged in 'spaceage evangelism,' preparing for a time when the Pleiadians might 'land openly in our midst—and take over.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration and popularization of the ancient astronaut theory, suggesting that extraterrestrial contact in antiquity has shaped human civilization and mythology. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting these theories as plausible, drawing connections between ancient legends, biblical passages, and modern UFO phenomena. While acknowledging skepticism (e.g., the Air Force's explanation for the Farmington sightings, Scully's retraction), the magazine leans towards validating the extraordinary claims, particularly those popularized by Erich von Daniken, and highlights the growing acceptance of UFOs and extraterrestrial visitation in contemporary society.