I find all of this interesting, and I found a website with all kinds of things about the technology of ancient man, but I want to get back to looking at things that are closer involved with You. I mean, learning about our history isn’t going to do me any good. I want to know about YOUR history!
So I want to look at…
Ezekiel 17
The Eagles and the Cedar
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
“Great eagle” – Nebuchadnezzar.
“Lebanon” – Jerusalem.
“Cedar” – David’s dynasty; his royal family.
4 He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.
5 He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
“Seed” – Zedekiah son of Josiah; he was the brother of Jehoahaz and uncle of Jehoiachin.
“Planted it” – made him king.
6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
“Another great eagle” – an Egyptian pharaoh, either Psammetichus II (595-589 B.C.) or Pharaoh-hophra (589-570 B.C.). Pharaoh-hophra, mentioned in Jer (44:30) is probably the pharaoh who offered help to Jerusalem in 586.
If the fact that chapter 17 is located between chapter 8 (dated 592) and chapter 20 (dated 591) is chronologically in meaningful, Psammetichus is meant.
“Bend her roots toward him” – Zedekiah appealed to Egypt for military aid, an act of rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.
8 It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
9 Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
10 Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
“East wind” – the hot, dry wind known as the khamsin, which withers vegetation. Here it stands for Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces.
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12 Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
13 And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
16 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
22 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
The Mystery of Ancient Man (Part 3 of 3)
As I had stated in Part 1 of The Mystery of Ancient Man – the history of the world is a mystery. Yet, nothing is hidden from God:
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:13).
“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad” (Lk 8:17).
As I had also said, curiosity is not a sin, if we weren’t curious I wouldn’t be so interested in Who God truly is.
The two things I am the most curious about, which I’ll probably never find out is:
1. Where did God come from since He created everything? He made the universes so where was He when there was nothing?
2. What happened in between the Old Testament and New Testaments?
The following pictures will show you that we have not evolved from anything, that we are what God made us to be.
There are things that ancient man invented that no days they say they were before their time. I find that ironic, it’s more like we are later bloomers.
Antikythera Mechanism
This curious mechanical device is often described as the world’s first analogue computer. It was retrieved by sponge divers off the coast of Antikythera in or around 1900AD. Scientists all agree that it is real and that it dates from some time during the 2nd century B.C.
It comprises of a complex system of dials, gears and cogs of extraordinary precision. Experts agree that it represents a standard of production that would not be seen again until the rise of complex clocks and clockwork in the 18th century.
After many years of research the current thinking is that it was used as an astronomy calculator to predict and measure the movement and cycle of the planets in relationship to the Sun, Earth and the Moon.
For decades after its original discovery the importance of the find was overlooked until archaeologists and modern scientist began to appreciate the significance of such early mechanical sophistication.
Since then it has been x-rayed many times using evermore advanced equipment. Working reconstructions have been made and entire research groups established to unlock the secrets of its manufacture and its purpose.
Its existence has challenged many preconceived ideas regarding the technological abilities of the ancient civilizations, but we can’t figure it out
Abydos Carvings
Located approximately 450 kilometers south of Cairo in Egypt is the very ancient city-complex of Abydos. Believed by many to be one of the most important historical sites relating to ancient Egypt it is also the location of a set of carvings that have caused a significant amount of academic controversy amongst archeologists and historians.
Within the Temple of Seti the 1st (Seti I) you can find the outer Hypostyle Hall and on one of the lintels you can find a series of carvings that look very much like helicopters and futuristic space craft.
The Helicopter is particularly recognizable and this has led to questions being raised about how this can possibly exist. Naturally, every UFO enthusiast or believer in a once technologically advanced Atlantean civilization has pointed to these images as proof of their theories.
Equally, every mainstream Egyptologist has gone to great lengths to explain that they are nothing more than the result of older hieroglyphs that were plastered over and then carved again so that when the plaster later collapsed the modified images that were under the plaster reappeared but in their new and coincidental design.
This has been the official line debunking the Abydos Machines. Quite complex charts have been created to show how the process took place.
Furthermore, they have rolled out the old argument that because they have never found items of this nature they could never have exited. Recently there have been some highly detailed and intelligent challenges to the theory that these images were simply the byproduct of re-carving.
The first is that this was an important building and the use of plaster would have been anomalous. Instead, the Egyptians would have used special sandstone filler that they were well experienced in making that was much more robust.
The re-carving theory is also coming under scrutiny and recent practical experiments cannot duplicate the effect described by the experts.
Lastly, some researchers believe that the layout of the items has a strong and accurate relationship with the Golden Section concept. Their point becomes quite interesting when they say that the coincidence that original carvings could be covered and re-carved and then still align to a set of perfect measurements is simply unbelievable.
Either way there is something persistent about this mystery and the debate will continue. Did the Egyptians whiz around in strange futuristic craft or did they just witness something they couldn’t explain and carve it in stone as a record.
Dendera Lights
There are three stone reliefs (carvings) that can be viewed in the Hathor Temple section of the Dendera Archaeological complex which is located on the banks of the Nile approximately 300 miles south of Cairo, Egypt.
Some researchers’ claim that these images depict an ancient form of electrical technology or lighting system. Mainstream Egyptologists strongly dispute that there is anything unusual about the carvings and claim that they merely represent aspects of Egyptian mythology and actual show the birthing of a snake from a lotus flower.
However, a close look at the picture does raise some interesting points and questions.
The lotus flower is easily recognizable but the beam (or bulb) is unusual. The stem of the lotus is unusually long and cable-like – and does appear to connect to a device that is similar to the ancient Baghdad Battery, which is shown further down.
The pillar does look remarkably like a modern electrical insulator of the type that is used on national power-lines and from this device two arms reach up to support the bulb or beam.
The snake is a representation of power and energy and leaves the lotus in a manner very similar to the elongated filaments associated with industrial lighting.
There have been many claims used to try and prove that these objects were real and these claims have subsequently been debunked. This criticism has then been associated with the carvings too.
Those opposed to the electrical lighting theory have often argued that if these existed there would have been archaeological artifacts found to corroborate pictures. They claim that no such artifacts have been found.
This is a fallacious argument. It depends on the idea that something can’t exist because humanity either hasn’t found it or can’t understand it. This is a subject worth exploring in much more detail.
Glorification of the Eucharist
Located in the recently restored church of San Pietro, Montalcino, Italy, are three beautiful works of art. The one located immediately behind the alter is called the Glorification of the Eucharist and was painted just before 1600 AD by the very talented artist Ventura Salimbeni.
What makes this painting both rare and unusual is the focal point which features a mechanical device that strongly resembles a satellite or observation drone. Although this has been refuted as nothing more than a creation globe there are a few points worth noting that challenge this rather high-handed dismissal.
The device clearly has telescopic antenna, what appears to be a camera (or lens) as well as a spotlight. According to some people the lens is a depiction of the moon and the light is a depiction of the sun.
If this is the case then the moon is a double crescent and the Sun is depicted proportionally smaller than it should be. In addition, the antennas are clearly fixed to the globe with grommet-like devices and are tipped with aerial spheres.
The globe also displays lines which have been claimed to represent early longitude lines on the globe of the Earth.
Baalbek Megaliths
Located at Baalbek in Lebanon are the largest megalithic stones ever carved from the “living” rock of a quarry. Often referred to as Cyclopean, they range in size and mass but the most sizeable is estimated to weigh nearly 1,300 tons and lies unused.
It seems that thousands of years ago they were shaped into gigantic rectangles and moved over a kilometer to be used in the early construction of the Baalbek Archeological Complex which was expanded during the Roman period when the town was known as Heliopolis (City of the Sun).
They are not merely foundation stones as it is quite clear that they rest on a deeper layer of smaller, but still very large, blocks. These massive units each weighing approximately 750 tons were built into the western retaining wall of the plaza and known as the Trilithon.
The precision with which these megaliths have been carved is incredible and would be nearly impossible to achieve even today. How they were moved and placed within the construction of the greater Baal-Jupiter (Zeus) Temple plaza remains unexplained.
Over the years various experiments have taken place that show that while it is possible for vast numbers of men with levers and rollers to move large building stones of up to 300 tons for short distances these megaliths are more than twice as large.
The size of the largest megalith and the fact that moving it even with modern technology would be extremely difficult does suggest that the ancient civilizations may well have had more advanced technology than we currently believe.
The Phaistos Disc
This unusual discovery was made in 1908 in an underground temple depository linked to the ancient Minoan palace site of Phaistos, on the island of Crete. Archeologist Luigi Pernier removed the disk from a layer of black earth which has allowed the artifact to be contextually dated to between 1850 B.C. and 1600 B.C.
Made from fired clay, the disk is approximately 15cm in diameter and a centimeter thick with symbols imprinted on both sides. The meaning of the writing has never been understood in a way that is acceptable to mainstream archeologists or students of ancient languages.
It is unusual for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it is one of a kind and no other item (with perhaps the exception of the Arkalochori Axe) bears any similar script.
The writing itself has been created by pressing preformed characters into the soft clay which would make this the earliest recorded use of movable type.
It is important to note that it was found close to a second tablet with standard writing from this period know as Linear A. Although there has been some controversy over the authenticity of the Disk it is widely believed to be genuine.
Numerous theories have been suggested and range from the Phaistos Disk being a prayer token to a message from ancient aliens. A recent and quite plausible theory is that it was a coded message that was read and then disposed of by dropping it into the pits.
If this is the case it would represent one of the earliest forms of sophisticated encryption.
The Baghdad Battery
These strange artifacts were originally discovered in 1936 during an archaeological dig at village of Khuyut Rabbou’a which is located approximately 20 miles south east of the city center of modern Baghdad and close to the Arch of Ctesiphon.
Described as 13-14cm in height they contained a copper cylinder and within this was suspended an iron rod. In December 1939, shortly after the start of World War II a German archaeologist by the name of Wilhelm Konig came across the item in the basement of the National Museum of Iraq.
He immediately recognized their similarity to galvanic batteries and published a paper that suggested that these ancient electrical devices may have been used for electroplating precious gold onto silver.
It is around this time that Adolf Hitler began a serious, if eccentric, program to study the technology of the ancients. Relatively modern films such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” are based on this obscure reality.
There is no easy explanation for the Baghdad Battery and naturally this has created controversy, debate and disagreement in the scientific community.
Reconstructions of this device have proved that it could generate an electrical current of between 0.4 and 1.9 volts. Naturally, some scientists dispute these claims and argue that the reconstructions are inaccurate. (Those scientist just love a good dispute – it’s the scientific equivalent of arguing with you history teacher to make sure that everyone else notices that you’re still in the class).
The Coso Artifact
During 1961 three rock collectors; Wallace Lane, Virginia Maxey and Mike Mikesell were hunting for geodes near the town of Olancha in the state of California, United States, when they discovered a potential specimen that would stimulate more than five decades of controversy.
While cutting through the geode they discovered that instead of the normal cluster of crystals they expected to find they discovered a white ceramic cylinder that had a central iron core that was surrounded by an accretion of rust colored stone.
A faint hexagonal discoloring of the surrounding material could also be made out with the naked eye. According to Ms. Maxey the artifact was examined by an experienced geologist who stated that material surrounding the cylinder was at least 500,000 years old.
X-rays of the Coso Artifact revealed further metal components that several independent experts have identified as parts of a 1920’s spark plug or something similar. If the item is a genuine “Out of Place Artifact” then it throws our understanding of history into total disarray.
Today the Coso Artifact has been largely discredited for three reasons. Firstly, iron objects that are exposed to rain and the correct type of sandy soil or clay can quite quickly build a concretion of rust that appears very much like sandstone.
Secondly, the artifact has disappeared. It may still be in the possession of one of the surviving discoverers but according to various sources they are no longer prepared to discuss the matter.
Thirdly, the identity of the geologist who dated the Coso Artifact has never been revealed. We’ve only included this item in our list because of the persistent interest in the discovery and the ongoing conspiracy theory that the item was confiscated by the United States Government and a gagging order placed on those that found it.
The Vimanas
This may be the most important section here, it refers to a collection of historical records from ancient India that describe an array of incredible flying machines and weapons of a technological standard even more advanced than those in existence today.
The oldest mention of these machines is found in the Sanskrit texts known as the Veda and date back to approximately 1,500 B.C. A modern translation reads:
“Jumping into space speedily with a craft using fire and water… containing twelve stamghas (pillars), one wheel, three machines, 300 pivots, and 60 instruments.”
In the Ramayana texts there are references to flying machines that were used for the convenience of the ruling class. In the Mahabharata texts there are descriptions of battle planes that fire missiles that use sound to find their target and beams of light that destroy anything they touch with their energy.
Credit for these machines was attributed to the Yavanas who are believed to be the ancient Greek civilizations.
In or around the early 1950’s a more modern text was made available. Called the Vaimanika Sastra (science of Aeronautics) it was allegedly the “inspired’ work of Subbaraya Shastry who claimed it was based on the writings of the great sage Bharadwaja thus giving authenticity to the scientific claims.
The picture is a concept drawing based on the written descriptions in the texts. However, it could equally well describe the Russian concept rocket depicted on the adjacent stamp.
It is also worth noting that there are claims that the 1960’s Russian scientists took a deep interest in the Vimana phenomenon and strangely it is around this time that they made significant leaps forward in their technological achievements. Still, this is probably just a coincidence.
Vimana are not unique to India and there are references from all over the world and include the Egyptian Saqqara Bird, the pre-Columbian golden airplane models, the Greek Icarus legend, the Chariot of Ezekiel, the Nazca runways (lines), The Abydos carvings, The Tassili rock paintings from Algeria and the Chinese references to Lu Ban’s wooden aircraft that flew great distances.
Naturally, these references are often dismissed by modern historians as simply impossible but there can be no doubt that humanity has a collective memory of have once been able to fly in ancient times.
Is this a coincidence based on the worldwide wishful thinking of past civilizations or is it a recollection of when it was actually possible.
Greek Fire/Sea Fire
Fire has been used in war since the earliest records began and may thousands of years later modern man still depends on the same power taken to its extreme in the form of high explosives, cannons, missiles, guns and of course flame throwers.
However, sometimes a weapon is developed that is so far ahead of its time and the military capabilities of the other forces that it changes the course of history. Greek Fire or Sea Fire as it is sometimes called was one such development and became the secret weapon of the Byzantine Empire.
At its most basic it was a fluid chemical mixture that could be ignited and then sprayed onto enemy ships and personnel. Its effects were devastating because this fluid could not be extinguished with water.
In fact, it was said to be able to burn under water and that any attempt to damp it down only made the flames burn more fiercely. It would cling to all materials and burn the flesh off the body of a man in seconds in a manner very similar to modern day phosphorus weapons.
The formula was kept so secret that no one today knows how it was made nor have scientists been able to recreate it using the ingredients available at the time.
Its invention has been attributed to the Syrian Engineer and architect Kallinikos around 675 – 673 AD who had fled from Baalbek (Heliopolis) in what is today Lebanon.
An alternative source of the knowledge is attributed to an Angel who revealed the recipe to Constantine personally on the agreement that it should remain a secret of Christianity forever.
The one person who did attempt to reveal the secret of the fire was allegedly struck down by a bolt from heaven. Whatever the source the discovery and subsequent use of Greek Fire certainly saved Constantinople from the Muslim conquest and held back the rapid invasion of Europe.
It was certainly discovered at a critical time that could not have been more opportune and it saved the Byzantine Empire.
This coincidence deserves much more investigation. As to the recipe it is believed it contained an early form of refined petroleum, naphtha, sulphur, nitre, saltpeter and other ingredients that may have even included phosphorus.
Resins are also mentioned as a possible component and recently there has been the suggestion that iron dust may have been included. Until more accurate records are discovered how it was made will remain a mystery and yet another lost technology of the ancients.
… the lost city of Troy. Jesus said similar things to what You said above:
“I am the vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn 15:1-5).
ou won’t be purging very many people, most of the world population are evil.