1971 Cont.

Prehistoric Astronomers, By Leslie Young

Ancient roc carvings recently discovered in Armenia are reported to exhibit a considerable amount of astronomical knowledge. The foregoing which have been found at various sites in the highlands indicate that the inhabitants of that area during the period of 8,000-1,000 BC divided the year into 12 parts, suggesting an awareness of both the length of the year and of the lunar month. The last mentioned sustains the searches of an American scientist who has discovered evidence that many inscribed objects belonging to prehistoric man exhibited the phase of the moon. These are engraved on artifacts as previously noted extending from 35,000 years B.P. to 10,000 B.C., a period that includes a number of different cultural horizons. With regard to the Armenian engravers a great deal depicts the constellations. It shows the stars of Cygnus in a line with the sizes of the stars roughly proportional to their apparent brightness. There is also a pictogram of two men holding a serpent above their head which has been interpreted as the constellation of Ophiucus (serpent bearer). Other constellations have also been identified including Delphinus and a part of the Milky Way between Aquila Delphinus and Sagitta. The whole pictographic tableau makes it quite clear there was intentional primitive grouping and furthermore the names of the constellations were distinguished by pictograms. This particular engraving has been dated to 3,000 BC, by Russian Astronomer who has examined it, but it could be a great deal older. Nor must it be overlooked that Armenia is not a great deal distant from one of the centers of ancient civilization. It is particularly important to note that the foregoing which developed in Mesopotamia and is generally alluded as the Babylonian was exceedingly renowned for its astronomical lore to whom is attributed the Zodiac. To discuss Babylonian or Chaldean astronomy even briefly would exceed the scope of the present subject but it is worth noting that Brown an orientalist who towards the end of the 19th century who studied the subject particularly in relation to the zodiac contended it had been constructed prior to 3,000 BC. It may also be recalled that M. Oppert as early as 1868 read a paper at the Brussels Congress which affirmed from data derived from the astronomical observations of the Egyptians and Chaldeans, that 11,542 years before our era man had reached a stage of civilization to be able to make accurate calculations of the kind discussed above. He showed that at this period the Egyptians solar and the Chaldean lunar cycle came together. L.M.Y 1970

A brief note on the article ‘The Ancient Map Makers, by L.M. Young

Summarized by D. Clarke

A quote appeared in regards to a researcher who reviewed the Piri Reis’ map whose name was A. E. Nordenskiold.

"Nordenskiold contended that the unit of measurement was Catalan which he believed had been based on units used by the Carthagineans and that their portulans had been derived from geographical tradition greatly superior to Ptolomy who it be remembered is regarded as the greatest of the geographers of the ancient world. His mathematical ability is demonstrated by his work, the Geographia who furthermore had access to all the cartographic knowledge then available in the Alexandrine Library. Yet as emphasized by the author of the present work, he failed to produce a more sophisticated map of the Mediterranean than the rough seafarers of medieval Europe whose scholastic attainments were far from great. This is particularly emphasized by the illustrations figured by Hapgood of Piri Reis’ maps of Crete and the Western Mediterranean from the Bahriye, which when compared with the classic one are extremely crude. Studies made by Hapgood and his students have elucidated that these so-called compass markings are a projection grid based on a number of centers oriented to different north’s. The vertical lines are drawn through these centers would as the author rightly shows be meridians of longitude while those horizontal to it are parallels of latitude."

"the evidence cited in regards to Erathosthenes the Greek Geographer (BC 276-BC 196) who succeeded in estimating the circumference of the earth to within a small margin of error, that it extended well beyond the Greek epoch of seafaring."

The method Erathostenes used was the measuring of the sun and mid-noon in to different locations one Kyrene, and the other Alexandria. But this webmaster must note to the reader that at around 1,700 BC a Nubian King was noted to have found with his geographers as measured in the same method in Meroe to some location west or east of this with the other shadows casting onto wells. This means that by at least 1,010 BC the curvature of the world was known which falls at the height of the Phoenician Empire stationed near Carthage ports in the west and in the east Mediterranean. The Colossus of Rhodes of Apollo would later affirm this notion as a Sun God overseeing his circular ports. If we suppose the Piri Reis’ Maps are copies of something Carthage copied and then in turn from Phoenician records and then from some Egyptian source or other records. We may be looking at a system older then 2,000 BC. With this seems to parallel Stonehenge works and other astronomical circles in order to define the curvature of the earth. The circles in this case may not be overlooked as devices of establishing latitudinal or longitudinal considerations. In which case these megaliths span back to 6,000 BC in practice and that brings up the notion why is it Catalan Meters or units instead of an Egyptian one? This webmaster put has forward, and as far as I know I have heard of no one directly speculate along these lines in connection of astronomy with the geographical use of such monuments for that indirect purpose of map making. Or at least in regards to this, as to how Piri Reis map came to be. It will be noted in the 1972 Journal ‘The Atlantis of Plato’, by N. Zhirov’s ‘Atlantis’ Progress Publishers, Moscow 1971 which was a review of the English version. Showed by his theory that it might have been acquired during the period of the Akkadian and King Sargon when Verrils mentions that he had crossed the ocean and explored the Americas. This period was 2,350 to 2100 BC which is 400 years before the Nubian King of Meroe. This would explain some of the Toltec connections to the Akkadian religion, and astronomy that had overlade a older culture in Mexico, and Central America with winged serpents, or winged Sphinx Men, and or Feather Crowned men. This does not take away from the Phoenician use of symbols, or even the earlier Egyptian ones. It may also explain the re-emphasis of stepped pyramids.

1971 ends

An example letter from Ignatius Donnelly to W. E, Gladstone (statesman and classical writer)

Hastings Minnesota, U.S.A. Feb. 18, 1882

Dear Mr. Gladstone,

I have sent you a copy of my new book "Atlantis" which I beg you will accept with my compliments and respect. With your multifarious duties I can hardly hope that you will find time to read it, although part of it, the chapter on Greek mythology and its relations to Atlantis, especially touches a subject upon which you have written much. I should at least be glad to know that the book has reached you.

Ignatius Donnelly.

Gladstone responded on March 11th which was faster response then in 1972 postal service from England to America. Donnelly wrote back on the 25th. These two letters I do not know what transpired. Today, however, with the Internet letters they do move quicker.

A World Map of the 6th Century BC, By E. Sykes 1972 begins

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