Seminar "Atom & Logos"                                                                        Dr. RobertC. Newman

August 1983,  St. Vincent, West Indies                                      Prof. of N.T.,Biblical Seminary

 

A CRITIQUEOF CHARIOTS OF THE GODS

 

Introduction

            Von DŠniken's theory: earthvisited frequently in past centuries by visitors from outer space

            His evidence: strange art; massive structuresbeyond human ability; accounts of miracles

            Will critique this theory using evidence fromarchaeology

 

Baalbek, Lebanon: Space Travel Center?

            Von DŠniken says this isancient space travel center, refers to platform with stones weighing 2000 tons

            Stones are huge, but not thatbig; architecture and historical info indicate structure is temple built by Romansin 2nd cen AD

            Somebody moved stones weighing 800‑1500 tons

 

Athens, Greece: Sophisticated BuildingDesign

            Parthenon shows ancients notstupid: know details on builders, etc.: Pericles, Phidias, 447‑438 BC

            Sophisticated corrections to optical illusionsincorporated in building design

 

Jerusalem & Caesarea, Israel:Impressive Size of Stones

            Herod the Great used stonesover 50 feet long, weighing hundreds of tons, building temple and breakwater

            Herod was not as wealthy as Romans

 

Gizeh, Egypt: the Pyramids

            Von D. emphasizes designed‑insecrets (pi, distance to sun); impossibilty of moving stones with wooden rollers;too much time needed to build (he estimates 664 yr)

            Egyptians must have known pi to make chariotwheels

            Distance to sun off by 5%.  Pretty good for Eyptians, pretty bad forastronauts!

            Evidencefrom antiquity on Egyptians and Babylonians moving large stones

            Datedstones show pyramid building took 10‑20 years

            Evidencefor developing techonology of pyramid building

 

Easter Island: Giant Heads

            Von D.: impossible to set upseveral hundred 60‑ton stone heads with only 200 inhabitants!

            See Thor Heyerdahl, Aku‑Aku:

                        6men could carve head in one year

                        Wholepopulation could move to site in day or two

                        12men were able to erect one in 18 days

 


Nazca, Peru: Spaceship Landing Site?

            Von D.: runways of spaceport; large animal‑figuresonly viewable from air;

                        arrowon coast

            But runways cross hills, deeply furrowed atintersections

            Ground too soft anyway

            Eachlarge figure is made of one continuous line, perhaps a path for dancing in a           sympatheticmagic ceremony

            Spacetravelers need arrow?

 

Conclusions

            Noevidence here for supertechnology beyond known ancient abilities

            Noevidence here for visits by extra-terretrials