Were the Egyptian pyramids of Giza built thousands of years before the start of ancient
history? Or were they built by a superior extraterrestrial race that left them as a
monument to their civilization, the lost world of Atlantis, which was wiped out by the
Great Flood? Was this the civilization Plato wrote about as the lost, advanced world
wiped out by a natural catastrophe? These theories were being kicked around at the
sci.astro.amateur newsgroup.
What started this wild discussion was a legitimate scientific discovery by Kate Spence of
Cambridge University. She attempted to solve the mystery of how the ancients were able to
align the pyramids to face true north. Measuring true north by considering the sun’s
position is wildly inaccurate. And lining up structures to Polaris, the north star, is
also inaccurate, since the wobble of the north pole wanders and skews our perception of
where true north really is.
Spence believes the builders of the pyramids used two stars, one in the big and one in
the little dipper, to fix the alignment to true north, since the north pole was not lined
up with the north star during the time the pyramids were supposedly built. What’s so
important about knowing whether the pyramids were lined to true north? It would enable
scientists to determine a more accurate age for the pyramids. Age can be inferred by
measuring the north/south orientation of the stars at potential timelines of when the
pyramids could’ve been built.
What does this mean in English? The mystery of the age of the pyramids can be solved once
and for all. Most researchers believe the pyramids were built around 4000 B.C. while
others speculate that they were built far earlier, 10500 B.C. If they were built far
earlier, what we know about the talents and abilities of ancient humans would be severely
challenged, thus leading to the theory that an advanced, but now extinct, civilization
built the structures.
Marty at sci.astro. amateur writes, “As far as drastic increases in the age of the
pyramids, (or the Sphinx), I'd have to be pretty skeptical. There is a pretty broad base
of historical evidence to document at least rough dates of ancient Egyptian monuments."
Chris Peterson writes, “Well, the most reliable method is based on the fact that these
structures were built in historical times, that is, after the development of writing in
Egypt. We therefore have a rather complete historical record of Egyptian rulers and their
construction projects.It would be very difficult to reconcile that record with pyramids
that are older by eight thousand years."
Several of the writers had a sharp sense of humor to challenge those theorizing the
ancient advanced aliens theory. It was great fun reading their comments.
James Cook wrote, “Why did a race with such obvious 'fantastic' technology settle on earth
and build everything out of chuffing stone?"
Sean Golden agreed, “I sometimes think I could propose that the Empire State Building was
built in the 13th century by exiled Vikings but was forgotten until a city happened to be
built around it a few hundred years ago and that city was so determined to be famous that
they simply claimed to have built it themselves."
Maybe aliens are the celebrity mongers we feared them to be?
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"Celebrity-Mongering Aliens of Giza"
