Truth is, however: Strange phenomena of lights or unknown objects in the sky are written down by thousands over the ages. For example there was a Roman writer who wrote the following around 200 b.C.: "...that night the sky of Rome was lightened up by these glowing SHIELDS that hovered there..." It's interesting to see how the Roman writer uses something that's typical for the time, the SHIELDS, to describe the strange objects in the sky. There are also reports of the ancient, describing firy objects coming down from the heavens.
The strange thing is that these reports can be found in many different ancient cultures from different continents. In the late nine-teenth century there where waves of "air-ship" sightings all over the world. This could mean that the UFO phenomenon has been with us for ages. If that is the case, one could argue, there must be some clou's to be found in our own history of this. Is there...?
PALEO-SETI:
In 1969, the Swiss author Erich von Daeniken published his book "Chariot of the Gods". And although some of it was clearly written in the "SF-euphoria" that was typical for that period, von Daeniken has come up with some interesting material, he insists is proof for an Extra Terrastrial visitation in our past. One could argue if the evidence von Daeniken comes up with, really proves that, but however it DOES show us that science has been very "sloppy" with the facts through the years. One of von Daenikens 'sources' always has been the bible. Let's take a look at von Daenikens arguments:
MOSES AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL RUN FROM EGYPT
When Moses and his people fled from the egyptian slavery they crossed the desert to return to Israel, but what does the bible tell us about this trip (Exodus 13.21): "..And the lord moved in front of them (the jews,AD.), during the day as a cloud-column, and as a cloud of fire in the night, to lead them the way, day and night." Reading this, von Daeniken figured it might as well been a UFO-encounter described here.
And of course, people disagreed, back in 1969 and also now... At first theologists and scientists agreed that what Moses and his people saw was a vulcano-explosion, or some other natural phenomenon must've caused the smoke and light that "flew in front" of them. The vulcano-hypothesis we can easily dismiss though, because in Exodus 14.19 it says that this same "cloud of light and smoke" turned over their heads and positioned itself between the egytian army and the people of Moses. There we can also find a closer description of this "cloud".
The cloud was dark and bright at the same time...the outer cloud glowed firmly while the center of the cloud was dark. Not only the fact that the object was there made von Daeniken wonder, no, also the fact that another strange occurence took place right than. When they came to the sea, it parted and let Moses' people pass... Could this "cloud" change gravitational power so the water would split? Did they encounter a UFO as von Daeniken claims? If they did we're like- ly to find more "encounters" in the bible...but do we?
EZEKIEL
The answer is YES, the texts of Ezekiel have been subject of disscusion many times. Did he encounter God himself or merely an alien visitor? Let's see what von Daeniken thinks to find in it:
ANCIENT AIRPLANES?
In ancient South American graves archeologists found golden pins, they thought them to be statue's of insects. When von Daeniken took a look at these objects he rejected the scientists explanation. To him it was clear, the ancient South Americans made tiny models of "the vehicles of the Gods". He showed the difference that these object show in comparing them with real insects.
Insects, so von Daeniken argues have the wings on the upper side of their bodies, while these objects have the wings at the down side of the body. And this is simular to the way wings on an airplane would be attached. He asked an engineer in Aerodynamics and an Pilot to create a scaled model of these ancient art objects. Once they've been made it seemed von Daeniken was appearantly right. The models behaved as a modern airplane! Even the touch down went smooth and well. Did the ancients really have airplanes? Or did they merely copy the craft from 'the Gods' that seemed to visit the earth quite frequently in those days, if we're to believe the writings of that time.