The Mystery of the Crystal Sun (The Lost Cosmic Wisdom of Modern People)

Author: (English) Robert Temple, translated by Xu Junpei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: It is rare to see a work that provides a complete segment of overlooked human history, and Temple's book is just such a work. From Stockholm to Shanghai, from Athens to Cairo, Temple traveled to museums worldwide, after 33 years of research across the globe, he referenced thousands of works in multiple languages, finally rediscovering a completely forgotten history: the history of optical technology in ancient civilizations. It dates back at least to the Old Kingdom of Egypt around 2600 BC and spread throughout the entire ancient Western world. An optical science and a highly developed lens-making technique, unknown to modern archaeologists and historians, were common and fundamental skills in ancient times. It inspired awe in the ancients who used this technology, permeating their myths and religious rituals, even leading to the "theology of light" in the medieval Christian world. Now we can finally understand how the ancient Egyptians measured the pyramids and other structures with extraordinary precision; they used instruments similar to telescopes with lenses, demonstrating their mastery of optical measurement techniques. We can also finally comprehend how, over thousands of years, were able to carve intricate designs on gems, including some so small they could not be discerned by the naked eye. Archimedes used a burning mirror to destroy the Roman fleet and observed the moon through a telescope, saying it had mountains and was a second Earth. Temple found many unknown crystal lenses in several museums in the UK. Many myths have been explained, and for the first time, we can now understand many religious events, from the eyes of the one-eyed giant Cyclops and Horus's eyes to Prometheus stealing fire from heaven. It is rare to see a work that provides a complete segment of overlooked human history, and Temple's book is just such a work. From Stockholm to Shanghai, from Athens to Cairo, Temple traveled to museums worldwide, after 33 years of research across the globe, he referenced thousands of works in multiple languages, finally rediscovering a completely forgotten history: the history of optical technology in ancient civilizations. It dates back at least to the Old Kingdom of Egypt around 2600 BC and spread throughout the entire ancient Western world. An optical science and a highly developed lens-making technique, unknown to modern archaeologists and historians, were common and fundamental skills in ancient times. It inspired awe in the ancients who used this technology, permeating their myths and religious rituals, even leading to the "theology of light" in the medieval Christian world. Now we can finally understand how the ancient Egyptians measured the pyramids and other structures with extraordinary precision; they used instruments similar to telescopes with lenses, demonstrating their mastery of optical measurement techniques. We can also finally comprehend how, over thousands of years, were able to carve intricate designs on gems, including some so small they could not be discerned by the naked eye. Archimedes used a burning mirror to destroy the Roman fleet and observed the moon through a telescope, saying it had mountains and was a second Earth. Temple found many unknown crystal lenses in several museums in the UK. Many myths have been explained, and for the first time, we can now understand many religious events, from the eyes of the one-eyed giant Cyclops and Horus's eyes to Prometheus stealing fire from heaven.