Ancient Russian Manuscript Describes 19th Century UFO Sightings

[Sequoia]

<snip>

On September, 1, 1808, at 8 o’clock and 7 minutes in the afternoon, in the sky, clear and sown with stars, a phenomenon appeared, incomparable in its beauty and rigor, as well as in radiance and enormous size, to anything seen before. As we noticed it, attracted by the loud cracking sound, it was rising in an arch over the horizon, from 55’ to almost 90’. Having passed this distance in an instant, it stopped among the clouds as if over the Kremlin and looked like a long straight plate some nine arshin (6.35 meter) long and half arshin (0.35 meter) thick.

Then on its front edge, turned to the South-West, an oval flame flared, some two arshin (1.4 meter) long and one and a half arshin (1.4 meter) thick, with a flame that can only be compared to the radiance of burning phosphor.

Floating in a circle without open fire or sparkle, it nonetheless lighted everything around as broad daylight; then the flame went out, the light disappeared, but the bright plate remained and quite smoothly went perpendicularly upwards, reached the stars and still could be seen for some two minutes and then, without disappearing, it became invisible due to the extraordinary height.”

Indeed, the mysterious object described bears resemblance to modern UFOs descroptions by its ability to stop and start off abruptly, radiating light, regular shape. However, Afanasyev rules out the possibility of the manuscript being a fake.

<snap>

http://www.mosnews.com/column/2006/02/07/sensationalfind.shtml

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. And then there are those who think the book of Ezekiel...

in the Old Testament describes what we call 'UFOs", particularly all the stuff about 'great wheels in the sky', shaped like 'a wheel within a wheel', etc. Which would indicate that people have been seeing things like this for a very long time.

Oh...and on edit: How is 1808 'ancient'? 'Ancient' has a specific meaning in historiography; it refers to the period up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. A manuscript from 1808 is old, but it's certainly not 'ancient'.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. I once saw a Man Eating Cole Slaw.

[BikeWriter]

4. I once saw a Man named Cole Porter.

[Benfea]

3. Ancient texts also describe talking snakes, but that don't make it so. -NT

[ForrestGump]

5. Seen Paul Wolfowitz, lately?

I rest my case.

[Benfea]

6. Paul Wolfowitz doesn't prove talking snakes exist.

In fact, the modern Republican party is a pretty compelling argument against the validity of any religion.

[Radical Activist]

7. snakes on a plane? n/t

[xchrom]

9. snakes on a MOTHAFUCKIN plane!

[Fox Mulder]

8. Interesting...

I'm going to bookmark this and read it later.

:hi:

[xchrom]

10. that is so cool -- thanks for the info.