Ancient Astronomy by Chipka
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Description
There are mysteries in Agara: visitors to this small, northern country are always struck by the magical and indeed, alchemichal forces that shape its cities, towns, and villages. But because Agara is European, and now a member-nation of the EU, ancient astronauts, supernatural beings, and even time-travelers are not given credit for the anachronistic elements of Agaran history and contemporary life. The Machines on display at the Agaran National Museum in Pekkur are recognized as human inventions, the handiwork of ancient Agarans who discovered various natural laws, and found practical applications for them. By direct contrast, it seems appealing to think that the ancient Egyptians, Mesoamericans, and Polynesian cultures responsible for artifacts as beguiling as Agaran (and Üküré) Machines were inspired to such innovations by the direct intervention of superior beings, most often depicted in pseudo-scientific documents as pale people
The Mysteries of Agara and Ükür stand apart. There are numerous reasons for this, none the least of which is the perceived scale of such achievements. The Machines of Agara (despite their amazing complexity) are small. They are easily overlooked, easily classified as something else. And yet, they are components of something larger. Any Agaran will tell you this, and any Agaran will tell you that their entire country is a Machine, a vast, complicated, and terribly-accurate clock. It is ironic that in a land known for timeless clocks, the land itself is such a mechanism, the grandfather of them all!
Some evidence of Agara’s true nature can be found in 24 diminutive monuments scattered around the country. They are ancient constructions, similar in shape to the obelisks of Egypt, but unlike true obelisks, they are truncated, incomplete, and topped not with pyramidal points, but with opaque globes. We recognize them, today, as Agara’s Zodiological lights. They are astronomical tools: markers on the face of a clock that is a country. When various stars reach their yearly zenith, various lights will glow across the country. The timing of such displays is meticulously controlled by machines known to have functioned (flawlessly) for nearly 2000 years.
In ways that are coincidental at best, the people of Agara have long recognized the significance of December 21st, 2012. It is because of their clock towers, and a recognition of when one, another, or another of them will flash into buttery, amber luminosity. Like the ancient Mayans, and their remote Hopi cousins, the people of Agara recognize this date as the marker of a rare astronomical event. This event, in Agaran lore, is the time when the nation-clock resets itself, when the old day is gone and the new day begins.
Prophesies not withstanding, December 21st, 2012 represents a rare conjunction. The sun’s position at Winter Solstice directly marks the crossing point of our solar system’s ecliptic plane with the equator of the Milky Way galaxy. From a human vantage point, our solar system ecliptic might be seen as a single horizontal (or vertical) line; the equator of the galaxy, seen also as a line, would intersect the ecliptic at right angles, thus dividing the sky into four quadrants. The sun at Winter Solstice would occupy the point at which these two lines intersect. In this way, perhaps the only valid prophecy is a prosaic one. It is a prophecy that all Agarans accept. The prophecy of Agara is a simple one. On the Winter Solstice of 2012, all 24 of Agara’s Zodiological Lights will switch on. Farmers will look at them and perhaps gawk in amazement, as for the first time in anyone’s life, all 24 of Agara’s clock lights will tell them (at once) that it will still be a while before they can plant their crops.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting!
Comments (22)
alessimarco
Amazing photo and story!!!
MagikUnicorn
Love this remarquable shot and HISTORICAL GO BLACKHAWKS GO ;-)
micturn
Awesome POV and compo.
lior
Excellent POV!
kgb224
Outstanding artwork my friend.
minos_6
Great shot and post work, and beautiful writing to accompany it.
beachzz
This has such a mystical feel to it. The perfect lineup of the moon and the tower/obelisk/steeple is brilliant and exactly right for your story. Somehow reminds me of 2001, though I don't hear Hal.
helanker
Awesome tower indeed. And an amazing story too. Man where do you get it from ? :-)
durleybeachbum
I just LOVE your writing, Chip! But I am so glad all that feverish intellectual and creative activity is in your brain not mine because I should be EXHAUSTED trying to get it all expressed before I forgot it! Stunning pic too!
flavia49
beautiful picture and gloriuos POV!! fantastic story!
ShadowsNTime
Oh this is a most wonderful story, thank you so much for sharing this! How I wish I could write like you do, such a magic journey. This is one reason I have always loved to read, each word takes your mind and carries it to that place you speak of. Without the image you can see this very clear in your mind...I love that! It saddens me that modern man doesn't 'feel' the same way the ancients did, there was such a spiritual connection to everything that seems to have been lost on most in this newer world. This, for me, has a deep connection, I feel a strange pull that I can't describe, to this sort of thing. I love the image, its magnificent!
jmb007
bonne photo!!
MrsRatbag
Wow, how do you think of these things? You have such a fertile imagination! Great story, and wonderful image!
sandra46
SUPERLATIVE COMPOSITION, AND A GREAT SHOT, PERFECT FOR THE STORY. I ALSO LOVE THE SPECIAL COLOR YOU GET HERE!
Alex_Antonov
Very nice!
KatesFriend
I really must make a point of visiting Agara someday. They seem such pragmatic people for all the wonders of their land. I think how they laughed hearing all those preposterous end of the world theories for 21 Dec. 2010 that leak in fromo the western world. Including the one about the election of Sarah Palin as US president and then the ground just swallows us all up. And yet for such grounded people, they claim the most fantastic things about themselves and their country - one great machine. There is a real haunting quality that you've weaved into this story. Perhaps its seeming immortality of the Agara machines, and that they have there own deep purpose. I bit like a ghost story. The photo is an excellent centre piece to this story. Not just because it represents one of the Zodiological lights but because it looks so ancient, eerie and perhaps even integrated with the elements in some mysterious manner. One can imagine secret messages passing between the tower and the bright star in the sky.
danapommet
Magical capture Chip and super narrative. Dana
auntietk
That globe/pedestal arrangement, that fantastic design, looks like something Cyan Worlds would have come up with. It's properly mysterious and alien, yet totally familiar at the same time. I LOVE this further glimpse into Agaran lore. Excellent work!
Meisiekind
Marvelous work Chip!
myrrhluz
Very interesting narrative that sent my mind in various directions during the reading. Archeology, a fascinating science, has a long history of wonderful discoveries and exasperating attempts to fit those discoveries into preconceived models. This has had tragic consequences as in the case of Great Zimbabwe when archaeologists disregarded and stripped local material thinking it unrelated to the original builders and information about them was lost forever. I love the idea of Zodiological globes lighting up when planets reach their zenith. It would be a wonderful way to experience the cosmos, feeling in tune with the stars. Also to wonder at the ingenuity of the builders. I would gawk in amazement seeing many come on at the same time and knowing that across Agara they are all lit. It would make me think of the beauty of the motion of the universe. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about planting crops. Wonderful image! The simplicity, texture and glow of the pedestal against the dark sky is very dramatic and beautiful. I love the light of the globe shining up in communion, with the star.
praep
Very interesting informations - I'm not sure but I think you mean a town in the Czech Republic, known as Cheb in their language. I think If you right with that lights I should spend my time there in December 2012. Thanks for sharing that capture and informations. Not as easy to read for me but I gave my best g
lucindawind
impressive !