Who is this Sitchin guy?

[beskeptical]

I get the picture, Sitchin must interpret reality differently than the rest of us. But I would like a really BRIEF rundown on the guy. Does he have any credentials (whether deserved or not)? Does he just have a website? Does he lead some astronomy protest group? Thanks

[Jim]

Sitchin believes we have been visited by Ancient Astronauts and they are responsible for our civilization... perhaps for us.

Try these links:

Interview with Stichin http://www.metatron.se/asitch.html

A Critique http://www.eridu.co.uk/Author/Ancien...n_message.html

A Positive
http://www.crystalinks.com/sitchen.html

His Website http://www.crystalinks.com/sitchen.html

[beskeptical]

Thanks [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[The Curtmudgeon]

Because of my interest in archaeology, and especially Middle Eastern archaeology, I find Sitchin to be much more interesting reading than, f'rinstance, von Daniken. Sitchin's bona fides may be somewhat debatable, but he certainly has a higher level of knowledge of the actual ancient documents than most other Ancient Astronaut theorists. Von Daniken is just making things up as he goes, without having the faintest idea of what the ancient writings and art are actually about.

None of which is to be taken as support for his theories. I find his writing to be better, IMHO, than von Daniken's just because he can write a more plausible sounding story that actually references real archaeological artifacts and writings; but it still, to me, is very entertaining fiction. I'm perhaps overly amused at the people who take his writings seriously, as I do have a sneaky suspicion that that number doesn't necessarily include Sitchin himself. Certainly, some of the claims he makes for his "interpretations" of various Mesopotamian myths and especially depictions of those myths in the artwork come perilously close to archaeologist in-jokes. It's hard to resist the idea that his tongue is somewhere to the left of his teeth when writing.

Regardless, the best way--if you don't mind spending money on science-fantasy books [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] --is to read some of his works yourself and form your own opinion. The 12th Planet is perhaps the best entry-level book to his 'theories', and Genesis Revisited is also ... entertaining. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

The (but I also read Hollow Earth books for entertainment, so maybe it's just me) Curtmudgeon