said pyramids were built by machines that used levitation.( floating) whereas the poor egyptians slaves did not even have wheels on vehicles and had to use brute force for dragging load bearing sleds also quotes pandavas and kunti story. that each pandava had an extra terrestrial as a father. people who are interested in historical fiction should try " river god " by wilbur smith.a story set in egypt 4000 years ago.
the quantum of info egyptians left behind is incredible. we can recreate their entire lives using this. kalvettu padippathu pola hieroglyphics padippathu periya kalai
there was a programme about the ruins of an egyptian dam( kallanaikku potti)in discovery channel last year.
I saw a program on Raja Raja Chozha on Discovery channel a few months back. As usual.. made by outsiders.. without any knowledge of Tamil History or Culture.. I wonder when our chaps will start making documentaries about our own people.. But then again.. I suppose.. the "secular" brigade will be up in arms if we glorify (god forbid..) any Hindu king...
Dear Arun saw that documentary before the onset of the set top box regime in chennai. some facts might have been wrong in the documentary. but it was a wonderful effort. and some of the visuals of the upper level sculptures most of us would never have a chance to see. a treat to watch.
a right combination would be their effort and our script. but then most of us are yet to agree on what really happened.
Dear Sir, to a certain extent yes they do talk about defying gravity. and no, I am not sceptical about it. but a building like a pyramid. egyptians maintained the design for a 1000 years almost. hundreds of thousands worked ( as per archaeological studies on the worker settlements). I just dont beleive levitation would have been used for lifting 20 ton blocks half way to the sky.
I just didn't like the rather supercilious tone of the narrator especially when dealing with the religious aspects. I have frequently seen this; when christianity or Islam or Judaism is being presented there is some sort of "hushed reverance".. when discussing other religious beliefs both living and extinct (like the Egyptian) there is this strong undercurrent of superciliousness. And I am saying this despite not being particulary religious. :)
I too read 'chariot of gods' when I was in school and was fascinated by it. It talked about so many places and so many things that I was mesmerised. But as I grew, I started doubting everything in it. Finally once I was introduced to Sagan, Hawking, Penrose, Feynman et al, I understood what made me doubt in the first place.
"Making an hypothesis is not science; it's what you do with an hypothesis that more or less is science and is to be judged by others. Von Däniken is entitled to his hypothesis. But what does he do with it? " Read more, http://www.csicop.org/si/7601/daniken.html
Instead, I would recommend 'Guns, germs and steel' by Jared Diamond, a book worthy of read and analysis by this group.
Of course, I am not an expert on commenting on the discussions here. I am more inclined towards the literary value of PS than its historical context.
Based on my readings, I am actually surprised that we have the Romans leave so much of textual, architectural and other evidences while we have a king coming in 1000 years after the Romans, yet leave so little evidence as to his reign and the general socio- economic dimension of the rule. Although there are inscriptional evidences, it is still inadequate to reconstruct the life of an ordinary person during RRC/RJC times. This actually leave a lot of gaps and a lot of scope for assumptions and hypothesis (which has been used to the hilt by the Dravida parties!).
Is it because our kings wrote in the palmyra leaves which got decomposed/destroyed etc?. I remember Tamil thatha's efforts in recovering the 'eadu's from the various villages and persons. I dont think this work was continued after him. Do we know of any palmyra leaves written during the RRC/RJC times?.