Uriel Machine

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For other uses, see Uriel (disambiguation).

A Uriel machine is an example of a solar declinometer first proposed by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas in their 1999 book Uriel's Machine. Using a seven-step algorithm, two sighting rods and a number of wooden posts, an individual can build a simple solar observatory over the course of nine months that tracks the course of the Sun, Moon and Venus, and can predict equinoxes and solstices irrespective of latitude^[1].

The nomenclature is derived from a character of the same name in the Book of Enoch. In Knight and Lomas's interpretation of the Book of Enoch, Uriel warns Enoch about the impending flood, giving him instructions for building a form of solar observatory (for the purpose of preserving advanced knowledge into a time of global disaster) by teaching him the movement of the Sun against the horizon over a period of time, which Enoch then records in detail in the Book of the Heavenly Luminaries.

1 Evidence for the idea from the book
2 Construction
3 Proposed uses
4 Comments
5 See also
6 References
7 Sources
8 External links

[edit] Evidence for the idea from the book

In Masonic mythology there are many references to seven, which could refer to seven cometary fragments, although it is not clear why Masons should have any relevance to supposed events in prehistory, apart from the fact the Freemasonry claims a mythical history which began before the Biblical Flood. These seven cometary fragments are described in the book as hitting the earth in prehistory causing tsunamis. The authors then link this to the the work of geologists Edith and Alexander Tollmann^[2]. Their work proposes a series of meteors hitting the earth over the last 10,000 years, especially circa 7640 BC. Their evidence and counter-evidence is discussed in the article Tollmann's hypothetical bolide.

The book proposes that what the authors believe to have been stellar observatories (such as the first wooden Stonehenge) in Britain, and structures in the Boyne Valley in Ireland, show sufficient knowledge to be able to predict prescribed solar, lunar and venusian events and cycles, such as solstices and equinoxes. If rituals at Stonehenge involved stargazing, there is then the opportunity for an anomalous object to be spotted far more quickly if the cycles of observed celestial objects are known.

The authors quote textual evidence from the book of Enoch. There are also other coincidences made between Enoch and astronomy; for example, it is said he lived 365 years, which could be a reference to a year (365.25 days). It is also said that he knew what sacrifices to make during different times of the year, which is at odds with the Jewish lunar calendar.

It is suggested that chambers (souterrains) found in Britain might have been attempts to build shelters to be sealed against Tsunami that would have been caused by a cometary impact in the sea. Current archaeological thought dates souterrains as late Iron Age, some 9,600 years after the supposed impact event.

Archaeologists and astronomers have been extremely skeptical about this idea. Prof Archie Roy (an astronomer and psychic researcher) and Robert Lomas gave a joint talk about technological possibilities in Megalithic society at the 2000 Orkney International Science.

It has been suggested that artifacts like the Nebra skydisk are a solar calendar and therefore perhaps solar calendars could be built in the Bronze Age. The timing of the proposed event is many millennia prior.

[edit] Construction

An Uriel Machine is a circular construction of a number of wooden posts, with the Observer standing in the circle's centre. The position of the posts around the diameter will differ depending on the latitude of the location, as the position of the Sun against the horizon will be different. Thus, a Machine is constructed in situ following a simple set of rules over a period of nine months.

On the spring equinox (the day on which the morning and evening shadows on a wooden post form a straight line), define a central viewing point, then set up sighting posts on the position of the rising and setting sun.
After 30 sunrises, set two more sighting posts where the sun now rises and sets.
Using smaller markers, divide the distance between the sighting posts into 12 equal segments.
After 30 more sunrises, set two more sighting posts where the sun now rises and sets.
Using smaller markers, divide the distance between the two new sighting posts into 8 equal segments.
After 30 more sunrises, set two large sighting posts where the sun now rises and sets.
Using smaller markers, divide the distance between the two large sighting posts into 4 equal segments.

To build the other half of the machine, repeat the process starting at the autumn equinox (the day the sun rises and sets over the first pair of markers).

[edit] Proposed uses

The machine predicts standard solar events and thus can be used as a calendar for deducing the current day of the year to discern optimal times for planting and harvesting crops, or for discerning when ritual days are approaching. It can be used for recording and predicting solar, lunar and venusian cycles, or measuring the declination of any heavenly object.

[edit] Comments

In the book Public Archaeology, the archaeologist Tim Schadla-Hall,referring to the book as an example of pseudo-science, says that the authors "quote established academics in such a way as to make it seem as though they support their arguments". ^[3] The geology in the book is based on Tollmann's hypothetical bolide which has been rejected by specialists in meteorite and comet impacts.

"I believe that the astronomical basis of this book is sufficiently flawed as to render any conclusions that the authors draw from it to be highly suspect." ~ Stephen Tonkin^[4]