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Earth Chronicles #5
When Time Began (Book V): The Fifth Book of the Earth Chronicles
Night and day, month after month, year after year, our ancestors dutifully recorded the passage of time on clay tablets, watching the heavens from stage towers and pyramids and from megalithic monuments whose incredible size and precise architecture boggle the mind. . . . Who were the builders of these mysterious structures? What was their purpose? Whose signature is indelibly written on these timeless stones, and who was the Divine Architect? Why was Stonehenge and its likes built by ancient civilizations at the very same time--4,100 years ago? What is their message for our time? With these questions in mind, Zecharia Sitchin, renowned researcher of past ages, takes us on a journey through the records of time in this, the fifth book of his Earth Chronicles series. Drawing deeply on Sumerian and Egyptian writings, millenia-old artifacts, and sacred architecture ranging from ancient Mesopotamia to pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas, this bestselling scholar provides astounding insights into the origins of the calendar, astronomy, and astrology. He takes readers to the climax circa 2100 b.c. when Marduk, the Babylonian national god, attained supremacy on Earth and proclaimed the New Age of Aries--after which society, religion, science, and the status of women were never the same.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
82 people are currently reading
1529 people want to read
About the author
Zecharia Sitchin
193 books767 followersSitchin was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was raised in Palestine. He acquired knowledge of modern and ancient Hebrew, other Semitic and European languages, the Torah, and the history and archeology of the Near East.
He was one of the few scholars able to read and interpret ancient Sumerian and Akkadian clay tablets.
Sitchin graduated from the London School of Economics, University of London, majoring in economic history.
A journalist and editor in Israel for many years. His books have been widely translated, converted to braille for the blind, and featured on radio and television.
He was one of the few scholars able to read and interpret ancient Sumerian and Akkadian clay tablets.
Sitchin graduated from the London School of Economics, University of London, majoring in economic history.
A journalist and editor in Israel for many years. His books have been widely translated, converted to braille for the blind, and featured on radio and television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 12, 2018
The mysteries surrounding Stonehenge have filled countless books, but what if there were other ancient megaliths just like it around the world? When Time Began is the fifth book by Zecharia Sitchin’s of his The Earth Chronicles examining the correlations between the calendars from cultures around the world and how they all appear to be related to beginning around the same time period, culminating in Mankind entering its first “New Age”.
Sitchin began with a recounting of “the beginning of time” according to his research when Nibiru entered the solar system then later when the Anunnaki arrived on Earth and finally after the Deluge. Then focused turned to Stonehenge, its construction and astronomical alignments along with when they occurred. He then transitioned to showing other circular astronomical designs from around the world, beginning in Sumer but also in the Americas before turning his attention to their significance to the politics of the Anunnaki especially concerning the numerous separate exiles of Thoth and his brother Marduk/Ra. Building off the his work in The Wars of Gods and Men and The Lost Realms, Sitchin explains that the events leading up to the end of the Sumerians were caused not only by the politics but astronomy and religion which were one and the same. And the aftermath was not only the end of the Sumerians, but also that of a “unified” religion and the birth of national deities.
Unlike the previous books, Sitchin mixed his usual academic approach at the beginning of his books with his own theories and explanations creating a different feel this book compared to his others. Another aspect is that this book felt more of a “continuation” of the two previous mentioned books as Sitchin adds more evidence for this theory on the colonization of the Americas as well as give more details leading to and the aftermath of fall of Sumer. Yet this last aspect is where the flaws of the book are the most pronounced as, even without an added quarter-century of archaeological discoveries the errors are hard not to miss take notice of with or without an open mind.
The information and theories proposed in When Time Began have stuck with me since I first read it and caused me to misremember things in other books. Zecharia Sitchin continued to build his theory on the foundations of his previous books, but unlike them the errors were a little harder to ignore in this particular installment. If you have read his previous volumes by all means read this one as well, however be warned that some conjectures and theories are simply incorrect unlike others that can be reasonably debated.
Sitchin began with a recounting of “the beginning of time” according to his research when Nibiru entered the solar system then later when the Anunnaki arrived on Earth and finally after the Deluge. Then focused turned to Stonehenge, its construction and astronomical alignments along with when they occurred. He then transitioned to showing other circular astronomical designs from around the world, beginning in Sumer but also in the Americas before turning his attention to their significance to the politics of the Anunnaki especially concerning the numerous separate exiles of Thoth and his brother Marduk/Ra. Building off the his work in The Wars of Gods and Men and The Lost Realms, Sitchin explains that the events leading up to the end of the Sumerians were caused not only by the politics but astronomy and religion which were one and the same. And the aftermath was not only the end of the Sumerians, but also that of a “unified” religion and the birth of national deities.
Unlike the previous books, Sitchin mixed his usual academic approach at the beginning of his books with his own theories and explanations creating a different feel this book compared to his others. Another aspect is that this book felt more of a “continuation” of the two previous mentioned books as Sitchin adds more evidence for this theory on the colonization of the Americas as well as give more details leading to and the aftermath of fall of Sumer. Yet this last aspect is where the flaws of the book are the most pronounced as, even without an added quarter-century of archaeological discoveries the errors are hard not to miss take notice of with or without an open mind.
The information and theories proposed in When Time Began have stuck with me since I first read it and caused me to misremember things in other books. Zecharia Sitchin continued to build his theory on the foundations of his previous books, but unlike them the errors were a little harder to ignore in this particular installment. If you have read his previous volumes by all means read this one as well, however be warned that some conjectures and theories are simply incorrect unlike others that can be reasonably debated.
February 18, 2012
Zachariah Sitchins books are detailed with actual translations of Ancient Cuniform (clay tablet) writings. He is an Archeologist, and ancient scirpt translator. He delves into ancient texts, and clay tablet writtings, religious scriptures, artifacts, and drawings & visits museums, and sights of actual historical significance mentioned in various world scriptures, to get an up-close, hands on grasp of what happened. His books are filled with historical facts, with awesome translations, actual pictures of the cuniforms themselves, many of which are pictorial in nature (they appear in his books). Each of the books is a veritable treasure-house of knowledge, of scientific breakthroughs into understanding what has happened in ancient civilizations, regarding gods (alien races), and their meaning present in our scriptures today.
January 4, 2021
Very interesting theories on the pre antediluvian and post antediluvian eras. Many of the cuneiform tablets of the Sumerians/Mesopotamia survived the great flood. This book continues on the path and descriptions of a pre existing race before humans called the Annunnaki who were on this planet which people came to worship as gods - according to Sitchin. In the first book the Annunnaki are the ones who created mankind according to these ancient cuneiform tablets. According to many ancient cuneiform tablets - which were finally translated with the help of the Rosetta stone and other remnants of ancient languages and texts of all types from around the world we get the story of these ancient beings. Sitchin and I differ on who the Annunnaki really were; but, which he included and mentioned are actually the fallen angels (which is my personal belief). Their story can be found in the Book of Enoch which was removed out of the bible and was once a part of the bible in the apocrypha. This book was never removed from the ancient Christian text in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people revere it to this day. The bible also references this text/book/codex in two verses.
This book, in this series focuses on time itself. How time began and came into being. How the Annunnaki/Fallen Angels taught man: the use of time, the purpose of time and how it relates to the creation of the cosmos. In association with: mathematics, building megalithic structures, and other forms of creating or having knowledge in the fields of astrology and astronomy, biology, etc. How time relates and is a fundamental part of religious and ancient practices which mankind still follows to this day from all religions and cultures from around the world. Sitchin researched and included summaries of ancient texts from other cuneiform writings and ancient texts/stories/religious stories of all types from numerous cultures from around the world of antiquity such as: Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Ethiopia, the ancient Phoenician, Israel, Egypt, Africa, Far Eastern cultures, Aztecs and Mayan cultures. All of them offer up the same story over and over again on these beings and how time is related to God, and to these beings and how the cosmos actually works and is relative to everything we do or will do. How time is measured, how other cultures measure time for their own purposes past and present which can differ with each other and their calendars. How the Annunnaki used time themselves in their travels of the cosmos. I got the impression they used it as a tool in ways we have no understanding of today from reading this book.
Be aware that this series of books is very similar to what reading a college text book and study
of ancient cosmology might be like within a college setting. Various types of scientists can't fully agree if this is pseudo science or the real thing. One thing for sure if you have an interest in this subject matter as I do then you might enjoy Sitchin's theories regarding who/whom actually started the human race. Totally different than what we're taught in school or our religious institutions. Fair to say a totally different take yet also lines up with the bible and other ancient writings. I personally find this series thought provoking reading, filed under the heading of maybe/what if. Very interesting what the ancients actually wrote and thought, what they knew and their possible technology.
This book, in this series focuses on time itself. How time began and came into being. How the Annunnaki/Fallen Angels taught man: the use of time, the purpose of time and how it relates to the creation of the cosmos. In association with: mathematics, building megalithic structures, and other forms of creating or having knowledge in the fields of astrology and astronomy, biology, etc. How time relates and is a fundamental part of religious and ancient practices which mankind still follows to this day from all religions and cultures from around the world. Sitchin researched and included summaries of ancient texts from other cuneiform writings and ancient texts/stories/religious stories of all types from numerous cultures from around the world of antiquity such as: Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Ethiopia, the ancient Phoenician, Israel, Egypt, Africa, Far Eastern cultures, Aztecs and Mayan cultures. All of them offer up the same story over and over again on these beings and how time is related to God, and to these beings and how the cosmos actually works and is relative to everything we do or will do. How time is measured, how other cultures measure time for their own purposes past and present which can differ with each other and their calendars. How the Annunnaki used time themselves in their travels of the cosmos. I got the impression they used it as a tool in ways we have no understanding of today from reading this book.
Be aware that this series of books is very similar to what reading a college text book and study
of ancient cosmology might be like within a college setting. Various types of scientists can't fully agree if this is pseudo science or the real thing. One thing for sure if you have an interest in this subject matter as I do then you might enjoy Sitchin's theories regarding who/whom actually started the human race. Totally different than what we're taught in school or our religious institutions. Fair to say a totally different take yet also lines up with the bible and other ancient writings. I personally find this series thought provoking reading, filed under the heading of maybe/what if. Very interesting what the ancients actually wrote and thought, what they knew and their possible technology.
February 19, 2024
"When Time Began" by Zecharia Sitchin is another compelling installment in his Earth Chronicles series, where he continues to challenge conventional narratives with his intriguing theories about ancient civilizations and their cosmic connections. In this volume, Sitchin delves deep into the mysteries of time, exploring how ancient societies understood and measured the passage of time, and how their knowledge and technologies were possibly influenced by extraterrestrial beings.
Sitchin's work is grounded in his interpretation of ancient texts, artifacts, and architectural marvels. He argues that the sophisticated understanding of astronomy and timekeeping found in ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Mayans was imparted by the Anunnaki, an advanced alien civilization from the planet Nibiru. This book takes readers on a journey through time, examining the origins of calendars, the purpose behind megalithic structures like Stonehenge, and the precise astronomical knowledge possessed by early civilizations, suggesting that such knowledge was too advanced to have originated independently.
What makes "When Time Began" particularly fascinating is Sitchin's ability to connect dots across different cultures and epochs, presenting a unified theory that offers an alternative explanation to the development of early human societies. His meticulous research and engaging narrative invite readers to question the mainstream understanding of human history and consider the possibility of ancient guidance from the stars.
Sitchin's work is not just an exploration of ancient myths and legends but a proposition that these stories may hold truths about our origins and the broader universe. While his theories may be controversial and met with skepticism by some scholars, the detailed arguments and evidence he presents make "When Time Began" an intriguing read for anyone open to alternative perspectives on history and the origins of civilization.
For those interested in ancient mysteries, archaeoastronomy, and the potential for extraterrestrial influences on human history, "When Time Began" offers a captivating and thought-provoking view. It is a testament to Sitchin's enduring curiosity and his commitment to exploring the boundaries of our understanding of the past. This book is not only a journey through the annals of time but also an invitation to imagine the unimaginable in the quest for knowledge about our collective beginnings.
December 23, 2024
Civilization beginin Sumeria. Zecharia Sitchin believes that aliens came from the planet of Nabiru, altered our genetic make up and then taught us the fundamentals of civilization. The main focus of the book is the measuring of time. Where did humans find out about time, calendars and the planets when they primative beings? Why is the number 7 so important to humans? How come we count things based on 6's and 12's.? Simple we got it from the annunaki. Some of the Annunaki had six fingers which would explain why they counted by 6's and 12's. the number 7 is important becauseflyin to earth from outside the solar system one would first encounter Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and then Earth.
There are two types of calendrical measurements, lunar and solar. Different calendrical methods were used at different times. first it was lunar and then solar. Stonehenge appears to be both. Stonehenge which is located in England is comprised of very large stones which ar extremely and not from around the area. Which begs the question how did the early brits get those stones over there. Just no way. Stonehenge is meant to measure equinox's and solstices, how did primatives manage to figure that out? to figure out this dilemna one must look further afield . One logical guess would be Egypt but in Egypt there are no round ciruclar structures composed of stone the way Stonehenge was. going further afield one ends up in Mesopotamia. It is here that one finds a structure similar to Stonehenge. There are similair structures like Stonehenge in Armenia, in Caucasus, and South America. Why are these structures situated so far apart. It seems they must have been built by the same people.
The Annunaki traveled far and wide in their search for tin, gold and other medals. They mined Africa for gold, England and South America for tin. Humans were not advanced enough o build a boat o ship that could make it from the Middle East. Someone more advanced must have been behind it. The author believes that Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and sciences was the one who was behind the designing of Stonehenge.The author tells his version of how the Annunaki travels from Sumeria to Egypt. He recaps some of the civil wars they had and how they used nuclear weapons against each other. Overall interesting book with some real possiblilies.
There are two types of calendrical measurements, lunar and solar. Different calendrical methods were used at different times. first it was lunar and then solar. Stonehenge appears to be both. Stonehenge which is located in England is comprised of very large stones which ar extremely and not from around the area. Which begs the question how did the early brits get those stones over there. Just no way. Stonehenge is meant to measure equinox's and solstices, how did primatives manage to figure that out? to figure out this dilemna one must look further afield . One logical guess would be Egypt but in Egypt there are no round ciruclar structures composed of stone the way Stonehenge was. going further afield one ends up in Mesopotamia. It is here that one finds a structure similar to Stonehenge. There are similair structures like Stonehenge in Armenia, in Caucasus, and South America. Why are these structures situated so far apart. It seems they must have been built by the same people.
The Annunaki traveled far and wide in their search for tin, gold and other medals. They mined Africa for gold, England and South America for tin. Humans were not advanced enough o build a boat o ship that could make it from the Middle East. Someone more advanced must have been behind it. The author believes that Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and sciences was the one who was behind the designing of Stonehenge.The author tells his version of how the Annunaki travels from Sumeria to Egypt. He recaps some of the civil wars they had and how they used nuclear weapons against each other. Overall interesting book with some real possiblilies.
December 22, 2021
Din cele mai vechi timpuri, pământenii şi-au înălţat privirile către cer. Cuprinşi de veneraţie şi fascinaţie, au luat cunoştinţă de fenomenele cereşti: poziţia stelelor, ciclurile Lunii şi Soarelui, mişcarea de rotaţie a unui Pământ înclinat. Însă cum a început totul, cum se va termina şi ce se va petrece în tot acest răstimp?
Cerul şi Pământul se întâlnesc la linia orizontului. De mii de ani, oamenii au văzut cum, la linia de întâlnire, stelele nopţii cedează locul lor razelor Soarelui şi au ales ca punct de referinţă momentul în care ziua şi noaptea sunt egale, anume echinocţiul. Ajutat de calendar, omul a calculat Timpul Terestru pornind de la acel moment.
Pentru ca cerurile înstelate să poată fi identificate, bolta cerească a fost divizată în douăsprezece părţi, cele douăsprezece case ale zodiacului. Dar pe măsură ce alte mii de ani s-au scurs, „stelele fixe" s-au dovedit a nu fi deloc fixe, iar ziua echinocţiului, ziua Anului Nou părea să se schimbe de la o casă zodiacală la alta. La Timpul Terestru a mai fost adăugat Timpul Astronomic, fapt care a corespuns cu începutul unei noi epoci, unei Noi Ere.
Pentru că ne aflăm în pragul unei Noi Ere, când răsăritul din ziua echinocţiului de primăvară va avea loc în casa Vărsătorului, spre deosebire de acum 2000 de ani, când s-a întâmplat să fie în casa Peştilor, mulţi se întreabă ce ar putea aduce cu sine această schimbare: ceva benefic ori malefic, un nou început sau un sfârşit, sau lucrurile vor rămâne neschimbate?
Pentru a cunoaşte viitorul, trebuie să cercetăm trecutul, pentru că, de când a început să măsoare Timpul Terestru, omenirea a înţeles deja ce ar putea să determine Timpul Astronomic-venirea unor Noi Ere. Ceea ce a precedat şi a urmat după o asemenea Nouă Eră reprezintă o lecţie esenţială cu privire la rolul pe care-l avem noi înşine în curgerea Timpului.
Cerul şi Pământul se întâlnesc la linia orizontului. De mii de ani, oamenii au văzut cum, la linia de întâlnire, stelele nopţii cedează locul lor razelor Soarelui şi au ales ca punct de referinţă momentul în care ziua şi noaptea sunt egale, anume echinocţiul. Ajutat de calendar, omul a calculat Timpul Terestru pornind de la acel moment.
Pentru ca cerurile înstelate să poată fi identificate, bolta cerească a fost divizată în douăsprezece părţi, cele douăsprezece case ale zodiacului. Dar pe măsură ce alte mii de ani s-au scurs, „stelele fixe" s-au dovedit a nu fi deloc fixe, iar ziua echinocţiului, ziua Anului Nou părea să se schimbe de la o casă zodiacală la alta. La Timpul Terestru a mai fost adăugat Timpul Astronomic, fapt care a corespuns cu începutul unei noi epoci, unei Noi Ere.
Pentru că ne aflăm în pragul unei Noi Ere, când răsăritul din ziua echinocţiului de primăvară va avea loc în casa Vărsătorului, spre deosebire de acum 2000 de ani, când s-a întâmplat să fie în casa Peştilor, mulţi se întreabă ce ar putea aduce cu sine această schimbare: ceva benefic ori malefic, un nou început sau un sfârşit, sau lucrurile vor rămâne neschimbate?
Pentru a cunoaşte viitorul, trebuie să cercetăm trecutul, pentru că, de când a început să măsoare Timpul Terestru, omenirea a înţeles deja ce ar putea să determine Timpul Astronomic-venirea unor Noi Ere. Ceea ce a precedat şi a urmat după o asemenea Nouă Eră reprezintă o lecţie esenţială cu privire la rolul pe care-l avem noi înşine în curgerea Timpului.
November 13, 2017
Sitchin’s When Time Began, the fifth book in the Revolutionary Earth Chronicle series is another amazing read from the seven book series. Sitchin relies mainly on Sumerian and Egyptian writings, sacred artifacts, and ancient architecture to provide amazing insights on the origins of the calendar, astronomy, and astrology. In addition, Sitchin reveals the chaotic times for both gods and men with the arrival of a New Age. Leaving behind the Age of Taurus, Sitchin takes his readers on the climax circa 2100 B.C. when Marduk, the Babylonian national god, acquired supremacy and declared the New Age of Aries. The aftermath of these events demonstrates that society, religion, science, and the status of women were never the same. I gave this book a 3 due to a few slow chapters, not as intense as book I & III but I still thoroughly enjoyed the insights, evidence, and book overall.
I recommend reading this book with an open-mind and let go of any tendencies to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses –confirmation bias.
I recommend reading this book with an open-mind and let go of any tendencies to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses –confirmation bias.
August 17, 2021
I read this book in order of the Earth Chronicles. Before reading it I thought this topic was covered already in the series, however, there was so much new and interesting information to be uncovered. I especially appreciate how this book focuses on Thoth. There’s so much about his relationship with his brother Ra/Marduk, his influence with Stonehenge, and in the Americas. It’s really fascinating; I recommend reading it if you’re interested in the beginning of the concept of Time such as the various calendars, as well as their influence on mankind.
January 28, 2019
Unfortunately, the first half of the book is a boring and barely coherent (all right, let's be honest - utterly incoherent) theory about the "beginning of Time." If you can endure that, however, Sitchin gets back on track with his sci-fi fantasy of the Annunaki in the second half.
[Does anyone else find it odd that the Annunaki drop out of recorded history about the time when that history can no longer support the delusion?]
[Does anyone else find it odd that the Annunaki drop out of recorded history about the time when that history can no longer support the delusion?]
October 8, 2017
Book no. 5 of The Earth Cronicles, it is a study of when and why humans started measuring time. The hypothesis is that the calendar is a religious device that originated with the Annunaki and was reapplied in their multiple centers across the globe. Not my preferred book of the series, I find a bit of repetition in content and found the structure rather difficult jumping back and forth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2023
While the first few chapters and the last few chapters have all the hallmarks of his earlier work (highly thoughtful and very entertaining) all the chapters in the middle are dull, long winded and they rehashed old ground. Worth a read if you’re going through the series but the worst of them so far for me (I haven’t read the last two yet.)
July 4, 2025
As with all the books in this series, although absorbing, it's a lot to take in and process. The one thing that stuck out to me in this book is what I've believed all along, that it was The Anunnaki who built the pyramids, due to the remarkable engineering feats of The Great Pyramid of Giza. I've never had the notion that humans built them all by themselves.
July 2, 2025
The part about Stonehenge was really fun, but the rest of the book seemed pretty repetitive to book 3 in the series. However, it is amazing to realize how many modern theories on ancient civilizations are just copying Sitchin's work.
August 23, 2025
"When Time Began" is another cornerstone of Sitchin's epic series. It explains the surprising truths behind time, calendars, and humanity's oldest monuments. It takes the reader on a veritable journey through time and raises striking questions about the origins of our beliefs today.
July 10, 2019
Explains Why We Measure Time
Very interesting study of the beginning of time and measuring of time. It causes you to think about it in a new way.
Very interesting study of the beginning of time and measuring of time. It causes you to think about it in a new way.
October 2, 2019
Fascinating theories about our history here on Earth, and extremely well-researched.
May 2, 2021
This series is an amazing fantasy/reality series. Its presented as true, and he claimed it was, but so did Castaneda.
May 25, 2021
Excellent theories and support for how humanity recorded time.
November 23, 2021
By far the most illuminating book of the Chronicles.
October 14, 2023
The title of this book made me nervous because it points to a subject that I found to be particularly hard going in Sitchin's writings. That subject being what Sitchin refers to as "calendrical' stuff: calculations of soltices and equinoxes and dates and years and so forth. The truth of the matter is that I wasn't looking forward to the read.
Surprise,surprise! "When Time Began" turns out to be the book in the series I most enjoy after "The 12th Planet". It shares the same characteristics of the other books. Just like the others, Sitchin repeats the material here as well as adding some new material.
The reason I don't mind the repetition of subject matter at this point in the series is that the repetition now serves aa a reminder of what came before. More than that, it gives Sitchin the opportunity to tie things together from the previous books. Within the pages of "When Time Began" Sitchin begins in Europe, takes us back to South America and the pages of "The Lost Realms", he also references localities from the other three books.
"When Time Began" begins this book with the story of the formation of the solar system from "The 12th Planet". After we are again treated to the coming of Nibiru and the formation of Earth we get something new: Stonehenge. Stonehenge is identified as a tool or "computer" for calculating time, one of many. Sitchin takes us back to Egypt and to South America and to Mesopotamia and even to the wilds of Europe pointing out Stonehenge-like structures. By the end of this book he will also identify the god who is responsible for these structures. A god who has now become my favorite for his wisdom, intellect and nobility. Along the way, there is the expected discussion of calendars, solstices, equinoxes and all that. Admittedly, these elaborate arguments are beyond me. Nonetheless I do enjoy reading Sitchin with he nerds out on this material.
My impression of this book is that it is better written than the others, much more engaging. Gone is the dry academic nature of the previous books. When Sitchin is talking about the affairs of the Annunaki this book is almost a page-turner.
Speaking of the affairs of the Annunaki, there is some new material here apart from the calendrical discussion centered on various temples. We get an even bigger picture of how Marduk took over after the nuclear devastation described in "The Wars of Gods and Men". And we get new material on the aftermath of that war. The geographical scope of the series is expanded into Europe and to China and the Far East.
Mysteries remain, I would point to a small one and a big one. The first mystery is related to the creation of Stonehenge and all the other "time temples"? Sitchin says that it is for marking religious festivals. Really? All that trouble just to mark holidays? The big mystery is how these gigantic structures were constructed. The stone blocks they were made of ranged from two tons to upwards of forty tons. How did the ancients move these stones? Sitchin doesn't tackle that question.
Within this book the zodaical house moves from the "House of the Bull" to the "House of the Ram". One of the more interesting tidbits is what changed when mankind went from the rule of Enlil (Bull) to the rule of Marduk (Ram). In a word: disaster. Man became more savage with the rise of Babylon and Assyria, less cultured. One good thing about it is the Sumerian diaspora were forced to travel to other places on Earth and they were able to spread the advanced culture of Sumer.
The series has not exactly been growing stale but "When Time Began" does give it a refreshing "shot in the arm". A really good read that ties in what came before, deepening some of the previous material and adding some new ones to the mix.
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Surprise,surprise! "When Time Began" turns out to be the book in the series I most enjoy after "The 12th Planet". It shares the same characteristics of the other books. Just like the others, Sitchin repeats the material here as well as adding some new material.
The reason I don't mind the repetition of subject matter at this point in the series is that the repetition now serves aa a reminder of what came before. More than that, it gives Sitchin the opportunity to tie things together from the previous books. Within the pages of "When Time Began" Sitchin begins in Europe, takes us back to South America and the pages of "The Lost Realms", he also references localities from the other three books.
"When Time Began" begins this book with the story of the formation of the solar system from "The 12th Planet". After we are again treated to the coming of Nibiru and the formation of Earth we get something new: Stonehenge. Stonehenge is identified as a tool or "computer" for calculating time, one of many. Sitchin takes us back to Egypt and to South America and to Mesopotamia and even to the wilds of Europe pointing out Stonehenge-like structures. By the end of this book he will also identify the god who is responsible for these structures. A god who has now become my favorite for his wisdom, intellect and nobility. Along the way, there is the expected discussion of calendars, solstices, equinoxes and all that. Admittedly, these elaborate arguments are beyond me. Nonetheless I do enjoy reading Sitchin with he nerds out on this material.
My impression of this book is that it is better written than the others, much more engaging. Gone is the dry academic nature of the previous books. When Sitchin is talking about the affairs of the Annunaki this book is almost a page-turner.
Speaking of the affairs of the Annunaki, there is some new material here apart from the calendrical discussion centered on various temples. We get an even bigger picture of how Marduk took over after the nuclear devastation described in "The Wars of Gods and Men". And we get new material on the aftermath of that war. The geographical scope of the series is expanded into Europe and to China and the Far East.
Mysteries remain, I would point to a small one and a big one. The first mystery is related to the creation of Stonehenge and all the other "time temples"? Sitchin says that it is for marking religious festivals. Really? All that trouble just to mark holidays? The big mystery is how these gigantic structures were constructed. The stone blocks they were made of ranged from two tons to upwards of forty tons. How did the ancients move these stones? Sitchin doesn't tackle that question.
Within this book the zodaical house moves from the "House of the Bull" to the "House of the Ram". One of the more interesting tidbits is what changed when mankind went from the rule of Enlil (Bull) to the rule of Marduk (Ram). In a word: disaster. Man became more savage with the rise of Babylon and Assyria, less cultured. One good thing about it is the Sumerian diaspora were forced to travel to other places on Earth and they were able to spread the advanced culture of Sumer.
The series has not exactly been growing stale but "When Time Began" does give it a refreshing "shot in the arm". A really good read that ties in what came before, deepening some of the previous material and adding some new ones to the mix.
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December 10, 2024
Great title on speculation AND facts!
This title is really interesting about stories from the beginning of actual time and old/new calendars among other wild information!!
It’s important to keep in mind this is a couple of decades old so there’s just a little bit of newer information updated today, but for when it was written, it’s got some very well rounded knowledge and ideas (and direct resources!) to connect things on Anunnaki, the wonders of the world, Sumerians, religious findings, time, zodiac signs, temple constructions, ancient manuscripts, Thoth, and soooo much more that is still completely relevant to today!
It was cool to see a lot of this compared side by side.
This title is really interesting about stories from the beginning of actual time and old/new calendars among other wild information!!
It’s important to keep in mind this is a couple of decades old so there’s just a little bit of newer information updated today, but for when it was written, it’s got some very well rounded knowledge and ideas (and direct resources!) to connect things on Anunnaki, the wonders of the world, Sumerians, religious findings, time, zodiac signs, temple constructions, ancient manuscripts, Thoth, and soooo much more that is still completely relevant to today!
It was cool to see a lot of this compared side by side.
April 2, 2021
This book goes into great detail on the astronomical and calendrical functions of Stonehenge and other ancient artifacts.
November 17, 2018
★ - Most books with this rating I never finish and so don't make this list. This one I probably started speed-reading to get it over with.
★★ - Average. Wasn't terrible, but not a lot to recommend it. Probably skimmed parts of it.
★★★ - Decent. A few good ideas, well-written passages, interesting characters, or the like.
★★★★ - Good. This one had parts that inspired me, impressed me, made me laugh out loud, made me think - it got positive reactions and most of the rest of it was pretty decent too.
★★★★★ - Amazing. This is the best I've read of its genre, the ones I hold on to so I can re-read them and/or loan them out to people looking for a great book. The best of these change the way I look at the world and operate within it.
★★ - Average. Wasn't terrible, but not a lot to recommend it. Probably skimmed parts of it.
★★★ - Decent. A few good ideas, well-written passages, interesting characters, or the like.
★★★★ - Good. This one had parts that inspired me, impressed me, made me laugh out loud, made me think - it got positive reactions and most of the rest of it was pretty decent too.
★★★★★ - Amazing. This is the best I've read of its genre, the ones I hold on to so I can re-read them and/or loan them out to people looking for a great book. The best of these change the way I look at the world and operate within it.
February 3, 2022
Zecharia Sitchin – the writer, the person who wrote many very interesting books, was not an academic scientist but I'm sure he strongly believed in what he was looking for, what researched and thought about and wrote in his excellent books. I like his books. So far, I've only read three of them. This is one of them and it is good, fascinating. Of course, one should not immediately believe in everything that is said there, because the author himself did not strongly assert anything. He was simply trying to show the facts, to show them the way he himself saw them. An interesting person, he left a noticeable mark in the theories about paleo contacts and the alien origin of man.
November 23, 2013
Sitchin's material is cutting edge, although it can be somewhat dense and academic. Ancient aliens directing the course of the earth is the theme of most of his writing. His research is so thorough and his theories so logical that I suspect he will one day be seen as a visionary who "figured it out" long before conventional science.
May 21, 2014
When the Greeks adopted Thoth, the god of the Game of 52, as their god Hermes, they bestowed on him the title Hermes Trismegistos, "Hermes the thrice greatest." Perhaps they recognized that he had thrice guided Mankind in the observation of the beginning of a New Age-the changeover to Taurus, to Aries, to Pisces.
For that was, for those generations of Mankind, when Time began.
For that was, for those generations of Mankind, when Time began.
April 12, 2025
Title in German:
Das erste Zeitalter
Das erste Zeitalter
January 10, 2009
different prospective on what happen on earth in the begining of time.
June 17, 2009
rereading for self-forced study reasons
June 29, 2011
Syrius information!!
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