How is the story of King Etana's 'ascent to heaven' mentioned in the King List interpreted in the Anunnaki theory?
Okay, let's talk about this fascinating topic. Regarding the story of King Etana's "ascent to heaven," within the Anunnaki theory, it is given an explanation completely different from mythology, one filled with a "sci-fi" feel.
Simply put, proponents of the Anunnaki theory, especially figures like Zecharia Sitchin, do not view this as myth, but rather as a real historical event recorded by the ancient Sumerians.
You can understand their core viewpoint as: ancient myths = misunderstood advanced technology.
Based on this core idea, here's how they interpret Etana's story:
1. "Heaven" is not paradise, but outer space
In the myth, Etana travels to the dwelling place of the gods – "heaven."
But in the Anunnaki theory, this "heaven" is not the spiritual realm filled with angels or deities as we might understand it. It is a physically real place, specifically possibly meaning:
- An orbital space station circling Earth.
- Nibiru, the home planet of the Anunnaki (whom the Sumerians saw as "gods").
- A base on the Moon or Mars.
In short, it is a place located outside Earth, reachable only through "flight."
2. "The Eagle" is not a giant bird, but an aircraft
This is the most crucial part of the interpretation. The myth says Etana flew into the sky riding on the back of a giant eagle.
The Anunnaki theory posits that this "eagle" was not a biological bird at all. Think about it: how could a bird carry an adult human beyond the atmosphere? Therefore, they believe the "eagle" was:
- An aircraft, or rather a small spacecraft/rocket.
Why was it described as an "eagle"?
- Similar appearance: This craft might have wing-like structures, or its emblem/insignia featured an eagle.
- Cognitive limitations: For people thousands of years ago, the most powerful flying thing they knew in the sky was an eagle. When they saw a metallic object capable of carrying a person into the sky, they could only describe it using the closest term within their understanding – "eagle."
Descriptions of the flight process in the Epic of Etana are seen by theory proponents as strong evidence. The epic states that as the eagle flew higher, Etana looked down:
"The earth was like a hill, the wide sea like a tub." Then flying higher still: "The earth was like a loaf baked by a baker, the wide sea like a bread basket." Finally, the earth became too small to see.
This perspective of looking down on Earth from high altitude, watching the land and sea gradually shrink, is strikingly similar to descriptions by modern astronauts viewing Earth from space. This doesn't seem like mythical imagination, but more like a record of an actual space flight.
3. The "Plant of Birth" is not a magical plant, but advanced medical technology
Etana went through great trouble to "ascend to heaven" in search of the "Plant of Birth" because he had no heir and hoped this divine plant would enable his wife to bear children.
In the Anunnaki theory, this is similarly not a magical plant. It represents:
- Advanced medical or genetic technology.
As "aliens" with technology far surpassing humans, it's entirely plausible that the Anunnaki possessed solutions for infertility (such as gene therapy, artificial insemination, etc.). Etana, as an Earth ruler chosen by the "gods" (i.e., the Anunnaki), seeking technological help from his "superiors" for his fertility problem seems entirely logical.
4. The "Gods" are not deities, but the Anunnaki
The sun god Shamash and the sky god Anu, who assist Etana in the story, are also not gods in this theory. They are:
- Anunnaki leaders or officials possessing advanced technology.
Shamash might have been the commander of a spaceport, while Anu was the supreme leader of the Anunnaki, residing in "heaven" (the space station or home planet). Etana's entire journey was a process, arranged by Anunnaki officials, of traveling to their space base to receive medical assistance.
To summarize
Therefore, within the framework of the Anunnaki theory, Etana's "ascent to heaven" story is retold as:
Etana, king of ancient Kish, unable to produce an heir, sought help from his "superiors" – the alien Anunnaki. Arranged by the Anunnaki, he traveled into space aboard an aircraft whose shape or codename was "Eagle," flying to an Anunnaki space station in Earth's orbit. There, he received advanced genetic or medical treatment, ultimately resolving his fertility issue, and returned to Earth. This incredible experience was recorded by the Sumerians of the time using language and concepts they could understand (gods, heaven, divine eagle, plant of life), passed down through generations, becoming the Epic of Etana we know today.
This interpretation transforms an ancient myth into a rather cool "ancient astronaut" story. Of course, this is just one interpretation within the Anunnaki theory and is not accepted by mainstream academia, but it certainly provides a very different and captivating perspective for understanding these ancient texts.