The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting [Paperback]

Larry Brian Radka (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2006

Synopsis: This book aims to prove through a comprehensive presentation of ancient coins, artifacts, monuments, and literature that the ancients used electricity to light up their temples, tombs, lighthouses, fortresses, palaces, cities and other edifices and critical areas. No other work on the subject in existence documents nearly as much evidence for ancient electrical technology, and it recalls interesting details and descriptions of the ancient Alexandrian Pharos Lighthouse and its electric beacon, some of which have never been published in English before. More importantly, this highly researched work finally solves once and for all the riddle of the Bible's mysterious Ark of the Covenant. Read this book and don't wonder anymore!

Editorial Reviews

Review

This trade paperback was a very pleasant and informative surprise. A heavily illustrated book that explores the possibility that ancient humanity had harnessed the power of electricity. Preposterous you say, well Mr. Radka, a retired broadcast engineer may just change your mind. His investigation into this possibility was an exhaustive effort. With a library of more than 5,000 books at his disposal, his research displays a multitude of examples where the ancients used batteries, telescopes, mirror weapons, as well as carbon arc lighting. Radka s arguments are very intriguing. He shows evidence that several ancient structures such as the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was powered by carbon arc lights and battery jars. In addition to the ancient Egyptians, Radka also provides evidence that ancient Indians, the ancient Babylonians, Sumerians, Greeks, Parthians, Romans, Persians, Sassanians and Assyrians possessed the technology of electricity to illuminate their temples, tombs, fortresses and palaces. Radka examines a multitude of coins, assorted artifacts, tablets, monuments, folklore tales and artwork from these cultures and came to an astounding conclusion; the ancients had the capability of illuminating the night and dark places with lights. Illustrations and historical testimony are numerous and this erudite level of research establishes a foundation of acumen never before achieved by any previous scholar on this topic. In short layman s terms, I do believe Mr. Radka has indeed discovered something here. Radka also shows, and I think most importantly, strong evidence derived from cuneiform and hieroglyphic tablets that seemingly proves the ancients had the various materials necessary copper, lead, iron, zinc, glass, sal ammoniac, sulfuric acid- available to create primary and secondary electric cells. For instance, Radka shows several Greek coins depicting what appears to be ancient search lights at Sicily s Strait of Messina. I would urge anyone with even a passing interest in ancient technology, electricity, electrical engineering or the ancient mechanisms that potentially could have generated covalence, to purchase a copy. You would be remiss not to do so. Simply stated, this is one of the most important publications on the topic of ancient technology and lighting you will ever find. --Michael Lohr is a professional journalist, outdoorsman, music critic, treasure hunter and adventurer. His writing has appeared in such magazines as Rolling Stone, Esquire, The Economist, Southern Living, Sporting News & Men's Journal, to name a few.

From the Publisher

The publisher and the author (editor) are one.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: The Einhorn Press; 1st edition (April 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965754588
• ISBN-13: 978-0965754583
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #717,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and other ancient lighting, November 4, 2009

By 

M. Horey (Northridge, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting (Paperback)

"The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting" is quite intriguing, but it is not what it is advertised to be. Mr. Radka, the titular author, added few paragraphs of his own, but merely reprinted a work that appears to have been done about a hundred years ago, back when electric lights were "cutting edge technology."

The pictures, and even the type fonts, are from the early 1900's. The celebrated "footnotes" are just that: mere footnotes with no bibliographical worth at all.

In this way, it is a very disappointing piece of reading, for those who want to seriously investigate the possibility that the ancients possessed primitive electrical lights.

However, it is very fascinating in its elucidation of primitive batteries that have been found, and in its correlation between electical "arc" lights and Egyptian hieroglyphics that seem to portray them. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to verify if these hieroglyphics are actual or fabrications.

Mr. Radka, or some scholar, should reissue this book with genuine footnotes that verify its many intriguing assertions. If it could be proven that the ancients enjoyed some form of electrical lighting, it would completly revamp our understanding of the cultures of ancient Egypt and the Middle East.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries Magazine review, October 28, 2007

By 

Kim Guarnaccia "Editor, Mysteries magazine" (Surry, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting (Paperback)

With his heavily illustrated book that explores the possibility that ancient civilizations had harnessed the power of electricity, author Larry Radka may just change your mind. With a library of more than 5,000 books at his disposal, his research displays a multitude of examples where the ancients used batteries, telescopes, mirror weapons, as well as carbon arc lighting. He also presents evidence that several ancient structures, such as the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, was powered by carbon arc lights and battery jars. In addition, Radka, a retired broadcast engineer, also suggests that ancient India, the Babylonians, Sumerians, Greeks, Parthians, Romans, Persians, Sassanians, and Assyrians used electricity to illuminate their temples, tombs, fortresses, and palaces.
??Radka also provides strong evidence derived from cuneiform and hieroglyphic tablets that seemingly proves that the ancients had the materials necessary (such as copper, lead, iron, zinc, glass, sal ammoniac, and sulfuric acid) to create primary and secondary electric cells.
??Anyone with even a passing interest in ancient technology, electricity, or electrical engineering should purchase a copy of this fascinating book. Illustrations and historical testimony are numerous and the erudite level of research in this fascinating tome establishes a foundation of acumen rarely achieved by previous scholars.
--www.mysteriesmagazine.com

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A history of previously little known facts about the creation and use of lighthouses and lighted towers, June 8, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting (Paperback)

Painstakingly compiled and deftly edited by Larry Brian Radka, The Electric Mirror On The Pharos Lighthouse And Other Ancient Lighting offers an original, informative, and profusely illustrated in-depth study of the incredible lighthouse constructed by Sostras of Cnidos, as well as a serving as a complete reference to a multitude of many other outstanding electrical lighting accomplishments down through history. Guiding readers through a thoroughly documented history of lighting and towers ranging from the Eiffel Tower and its search lights, to the remarkable Washington Monument (the worlds tallest masonry structure unsupported by steel), The Electric Mirror On The Pharos Lighthouse And Other Ancient Lighting provides readers with an engaging and unique compendium of specialized information. The Electric Mirror On The Pharos Lighthouse And Other Ancient Lighting is very strongly recommended reading, both for its thoughtful analysis and its concise presentation focused upon a history of previously little known facts about the creation and use of lighthouses and lighted towers.