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The crystal sun : rediscovering a lost technology of the ancient world
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The crystal sun : rediscovering a lost technology of the ancient world

by Robert K. G. Temple, Arthur C. Clarke

An investigation into misidentified archaeological artefacts, arguing that ancient civilisations possessed lens technology. This work explores how these lenses were used as telescopes and burning glasses, influencing ancient mythology and the alignment of monuments.

Accession 5473 ISBN 0099256797 Publisher Arrow
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TAGS
Curated Derived
Archaeology Culture Education History Science Social Sciences Technology Wit and Humor
CONNECTIONS
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State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-01 16:36
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
M:N3:14 2 Current vertical
1 week, 2 days ago
Book Location
Updated 4 days, 23 hours ago
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Last synced 2026-05-28 08:40 (1 week, 2 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
The crystal sun : rediscovering a lost technology of the ancient world
vernon_id
9285
accession_no→ accession_number
5473
vernon_slug
the-crystal-sun-rediscovering-a-lost-technology-of-the-ancient-world-robert-temple-with-a-foreword-by-arthur-c-clarke

Drives Pulse state

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On Shelf
location_name
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location_reason
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isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
0099256797

Descriptive

production_date
2000
object_type
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object_status
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brief_description
Reconstructs the story of lenses and optics and argues they were widespread and fundamental in ancient times.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Robert K. G. Temple, Arthur C. Clarke
tags→ tags
Psychology, History, Archaeology, Antiquities, Material culture, Culture, Parapsychology, Crystals -- Psychic aspects, Optical instruments, Physical instruments, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Research -- Equipment and supplies, Skull in art, Skull, Skeleton, Lenses
subject_people
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Cover image

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26841

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