Saturday, September 09, 2006

Journey To The World Underground, 1741


With the publication in 1741 of the book Nicolai Klimii iter subterraneum (Niels Klim's Journey Underground), Danish writer and playwright Ludwig Holberg (1684 - 1754) launched the first important fictional use of astronomer Edmond Halley's theory (suggested in a paper to account for magnetic phenomena published by Royal Society in 1692) that the Earth (and the other planets) consisted of concentric, nested spheres surrounding a small central sun, with, possibly, openings at the poles. Holberg's book was first published in Latin to reach a wide audience, in which he succeeded. The book, although never banned in Denmark, was cast a weary eye upon by the religious establishment. Holberg was one of the foremost scholars and playwrights of the 18th century, perhaps the most important literary figure in Denmark, even till today. Niels Klim has been translated into at least thirteen languages and published in more than sixty editions, including at least eight in English. In Holberg's book Niels Klim falls down a shaft and finds himself in a new world inside the interior of the earth. He visits various countries as the ideal state Potu, which expels him for suggesting that women should not hold public office. Other states are modeled on various terrestrial countries; in Martinia (France) he is honored for inventing the periwig. In primitive Quama (Russia) he becomes emperor by leading the inhabitants to victory over neighboring nations, but rebellion against his tyranny forces him to flee. His journey ends when he wrestles himself through another hole upon which he has returned to Norway.

7 comments:

danielpauldavis said...

The California Indian tribes included in their creation legends that the two brothers/gods argued about what kind of man to make, so one, in a snit for having his idea be ignored, took his version of man underground with him. Supposedly, they are still there.

Anadæ Quenyan Effro said...

Theo! I just found your blog! Holy moly! I well recall you having contacted me in 1995 when I used the psuedonym Carsten Avernoson, over my selling issues of number A-1 of THE HIDDEN WORLD through Dennis Crenshaw's THE HOLLOW EARTH INSIDER, which is now an online e-zine. THE HIDDEN WORLD, as you must know, was the 1961 reprint series of the original Richard S Shaver AMAZING STORIES pulp magazine serialisations, tracing his alleged experiences in the Cavern World. Well? What's shakin'?

A confirmed Hollow Earther,
Anadæ Effro ( :-)}

Arthur_of_Old said...

Things yet to be revealed.

Arthur_of_Old said...

Be going to Shasta soon!!

Anadæ Quenyan Effro said...

If, O' Arthur of Old, you aren't an actively posting member of the All Planets (are) Hollow Y¡ forum group, please, might I suggest that you join us there, here? And also, please, do take lots & lotsa pictures when you visit that Sacred Mountain, will you? Thanks. Namasté ~ (•8-D

Robert Brightbill said...

http://bardicastronomy.com/saturn.html
Robert Brightbill

Unknown said...

Hi Reader,

Let me tell you something The Hollow earth and all Upper planes of universe are already described in the Indian Hindu Scriptures which is older than anything else written on the earth it is nothing new it does exist and infinite universe too.