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"Ancient Egypt" 

Across the top of the painting, the glyphs read, from left to right:

Line 1. "Hot Breath (of) Flight Celebration"
Line 2. "Dawn" with a chase vehicle on the left and "Pilots" on the right facing the dawn.
Line 3. "Crew" on the left and "Officials" (with thumbs up) on the right.
Line 4. "Happy Witnesses", with four concessionaires setting up to sell refreshments, food, hats, pins, and posters.

 The scarab beetle on the first balloon is a sign of long life. The size of the balloon is given in the heiroglyph on the right side above the inverted pyramid basket (105,000 cu. ft.).

 Unknown to the Egyptians, the winged image on the side of the second balloon predicts the shape of the balloons of the future.

"Carved Stone balloon"

2nd Century BC India

 An Extraordinary Indian stone carving, more than 2000 years old, shows the sacred eucalyptus tree balloon of the time. smaller plants, one potted, seem to ride like passengers between the upright trunks.

 Subtle color enhancements help the modern viewer imagine the original craft in flight.

"Mayan Lord Pecal"

This carved stone sarcophagus lid from the ninth century clearly shows the details of a Yucatan peninsula balloon.

The firebird across the top assures the chieftain/pilot a safe flight above the jungles of Central America.

"Greek Krater -- Electra"

In Greek mythology, the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione were named Electra, Maia, Taygete, Aocyone, Claeno, Sterope and Merope. According to some versions of the myth, they committed suicide from grief at the fate of their father Atlas or at the death of their sisters, the Haydes.

 A more common version made them the attendants of Artemis, goddess of wildlife and hunting, who were pursued by the hunter giant Orion. The sisters were rescued by the gods and changed into doves. After their deaths, they were transformed into stars, but are still pursued across the sky by the constellation Orion.

 Only six of the stars are readly visible to the naked eye. the seventh was Electra, who left her place to avoid seeing the fakk of her beloved city Troy.

"Nazca Tapestry"

 The flying figure with the baton and fan, thought to be a shaman, presides between two vessel-shaped balloons. His blue forhead ornament, shaped like a bird, signifies the spirit that flies away.

The cylinder-shaped balloon shows a water god.

The double spout balloon shows two floating figures.

Surrounding these ancient aeronauts are birds with food in their beaks to insure many successful flights.

"Kitsch"

 Hjuki (ee-yuh-kee) and his sister, Bil (beel) were forced to work every night gathering water from a magic well. One night, moon saw the children and, filled with pity, he took them to live in his house.

 The children are happy living on the moon, for now they gather water once a month. When the moon is full, they are seen with a bucket and pole. Over a few nights, Hjuki falls out of site. Later on, Bil disappears. The moon is dark and empty.

 In a few days, the moon begins to fill, and the children may be seen once more, first Hjuki and then Bil.

"Fire Salamander"

This species of salamander builds his 'balloon' from leaves, thus providing him with the ability to float above the stream waters where larger insects fly.

Fuel for the flame is generated from digestive gases. Ignition comes from two small pebbles within his mouth that spark when clicked together.

"Easter Island"

 The 35' tall volcanic rock 'aku' sculptures were erected primarily on the coast.

Typically, these figures were then topped with a barrel shaped hat made of light weight red scoria stone.

Lesser known arts of the island include wood carvings and sculptures made of wood fiber, paper mache made with grass and painted bark cloth.

This painting depicts the installation of a "top knot" hat using a barkcloth fiber 'double burner' balloon.

Campbell's Soup

 "Soups On"

The chuckwagon tailgate is open and the dutch ovens are full of beef and beans waiting for the soup to arrive. It's a memorable moment in the desert.

"Ancient Nazca"

The 2,000 year old 'Nazca Lines' on the plains of southern Peru depict figures that can only be descerned from the air.

 The ancient aeronauts viewed these immense figures in low-flying cotten woven balloons with reed baskets similar to the boats used in the highland Lake Titicaea 

"Ganesha"

Ganesha, the elephant headed Hindu god is typically venerated as the Remover of Obstacles. Ganesha has been ascribed many other titles and epithets. He has a litany of "a thousand names of Ganesha". Each name conveys a different meaning and symbolizes a different aspect of Ganesha. He has a large belly because all aspects of the universe from the past, present and the future are within it.

 Radha Krishna are collectively known within Hinduism as the combination of both the feminine as well as the masculine aspects of God. With Krishna, Radha is acknowledged as the Supreme Goddess for it is said that she controls Krishna with her love. It is believed that Krishna enchants the world, but Radha enchants even him. Therefore she is the supreme goddess of all. Radha Krishna

Radha Krishna and Ganesha are only three of the vast pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses.