PDF Summary:Twelfth Planet, by

Book Summary: Learn the key points in minutes.

Below is a preview of the Shortform book summary of Twelfth Planet by Zecharia Sitchin. Read the full comprehensive summary at Shortform.

1-Page PDF Summary of Twelfth Planet

The origins of humanity have long been shrouded in mystery and myth. In Twelfth Planet, Zecharia Sitchin explores an intriguing theory—that an advanced extraterrestrial race known as the Nefilim visited Earth, shaping human evolution through genetic engineering and bestowing early civilizations with sophisticated knowledge.

The book delves into ancient Mesopotamian texts depicting the Nefilim as celestial beings capable of cosmic travel. It suggests they played a pivotal role in molding humans, establishing early societies like Mesopotamia, and enacting a great deluge before instituting kingships to govern their remaining human creations. While controversial, these ideas offer a captivating perspective on humanity's enigmatic beginnings.

(continued)... The Nefilim's impact extended far beyond merely initiating the development of humanity. They are reputed to have played a significant role in founding ancient human societies. Their transmission of wisdom laid the foundation for the emergence of sophisticated technologies, improved farming methods, impressive architectural achievements, as well as a range of cultural achievements. The rapid advancement seen in Mesopotamia, by the Nile, and within the Indus Valley implies that the Nefilim might have influenced their growth, surpassing the anticipated rate of progress for that time period.

Human societies experienced substantial advancements in technology and agriculture, potentially indicating a pivotal influence from the Nefilim on the evolution of their complex societal structures. After the creation of humans, the Nefilim initiated the development of splendid urban centers, employing human efforts to realize these constructions. After the great flood, humanity rebuilt the cities in their former places, using the original plans as a guide. The tale of the initial human beings, commonly linked to Adam and Eve and their counterparts from ancient Mesopotamia, signifies a crucial juncture that granted humanity the ability to reproduce, marking a vital stage in human evolution.

These stories, while appearing to be deeply rooted in myth, convey a persistent belief that celestial beings were instrumental in the advancement and evolution of human society. The ancient stories from Sumer and Akkad portray the Nefilim as masterful creators of humanity, skillfully blending cosmic and terrestrial elements to shape humans in their own image and likeness, a notion that carries profound implications for the dawn of civilization.

The cataclysmic deluge that ensued following the departure of the Nefilim from Earth, resulting in a considerable conflict with humans, is referred to as the Great Flood.

Ancient stories suggest a pivotal change in the interactions between humans and the enigmatic beings known as the Nefilim, culminating in a catastrophic flood.

The bond between humans and the Nefilim was marked by strain.

The Nefilim became discontented as the human population increased.

The Nefilim of pure descent started to regard the swiftly growing human population as an annoyance. This irritation led several of them to take human wives, causing concerns about the potential contamination of their hereditary purity. To control the burgeoning human population, Enlil, a member of the divine assembly, resorted to unleashing plagues.

A rebellion's onset triggered a massive flood.

The celestial entities set in motion a chain of occurrences that led to a profound change. The lesser Nefilim decided to leave humanity to its own destiny. The Nefilim chose to unleash the Great Flood as their home world, known as the Twelfth Planet, approached Earth closely. The last ice age came to an abrupt end due to a colossal surge caused by events in outer space.

Instructions for the survival of Atra-Hasis

Enki, harboring compassion for humans, secretly formulated a strategy to rescue a select group. He discreetly advised Utnapishtim, who is also recognized as Atra-Hasis, to dismantle his home and build a ship that would stay afloat. The vessel's design aimed to safeguard the essential traits present in all life forms. Enki, while keeping his actions hidden, conveyed instructions to Utnapishtim via a reed partition, providing him with detailed instructions for constructing the vessel, all the while convincing the local inhabitants that this project would result in their wealth. Their inadvertent actions contributed to the creation of the ark.

Ensuring humanity's continued existence

Enki masterminded a secret exodus, using a spacecraft piloted by Shamash to discreetly indicate the impending great flood's arrival. Utnapishtim, along with his family and a selection of skilled craftsmen, embarked on the ark accompanied by various animals. The massive tempest and deluge that wreaked havoc across the land did not harm the ark's occupants, who remained safe within its confines.

Following the deluge, a new covenant was established.

An updated agreement with humankind.

Following the catastrophic flood, the survivors and their offerings were held in higher esteem by the Nefilim. To ensure their survival, they forged a new pact with the survivors.

The inception of royal governance on our planet.

Enlil, initially infuriated by the disruption of his schemes, eventually reached a harmonious agreement with humankind. In this pact, Atra-Hasis was granted eternal life, and it is likely that a mechanism was established on Earth to maintain continuous communication with humanity from those from the heavens. This was to ensure that human civilization progressed under the watchful guidance of the Nefilim.

Ancient tales recount complex and tumultuous relationships, preserved as myths of creation, rebellion, and survival amid celestial calamities, involving gods and humans. A cataclysmic event known as the great deluge significantly changed the dynamics between Earth and the mythical Nefilim.

The resurgence of the Nefilim coincided with the establishment of earthly monarchies.

Following a catastrophic deluge, it is chronicled that the return of the Nefilim to our planet played a crucial role in the resurgence of human civilization.

Following the devastating flood, the Nefilim returned to Earth and were instrumental in the resurgence of human civilization, establishing a royal governance system to exercise authority in their stead.

From their vantage point, the Nefilim witnessed the vast destruction wrought by the great flood. Driven by the widespread destruction, they decided to aid in the revival of human society. Humanity experienced a significant revival and flourished due to the assistance these heavenly entities offered in rebuilding their lives.

The Nefilim contributed to rebuilding human settlements and shared advanced agricultural and technological knowledge to strengthen human resilience.

Once Earth was deemed habitable post-flood, the Nefilim imparted knowledge to mankind, teaching them advanced agricultural techniques and technologies. Over thousands of years, humans observed the continuous desiccation of the grasslands, a process that signified constant development and change under the guidance of the Nefilim.

The Nefilim instituted a hierarchical system of governance, appointing human leaders to act as intermediaries between themselves and the wider human community.

The Nefilim instituted a royal governance to act as an intermediary with humankind. The creation of human monarchy instituted a tiered system where these sovereigns served as go-betweens, guaranteeing the fulfillment of human duties to the deities. The sovereigns did not rule of their own accord but rather as executors of the sacred decrees issued by Enlil. Divine beings from the heavens wielded their power over global affairs, particularly in areas governed by various astral entities, with earthly rulers acting as their representatives.

Kingship originated in Mesopotamia, spreading its impact to revered societies like Egypt and the Indus Valley, showcasing the significant sway held by the Nefilim. These civilizations, which were culturally and economically linked to Mesopotamia, likely originated from this area, marking the beginning of the era dominated by the so-called "sons of the pagan gods." Human civilization flourished, forming structured societies ruled by kings, who derived their understanding of rulership from the celestial Nefilim who descended from the heavens.

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The concept of the Nefilim as an advanced extraterrestrial society is rooted in ancient texts and mythologies that suggest these beings came from a distant world to Earth, bringing advanced knowledge and technology. They are depicted as entities resembling humans but possessing sophisticated technology for cosmic voyages and interstellar exploration. The Nefilim are believed to have influenced human civilization's development, including genetic manipulation to enhance human capabilities and the establishment of early human societies. While intriguing, the existence of the Nefilim as actual extraterrestrial beings remains speculative without concrete evidence.
  • Anu, Ishtar, Enlil, and Shamash are ancient Mesopotamian deities. Anu is the god of the heavens, Ishtar is the goddess of love and war, Enlil is the god of wind and storms, and Shamash is the god of the sun and justice. These deities played significant roles in Mesopotamian mythology and were believed to have powers over various aspects of nature and human life.
  • The concept of the Nefilim genetically combining with early hominids to create Homo sapiens is a speculative theory often found in ancient astronaut theories and alternative historical narratives. It suggests that an advanced extraterrestrial race intervened in human evolution by altering the genetic makeup of early hominids, resulting in the emergence of modern humans with enhanced cognitive abilities and reproductive...

Counterarguments

  • The idea that the Nefilim were an advanced extraterrestrial society is not supported by empirical evidence and is generally considered a part of pseudoscience or myth rather than historical fact.
  • Ancient texts often use metaphorical language and mythological frameworks to explain natural phenomena and human experiences, which may not be intended as literal historical accounts.
  • The technology described in ancient texts and attributed to the Nefilim could be symbolic or artistic representations rather than evidence of actual advanced technology.
  • The emergence and development of early human civilizations are well-documented through archaeological findings and anthropological studies, which typically attribute advancements to human innovation and cultural evolution rather than extraterrestrial intervention.
  • The theory that the Nefilim combined their DNA with early hominids is speculative and lacks support from the fossil record...

Want to learn the rest of Twelfth Planet in 21 minutes?

Unlock the full book summary of Twelfth Planet by signing up for Shortform.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being 100% comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you don't spend your time wondering what the author's point is.
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

Here's a preview of the rest of Shortform's Twelfth Planet PDF summary:

What Our Readers Say

This is the best summary of Twelfth Planet I've ever read. I learned all the main points in just 20 minutes.

Learn more about our summaries →

Why are Shortform Summaries the Best?

We're the most efficient way to learn the most useful ideas from a book.

Cuts Out the Fluff

Ever feel a book rambles on, giving anecdotes that aren't useful? Often get frustrated by an author who doesn't get to the point?

We cut out the fluff, keeping only the most useful examples and ideas. We also re-organize books for clarity, putting the most important principles first, so you can learn faster.

Always Comprehensive

Other summaries give you just a highlight of some of the ideas in a book. We find these too vague to be satisfying.

At Shortform, we want to cover every point worth knowing in the book. Learn nuances, key examples, and critical details on how to apply the ideas.

3 Different Levels of Detail

You want different levels of detail at different times. That's why every book is summarized in three lengths:

1) Paragraph to get the gist
2) 1-page summary, to get the main takeaways
3) Full comprehensive summary and analysis, containing every useful point and example