Chapter 10, Cities of the Gods Summary and Analysis

Sitchin recounts the Nefilim's first landing on Earth, with the intention to create a colony. Earth was at that time in the middle of an ice age, with much lower sea levels than today. Mesopotamia provided a temperate climate, good soil, seas to splash down in, and plentiful fuel from petroleum. Sitchin equates the site with biblical Eden and mythical fish-men with astronauts dressed to splash down in water. The Nefilim named the first Earth settlement Erithu, Sitchin claims, meaning a faraway house and the origin of the word "Earth."

Sitchin records the names and rulers of the first Nefilim cities, headed by Enki, as interpreted from Sumerian texts. The Nefilim raised up land above the marshes to build on and developed irrigation. Enki was reputed to love the water. His brother Enlil...