Historical documentation of UFO sightings goes as far back as the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III, who reigned Egypt around 1504-1450 B.C. The Egyptian papyrus described a fleet of flying saucers darting through the sky.
The papyrus included many details of the event, including the date. It was in 1522 BC, on the third month of winter and the 6th hour of the day that a group of Egyptian scribes (of the House of Life) witnessed what were fire-breathing rods in the sky that came with a foul odor. The rods formed a circle of fire, which was later witnessed by the Pharaoh and his army. They watched as the rods of fire disappeared into the sky. Soon after witnessing the event, the Pharaoh ordered an offering of incense for peace on earth and ordered the scribes to record the event.
Strange stories of UFO sightings were documented a bit more carefully during the time of the Great Roman Empire. Roman author, Julius Obsequens, who lived in the fourth century A.D., drew on many sources of his time to compile his book "Prodigorium Liber, which describes many peculiar UFO phenomenons.
Events ranging from ships of fire going through the sky in Italy to globes of fire in Rome were recorded for 100s of years. In the territory of Spoletium (65 Roman miles north of Rome, in Umbria) a globe of fire, fell to the earth, gyrating. It then seemed to increase in size, rose from the earth, and ascended into the sky, where it obscured the disc of the sun, with its brilliance. It revolved towards the eastern quadrant of the sky and disappeared into the atmosphere. The event was recorded by Julius Obsequens and was said to occur around the year 99 AD.
The Middle Ages was considered our darkest time in history, but electrifying UFO sightings were carefully documented throughout Europe. Stories of pillars of fire in the sky, fiery wheels, and flying ships were carefully recorded by monks or monarchs who wished to keep a history of the events. They all had the same thing in common. The object would disappear into the sky just as suddenly as it appeared and the light from it usually out shone the sun.
The 20th century seems to be the era that witnessed UFOs the most. Although some would argue that, the reason we have more documentation is more people can read and write. In addition, the invention of the camera did not hurt either.
The year 1958 is arguably the best year for UFOs in the 20th century. Some of the greatest photos of "proof" of alien spacecraft were taken near Trinidade Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It served a purpose for United States and Brazil Navy.
Nelson Doyle