Talk:Coral Castle

What does coral weigh? I thought it was really light? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 8r13n (talk • contribs) 01:11, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

• That's like the old trick question, "Which weighs more, a ton of gold or a ton of feathers?" The answer is neither. It doesn't matter how light a feather is; a ton will always weigh a ton. --shadow box 14:35, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Chronologies don't add up

Agnes was described as being interviewed when she was in her seventies, and Ed was described as dying a few years after that interview. Since Ed was 10 years older than Agnes, that would have put Ed in his eighties. ... an impossibility since he only lived to be 64. Vonkje 02:08, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

In reference to what Agnes said

the tour guide told us when the Lativan ladies went back to tell Agnes about what was built and how it was for her, she said she's seen the pictures sent to her - the ladies told her no its not the same - she remarked that what would be the point since he died already (something to that effect) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.189.183.70 (talk • contribs) 04:44, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Injecting a little skepticism

I saw an article over at livescience.com that talks about the Coral Castle, hence my interest. The links are all pretty one-sided (even the Wired article) and focus more on the mysteriousness than any sort of rationality. I'm linking the Skeptical Inquirer article from livescience.com as a balance.

As an aside, the Wired article mentions that the "telescope" always points towards the North Star and that on the winter solstice, light shines through it. This is an impossibility, as the sun never appears opposite the North Star. Even on that day, the sun will still be about 67 degrees out of alignment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Phlegmofdiscontent (talk • contribs) 15:57, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

I changed some of the language slightly to make sure the Egyptian "secrets" mentioned are not made out to look like anything more than ropes and pulleys, etc., which we know the Egyptians used. The Egyptians did not use sound waves, trained baboons, Oprah Winfrey or any other ludicrous method to build the pyramids. When you have an endless supply of slaves, you don't tend to look beyond sheer manpower as the most obvious course of action. --Dave420 18:03, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

One Man, Alone

I edited the article to reflect that the "one man assembled the castle all by his lonesome" has never actually been verified. He worked in the dark, right? Who's to say he worked alone? It's a small point, but it's part of the mythology of the Coral Castle.Ingres77 03:27, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

visited

My family and I took a tour of the castle a couple of months ago. The tour guide said that Ed (what everyone called him) moved the stones by means of magnetic force due to ley lines. At various places around the castle I could feel magnetic forces. This is possible by someone trying to lower my raised arm and my resisting (If I moved away from the magnetic force I could not resit the movement when I had before). It is true that Ed would not let adults watch him work. If someone peeked over the wall Ed would stop, turn around and wave. But if a child were watching Ed would continue to work and as soon as he had placed his block he would wave to the children and welcome them in. Ed really was a brilliant man, he designed a pressure cooker and most of his tools were out of old car parts. Even the way he carved the rock is amazing. We sat in various chairs and 'loungers' around the castle and the Lombard support was perfect. Also, the Polaris Telescope does not point precisely at the North Star, because the North Star does move. But the North Star can be seen in the four quadrants of the telescope. Even if you don't believe the 'moving by magnetism' I seriously suggest a visit and the free tour. Ed's work is remarkable and quite a testimony to his love for his "sweet 16." — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cellie (talk • contribs) 16:01, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

I think you mean lumbar support. I don't think he designed chairs specifically for Lombards or for Carole Lombard. Your reminiscences are appreciated, but unless you're made of metal it wasn't magnetism that kept your arm aloft. It's this kind of rubber science that allows people to build mythologies around rational events and market dubious products like "magnetic" bracelets and Calorad. 12.22.250.4 20:30, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

Tone

I've added the {tone} template. The article confuses real (it was built in such and such a year) and unreal (antigravity, time travel!) Should refer to "supposed time travel devices" etc. Stevage 10:10, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

• After having read the article twice, I disagree. This article is about an unusual and unexplained structure, and as such, a perennial subject to wild speculation, as mentioned. For example, antigravity and time travel are mentioned as suggestions for and not as the definitive building method. That paragraph even concludes with, "However, it is more likely..." I've removed the tag. --shadow box 14:30, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Leedskalnin's Motivations

I removed the part about Coral Castle being a temple to the ancient Egyptian deities, because it's not true. The claim came from Wired Magazine in its article about Coral Castle, but the author of the piece was discredited for reporting unsubstantiated sources in her stories, and the claim seems to be found nowhere else. To confirm, I called Coral Castle's visitor center, and they said that Coral Castle was absolutely not a temple to anything pagan, and that Leedskalnin's interest in ancient Egypt was not occultish, but only concerned building methods (of the pyramids) and astronomy as a science.

"Seacrete"

I removed the paragraph regarding electrochemically-deposited "seacrete" as a possible building material. A close-up look at the stone shows that it is obviously naturally-occuring coral (including fossilized shells and such), and there are open pits next to the Castle from which the rock was quarried. Seems cut and dried to me. Will add more to the article later. --Mdresser 21:07, 26 October 2006 (UTC)