Erich von Daeniken, Author of Chariots of the Gods?, Dies at 90
Swiss author Erich von Daeniken, best known for his controversial theory that ancient civilisations were guided by extraterrestrial visitors, has died at the age of 90. Despite fierce criticism from the scientific community, his work captured the imagination of millions and made him one of the world’s most widely read popular writers.
A Controversial Bestseller
Von Daeniken rose to global fame with his 1968 book Chariots of the Gods?, which sold millions of copies worldwide. The book argued that many of humanity’s greatest achievements, including Inca and Egyptian monuments and ancient cave drawings, were influenced by visits from advanced alien beings. It opened with the line, “It took courage to write this book, and it will take courage to read it,” and boldly claimed that “the past teemed with unknown gods who visited the primeval earth in manned spaceships.”
Scholars swiftly dismissed his ideas as pseudoscience. Critics accused him of distorting archaeological facts and underestimating the capabilities of ancient peoples. German magazine Der Spiegel famously ran a 1973 cover story titled “The Daeniken Hoax,” reflecting widespread academic scepticism.
From Convict to Celebrity Author
Before his literary breakthrough, von Daeniken worked as a hotel manager in eastern Switzerland. A fraud conviction sent him to prison for 18 months, but upon release, the success of Chariots of the Gods? transformed his fortunes. He went on to write more than 40 books, selling over 70 million copies translated into more than 30 languages.
Despite accusations of pseudoscience, von Daeniken maintained his theories with conviction. “We owe it to our self-respect to be rational and objective,” he wrote, arguing that ideas once dismissed as fantasy could later become reality.
Enduring Influence and Later Years
Von Daeniken became a familiar face on television, hosting documentaries and specials that explored his alien intervention theories. In 2003, he launched the Mysteries of the World theme park in Interlaken, though it closed after three years due to financial losses.
On his website, von Daeniken described his mission as exposing “religious and scientific humbugs.” He also claimed that ancient texts promised the return of the “gods,” predicting that their reappearance would cause a “total catastrophe in religion and science.”
The release of a 2021 U.S. government report on unidentified aerial phenomena renewed his optimism. In an interview that year, he said, “As soon as we are prepared and get used to the idea that we are not alone in the universe, the extraterrestrials will come to us. I expect that to be the case within the next 10 years.”
with inputs from Reuters