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eShirl

(20,090 posts)
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 10:51 AM Sunday

Erich von Daniken, Swiss writer who spawned alien archaeology, dies at 90 [View all]

Source: Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose bestselling books about the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among paranormal enthusiasts and scorn from the scientific community, has died. He was 90.

Von Däniken’s representatives announced on his website on Sunday that he had died the previous day in a hospital in central Switzerland.

Von Däniken rose to prominence in 1968 with the publication of his first book “Chariots of the Gods,” in which he claimed that the Mayans and ancient Egyptians were visited by alien astronauts and instructed in advanced technology that allowed them to build giant pyramids.

The book fueled a growing interest in unexplained phenomena at a time when thanks to conventional science man was about to take its first steps on the Moon.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-obit-erich-von-daeniken-57a8a84b8976475791eee82461d53138

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Erich... Clouds Passing Sunday #1
RIP to an explorer of possibilities. JustinBulletin Sunday #2
Alternative "facts" wolfie001 Sunday #11
He was a con man who helped create the modern disdain for actual science. NT Happy Hoosier Yesterday #34
Much like L Ron Hubbard Torchlight Yesterday #36
He won't be missed. A fabulist who continued selling crap, even after he'd been exposed muriel_volestrangler Sunday #3
+1000 paleotn Sunday #5
Basically the whole premise of the Joe Rogaine Show wolfie001 Sunday #10
Fascinating OC375 Sunday #4
Lazy science? Oh! You mean science based on actual evidence. paleotn Sunday #6
THIS wolfie001 Sunday #9
Nope OC375 Sunday #17
Any examples of this "lazy" science? Happy Hoosier Yesterday #35
Can you cite an example when when he 'called BS on lazy science'? Torchlight Yesterday #37
I read that book many years ago Bayard Sunday #7
Pseudoarcheology with probably white supremacist views wolfie001 Sunday #8
"Pseudoarcheology with probably white supremacist views" LudwigPastorius Sunday #22
They always fantasize about a lily-white society wolfie001 Sunday #24
All UFO stuff is so k00ky. But it was fun to watch TV shows when I was teenager. n/t Jacson6 Sunday #12
I've yet to see anything convincing in regards to aliens wolfie001 Sunday #13
Loved Dniken's stuff as a kid, but then I grew up ... TomWilm Sunday #14
"Brown people are dumb" dalton99a Sunday #15
Yep nt wolfie001 Sunday #25
Chariots of the Gods was a total crock. Any scholar who had studied Aztec, Mayan, Indian, or Egyptian mythology and Martin68 Sunday #16
Same assholes that went to Turkey looking for Noah's Ark wolfie001 Sunday #26
Racist grifter. IrishAfricanAmerican Sunday #18
... trusty elf Sunday #19
Smokin' a Newport and teaching whitey how to Rock & Roll wolfie001 Sunday #27
Science Fiction bmichaelh Sunday #20
Dude was a con man his whole life. LudwigPastorius Sunday #21
I was into 'Heavy Metal', the magazine wolfie001 Sunday #28
Jailed for stealing from the Swiss Boy Scouts.... Mustellus Sunday #23
My god wolfie001 Sunday #29
May he rest in piss sakabatou Sunday #30
This kind of thing tends to give street cred to conspiracy theories.. ananda Sunday #31
I like how he served a prison term for embezzlement right after COTG became popular. maxsolomon Yesterday #32
His books are a hoot! milestogo Yesterday #33
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