Erich von Däniken, a Swiss author known for his books positing extraterrestrial origins for ancient civilizations, has died at the age of 90. His representatives announced his death on Sunday on his website, stating he passed away the previous day in a hospital in central Switzerland. His daughter, Cornelia, confirmed this information to the Swiss news agency SDA.
von Däniken gained recognition in 1968 with "Chariots of the Gods," where he claimed alien astronauts visited ancient civilizations like the Mayans and Egyptians, providing them with advanced technology for building structures such as pyramids. This book contributed to a rising interest in unexplained phenomena during a period when human space exploration was advancing.
He subsequently published over two dozen books, selling 60 million copies in 32 languages. His works combined factual elements with fantasy, often contradicting historical and scientific evidence. Despite widespread criticism from the scientific community, von Däniken maintained the core of his theories.
Born in Schaffhausen in 1935, von Däniken developed alternative theories to traditional biblical accounts of life's origins. He faced financial difficulties throughout his life, including accusations of fraud and tax evasion, leading to multiple prison terms. After the commercial success of "Chariots of the Gods," he dedicated himself to exploring paranormal theories.
Throughout the 1970s, von Däniken conducted numerous field trips, particularly to Latin America, and lectured extensively, promoting his theories through various media. He received the Ig Nobel Prize for literature in 1991 for raising public awareness of science through questionable claims. Even when presented with evidence of fabricated artifacts, he asserted the fundamental soundness of his theories.
His later works, such as "Neue Erinnerungen an die Zukunft" (New Memories of the Future) in 1985, aimed to address critics. While his popularity in the English-speaking world declined by the 1980s, his books influenced archaeological documentaries and television series like "The X-Files."
His final significant project, a theme park based on his books called "Mystery Park," closed after a few years due to low interest. The site, featuring man-made pyramids and domes, remains near Interlaken. Erich von Däniken is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elisabeth Skaja, his daughter Cornelia, and two grandchildren.