Erich von Däniken
Erich von Däniken’s journey into the world of speculative history wasn’t an accident. Raised in a milieu that was deeply entrenched in religious beliefs, von Däniken found himself at odds with conventional theological explanations from an early age. He wondered if there were alternative ways to understand the phenomena described in religious texts. This friction between conventional understanding and his insatiable curiosity eventually catapulted him into a lifetime journey of questioning established historical narratives.
Erich Von Daniken spoke about his belief that Earth was visited by extraterrestrials at least 6,000 years ago, as supported by ancient Indian texts like the Mahabharata. According to the texts, three giant “cities” (interpreted as spaceships) once orbited Earth. From these, smaller vehicles known as vimanas descended, containing beings initially thought to be gods by ancient humans.
One of these humans, Arjuna, was taken aboard and learned the language of these extraterrestrials before being returned to Earth. He described how these extraterrestrials had internal conflicts about their interactions with humans, including whether to have sex or steal raw materials from Earth.
Von Daniken argues that similar stories of “wars in heaven” exist in multiple mythologies and religions, including Greek and Judeo-Christian traditions. He suggests that these stories might not be fantasy but could be interpreted as ancient accounts of extraterrestrial interactions.
In Greek mythology, the most famous of these is the Titanomachy, where the Olympian gods led by Zeus fought against the Titans, who were led by Cronus. This war led to the overthrow of the Titans and established the Olympian gods as the rulers of the cosmos.
The concept could be likened to similar ideas in Judeo-Christian traditions, such as the war in heaven described in the book of Revelation or other apocryphal texts where archangels like Michael fight against Lucifer and other fallen angels.
In apocryphal texts like the Book of Enoch, the theme is further elaborated, describing fallen angels who interact with humans, often in ways considered sinful or corrupting.
In Judeo-Christian traditions, Michael is one of the archangels, considered to be a high-ranking or chief angel. His name means “Who is like God?” in Hebrew, and he is often depicted as a warrior figure holding a sword and shield. Michael is particularly significant in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic belief systems, although his role and significance can vary among these traditions.
In Christian tradition, Michael is often considered the leader of the army of God, a role most prominently featured in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. In Revelation 12:7-9, Michael leads the heavenly host in a battle against the dragon, often identified as Satan or Lucifer, and his fallen angels. Michael’s victory results in the dragon being cast down to Earth.
In Catholic tradition, St. Michael the Archangel is also venerated as a protector and leader of the heavenly armies. He is one of the few angels who is named and has a specific role in the Bible. The Catholic Church honors him with his own feast day, and he is often invoked for protection.
In Jewish tradition, Michael is also viewed as an archangel and is sometimes considered the protector of Israel. His role is mentioned in the Book of Daniel, where he comes to the aid of the angel Gabriel and is described as a “great prince” who protects the people.
In Islamic tradition, Mikail (Michael) is one of the four archangels and is responsible for providing nourishment to human bodies and souls.
Across these traditions, Michael is revered as a powerful and benevolent entity, although the specifics of his role can vary.
Here is the relevant passage from Revelation 12:7-9 (NIV):
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the Earth, and his angels with him.”
This event is considered significant because it marks the dragon’s definitive expulsion from heaven and his relegation to Earth, where he continues to act as an adversary to humanity.
The narrative of the dragon/Satan being cast down to Earth is specific to Christian eschatology and is one of the pivotal moments in the cosmic battle between good and evil according to this tradition.
The idea that these stories could be interpreted as ancient accounts of extraterrestrial interactions is an unconventional but intriguing way to look at these myths. From a Greek perspective, if one were to entertain this thought, it would mean that the Titans and Olympian gods might be considered as extraterrestrial beings with superior technology and abilities, rather than divine entities.
They would have descended from the skies (heavens), interacted with ancient civilizations, and their conflicts would have been viewed as “wars in heaven” by the people of the time. Their advanced technology could have been perceived as divine powers, transforming them into gods in the eyes of ancient Greeks.
Such a perspective would open up new avenues for understanding these myths, potentially redefining them not as mere allegories or religious stories but as historical accounts tinted by the lens of mythology. This would parallel the way some interpretations of Judeo-Christian traditions also consider the possibility that “angels” could be extraterrestrials.
Viewing the “wars in heaven” as possible extraterrestrial interactions from a Greek standpoint would provide an alternative lens through which to understand the actions and capabilities of gods and titans in ancient Greek mythology.
The possibility that ancient texts and artifacts might actually be describing encounters with extraterrestrials, not gods or angels as traditionally interpreted. He specifically cites the Edfu temple in Egypt, where a god named Horus is described as helping a Pharaoh from the air. This is compared to the Biblical story in the second book of the Kings where an “angel” kills 185,000 Assyrians. He argues that changing key terms like “heaven” to “space” and “angels” to “extraterrestrials” could fundamentally alter our understanding of these texts.
The main focus is on the Biblical prophet Ezekiel, who describes a complex object with wings that make a terrible noise, metal legs, and wheels that can move in all directions without turning. The original text never actually uses the word “God,” only describing “the highest.”
NASA engineers, led by Joe Blumrich, took Ezekiel’s descriptions seriously and managed to reconstruct a possible spacecraft based on those ancient details. The reconstructed object has features that could be interpreted as a commander’s seat, wings, and even omnidirectional wheels, suggesting that Ezekiel might have actually been describing an encounter with advanced technology, not a divine entity.
There are various cultural artifacts and legends around the world that suggest the influence of “spiritual teachers from heaven” on ancient civilizations. Examples include kachina figures from the Hopi Indians in Arizona and rituals by the Kayapo tribe in the Amazon. These figures and stories often involve teachers who descended from the sky to educate people in fields like astronomy and agriculture, promising to return in the future.
According to Erich von Däniken, the Greek historian Herodotus reported that according to an Egyptian high priest, gods from the sky lived among humans around 14,000 years ago. This contrasts sharply with mainstream archeology that dates the history of Egypt to around 3000 BC.
Some books authored by von Däniken that focus on exploring similar thematic territories are:
- “Evidence of the Gods”
- “The Gods Were Astronauts”
- “Arrival of the Gods”
- “The Gods and Their Grand Design”
Erich von Däniken is not just an author or a theorist; he is a cultural phenomenon. He has challenged the status quo and invited humanity to expand its understanding of its past and, potentially, its future. Whether you agree with him or not, his contributions to discussions about human history and the possibility of extraterrestrial life have left an indelible imprint that will continue to be debated for years to come.
