X-Nico

3 unusual facts about Erich von Däniken


Jason Colavito

In the book, Colavito explores the influences of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos on the popular works of Erich von Däniken (Chariots of the Gods?) and Graham Hancock, as well as its overall influence on "extraterrestrial pop culture".

Matest M. Agrest

Agrest was a major inspiration of later figures such as Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin, who in later decades popularized the idea of ancient astronauts.

Samaipata, Bolivia

There are several interesting features including a sloping ramp, pronounced by flying saucer enthusiast Erich von Däniken in his book "Chariots of the Gods" to be a launch platform for spaceships.


Enigmatic: Calling

According to the liner notes, Enigmatic : Calling was inspired by "a number of great thinkers, philosophers, scientists, writers, and film directors," including Erich von Däniken, Albert Einstein, and Steven Spielberg.

Piri Reis map

More notoriously these claims were repeated in Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods (which attributed the knowledge of the coast to extraterrestrials) and Gavin Menzies's 1421: The Year China Discovered America (which attributed it to supposed Chinese voyages), both of which were roundly denounced by both scholars and debunkers of fringe works but which attracted huge popular followings.


see also