BERLIN — Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author who captivated millions with his controversial theories about extraterrestrial influences on ancient civilizations, passed away at age 90. His representatives confirmed his death in a central Swiss hospital on Saturday, announcing the news through his official website on Sunday.
Von Däniken achieved global recognition with his 1968 debut work “Chariots of the Gods,” which proposed that advanced alien civilizations visited ancient Mayan and Egyptian societies, providing them with technological knowledge to construct monumental structures like pyramids. This publication emerged during a period of heightened fascination with unexplained phenomena, coinciding with humanity’s first lunar landing through conventional scientific achievement.
The author’s literary career expanded with over two dozen additional books that blended historical speculation with imaginative narratives, creating a distinctive genre that consistently challenged established archaeological and scientific consensus. According to Swiss public broadcaster SRF, his works reached remarkable commercial success with approximately 70 million copies sold across more than 30 languages, establishing him as one of Switzerland’s most widely read authors.
Despite his professional accomplishments, von Däniken’s personal life was marked by financial instability and legal challenges. Born in 1935 in Schaffhausen to a clothing manufacturer, he rejected his Catholic upbringing and boarding school education, developing alternative explanations for human origins. His early career in hospitality included positions as waiter and barkeeper, during which he faced multiple fraud allegations and brief prison sentences.
Following the publication of his first book, von Däniken encountered further legal troubles including tax evasion charges that resulted in additional incarceration. However, the substantial royalties from “Chariots of the Gods” and subsequent works like “Gods from Outer Space” enabled his dedication to paranormal research and global travel.
Throughout the 1970s, von Däniken conducted extensive field research across Egypt, India, and Latin America, delivering lectures and establishing organizations to promote his unconventional theories. He pioneered multimedia approaches to reach audiences seeking alternative historical narratives, maintaining his beliefs despite mounting scientific criticism.
In 1991, the scientific community recognized his work with satirical distinction—the Ig Nobel Prize for literature—for promoting scientific awareness through questionable claims. Even when confronted with evidence of fabricated artifacts in documentary investigations, von Däniken maintained the fundamental validity of his theories.
Though his influence diminished in English-speaking regions during the 1980s, his ideas permeated popular culture through television programs like “The X-Files” and numerous documentary specials. His final major project, the “Mystery Park” theme park based on his books, closed after limited public interest, with its structures now standing neglected near Interlaken.
Erich von Däniken is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elisabeth Skaja, their daughter Cornelia, and two grandchildren.