A man who dared to ask the forbidden questions
Erich von Däniken was one of the most iconic and controversial figures in modern alternative thought concerning human origins and unexplained phenomena. Through his work, he brought questions into public discourse that had long been considered fringe or taboo.
In 1968, with the publication of Chariots of the Gods?, he proposed that ancient civilizations may have been influenced by non-human intelligent beings. His ideas were never accepted by mainstream science and were widely criticized as pseudoscientific. Nevertheless, the book became a global bestseller and sparked widespread interest in humanity’s cosmic context.
Von Däniken was not an academic scientist. He was, however, a catalyst someone who encouraged millions of readers to question established narratives and to explore the boundaries of conventional knowledge.
His legacy does not lie in scientific validation, but in his impact on public imagination and his role in reducing the social stigma surrounding the discussion of unexplained phenomena. Many contemporary researchers and scholars involved in UAP studies acknowledge that their initial curiosity was sparked by his work, even if their later approaches became strictly scientific.
The ERENZO Association honors Erich von Däniken as a historical figure who, regardless of criticism, contributed to opening a space for inquiry where silence once prevailed. Scientific research must proceed with rigor but also with the courage to explore the unknown without prejudice.
By Grufon Team
12/01/2026 - 7 minutes read
“The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
"Erich von Däniken"
Erich von Däniken (1935–2026)
Life & Work
1935
Born on April 14 in Zofingen, Switzerland.
1968
Publishes Chariots of the Gods?, a global bestseller that establishes him as the leading figure of the “ancient astronauts” hypothesis.
1970 - 1980
Releases a series of influential books, including:
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Gods from Outer Space
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The Gold of the Gods
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Miracles of the Gods
His works are translated into dozens of languages and sell millions of copies worldwide.
1991
Receives the Ig Nobel Prize for Literature, highlighting the controversial yet impactful nature of his work on public perceptions of science and history.
2003
Founds the Mystery Park (later Jungfrau Park) in Interlaken, Switzerland, inspired by the themes of his books.
2010 - 2020
Continues writing, lecturing internationally, and participating in conferences and public debates on human origins, ancient mysteries, and unexplained phenomena.
2026
Passes away in Switzerland at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly influenced popular culture and the global conversation about the unknown.
Greece in the work of Erich von Däniken
Ancient Greece occupied a notable place in Erich von Däniken’s work as part of his broader engagement with the great civilizations of antiquity. In several of his books and public statements, he referred to Greek mythology, philosophy, and sacred sites as examples of cultural and intellectual achievement that, in his view, warranted alternative interpretation.
Von Däniken paid particular attention to the figures of the Greek gods, whom he approached not solely as symbolic or religious entities, but within his interpretative framework as possible representations of advanced, non-human intelligences perceived through the cultural lens of the ancient world. Deities such as Zeus, Apollo, and Hephaestus were cited to illustrate the intersection of myth, technology, and human perception.
He also referred to archaeological sites and phenomena such as ancient oracles, especially Delphi, as well as Greek achievements in astronomy and mathematics, which he viewed as indicators of an exceptionally advanced civilization.
Although his interpretations were not accepted by mainstream scholarship, they contributed to the international visibility of Greece as a foundational pillar of global cultural heritage.
Within contemporary UAP research, von Däniken’s references to Greece are primarily of historical and cultural interest, highlighting how ancient societies articulated encounters with the unknown through mythological and symbolic narratives.
References to Greece appear in several of Erich von Däniken’s early and mid-career works, where ancient Greek civilization is presented as a key example of an advanced worldview within his broader interpretation of antiquity. Indicatively:
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In Chariots of the Gods? (1968), von Däniken discusses Greek mythology and the nature of the gods as entities interacting directly with humans, emphasizing their physical and anthropomorphic characteristics.
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In Gods from Outer Space (1970) and Miracles of the Gods (1974), he revisits Greek myths and descriptions of advanced capabilities, interpreting them as possible narratives of contact with higher intelligences.
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In In Search of Ancient Gods (1975), he refers to sacred sites and oracles of antiquity, focusing on experiences of divine manifestation and communication.
These interpretations were not accepted by archaeology or historical scholarship. Nevertheless, they retain historical significance as examples of how Greek mythology was employed in the 20th century as an interpretative framework for unexplained phenomena.
Within contemporary Greek UAP research, von Däniken’s references to Greece are not treated as evidentiary material, but as cultural context. They illustrate how past societies articulated encounters with unusual phenomena through myth, symbolism, and belief systems.
For ERENZO, this connection serves a historical and methodological purpose: it highlights the importance of distinguishing between cultural narratives and empirical data, while acknowledging the role such narratives play in shaping humanity’s long-standing engagement with the unknown.
-References to Ancient Greece in Erich von Däniken’s work reflect a broader historical pattern through which societies interpreted the unknown. Similar narrative frameworks still appear today in public discourse and media coverage of UAP cases. ERENZO examines such references strictly as cultural context, not as evidentiary material.-
Articles from printed newspapers
Special thanks to SwissUFO & Ermenegildo Personè
Selected Works
The book that brought Erich von Däniken international recognition. It introduced the hypothesis that ancient civilizations may have been influenced by extraterrestrial visitors, sparking a global debate on human origins and humanity’s cosmic context.
ISBN-13 - 9780285629110
A work combining travel narrative with speculative interpretations of underground structures and unknown technologies, expanding on the ancient astronaut hypothesis.
ISBN-13 - 9781948803212
Von Däniken revisits religious and mythological accounts, proposing alternative readings based on advanced technologies of non-human origin
ISBN-13 : 978-0552103718
One of his more narrative-driven books, blending personal journeys, archaeological sites, and theoretical interpretations intended to provoke questions about humanity’s past.
ISBN-13 : 978-0552099318
A later, more reflective work in which von Däniken attempts to connect his earlier ideas with contemporary perspectives on human evolution and the role of knowledge.
ISBN - 9781601631411
