The Gods Were Astronauts: The Extraterrestrial Identity of the Old Gods Revealed

by Erich von Däniken

Bestselling author Erich von Däniken explores the evidence of ancient visitors treated as gods in religious scripture and mythology. His findings shake the foundations of both science and faith.Why do nearly all the world’s major religions share similar myths and legends? Whether it’s the Old Testament, ancient legends, or the creation myths of New Zealand’s natives, you come across similar stories everywhere. Erich von Däniken, author of the international bestseller Chariots of the Gods, believes he knows the answer―and it is as wondrous and awe-inspiring as it is The winged angels populating the Bible, the Koran, and other religious texts from cultures the world over were, in reality, extraterrestrials who visited the Earth in ages long past.Who were the gods of ancient lore? How can the contradictions in the Bible be explained? Why are the pagodas of Myanmar (formerly Burma) so amazingly similar to space-capable rockets? Erich von Däniken provides convincing new and surprising interpretations and answers that fundamentally contradict both the teachings of religion and current science. His astonishing The gods were not metaphysical beings that humans created in their imagination, but extraterrestrial intelligences that have left their traces all over the Earth. He offers persuasive evidence that actual living beings inspired the legends that became the basis for many of our religious traditions.

288 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2023

About the author

Greek: Έριχ φον Νταίνικεν

Erich Anton Paul von Däniken (1935–2026) was a Swiss author of several pseudoscientific books which made claims about extraterrestrial influences on early human culture, including the best-selling Chariots of the Gods?, published in 1968. Däniken was one of the main figures responsible for popularizing the "paleo-contact" and ancient astronauts hypotheses.

The ideas put forth in his books are rejected by virtually all scientists and academics, who categorize his work as pseudohistory, pseudoarchaeology, and pseudoscience. Early in his career, he was convicted and served time for several counts of fraud or embezzlement, and wrote one of his books in prison.