RIP Mr. Erich von Däniken
A world-famous Swiss author and researcher best known for popularizing the ancient astronaut hypothesis. He passed away at the age of 90 on Saturday 1/10/2026.
I am very sad to hear of the passing of Erich von Däniken (1935–2026). The man who made millions of people look up at the stars and ask bigger questions has left us. He passed away yesterday at the age of 90.
Whatever your position on ancient astronaut theory, his impact is undeniable. Chariots of the Gods became a global phenomenon, selling in the tens of millions and sparking a worldwide conversation about human origins that continues to this day. He gave us permission to wonder.
Like many people, I first encountered him through Chariots of the Gods. But reading his subsequent work opened me to something deeper: he had a far more developed and expansive view of the ancient past than many critics ever acknowledged. Too often he was judged only through the lens of one early book, or through an old academic perception that hardened into caricature. There was much more to him than that.
He will be remembered as a pioneer, someone who walked so that others could run. Those of us who continue exploring these questions will try to carry the torch forward, toward whatever waits among the stars.
Rest well, Erich. Your questions will outlive us.
