Erich von Däniken Death at 90: The Man Who Claimed Aliens Built the Pyramids Passes Away

He sold over 70 million books and changed the way the world looks at ancient ruins. Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author of 'Chariots of the Gods?', has died at the age of 90. He passed away on January 10, 2026, in a hospital in central Switzerland, according to reports from Yahoo News.

Erich von Däniken Death and the Legacy of Chariots of the Gods

Von Däniken's work, particularly his 1968 bestseller, launched the ancient astronaut movement. He famously argued that historical monuments like the Egyptian pyramids and Mayan temples couldn't have been built by humans alone. Instead, he claimed extraterrestrials visited Earth in the distant past, providing the technology and knowledge required to construct these massive structures.

A Controversial Cultural Icon

While mainstream scientists and archaeologists dismissed his theories as pseudoscience, Däniken's impact on popular culture was undeniable. His ideas served as the foundation for countless sci-fi franchises and television series like 'Ancient Aliens'. He remained a figure of both fascination and ridicule throughout his career, but his ability to captivate the public's imagination remained unmatched for decades.