Gold Of The Gods by Erich Von Daniken

Gold of the Gods, another book by Erich von Däniken, first published in 1972. This book continues von Däniken’s exploration of the ancient astronaut hypothesis, but with a particular focus on a mysterious and intriguing subject: the lost gold of the ancient civilizations.

In Gold of the Gods, von Däniken discusses the concept that ancient civilizations, particularly the people of South America, were in contact with extraterrestrial beings who brought advanced technology and left behind vast treasures. He focuses on the discovery of what he believes are ancient artifacts and gold objects that could be linked to these extraterrestrial visitors.

Key Themes and Ideas in Gold of the Gods:

1. The Lost City of Gold: One of the primary narratives in the book revolves around the legend of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold that has captivated explorers for centuries. Von Däniken suggests that the treasure hunters’ obsession with finding El Dorado may have been based on real events: that an advanced, ancient civilization—possibly in contact with extraterrestrials—left behind gold artifacts and treasures.
2. Ancient Astronauts and Gold: Von Däniken ties the legends of lost treasures and advanced civilizations to the idea that extraterrestrials once visited Earth and imparted knowledge to humanity. He suggests that these ancient visitors could have had an interest in gold, and that the gold left behind by ancient cultures could be evidence of such contact.
3. Artifacts and Evidence: Throughout Gold of the Gods, von Däniken discusses various artifacts and archaeological findings, many of which he believes suggest advanced technology and knowledge. He often examines pre-Columbian South American cultures such as the Incas, the Nazca, and the Maya, arguing that their impressive achievements—like the construction of massive stone structures and intricate artwork—were made possible with the help of extraterrestrial visitors.
4. Mysterious Gold Artifacts: The book also explores the mystery surrounding the many golden artifacts found in South America, some of which von Däniken suggests may have been made by ancient cultures with the help of extraterrestrial knowledge. He uses the example of the famous “golden artifacts” of the Muisca culture, small golden figurines that resemble flying machines or animals, as potential evidence of alien influence.
5. The Search for the Truth: Von Däniken also discusses his own travels and explorations, offering his perspective as a researcher and investigator. He shares his findings from visits to South America, particularly his time in Ecuador and Peru, where he investigated various archaeological sites, including the famous Nazca Lines.
6. The Gold as a Symbol of Knowledge: Beyond the physical gold, von Däniken uses it as a symbol of the knowledge and power that these extraterrestrial visitors might have imparted to ancient civilizations. The idea of “gold” in his book is not just literal but also represents the valuable knowledge that would have been bestowed upon early human cultures.

Criticism and Influence:

Gold of the Gods, like von Däniken’s earlier works, has faced criticism from mainstream archaeologists and historians, who argue that von Däniken misinterprets evidence and presents speculative ideas without solid scientific proof. However, his work has inspired a great deal of interest in the ancient astronaut theory, and it contributed to the growing popularity of pseudoscientific theories about extraterrestrial life influencing human history.

The book is part of von Däniken’s broader mission to challenge conventional historical and archaeological views, and it remains influential in the ancient astronaut and UFO communities.

Impact:

The book, along with von Däniken’s other works, has influenced a number of documentaries, TV shows, and other media, especially the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens series, where many of the ideas presented in Gold of the Gods are explored further.