In the late 1960s, a book was published that suggested that early humans were visited by extraterrestrial beings. Called 'Chariots of the Gods?,' its author,
Erich von Däniken, hypothesized that
the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given to them by alien astronauts who were welcomed as gods. The scientific and academic communities scoffed at the idea, dismissing the Swiss author's theories as nonsense. But his book caught the imagination of Hollywood.
In the years since, several filmmakers have embraced the ancient astronaut theme to produce pictures such as 'Stargate' (1994) and 'Prometheus' (2012). And while Erich von Däniken is still regarded with suspicion by many, some of the films his book inspired rank among the most successful and influential in cinema history.
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