Buzz
Since its premiere in 2010, the History channel’s popular series Ancient Aliens has fascinated audiences by presenting compelling and often debated evidence supporting the “ancient astronaut theory”—the notion that historical records, myths, and relics indicate interactions between extraterrestrials and ancient civilizations.
While the show boasts a massive following, it has faced significant criticism from scientists. However, are figures like Erich von Daniken, Giorgio Tsoukalos, and the numerous authors, radio personalities, and religious leaders featured on Ancient Aliens truly as far-fetched as they seem?
A 2012 survey revealed that 77% of Americans are convinced there is evidence of alien visits to Earth. Moreover, while many claims made on Ancient Aliens have been disproven, several respected scientists acknowledge the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
That said, some of the theories and evidence presented on Ancient Aliens are undeniably bizarre and far from credible.
10. Jonah Was Consumed by an Alien Submarine
Ancient astronaut enthusiasts often delve into ancient religious scriptures, with the Bible being a particularly rich source of ideas. While many biblical narratives may have roots in historical events, the tale of Jonah being swallowed by a whale stands out as one of the more peculiar accounts. Some even argue that it parodies early Greek myths.
Ancient Aliens and Giorgio Tsoukalos argue that Jonah’s survival story is factual. Tsoukalos highlights that certain versions of the story describe Jonah noticing the whale’s “ribs” as shining bronze, leading him to conclude, “Jonah wasn’t swallowed by a whale . . . but by a U.S.O.—an unidentified submersible object.”
Assuming, of course, that the event ever occurred.
9. Pakal’s Spacecraft
K’inich Janaab’ Pakal reigned over the Mayan city-state of Palenque during the seventh century A.D. After his passing, he was laid to rest in an intricately designed coffin and entombed within the Temple of the Inscriptions.
Upon discovering his tomb, archaeologists praised the elaborately decorated sarcophagus lid, describing it as a prime example of traditional Mayan art. The familiar imagery allowed experts to easily decode the symbols and themes depicted in the artwork.
However, ancient astronaut theorists view this as one of their strongest pieces of evidence. Erich von Daniken asserts that the artwork is “astonishing . . . undeniable proof of extraterrestrial contact.”
Theorists argue that the imagery on Pakal’s sarcophagus lid portrays an astronaut launching into space aboard a rocket. They claim his hands are operating controls, his feet are on pedals, he is equipped with a breathing apparatus, and flames are erupting from the rocket’s base.
What’s the issue with the ancient alien hypothesis?
Every instance cited was either a widely recognized Mayan symbol or an overly speculative interpretation. Additionally, would advanced extraterrestrials rely on something as rudimentary as a rocket?
Most importantly, the depiction doesn’t convincingly resemble a rocket.
8. Hybrid Beings Are Products of Genetic Experimentation
Throughout history, tales of “mythical creatures” have been abundant. Legends speak of beings like the griffin, a fusion of lion and eagle, or Medusa, the Greek mythological monster with a head of writhing, poisonous serpents. Many ancient deities were depicted as hybrids, with Egyptian gods often portrayed as human bodies topped with animal heads.
Some ancient astronaut theorists propose an explanation for these stories—genetic experimentation by extraterrestrial visitors. Given that humans are now exploring genetic engineering, is it far-fetched to imagine ancient aliens engaging in similar practices?
Perhaps not.
However, this theory hinges on the assumption that these creatures were real. Even today, we entertain stories of mythical beings like the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot. (Interestingly, some theorists also attribute Bigfoot to alien activity).
It’s more plausible that these creatures stem from human creativity rather than alien genetic manipulation. For instance, even if aliens could give Medusa snake hair, her ability to turn people to stone with a glance remains unexplained. The mechanics of that feat are still a mystery.
7. Teotihuacan Is a Computer... Or Something Similar
Teotihuacan, an ancient Toltec city located near present-day Mexico City, is renowned for its religious temples and monuments, including the iconic Pyramid of the Sun.
Ancient astronaut theorists argue that the city’s layout resembles a massive computer circuit board, a claim frequently cited in their articles and documentaries.
But what exactly about its design makes it comparable to a circuit board?
In reality, the evidence is sparse. The theory suggests that certain temples functioned as “processors,” though it fails to provide a clear explanation. Proponents also highlight the use of electricity-conducting mica in some structures and the presence of underground chambers entirely lined with mica.
However, mica was commonly used by many ancient civilizations. While the mica-filled rooms are intriguing, nearly nothing about Teotihuacan’s design resembles a circuit board.
6. The Sword in the Stone
The tale of the “sword in the stone” is one of the most iconic legends associated with King Arthur. Yet, the Celtic story of a mystical weapon, only wieldable by a chosen individual, is not unique. It parallels the Norse god Thor’s hammer and numerous other myths. Additionally, historians have struggled to find concrete evidence of King Arthur’s existence.
Nevertheless, some ancient astronaut theorists argue that the story of King Arthur extracting a magical, immovable sword from the stone is not only true but also involves extraterrestrial intervention.
Tsoukalos argues that such technology could have existed, citing modern advancements in biometric-secured firearms. He also claims that Arthur’s legendary sword, Excalibur, and Joan of Arc’s sword were actually “alien laser weapons.”
5. The Dendera Light
Like Pakal’s rocket theory, this idea stems from an image said to represent advanced technology. In this case, the image strikingly resembles a modern light bulb.
But what’s the issue?
It also bears a striking resemblance to another concept—a representation of Egyptian mythology using traditional symbols. Specifically, it mirrors the Egyptian “creation” myth, where Atum, depicted as a serpent, emerges from a lotus flower into the universe, envisioned as a bubble of air in an endless dark ocean.
This widely accepted interpretation aligns well, as the base of the bulb resembles an Egyptian lotus flower. Upon closer inspection, the “filament” clearly features the mouth and eyes of a serpent.
4. The Grim Reaper Was an Alien—And Extraterrestrials Caused the Plague
During the Middle Ages, people might have believed this as the Black Death ravaged Europe. They blamed demons, witches, and even the Jewish community. While modern science attributes the plague to fleas carrying the Yersinia pestis bacteria, ancient astronaut theorists, such as author William Bramley, point to extraterrestrials as the culprits.
To explain how aliens caused the plague, the theory invokes another fringe idea: chemtrails. Essentially, humans were allegedly exposed to toxic fumes, similar to how farmers spray pesticides on crops. This may have been done for the same purpose—or perhaps purely for experimentation.
During this period, the figure of the “Grim Reaper” also became prominent. Some plague victims, delirious and hallucinating, reported seeing a dark, hooded figure. Amid the chaos, others claimed to witness hooded figures in wheat fields just before the plague devastated their towns.
The Grim Reaper quickly became the ultimate symbol of death. If chemtrails weren’t the method, some theorists propose that extraterrestrials took a more hands-on approach, poisoning food supplies directly while dressed in black cloaks.
3. Extraterrestrials Wiped Out the Dinosaurs
This theory is among the most perplexing. Season 4, Episode 10 of Ancient Aliens offers little explanation for why this mass extinction occurred... except possibly to pave the way for humans.
In this narrative, benevolent aliens intervened in the ancient struggle between humans and their dinosaur adversaries. The show portrays flying saucers using laser weapons to hunt T. rex herds. Alternatively, it suggests that dinosaurs were genetically altered by aliens to become smaller and less threatening.
When it comes to providing evidence, Ancient Aliens falls short. The show relies heavily on creationist authors to persuade audiences that humans and dinosaurs lived side by side. To bolster these assertions, they cite disputed carbon-dating results, rocks with both dinosaur and human footprints, and ancient art showing humans and dinosaurs together.
However, all the evidence presented has been conclusively discredited.
2. Vimanas
A common motif in ancient astronaut theory is the portrayal of extraterrestrials and their spacecraft as divine beings with celestial chariots. This imagery is particularly prominent in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata, which describe flying palaces or thrones called vimanas.
Ancient Aliens suggests that these vimanas, said to be operated by mythical entities, are actually ancient people’s misinterpretations of advanced alien technology.
While certain descriptions of vimanas bear a striking resemblance to metallic flying saucers, most depictions portray them as human-like chariots drawn by winged horses.
1. The Nazis Received Assistance from Extraterrestrials
On the History channel, Ancient Aliens poses the question: Did Adolf Hitler derive his plans for global domination from secret alien knowledge? The answer is unequivocally no. However, the idea of Nazi UFOs has captivated many.
In reality, the Nazis did possess advanced rocket technology. They created both the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket during the war, deploying them effectively against England and France.
Ancient Aliens cites German rocket scientist Hermann Oberth, who allegedly stated that Nazi technology advancements were only achievable with assistance from “beings from another world,” implying extraterrestrial collaboration.
The UFO community frequently discusses the Nazis, with the term “foo fighter” referring to the mysterious aerial objects reported by Allied pilots over Germany during the war.
Additionally, the notion that the Germans aimed to construct a fleet of saucer-shaped aircraft known as “Haunebu” has persisted for decades. These theories claim that the technology was derived from reverse-engineering an alien spacecraft that crashed in Bavaria’s forests.
