The mysteries of the past manifest themselves on all continents. Whether these enigmatic works are man-made or created by otherworldly means can loosely be considered a matter of speculation and conjecture. Based on the famous 1968 book by Erich von Daniken, Chariots of the Gods? (1970) takes a documentary-form look at the theory presented in the book… that alien astronauts visited the earth in ancient times and brought technology with them that facilitated and influenced the construction of some of the mysterious structures of the ancient world. Starting with the example of primitive Pacific tribes that worshipped American soldiers arriving in aircraft during World War II as Gods (bringing food and treasures from the sky), the question is presented as to whether ancient people would have viewed visiting aliens in a similar manner. Some prehistoric rock paintings depict beings wearing attire akin to spacesuits. Many ancient texts, including the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible, refer to visitors from heaven in sky vehicles (spaceships) with related blasts of fire and smoke (take off and landing) and epic large-scale destruction (atomic energy). Evidence is presented that these events took place worldwide, with different cultures on opposite sides of the earth expressing similar mythologies without having shared communication. The sarcophagus of Pakal in the city of Palenque, depicting a Pre-Columbian warrior in an astronaut's pose is given some attention. The Moai of Easter Island, the Great Pyramids of Giza, Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines (which only become clear when seen from above) and Aboriginal artwork are presented for examples of ancient alien contact as well. Advanced technology in the ancient world, including the Baghdad Battery, the Aztec Calendar and mathematics, precision stone-cutting, long-distance transport and the erection of colossal structures will likely remain an enigma. The writings of Erich von Daniken are considered to be pseudo-archaeology, and have long been dismissed by academics and the scientific mainstream. However, for what it's worth, at least von Daniken's theory encourages open-thinking and new viewpoints… though far-fetched some of his ideas may be. The dated format of the film functions more as a travelogue than a documentary, with monotone narration throughout, but the roughly 80-minutes of footage presents some of the great wonders of the ancient world in a different light that is worth the time.
Prehistoric spacemen: Chariots of the Gods
Pacific Cult Plane after WWII: Chariots of the Gods