Odyssey of the Gods: The Alien History of Ancient Greece [Paperback]

Erich von Daniken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2002

Legendary UFO expert von Däniken stirs up another controversy with an imaginative supposition: What if the myths of ancient Greece were attempts to describe events that really happened? What if ancient peoples were visited, not by imaginary gods and goddesses, but by extraterrestrial beings who arrived on earth thousands of years ago? The author's research into both ancient mythology and current archaeological discoveries leads him to some explosive hypotheses. He suggests that the best explanation of such creatures as centaurs and Cyclops, as well as stories about the lost continent of Atlantis and wars among the deities, may be efforts by artists of the times to record never-before-seen phenomena. Dozens of color photos depicting ancient sculptures and temple decorations document a variety of hitherto unexplained objects which, von Däniken points out, look surprisingly similar to equipment used by today's astronauts. Could these be long-lost secrets, being rediscovered by scientists today?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Erich von Daniken's first bestseller, Chariots of the Gods?, was published in Germany and, later, in 38 countries. This has been followed by more than twenty books about unsolved phenomena, including the bestselling Arrival of the Gods and Return of the Gods, also published by Vega.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Vega (August 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843335581
• ISBN-13: 978-1843335580
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and enjoyable book!, July 16, 2000

By 

Erick Greenwalt (Virginia, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Odyssey of the Gods (Hardcover)

In "Odysey of of the Gods" Erich Von Daniken has crafted a well reasearched, provocative, and intriquing naritive concerning the notion that the gods of mythology, especialy Greek mythology, were extraterestrial beings. This coupled with Von Daniken's charismatic writing style makes this book engrossing, the two chapters discussing Atlantis were espescialy cogent. If you find this subject interesting I would also recomend Zacharia Sitchen's "Earth Chronicles" series begining with "The Twelfth Planet".

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Greek Gods as aliens? Could be., October 21, 2002

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Odyssey of the Gods: The Alien History of Ancient Greece (Paperback)

This book deals with reconciling Greek mythology with Von Daniken's research of extraterrestrials visiting our planet in ancient times and influencing man's development. That was a recurring theme in Dr. Who, (q.v. The Daemons.)

The aliens who came down to Earth were worshipped as gods, as they flew in their craft. These gods intermixed with the natives, who became demigods, but possessing the same technological knowhow.

Von Daniken's book opens with an account of the Argonautica, the voyage of Jason, and straight off, there are aspects that bely alien origins--a ship that talks, specialists hired for the voyage, Talos, who was probably a giant robot, and the Golden Fleece as some form of advanced technology that enabled one to fly.

What about giants? Gilgamesh and Enkidu encountered the giant Humbaba, David and Goliath, and the offspring of Cain's daughters? Isn't it possible that these giants were aliens or descended from them? There is more, including the possibility that the head of the Medusa was some sort of superweapon.

There is a section where he explains the difficulties involving where Atlantis was. It's tied to the fact that from Atlantis is derived the Atlantic Ocean, Mount Atlas, and even Aztlan, which in turns is the derivation of Aztec. This discounts Troy, Malta, Santorini, and Crete, because they are in the Mediterranean. And if Troy was Atlantis, surely there'd be some record of it? No, Troy was called Tros and Ilion, but not Atlantis. That in turn is also explored in the section on Heinrich Schliemann and the different Troys found. There are also excerpts from Plato's Dialogues where Critias tells the story of Solon and how Solon learned of Atlantis.

Included in this text are colour photos of the places mentioned, such as the Acropolis, Delphi, and Troy. Getting this book makes me want to check out his earliest book on the subject, Chariot Of The Gods, and this is certainly an interesting twist on Greek mythology.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gods were Aliens?, June 19, 2000

By 

J. Henson "smaftymac.com" (Washington, The State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Odyssey of the Gods (Hardcover)

Gods were rather..."Frisky" in ancient times.The Argonaughts were all "sons" of God Jason,Hercules had the genes.Right away I a comparison to the Epic of Gilgamesh, he was a "Son" of God also and guess what he had a quest too. Robots, Fire protected ointment, submarines, Strange creatures of the Reptilian persuation? this story was written Thousands of years ago from even older sources. This is Star Wars Written very long ago.Daniken can see through the surface of what and gives an idea about what it could be.

Atlantis has been around in our collected thought for many years and Daniken goes through Two chapters on the theory. Daniken writes with such clarity, that he can give an idea foundation. A scientist said that Atlantis was really Troy and has some really poor examples, and Daniken pounces all over it! Daniken likes history to be correct, and to any body who gave creedence to Atlantis SHOULD at least check out the last two chapters.

Daniken also brings up again some puzzling things he has found in his research. The Anticythera machine, a mechanism which is a very precise Astronamical Calender, one that shouldn't exist...but does. The Piri Reis map is also a mystery, a map written five Hundrd years ago had very detailed picture of Antartica. Now you might say "So what"? I would say that too but Antartica wasn't discovered until a couple hundred years after Piri drew the map. The map has parts of Antartica found during the ninteen fifties our era, parts covered in a MILE of ice.

Daniken again delivers a well documented read. one that should at the very least inspire to think "maybe it could have happened"?

I met Daniken and have been entergized to his theories even more now than before.

If I could the book would get SIX STARS.