November 6, 1998: Ancient Astronauts - Erich von Daniken

Art Bell welcomes Erich von Daniken, bestselling author of Chariots of the Gods, for his first-ever appearance on the program. Von Daniken presents his theory that extraterrestrial visitors landed on Earth thousands of years ago, leaving behind evidence in the Nazca Lines of Peru, ancient Indian texts describing orbital cities and smaller vehicles called Vimanas, and biblical accounts like Ezekiel's detailed descriptions of a technical craft.

The conversation delves into von Daniken's belief that extraterrestrials genetically modified early hominids to create intelligent humans, a concept he finds echoed across world religions. He points to the Hebrew word Elohim, a plural form suggesting multiple gods, and draws parallels between the story of Adam and Eve and a deliberate act of genetic engineering. Von Daniken also discusses hidden artifacts, including the Ark of the Covenant guarded beneath an Ethiopian cathedral and a mysterious mirror buried with a Japanese emperor.

Callers challenge von Daniken on spiritual versus physical interpretations of scripture, while he addresses past criticisms of his earlier work. He acknowledges youthful errors in Chariots of the Gods but maintains that his newer books, including The Arrival of the Gods, meet scientific standards. He also announces plans for a mystery-themed park in Interlaken, Switzerland, designed to bring the world's ancient enigmas to the public.