While in his cell [whilst incarcerated for embezzlement, fraud and forgery], he claims, he experienced an intense vision.
Von Daniken won’t discuss the nature of the vision…
Erich Von Daniken, ancient astronaut alien fame (or, infamy)—was interviewed by Timothy Ferris; an interview you can find scanned from the original magazine here and yet, one that no one seems to have transcribed as of yet which is why we will provide much of the text within this series.
In this part of the interview, the following issue is raised:
in a third book, “The Gold of the Gods,” he returned to punchy sentences and sensational claims—including the discovery of a huge cave in Ecuador allegedly holding a treasure in gold artifacts left behind by visitors from outer space
It is into this cave that the discussion descends:
[Timothy Ferris] Let’s talk about some of the mysteries you say the archaeologists ought to be studying. In your book The Gold of the Gods, you describe taking a voyage through enormous caves in Ecuador where you claim to have seen ancient furniture made of plastic, a menagerie of gold animals, a library of imprinted metal plates and other evidence of a great early civilization.
You Call this “the most incredible, fantastic story of the century” and say you were guided through the caves by a South American adventurer named Juan Moricz. But Moricz says he never took you into any such caves. Which of you is telling the truth?
[Erich Von Daniken] I guess we both are telling half truth.
[Timothy Ferris] Which half is yours?
[Erich Von Daniken] I have been in Ecuador several times. I have met Moricz several times and we have been together at the side entrance to those tunnels. But before we went into that entrance, Moricz made it a condition that I would not be allowed to give the location or to take photographs inside. I could understand that because he didn’t want people going in there. So I agreed, we shook hands and we left. And, as a matter of fact, in my book I have not told the truth concerning the geographic location of the place, not about some various other little things.
In German we say a writer, if he is not writing pure science, is allowed to use some dramaturgisch Effekte —some theatrical effects. And that’s what I have done. But finally, the whole controversy over whether I have been down there in those caves or not seems ridiculous. The main question should be: Does the library of gold plates exist or not? This should be the main question, not whether Mr. Von Daniken has seen them or not. [emphasis added]
But just where, when and how is this dramaturgisch Effekte employed in his works?:
[Timothy Ferris] Are you saying you have never been inside the caves?
[Erich Von Daniken] I have been inside the caves, but not at the place where the photographs in the book were taken, not at the main entrance. I was at a side entrance. And we were down there for six hours.
[Timothy Ferris] Did you, in fact, see the things you describe? Seven chairs made of a plasticlike material, a zoo of solid-gold animals, a library of gold plates?
[Erich Von Daniken] Definitely. No doubt. Though I must say I am not at all sure anymore, if the so-called zoo is made of gold. It could be something different.
[Timothy Ferris] In the book you say Moricz led you in darkness then gave the command “Switch on your torches!” You write, “We are standing dumbfounded and amazed in the middle of a gigantic hall.” Is that what really happened?
[Erich Von Daniken] No, that is not true. It is what I call theatrical effect. [emphasis added]
[Timothy Ferris] Were you and Moricz even in the caves?
[Erich Von Daniken] Yeah, sure. He saw everything.
[Timothy Ferris] Moricz says, “Von Daniken was never in the caves: when he states he has seen the library and the other things himself, he is lying. We never showed him these things.”
[Erich Von Daniken] I know those statements because he has written to me the same thing and I can well understand it. In 1969 Moricz organized and expedition down there. All the crew members signed documents promising to say nothing about whatever they might find. This was reported in the Ecuadorian press. So when The Gold of the Gods appeared, I think members of the
1969 expedition must have told Moricz, “Listen, this isn’t fair. Von Daniken has made the thing public. We could have made money with it, but we were pledged to silence.” I feel this was the main reason though there were others, why Moricz now says the whole things is a hoax. But again, to me the min point is not if I have seen these things or not. I just don’t care. The question is, do they exist?
[Timothy Ferris] Didn’t your German publisher finance an expedition to the caves in order to decide just that question?
[Erich Von Daniken] Yes. They sent a leading German archaeologist to Ecuador. He was there more than six weeks. He had been to Ecuador many times before and his purpose was to organize an expedition into the caves, but he came back and said it was impossible. He could not find Mr. Moricz and the archaeologists in Ecuador knew nothing of this discovery.
[Timothy Ferris] Why not lead an expedition into the caves yourself?
[Erich Von Daniken] I cannot. I’m a little afraid to go there now. Mr. Moricz, under Ecuadorian law, is something like an owner of the caves together with the government and he has the right to defend his property. After this controversy, I have the feeling I should not go there and I really don’t care too much anymore.
The conversation speaks for itself. Note how as the conversation progresses Von Daniken’s interest fades. He goes from “The main question should be: Does the library of gold plates exist or not?” and “The question is, do they exist?” to finally “I really don’t care too much anymore.”
But why would such a treasure trove of evidence for his theory not matter anymore?
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