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Zecharia Sitchin

Zecharia Sitchin (July 11, 1920 – October 9, 2010) was a Russian-born American author renowned for his pseudohistorical theories positing that ancient extraterrestrial beings from a hypothetical planet called Nibiru genetically engineered early humans and influenced major civilizations, drawing on his personal interpretations of Sumerian, Akkadian, and biblical texts.^[1]^[2] Born in Baku, Azerbaijan (then part of Russia), Sitchin grew up in Mandatory Palestine and later pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, graduating from the University of London with a degree in economic history.^[3]^[2] After completing his studies, he worked as a journalist and editor in Israel before immigrating to the United States in 1952, where he took an executive position at a shipping company in New York.^[2]^[3] Sitchin's literary career gained prominence in 1976 with the publication of his debut book, The 12th Planet, the first volume in his seven-book Earth Chronicles series, which collectively sold millions of copies worldwide and were translated into more than 25 languages.^[2] In these works, he claimed that the Anunnaki—deities from Mesopotamian mythology—were actually advanced aliens who arrived on Earth approximately 450,000 years ago to extract gold, eventually creating Homo sapiens through genetic manipulation to serve as laborers.^[2] He further asserted that Nibiru, a supposed rogue planet on a 3,600-year elliptical orbit, periodically returns to the inner solar system, linking these events to cataclysms and mythological narratives in ancient records.^[2] Throughout his life, Sitchin positioned himself as a self-taught expert in ancient languages and Near Eastern studies, though his interpretations have been widely contested by professional archaeologists, linguists, and historians for lacking scholarly rigor and relying on unconventional translations.^[2] Despite the controversies, his ideas profoundly influenced popular culture, inspiring discussions on ancient astronaut theories and contributing to the broader ancient aliens genre in books, television, and media.^[2] Sitchin continued writing and lecturing until his death at age 90 in New York City from natural causes.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Zecharia Sitchin was born on July 11, 1920, in Baku, Azerbaijan, then part of the Soviet Union, to a Jewish family.^[3]^[4] His family relocated to Mandatory Palestine shortly after his birth amid the political turmoil following the Russian Revolution and the rise of Soviet rule, which posed challenges for Jewish communities in the region.^[5]^[6] Sitchin spent his formative years there, growing up in an environment shaped by the British Mandate and the cultural heritage of the ancient Near East.^[7] During his childhood in Palestine, Sitchin was immersed in a multilingual setting, retaining Russian from his birthplace while acquiring proficiency in Hebrew and English through daily life and education under British administration.^[3] This linguistic diversity, alongside proximity to biblical sites and ongoing archaeological work, fostered his early fascination with ancient history, particularly stories from the Hebrew Bible and the civilizations that preceded them.^[8] As World War II unfolded, Sitchin, then in his late teens, lived through the uncertainties of the British Mandate period in Palestine, including wartime restrictions and the global conflict's regional impacts, while pursuing his schooling and deepening his engagement with biblical texts.^[7]

Education and professional career

Sitchin attended the London School of Economics and the University of London during the 1940s, graduating in 1941 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree focused on economic history.^[5]^[9] Following his education, Sitchin served in the British Army from 1940 to 1944, including time in Jerusalem during World War II, before returning to Mandatory Palestine.^[9] Following his military service, he worked as an assistant town clerk for the Tel Aviv Municipality from 1944 to 1949 and briefly served in the Israeli Army during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.^[9] He then transitioned to roles in economic administration, serving as secretary and director of the economic department at the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Chamber of Commerce from 1949 to 1952, while also pursuing a career as a journalist and editor for Israeli newspapers.^[9]^[2] In 1952, Sitchin immigrated to the United States, settling in New York City, where he entered the shipping and international trade industry.^[2] He advanced to executive positions within a shipping company, leveraging his economics background to manage operations in global trade.^[2]^[10] During his evenings and spare time in New York, Sitchin engaged in self-study of ancient languages, including Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hebrew, without obtaining formal academic credentials in Assyriology.^[2]^[10] His childhood multilingualism, acquired in early life, aided this independent linguistic pursuit.^[5]

Theories and interpretations

Core theories

Zecharia Sitchin's central thesis posits that ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets record literal historical events involving extraterrestrial beings, rather than mythological narratives, drawing on his interpretations of Mesopotamian texts to argue for advanced interventions in human prehistory.^[11] He proposed that these beings, known as the Anunnaki, originated from a distant planet called Nibiru and arrived on Earth approximately 450,000 years ago to extract gold deposits, primarily in southeast Africa, as the mineral was essential for repairing their home planet's deteriorating atmosphere.^[2] To meet labor demands for mining operations, the Anunnaki genetically engineered early hominids into a workable workforce, marking the onset of Homo sapiens as a distinct species.^[2] Sitchin's narrative further incorporates Nibiru's elongated orbit of 3,600 Earth years, which periodically brings it close to the inner solar system, triggering gravitational disruptions and cataclysmic events that reshaped Earth's surface and human societies.^[12] These cycles, he claimed, influenced the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, with major upheavals aligning to Nibiru's passages and serving as pivotal turning points in Anunnaki-human interactions.^[13] Additionally, Sitchin asserted that many biblical accounts are distorted recollections of Anunnaki activities, reinterpreting events such as the Great Flood as a global deluge caused by Nibiru's orbital approach around 11,000 BCE, which devastated Anunnaki outposts and prompted their withdrawal from direct oversight of humanity.^[11] Similarly, the Tower of Babel story reflects an incident of technological hubris among humans, leading to Anunnaki intervention that scattered populations and confounded languages to prevent further unauthorized advancements.^[11]

Key concepts

Central to Zecharia Sitchin's interpretations of ancient Sumerian texts is the concept of Nibiru, a hypothetical twelfth planet in our solar system characterized by an elongated elliptical orbit that brings it into the inner solar system approximately every 3,600 years. Sitchin posited that Nibiru, also referred to as the "home planet" of the Anunnaki, experiences periodic environmental crises due to its unstable orbit, prompting the Anunnaki to seek resources from Earth. This planetary body is described as larger than Earth, with a highly advanced civilization capable of interstellar travel, and its periodic returns are linked to significant events in human history, such as cataclysms and divine interventions.^[8] The Anunnaki, according to Sitchin, are extraterrestrial beings originating from Nibiru who arrived on Earth around 450,000 years ago primarily to mine gold and other minerals essential for stabilizing their planet's atmosphere. These beings, depicted in Sumerian cuneiform tablets as gods descending from the heavens, established operations on Earth as a colonial outpost, with their society structured in a hierarchical pantheon ruled by familial lines. Sitchin's analysis frames the Anunnaki as advanced humanoids who influenced early human civilization through technology and governance, interpreting myths as historical records of their activities rather than purely mythological narratives./Zecharia-Sitchin/9780939680887) A cornerstone of Sitchin's cosmology is the origin of Homo sapiens through genetic engineering by the Anunnaki, occurring approximately 300,000 years ago in response to labor shortages in their mining operations. Following a mutiny among the Anunnaki workers toiling in African gold mines, the chief scientist Enki and the medical expert Ninhursag (also known as Ninti or the "Lady of Life") conducted experiments to create a primitive worker species by combining Anunnaki DNA with that of existing hominids, such as Homo erectus. This process, detailed in Sitchin's reading of texts like the Atrahasis Epic and the Enuma Elish, resulted in the first successful hybrids—termed "Adamu" or primitive man—designed as obedient laborers to alleviate the Anunnaki's burdens, with subsequent refinements leading to the proliferation of modern humans.^[8]^[14] Key figures among the Anunnaki leadership shape the narrative of their interactions with Earth and humanity. Anu, the supreme ruler and father of the pantheon, resided on Nibiru and served as the ultimate authority, delegating command of Earth operations while occasionally intervening in disputes. His firstborn son Enki, god of wisdom and water, championed human creation and advancement, often portrayed as a benevolent promoter of humanity's knowledge and survival against opposition. In contrast, Enlil, Anu's second son and half-brother to Enki, acted as the executive ruler on Earth, enforcing strict control over the Anunnaki mission and viewing humans with antagonism, particularly after their numbers grew beyond utility, leading to conflicts over human fate during events like the Great Flood.^[15]^[16] Sitchin identified Earth as "Ki," the Sumerian term for the planet, reinterpreted as the Anunnaki's primary mining colony where they extracted resources to sustain Nibiru. Upon arrival, the Anunnaki selected Mesopotamia as their operational hub, establishing Eridu as the first permanent base and mission control center, often called the "Bond Heaven-Earth" or Dur-An-Ki. This site, centered around Enki's temple complex, functioned as the administrative and technological heart of their colony, from which they directed mining expeditions, genetic projects, and the seeding of civilization among the created humans.^[8]^[17]

Published works

Earth Chronicles series

The Earth Chronicles series comprises seven core volumes authored by Zecharia Sitchin, spanning from 1976 to 2007, and forms the cornerstone of his interpretive work on ancient Mesopotamian texts. Published primarily by Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, the series has collectively sold millions of copies worldwide.^[18]^[19] The narrative unfolds as an interconnected retelling of human origins and history, purportedly decoded from Sumerian clay tablets and related artifacts, presenting events from the viewpoint of the Anunnaki—extraterrestrial beings from the planet Nibiru—who are depicted as influencing Earth's development.^[20]^[21] The inaugural volume, The 12th Planet (1976), establishes the foundational premise by proposing Nibiru as an undiscovered planet in our solar system with a 3,600-year elliptical orbit, and introduces the Anunnaki as its advanced inhabitants who arrived on Earth approximately 450,000 years ago to extract gold for their atmosphere. This sets the stage for the series' chronological progression through ancient events. The second book, The Stairway to Heaven (1980), explores ancient space travel technologies, the construction of pyramids in Egypt and Mesopotamia as landing beacons and launch facilities, and the Anunnaki's establishment of early civilizations.^[22]^[23] Subsequent volumes continue the storyline: The Wars of Gods and Men (1985) details interstellar conflicts among the Anunnaki, including nuclear warfare that allegedly devastated Sumer and contributed to the biblical Deluge. The Lost Realms (1990) extends the narrative to the Americas, interpreting Mesoamerican pyramids and myths as evidence of Anunnaki outposts and interactions with indigenous peoples. When Time Began (1993) examines the origins of calendars, Stonehenge, and celestial alignments as Anunnaki-engineered systems for tracking Nibiru's approach.^[24] The Cosmic Code (1998) delves into genetic engineering by the Anunnaki, linking it to human evolution and ancient knowledge encoded in texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh. The series culminates in The End of Days (2007), which interprets apocalyptic prophecies from Sumerian, biblical, and Mayan sources as foretelling Nibiru's next perihelion and potential global cataclysms. This progressive structure builds a cohesive, alternative chronology of prehistory, emphasizing the Anunnaki's role in shaping human society.

Other writings and media

In addition to the core Earth Chronicles series, Sitchin authored several companion volumes that expanded on his interpretations of ancient texts and modern science. Genesis Revisited, published in 1990, reexamines biblical narratives through the lens of Anunnaki involvement, positing that ancient accounts of creation and cataclysms align with astronomical and genetic discoveries.^[25] Other companions, such as Divine Encounters (1995), explore visions, angels, and divine interactions as encounters with extraterrestrial beings, drawing from Sumerian and biblical sources to support his theories. Later works include The Earth Chronicles Handbook (2009), a reference guide compiling key terms and concepts from the series, and There Were Giants Upon the Earth (2010), which presents evidence of alien DNA in human ancestry based on ancient artifacts and genetic analysis.^[26]^[27] Sitchin also ventured into narrative works that blended his theoretical framework with storytelling. The Lost Book of Enki (2002), presented as the memoirs and prophecies of the Anunnaki leader Enki, reconstructs Sumerian epics into a first-person account of humanity's origins and future, serving as a companion to the Earth Chronicles.^[28] Similarly, The Earth Chronicles Expeditions (2004) recounts his personal journeys to ancient sites, weaving investigative narratives with interpretations of mythological pasts, though framed as autobiography rather than pure fiction.^[29] His final novel, The King Who Refused to Die (2010), applies his theories to the Egyptian tale of immortality. A posthumous compilation, The Anunnaki Chronicles (2015), edited by his granddaughter Janet Sitchin, gathers selections from his works on the Anunnaki.^[30] From the 1990s onward, Sitchin organized and led expeditions to archaeological sites in regions like Iraq, Egypt, Mexico, and Turkey, guiding groups to explore Sumerian ruins, Mayan temples, and biblical locations such as Mount Sinai and Jerusalem's tunnels.^[8] These tours, spanning eleven trips between 1994 and 2000, were documented in his writings and multimedia, emphasizing on-site evidence for Anunnaki influences in ancient civilizations.^[31] Sitchin's media output included documentaries and interviews that popularized his ideas. The DVD "Are We Alone?" (2003 re-edit), based on Genesis Revisited, presents a one-hour exploration of extraterrestrial origins of humanity through ancient astronaut theory.^[8] Other productions, such as "An Evening with Zecharia Sitchin" (1997), feature lectures and slide presentations on Sumerian enigmas, while interviews with figures like U.S. Naval Observatory astronomer Dr. Robert Harrington discuss planetary evidence for Nibiru.^[8] He contributed articles to magazines, including "Creation, Evolution, Intelligent Design" in Fate (November 2002), which critiques Darwinian evolution in favor of directed genetic engineering by ancient visitors, and a 2010 conversation in the same publication covering his linguistic and archaeological methods.^[32]

Reception and legacy

Popular influence

Sitchin's books achieved significant commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide and being translated into more than 25 languages by the early 2010s.^[3] This bestseller status underscored the broad appeal of his interpretations of ancient texts among general readers interested in alternative histories. His work substantially contributed to the ancient astronaut movement, building on earlier ideas from authors like Erich von Däniken and providing foundational concepts for later media explorations of extraterrestrial influences on human civilization.^[33] Sitchin's theories, particularly regarding the Anunnaki, have been frequently referenced in the History Channel series Ancient Aliens (2009–present), where episodes often cite his analyses of Sumerian mythology as evidence for ancient extraterrestrial visitations.^[34] Sitchin appeared in mainstream media during the 2000s, including interviews on NBC News discussing potential DNA evidence supporting his extraterrestrial hypotheses.^[35] He was also featured as a guest expert in History Channel documentaries, enhancing the visibility of his ideas through television formats that popularized ancient astronaut theories.^[36] His writings inspired the formation of dedicated fan communities, including study groups and online forums that emerged in the post-1990s era to explore and debate his interpretations of ancient civilizations.^[8] These groups often organized discussions around key concepts from his Earth Chronicles series, reflecting sustained popular engagement with his work during his lifetime.

Scholarly criticisms

Scholars in Assyriology and ancient Near Eastern studies have extensively critiqued Zecharia Sitchin's translations of Sumerian and Akkadian terms, arguing that they deviate from established lexical evidence and grammatical conventions. A primary example is Sitchin's rendering of "Anunnaki" as "those who from heaven to earth came," which implies extraterrestrial origins; in contrast, the term derives from the Sumerian Anun-na-ki, meaning "princely offspring" or "offspring of Anu," referring to a group of deities associated with the underworld or earthly realm in Mesopotamian pantheons.^[37] This mistranslation, according to linguist Michael S. Heiser, ignores cuneiform dictionaries and the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), where the Anunnaki appear as chthonic gods without any connotation of descent from space.^[37] Similarly, Sitchin's interpretation of other terms, such as equating the Anunnaki with rocket-faring beings, lacks support from primary texts like the Enuma Elish or god lists, where they function as mythological figures rather than historical actors.^[38] Criticisms extend to Sitchin's astronomical claims, particularly his portrayal of Nibiru as a distant planet with a 3,600-year elliptical orbit that periodically disrupts Earth's environment. In Mesopotamian texts, "Nibiru" (or Neberu) denotes a celestial crossing point or a specific heavenly body, most commonly identified as Jupiter or Mercury, and occasionally a star like Sirius; it never refers to an undiscovered twelfth planet inhabited by the Anunnaki.^[39] Heiser's analysis of cuneiform sources, including astronomical omens and lexical lists compiled by scholars like Benno Landsberger, demonstrates that Nibiru is an epithet for known planets, not an extraterrestrial body requiring gold mining to repair its atmosphere—a detail entirely absent from ancient records.^[40] Furthermore, Sitchin's assertion of Sumerian knowledge of a 12-planet solar system, based on misinterpreted cylinder seals like VA 243, contradicts epigraphic evidence; the seal depicts standard deities and symbols without planetary motifs.^[41] No empirical astronomical data supports a 3,600-year orbit, rendering these interpretations pseudoscientific.^[38] Sitchin's approach has been faulted for treating Mesopotamian myths as literal historical chronicles, disregarding their symbolic, ritualistic, and theological contexts within ancient literature. Assyriologists emphasize that narratives like the Atrahasis or Epic of Gilgamesh, which Sitchin cites as evidence of genetic engineering by gods, are etiological myths explaining natural phenomena, kingship, and human suffering through allegory, not factual reports of alien intervention.^[42] For instance, creation stories involving the mixing of divine and human elements symbolize social order or fertility rites, not biotechnological events, as confirmed by comparative studies of Ugaritic and Hittite parallels.^[42] This literalism overlooks the polytheistic worldview of Sumerians, where gods embodied cosmic forces rather than physical astronauts, leading to anachronistic projections of modern science onto ancient cosmology.^[43] Overall, Sitchin's work is isolated from mainstream scholarship due to his failure to engage with peer-reviewed Assyriological research, such as editions from the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary or publications in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies. Heiser's open letter highlights Sitchin's selective quoting and invention of meanings unsupported by bilingual texts or archaeological context, positioning his theories outside academic discourse.^[44] Historian Ronald H. Fritze similarly critiques this methodological isolation in his analysis of pseudo-historical claims, noting that Sitchin's reliance on personal interpretations bypasses rigorous philological verification.

Modern legacy

Since Zecharia Sitchin's death in 2010, his interpretations of ancient Sumerian texts have maintained a prominent presence in media exploring ancient astronaut theories. The History Channel's Ancient Aliens series, which premiered in 2009 and continues airing new episodes as of 2025, frequently references Sitchin's work in post-2010 installments, such as the 2013 episode "The Anunnaki Connection," which examines his claims about extraterrestrial beings influencing early human civilization.^[45] Recent episodes continue to invoke Sitchin-inspired narratives on cosmic interventions in history.^[46] Podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience and numerous YouTube channels dedicated to alternative history have amplified these ideas, with content on Anunnaki lore garnering millions of views annually through 2025.^[47] Sitchin's concepts have influenced subsequent authors and fueled ongoing conspiracy theories. Billy Carson, founder of 4BiddenKnowledge Inc., explicitly builds on Sitchin's translations in his books like The Compendium of the Emerald Tablets and discussions on platforms such as the 2024 Joe Rogan Experience episode, where he interprets Anunnaki as advanced extraterrestrials shaping human genetics. ^[47] David Icke incorporates Anunnaki themes into his reptilian overlord hypothesis, portraying them as shape-shifting aliens controlling global elites, a framework that echoes Sitchin's extraterrestrial origins for humanity.^[48] The "Nibiru cataclysm" theory, derived from Sitchin's depiction of a rogue planet, spurred doomsday predictions tied to the 2012 Mayan calendar end and resurfaced in the 2020s with claims of imminent collisions, perpetuated by online communities despite astronomical debunkings.^[49] Academic analyses in the 2020s have increasingly addressed Sitchin's role in pseudohistory's cultural permeation. A 2023 study on Twitter discourse examined how pseudoarchaeological narratives, including ancient aliens inspired by Sitchin, spread conspiracy theories challenging mainstream archaeology, with hashtags like #AncientAliens amplifying misinformation.^[50] At sites like Göbekli Tepe, Sitchin-influenced media has driven tourism surges, prompting archaeologists, including excavation director Lee Clare, to issue public rebuttals against alien construction claims while managing increased visitor interest from Ancient Aliens coverage.^[51] ^[52] The official Sitchin estate preserves his legacy through sitchin.com, which hosts digital archives of his manuscripts, translations, and artifacts, alongside virtual study resources like expedition videos from the Earth Chronicles series available at thesitchinarchives.com.^[8] ^[53] As of 2025, the site facilitates annual commemorative events and educational materials without issuing new official publications, though fan communities produce expansions such as interpretive podcasts and online forums.^[8]

Bibliography

Earth Chronicles volumes

The Earth Chronicles series consists of seven core volumes published by Bear & Company (an imprint of Inner Traditions International), forming the foundation of Zecharia Sitchin's theories on ancient astronaut intervention in human history. These works draw on translations of Sumerian, Akkadian, and other ancient texts to propose extraterrestrial origins for humanity and major civilizations.^[18] The 12th Planet (1976), the inaugural volume, introduces the planet Nibiru and the Anunnaki as extraterrestrial beings from a distant orbit who engineered human life on Earth through genetic intervention, based on Sumerian epics and astronomical evidence.^[54] The Stairway to Heaven (1980) explores connections between ancient Egyptian pyramids, ziggurats in Mesopotamia, and space travel facilities, arguing that these structures served as launch sites and landing pads for Anunnaki spacecraft.^[55] The Wars of Gods and Men (1985) details internecine conflicts among the Anunnaki that escalated into wars involving advanced weaponry, including theories of nuclear detonations responsible for the biblical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, drawn from Mesopotamian king lists and biblical parallels.^[56] The Lost Realms (1990) applies the Anunnaki framework to pre-Columbian Americas, positing that Mesoamerican gods like Quetzalcoatl were Anunnaki visitors who influenced Mayan, Aztec, and Inca civilizations through mining operations and cultural exchanges. When Time Began (1993) investigates the origins of calendars, Stonehenge, and the zodiac, proposing that the Anunnaki introduced timekeeping systems to manage their Earth operations and that these influenced global mythologies. The Cosmic Code (1998) explores the decipherment of ancient Sumerian and biblical prophecies through a lens of advanced extraterrestrial knowledge, positing that the Anunnaki encoded mathematical and scientific principles in clay tablets to guide human civilization. Sitchin argues that these texts reveal a cosmic calendar culminating in a 6,000-year cycle, linking astronomical events to human destiny.^[57] The End of Days: Armageddon and Prophecies of the Return (2007), the concluding volume, analyzes apocalyptic prophecies from ancient texts and calendars, forecasting potential future Anunnaki returns tied to Nibiru's orbit around 2012 and beyond.

Companion volumes

In addition to the core Earth Chronicles series, Zecharia Sitchin authored several companion volumes that delve deeper into specific aspects of ancient texts, Anunnaki involvement, and related scientific interpretations, often building on the foundational narratives of extraterrestrial intervention in human history. Genesis Revisited: Is Modern Science Catching Up with Ancient Knowledge? (1990) reexamines the Book of Genesis alongside Sumerian texts and contemporary astronomy, asserting that ancient accounts of creation and cosmic events align with recent findings on solar system formation and human evolution.^[58] Divine Encounters (1995) reinterprets biblical encounters between gods and humans, such as those involving Abraham and Ezekiel, as interactions with Anunnaki leaders, supported by cross-references to Near Eastern myths.^[59] Published in 2010, The King Who Refused to Die reexamines the Epic of Gilgamesh as an allegorical account of Anunnaki quests for immortality, intertwining Egyptian pyramid texts with Sumerian lore to suggest ritualistic pursuits of eternal life facilitated by advanced alien technology. The book frames Gilgamesh's journey as a historical event involving betrayal and divine intervention, tying it to broader themes of human-Anunnaki interactions. Also released in 2010, There Were Giants Upon the Earth analyzes archaeological anomalies, such as elongated skulls and oversized artifacts from ancient sites, as physical evidence of Anunnaki genetic engineering in human evolution. Sitchin presents these findings as corroboration for hybrid demigods described in Sumerian myths, emphasizing DNA manipulation to create a labor force for extraterrestrial mining operations.^[60] A posthumous compilation edited by Sitchin's niece Janet Sitchin, The Anunnaki Chronicles appeared in 2015 and consolidates excerpts from his earlier works alongside unpublished materials, providing an overview of Anunnaki arrival on Earth, city-building, and genetic creation of humanity. This reader-format volume highlights key discoveries from Sumerian tablets, serving as an accessible entry point to his theories without advancing a new sequential narrative.

Expeditions and multimedia

Sitchin led a series of guided tours and personal investigations to ancient sites, which he documented in the Earth Chronicles Expeditions series, published between 2004 and 2007. These volumes recount his expeditions to locations purportedly linked to Anunnaki influences, including Peru's Inca ruins, Egypt's pyramids and temples, and Iraq's Mesopotamian archaeological zones, among others such as Mexico's Mayan sites, Turkey's ancient artifacts, and Israel's biblical landmarks. In The Earth Chronicles Expeditions (2004), Sitchin details over five decades of fieldwork, emphasizing connections between these sites and Sumerian texts. The sequel, Journeys to the Mythical Past (2007), expands on eleven such tours, incorporating photographs and personal narratives of discoveries like hidden tunnels and enigmatic structures.^[29] While primarily known for non-fiction, Sitchin explored narrative forms in works blending historical interpretation with fictional elements, though no formal Earth Chronicles Novel series was published during his lifetime. Instead, narrative-style texts like The Lost Book of Enki (2004), presented as translated memoirs from the Anunnaki perspective, served as extensions of his theories in a semi-fictional format. Sitchin's multimedia output included lecture videos and DVDs from the 1990s and 2000s, capturing his seminars on ancient astronaut theories. Notable examples are the 1997 recording An Evening with Zecharia Sitchin, featuring slide presentations on Sumerian enigmas, and the DVD Sitchin: Future, Past-Present (2004), which includes interviews and site footage from his expeditions. Expedition videos, such as those from tours to Egypt and Peru, were later archived on his official website for educational purposes. Additionally, audiobooks of his major works, narrated by professionals like Stephen Bel Davies, were produced starting in the early 2000s, with titles like The 12th Planet and The Lost Book of Enki available through platforms such as Audible.^[8]^[61]^[62] Beyond books, Sitchin contributed articles to Atlantis Rising magazine, focusing on archaeological anomalies tied to his research. In Issue 15 (1998), he analyzed a sculpted artifact in Istanbul resembling a rocket, interpreting it as evidence of ancient technology. Other pieces, such as in Issue 26 (2000), discussed the antiquity of Olmec civilization in relation to Anunnaki migrations. These writings, often illustrated with expedition photos, complemented his tours without forming collaborative projects, though his archives include joint interviews.

References

[1]
R.I.P. Zecharia Sitchin, 1920-2010
Oct 26, 2010 · Now comes word that Sitchin passed away on Oct. 9. He left this world with questions unanswered ... but isn't that always the way things go? My ...Missing: credible | Show results with:credible
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Origin of the Species, From an Alien View - The New York Times
Jan 8, 2010 · Born in Russia and raised in Israel, Mr. Sitchin studied economics in London and worked as a journalist and editor in Israel before moving to ...
[3]
Zecharia Sitchin | Official Publisher Page - Simon & Schuster
Zecharia Sitchin (1920-2010), an eminent Orientalist and biblical scholar, was born in Russia and grew up in Palestine.Missing: credible | Show results with:credible
[4]
Is Zecharia Sitchin Anti-Semitic? - Dr. Michael Heiser
Dec 20, 2008 · I don't believe so (Sitchin is Jewish). That said, it seems Sitchin and his followers don't realize how his ideas open themselves to that charge.Missing: Haifa | Show results with:Haifa
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Sitchin, Zecharia - Encyclopedia.com
Zecharia Sitchin, an author of books offering an alternative history of the extraterrestrial origins of ancient humanity, was born in the 1920s in Baku, Russia.
[6]
Will Nibiru trigger an Earth crust displacement? Part I
Zecharia Sitchin (1920-2010) was born in the capital Baku of Azerbaijan. His parents emigrated a few years later to Palestine, where he was raised. Zecharia ...<|separator|>
[7]
Zecharia Sitchin (1920-2010) - Find a Grave Memorial
Birth: 11 Jul 1920. Baku, Baku City District, Azerbaijan ; Death: 9 Oct 2010 (aged 90). New York, New York County, New York, USA ; Burial. New Montefiore Cemetery.Missing: credible | Show results with:credible
[8]
The Official Web Site of Zecharia Sitchin
It is meant to provide an overview of the main ideas presented by Sitchin in his 14 books as well as being a source of new, previously unpublished material.Zecharia Sitchin... · Personal Documentary and... · October 9 - Annual Sitchin...Missing: credible | Show results with:credible
[9]
Sitchin, Zecharia 1920- | Encyclopedia.com
Education: University of London, B.Com., 1941.ADDRESSES:Agent—John ... Military service: British Army, 1940-44; served in Jerusalem. Israeli Army, 1948 ...
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Up close with Zecharia Sitchin - The Immanent Frame
Feb 16, 2010 · Born in Russia and raised in Israel, Mr. Sitchin studied economics in London and worked as a journalist and editor in Israel before moving to New York in 1952.Missing: background | Show results with:background
[11]
Twelfth Plan - HarperCollins Publishers
In stock Rating 4.7 72 A classic of ancient human history—and one of the inspirations behind the History Channel's Ancient Aliens—Zecharia Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series is the ...
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Zecharia Sitchin - The Anunnaki Chronicles - Simon & Schuster
``An excellent selection of texts highlighting the key breakthroughs of Zecharia Sitchin about the Sumerians' feats in bioengineering, microchips, and ...Missing: 450000 | Show results with:450000
[13]
The End of Days - HarperCollins Publishers
In stock Rating 4.8 13 In a series of provocative books, he offered a radical new theory, based on indisputable documentary evidence, of extraterrestrial beings—the Anunnaki—who ...
[14]
Chapter 12: The Creation Of Man | Zecharia Sitchin Index
Sumerian texts, too, speak of deformed humans created by Enki and the Mother Goddess Ninhursag, in the course of their efforts to fashion a perfect Primitive ...
[15]
Chapter 4 – Sumer, Land of the Gods | Zecharia Sitchin Index
The head of this family of Gods of Heaven and Earth was AN (or Anu in the Babylonian/Assyrian texts). He was the Great Father of the Gods, The King of the Gods.
[16]
Chapter 13: When the Gods Left Earth | Zecharia Sitchin Index
Enlil, Enki's half-brother and rival for the succession, came and was put in overall command. When the Anunnaki toiling in the mines mutinied, Enki suggested ...
[17]
Chapter 4: DUR.AN.KI – The “Bond Heaven-Earth”
The composition appropriately begins with Enki's ziggurat-temple in Eridu, called in the hymn “place whose Holy of Holies is the foundation of Heaven-Earth ...
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The Complete Earth Chronicles - Inner Traditions
In stock Free deliveryThe Complete Earth Chronicles · Pages: 2448 · Book Size: 6 x 9 · ISBN-13: 9781591432012 · Imprint: Bear & Company · On Sale Date: October 4, 2014 · Format: Hardcover ...
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The Complete Earth Chronicles | Book by Zecharia Sitchin
This boxed set of hardcover collector's editions with enhanced maps and diagrams includes all 7 volumes of the Earth Chronicles series.
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https://www.sitchin.com/booklist.htm
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Books - Zecharia Sitchin
Zecharia's books are now being published in Greek. The first book in The Earth Chronicles series, The 12 Planet, is already available from Archetypo Publishers ...
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The Stairway to Heaven (Book II) | Book by Zecharia Sitchin
Product Details · Publisher: Bear & Company (November 1, 1992) · Length: 336 pages · ISBN13: 9780939680894.
[23]
The Stairway to Heaven: Book II of the Earth Chronicles
In stock $6.99 deliveryIn this second volume of his trailblazing series The Earth Chronicles, Zecharia Sitchin unveils secrets of the pyramids and hidden clues from ancient times.
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When Time Began - HarperCollins Publishers
In stock Free delivery over $35A classic of ancient human history—and one of the inspirations behind the History Channel's Ancient Aliens—Zecharia Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series is the ...
[25]
Genesis Revisited | Book by Zecharia Sitchin - Simon & Schuster
The awesome answers are all here, in this important companion volume to The Earth Chronicles series. ... Genesis Revisited is a mind-boggling revelation sure to ...
[26]
The Lost Book of Enki | Book by Zecharia Sitchin - Simon & Schuster
The companion volume to The Earth Chronicles series that reveals the identity of mankind's ancient gods.<|separator|>
[27]
The Earth Chronicles Expeditions | Book by Zecharia Sitchin
In this autobiographical book, the internationally acclaimed author Zecharia Sitchin reveals the foundational research and the adventurous expeditions
[28]
Zecharia Sitchin - The Earth Chronicles Expeditions Videos - YouTube
Oct 9, 2021 · ... expeditions to places around the world so he could explore civilizations from antiquity. There were eleven trips from 1994 to 2000, which ...
[29]
In the Media - Zecharia Sitchin
FATE Magazine, in its November 2002 issue, published an article by Zecharia Sitchin titled Creation, Evolution, Intelligent Design. The article was ...
[30]
Believers In Mysterious Planet Nibiru Await Earth's End - Space
Jul 7, 2011 · Nonetheless, Sitchin's books have been translated into 25 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. Lieder's planetary collision ...
[31]
The 12th Planet: Book I of the Earth Chronicles - Barnes & Noble
In stock $6.99 deliveryThe groundbreaking, bestselling series—millions of copies sold worldwide! A classic of ancient human history—and one of the inspirations behind the History ...Missing: sales figures
[32]
Zecharia Sitchin and the Extraterrestrial Origins of Humanity
Known for his provocative interpretations of ancient Sumerian and Akkadian clay tablets, Zecharia Sitchin (1920-2010) read the words of our most ancient ...
[33]
Looking for alien DNA - NBC News
Jun 15, 2010 · The 90-year-old Sitchin was born in the Soviet Union, grew up in Palestine and now lives in a New York apartment.Missing: relocation | Show results with:relocation
[34]
UFO Personalities - IMDb
Zecharia Sitchin ... He is a featured guest on The History Channel's popular series Ancient Aliens, and has also appeared in other History Channel documentaries.
[35]
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/cosmic-log/looking-alien-dna-flna6c10403988
[36]
Zecharia Sitchin and the Mistranslation of Sumerian Texts
Sitchin's translation of Anunnaki as “those who from heaven came” is itself an error or was completely fabricated.Missing: London | Show results with:London
[37]
https://www.sitchiniswrong.com/anunnaki/anunnaki.htm
[38]
https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-religions/zecharia-sitchin-and-mistranslation-sumerian-texts-009442
[39]
[PDF] The Myth of a 12th Planet: A Brief Analysis of Cylinder Seal VA 243
This seal is the centerpiece of Sitchin's theory that the Sumerians had advanced astronomical knowledge of the planetary bodies in our solar system. This ...
[40]
Zecharia Sitchin - Bad Archaeology
May 6, 2007 · Like so many Bad Archaeologists, Zecharia Sitchin assumes that ancient texts are inherently trustworthy, straightforward accounts by ...
[41]
The return of Ancient Astronauts; Zecharia Sitchin Rekindles an Old ...
He attended the London School of Economics and Political Science and graduated from the University of London, majoring in economic history. A leading ...
[42]
Open Letter - Sitchin Is Wrong
Sitchin tells readers things like the Sumerians believed there were twelve planets, the Anunnaki were space travelers, Nibiru was the supposed 12th planet, etc.
[43]
"Ancient Aliens" The Anunnaki Connection (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb
Rating 7.2/10 (160) Videos2. Ancient Aliens: Signs of Lost Civilization Found on Mars. Clip 3:14 · Ancient Aliens: Signs of Lost Civilization Found on Mars ... Self - Author, The ...Missing: influence | Show results with:influence
[44]
Celestial Beings Cause Catastrophic Disasters (S2, E6) | Full Episode
Oct 5, 2024 · " Watch your favorite episodes of Ancient Aliens on The HISTORY Channel website at http://history.com/sch.... #AncientAliens Subscribe for ...<|separator|>
[45]
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3270832/
[46]
Billy Carson - Joe Rogan Experience #2160 - YouTube
Jun 4, 2024 · Billy Carson is the founder and CEO of the media company 4BiddenKnowledge Inc., and First Class Space Agency, an aerospace company focusing ...
[47]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=livgMzeO-ZY
[48]
The Truth Behind the Rogue Planet Nibiru - Science | HowStuffWorks
Sitchin claimed these beings hailed from a place called Nibiru, a hitherto undiscovered planet. His writings state that Nibiru approaches Earth once every 3,600 ...Missing: Tower Babel
[49]
(PDF) Twitter Analysis of Pseudoarchaeology and Conspiracy ...
Aug 10, 2025 · Striking similarity. #aliens #ufoac #ancientaliens #ufotwitter #history. #Conspiracy eories [Image attached] [Tweet] ...
[50]
Did aliens build Göbekli Tepe? The head of the excavation answers
Jul 20, 2024 · There have been claims that Göbekli Tepe was built by aliens. There are extraordinary claims that the site contains a time portal.<|separator|>
[51]
Review of Ancient Aliens S12E16 "Return to Göbekli Tepe"
Sep 15, 2017 · Ancient Aliens has covered the Stone Age Turkish site of Göbekli Tepe, a 12,000-year-old stone temple complex, many times in the past. Off the ...
[52]
The Sitchin Archives: Zecharia Sitchin Videos
This FREE documentary is a personal look into the Life History of Zecharia Sitchin, from inquisitive schoolboy to world-renowned author.<|control11|><|separator|>
[53]
The 12th Planet (Book I) - Inner Traditions
Free delivery over $35 30-day returnsWeaving the story of humanity's origins by means of archaeology, mythology, and ancient texts, Zecharia Sitchin documents extraterrestrial involvement in Earth ...
[54]
The Stairway to Heaven (Book II) - Inner Traditions
Free delivery over $35 30-day returnsThe Stairway to Heaven, the second book of Zecharia Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series, incorporates ancient Egyptian evidence to show that the gateway between ...
[55]
The Wars of Gods and Men (Book III) - Inner Traditions
Rating 4.8 7 · Free delivery over $35Sitchin's unique reexamination of ancient mysteries explains these past cataclysmic events in the history of humanity, opening insights into our future. Table ...
[56]
Genesis Revisited - Inner Traditions
Free delivery over $35 30-day returnsGenesis Revisited is a mind-boggling revelation sure to overturn current theories about the origins of humankind and the solar system.
[57]
Divine Encounters - Inner Traditions
Free delivery over $35 30-day returnsIn Divine Encounters Zecharia Sitchin draws on basic Judeo-Christian texts to analyze the creation myths, paralleling Biblical stories to the myths of Sumer and ...
[58]
The Cosmic Code. The Sixth Book of The Earth Chronicles
Apr 20, 2017 · The Cosmic Code. The Sixth Book of The Earth Chronicles. 2002, 1998. Bear & Company, Rochester, Vermont.
[59]
There Were Giants Upon the Earth | Book by Zecharia Sitchin
The crowning work of the bestselling Earth Chronicles series • Reveals the existence of physical evidence of alien presence on Earth in the distant past
[60]
An Evening With Zecharia Sitchin - Part One (1997) Full Video
Jan 25, 2024 · http://thedukemitchell.uk/ for strange film nights in London. An Evening With Zecharia Sitchin - Part One: The Enigma Of Ancient Knowledge.Missing: DVDs | Show results with:DVDs
[61]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNHsRwqwVUw