Zecharia Sitchin

Zecharia Sitchin (1920–2010) was an Azerbaijani-American author and self-taught student of ancient Near Eastern languages. He studied at the London School of Economics and worked as a journalist and editor in Israel before dedicating himself to the study of Sumerian cuneiform texts. His 1976 book 'Der zwölfte Planet' (The 12th Planet) established the 'Ancient Astronaut' thesis: the Sumerian gods (Anunnaki) were inhabitants of the planet Nibiru (3,600-year orbit) who came to Earth to mine gold and genetically create Homo sapiens. Sitchin published a total of 15 books (Earth Chronicles series), which together sold over 2 million copies and were translated into 25 languages. Mainstream ancient Near Eastern scholars criticize his translations as flawed; proponents regard his works as a key source for understanding the Anunnaki connection. Morpheus, Erich von Däniken, and numerous disclosure researchers draw on Sitchin's foundational work.