Anunnaki Zecharia Sitchin’s work, especially in The Twelfth Planet (1976), proposed a bold and speculative theory that intertwined ancient mythology, archaeology, and extraterrestrial influences. According to his interpretation of Sumerian texts, the Anunnaki, a group of deities in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, were actually a race of advanced extraterrestrial beings from the planet Nibiru. Sitchin argued that Nibiru had an elongated orbit and passed near Earth every 3,600 years, allowing the Anunnaki to visit.
The central tenet of Sitchin’s alternate history is his assertion that the Anunnaki genetically altered Homo erectus to create modern humans for slave labor, especially in gold mine. He explained how the Anunnaki left Earth as a result of these natural calamities and connected the biblical Great Flood tale to the melting of Antarctic glaciers.
Sitchin continued to expand on his views in later writings, speculating that ancient structures such as the pyramids were built by the Anunnaki, who he felt were superior to early human civilizations. The “ancient astronaut” movement, which contends that extraterrestrial beings significantly influenced or helped many of Earth’s prehistoric civilizations, found support for his views.
Sitchin has garnered popularity, particularly among conspiracy theorists and alternative historians, but academics have harshly condemned his work for misinterpreting ancient texts and for lacking reliable evidence.The mainstream archaeological and historical communities largely reject his claims. However, his ideas remain an interesting exploration of the possibilities of human origins and extraterrestrial involvement in ancient history.
Another illustration of the speculative character of his writings is his forecast that the Anunnaki would return to Earth, likely in 2012, to coincide with the end of the Mayan Long Count period.Of course, 2012 came and went without the predicted return, but his ideas continue to inspire discussion and curiosity.