Alleged Extraterrestrial Beings Codexery

Reptilian conspiracy theory

Alleged reptilian humanoids secretly control world governments.

Reptilians are reptilian humanoids featured in fantasy, science fiction, ufology, and conspiracy theories.[1] David Icke, a conspiracy theorist, is the one who made the notion widespread that shape-shifting reptilian aliens seize control of Earth by assuming human form.[1]

Quick Facts

Popularized by
David Icke
First published by icke
1999
Icke's work
The Biggest Secret
Claimed origin star system
Alpha Draconis
Countries with icke supporters
47
Maximum lecture audience
6,000

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

Michael Barkun posits that the reptilian conspiracy idea originated in Robert E. Howard's 1929 story "The Shadow Kingdom"[2] Howard's "serpent men" were humanoids with snake heads who could imitate humans and use mind-control abilities.[3] In the 1940s, American occultist Maurice Doreal wrote a pamphlet describing a "serpent race" with snake heads able to take human form.[4] Barkun asserts that Doreal's ideas likely came from "The Shadow Kingdom"[5]

Historian Edward Guimont has argued the theory drew from pseudohistorical legends developed during the colonization of Africa.[6] David Icke first published on this theme in his 1999 work "The Biggest Secret"[7] Icke contends that tall, blood-drinking, shape-shifting reptilian humanoids from Alpha Draconis are behind a worldwide conspiracy.[7] In October 2022, Dutch MP Thierry Baudet said he believes the world is "being governed by evil reptiles".[8]

According to a 2013 Public Policy Polling survey of Americans, 4% of registered voters (with a margin of error of ±2.8%) accepted Icke's theories.[9]

What the cited sources add

The Globe and Mail reported that in 2003, Ontario Progressive Conservative staff issued a press release calling opponent Dalton McGuinty "an evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet"[10] Gothamist reported that in 2011, comedian Louis C.K. repeatedly asked Donald Rumsfeld if he was a lizard person on the Opie and Anthony show.[11] NBC News noted that as many as 12 million Americans believed in the lizard people conspiracy in a 2013 survey.[12] Guimont wrote that Icke was inspired by Zecharia Sitchin's 1970s writings that the ancient Sumerian pantheon were actually reptilian aliens.[13]

NBC News reported that the Nashville bomber on Christmas Day made statements about a conspiracy of lizard people taking over the planet.[12] The UFO Evidence account describes that police officer Herbert Schirmer recalled beings with a "winged serpent" emblem during his abduction on December 3, 1967.[14]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Lynskey, "Psycho lizards from Saturn: The godlike genius of David Icke!", NewStatesman, 6 November 2014; Joyce, "The Weiser field guide to the paranormal abductions, apparitions, ESP, synchronicity, and more unexplained phenomena from other realms", Weiser Books, 2011, p. 80–81; "Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg: The Lore and Mythology of Amphibians and Reptiles", University of Chicago Press, 2015, p. 56; Alfred Lambremont Webre, "The Omniverse: Transdimensional Intelligence, Time Travel, the Afterl en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barkun, "A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America", University of California Press, 2003, p. 120–121; Trompf, "Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production", Brill, 2012, p. 113–114; Parramore, "The far right's lizard conspiracy is bonkers. But it's definitely not harmless.", NBC News, 2021-01-12 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barkun, "A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America", University of California Press, 2003, p. 120–121; Mott, "Caverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures: A Study of Subterranean Mysteries in History, Folklore, and Myth", Grave Distractions Publications, 2011, p. 27 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Doreal, Maurice (D. 1963), Encyclopedia.com; Barkun (2003), p. 119 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barkun, "A Culture of Conspiracy", 2003, p. 120–121 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Guimont, "Hunting Dinosaurs in Central Africa", Contingent Magazine, 18 March 2019 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ronson, "Beset by lizards", The Guardian UK, 16 March 2001; Chidester, "Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture", University of California Press, 2005, p. 122; Lauren Cox, "What's Behind Internet Conspiracy Empires?", ABC News, Dec 12, 2008; Mesure, "David Icke is not the Messiah. Or even that naughty. But boy, can he drone on", The Independent, 28 October 2012 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jean-Pierre Stroobants, "Dutch far-right leader claims world is governed by 'evil reptiles'", Le Monde, October 21, 2022 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Reptilian conspiracy theory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Santillano, "10 Conspiracy Theories that Won't Go Away", Divine Caroline; "Conspiracy Theory Poll Results", Public Policy Polling (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Smith, "Kitten-eater controversy litters battle for Ontario", The Globe and Mail, 13 September 2003. facts only, no text reused. theglobeandmail.com
  11. Del Signore, "Louis CK Repeatedly Asks Donald Rumsfeld If He's a Lizard Alien", Gothamist, February 25, 2011. facts only, no text reused. gothamist.com
  12. Parramore, "The far right's lizard conspiracy is bonkers. But it's definitely not harmless.", NBC News, 2021-01-12. facts only, no text reused. nbcnews.com
  13. Guimont, "Hunting Dinosaurs in Central Africa", Contingent Magazine, 18 March 2019. facts only, no text reused. contingentmag.org
  14. "Police Officer Herbert Schirmer Abduction", UFO Evidence, September 30, 2007. facts only, no text reused. ufoevidence.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Reptilian conspiracy theory (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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