Reptilian humanoid

Reptilian humanoids are a recurring theme in mythology, fiction, and especially science fiction, fringe theories, and conspiracy theories. They are described as individuals or races of intelligent or otherwise highly developed reptilian-like beings. They are also often called reptiloids or dinosauroids. In some cases, belief in them has resulted from mental illness. They also appear in some (but not most) New Age ideas.

No theory that such creatures actually exist or have ever existed has been generally accepted by science, and they are usually relegated to fringe science or pseudoscience. Despite this, there are various theories which have been offered on their nature, and which give possible explanations as to whether they exist (and if so what evidence supports their existence), where they came from, what their intentions are (in general), and so on.

Ancient references to reptiles and serpents

Several ancient peoples the world over described reptilian beings. There are myths about reptiloids devouring human children, and also tales of Serpents of Wisdom enlightening Humankind (such as the story of Gukumatz). Cecrops, first King of Athens was said to have been half man, half snake.

In Pythagoras' life there may have been events related to serpents, particularly winged and speaking serpents, as well as a massive beast called Python, a giant serpent for which he may have been named. Timothy Leary, Robert Anton Wilson and Philip K. Dick all have called themselves Pythagoreans. However, Wilson is known for stating (often half-seriously) various forms of conspiracy theory, Dick's possible mental illness is covered in more detail below, and Leary is widely known to have consumed copious amounts of hallucinogens.

Modern claims

David Icke and others claim that many people see reptilian humanoids or dinosauroids, and that beings of this species are the force behind a worldwide conspiracy directed at the manipulation and control of Humankind; like most conspiracy theories, the negation of this hypothesis is nearly impossible to prove.

Icke claims that this hypothetical dinosauroid resembles one type of reptilian entity that many people see during alleged encounters. He theorises that perhaps the reptilians evolved on this planet from dinosaurs or other such reptilian or reptile-like ancestors, and were the original tool-making race to evolve on Earth. He regards this as only one of many theories, however, and has others regarding where the reptilians came from.

Paul Shockley, a self-professed psychic, also speaks of malevolent reptilian beings. However, both explain that they do not believe that all reptilians are malevolent, and that there are benevolent members of this species as well. Just as the majority of humans treat animals like an expendable resource, but a minority believes that they deserve rights, and should not be treated the way they currently are (kept on farms and often killed for food).

The science fiction writer Philip K. Dick spoke of contact with three-eyed amphibious beings from Sirius, as well as their connection to the Soviets and the Illuminati. This was detailed in VALIS. He related them to the Nommo of the Dogon people of Africa. Many people consider that Dick was suffering from psychosis or bipolar disorder at the time he reported these experiences, and he is known to have had psychotic symptoms, in fact much of his science fiction was actually rooted in his perceived actual experiences; see his article for more details.

Zecharia Sitchin, an archaeologist and linguist specialising in the Sumerian and Hebrew languages, claims that an ancient race of extraterrestrials, the Anunnaki, genetically engineered the original humans, and that they probably still exist in some form or another, with some degree of influence over humankind. These beings are speculated by Sitchin to be either reptilian, quasi-reptilian, or amphibious, from ancient description.

Erich von Däniken theorises that extraterrestrials have influenced human history for millennia, and that they may have influenced human evolution.

Robert Anton Wilson speaks of the Illuminati in half-serious tone. In the book Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati he describes his drug-induced experiences with three-eyed beings from Sirius.

Timothy Leary claimed contact with three-eyed beings from Sirius.

The Zulu shaman Credo Mutwa claims that the Zulu people have known of a reptilian species for centuries. He is the official historian of the Zulu people. He mentions amphibious beings from Sirius in his book, Song of the Stars.

Conspiracy theories

There are many conspiracy theories centered around, or at least involving, extraterrestrials of reptilian lineage. Many of these posit that the so-called Greys (fictional creatures from another planet in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, since adopted as the archetypal extraterrestrial) are in fact reptiles, and should be categorized as "Reptoids".

Some conspiracy theorists claim to have worked out a "dichotomy of axes" involved in hypothetical interplanetary and intergalactic conflict, and place the reptilians in an evil "Draconian" "axis," while humans are one of the species that belongs in an opposing "Evadamic" "axis." Several other entities and parties have been placed into this conspiracy theory, with some players who switch allegiances between Draconian and Evadamic.

None of these "theories" have ever been validated by any scientifically credible research.