Origins & Early Life

Immanuel Velikovsky (; Russian: Иммануи́л Велико́вский, IPA: [ɪmənʊˈil vʲɪlʲɪˈkofskʲɪj]; 10 June [O.S. 29 May] 1895 – 17 November 1979) was a Russian and American psychoanalyst, writer, and catastrophist. He is the author of several books offering pseudohistorical interpretations of ancient history, including the U.S. bestseller Worlds in Collision published in 1950.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Velikovsky's work is frequently cited as a canonical example of pseudoscience and has been used as an example of the demarcation problem. His books use comparative mythology and ancient literary sources (including the Old Testament) to argue that Earth suffered catastrophic close contacts with other planets (principally Venus and Mars) in ancient history. In positioning Velikovsky among catastrophists including Hans Bellamy, Ignatius Donnelly, and Johann Gottlieb Radlof, the British astronomers Victor Clube and Bill Napier noted "... Velikovsky is not so much the first of the new catastrophists ...; he is the last in a line of traditional catastrophists going back to mediaeval times and probably earlier." Velikovsky argued that electromagnetic effects play an important role in celestial mechanics. He also proposed a revised...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anna Freud — Contemporary (Born in 1895) (1895): Pioneering psychoanalyst known for child psychology and ego theory.
• Arthur Cayley — Contemporary (Died in 1895) (1895): Pioneering English mathematician, instrumental in founding modern algebra and group theory.
• Babe Ruth — Contemporary (Born in 1895) (1895): Iconic slugger who transformed baseball from pitching dominance to hitting power.
• Aaliyah — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Adam Brody — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): American actor known for roles in The O.C., Shazam!, and StartUp.
• Agostinho Neto — Contemporary (Died in 1979) (1979): Angolan communist revolutionary, poet, and first President of Angola.
• Adolph Zukor — Shared historical date (06-10 · Died) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• André-Marie Ampère — Shared historical date (06-10 · Died) (1836): Founder of classical electromagnetism; inventor of the solenoid and electrical telegraph.
• Abba Eban — Shared historical date (11-17 · Died) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Auguste Rodin — Shared historical date (11-17 · Died) (1917): Founder of modern sculpture, celebrated for naturalism and emotional depth.
• 1895 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1895
• June 10 (06-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 10
• 1979 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1979
• November 17 (11-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 17