Final answer:
Erich von Däniken's theory that extraterrestrial beings built the pyramids contrasts with historical evidence showing that ancient Egyptian pharaohs directed the construction through a well-provided workforce.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erich von Däniken proposed that the pyramids were built by or under the direction of extraterrestrial beings. This is a controversial and widely disputed claim that detracts from the factual evidence of ancient Egyptian civilization's capabilities. The pyramids were in fact constructed as monumental tombs under the command of pharaohs, dating back to around 2660 BCE with the first pyramid built for King Djoser. The architect Imhotep is credited with the inception of what became the famous step pyramid design. Archaeological finds and historical records make it clear that a substantial workforce of skilled laborers, who lived in planned cities and were provided for by the state, carried out the construction rather than slaves or alien beings.