Atlantis - Real?

[Talysia]

I voted unsure, because there are so many possibilities of what it could be. I'd like to think that there's more to it than just a myth, though.

 

[Delvo]

I wonder what "version" of Atlantis we're talking about. Until the 19th century, it was just another ancient lost city. Then the New-Agers invented a bunch of brand-new stuff about the supernatural... and invincibility (desite the original having been beaten by just another regular city's forces)... and vastly advanced technology... and aliens... and angels... and crystals... and worldwide empire instead of just local influence/conflicts... and ancestry to all other civilizations...

 

[cornelius]

if you look at the greek islands a lot of them are barely rising above sea level. so if there was a great city there that got flooded then it's quite possible the beginning of the myth. to say that Atlantis is positioned between Africa and America is a bit weird, as the shapes clearly show the pangea origin of the continents. If however a new "continent " ( i don't think if atlantis existed it wouldn't be a continent at all , the power to flood a continent would have to be enormous, think of the Tsunami but far far more intense. ) . well if you look at building structures in Egypt and the Aztec culture you could find similarities, although you can discuss this on many levels. it COULD be a coincidence. i need to do some thinking before I post more.

 

[The Ace]

Island in the Med, giving rise to legends ? Highly probable.

Vast midatlantic continent alluded to by weirdos and con artists flogging books and assorted junk to fleece the stupid ? Total bollocks !

 

[Spartan27]

So far as I understand it, Plato stated what was in effect a second-hand morality story from the ancient world - yet somehow his very limited account has been turned into a science fiction story of epic proportions, without actually validating itself in anyway.

If you're looking for the story as a metaphor, then places such as what is the Scilly Isles or Minoa - or even Santorini itself - all fulfill the story in different levels.

The version of Atlantic we get nowadays seems completely divorced from the ancient realities mentioned, though. For example, claims that an ancient Greek talking about a society being "advanced" as somehow implying greater technological development than societies in existence 2,500 years later (ie, the modern world) is simply bollox. If there was ever a nuclear-powered Atlantis then Plato wouldn't never have spoken about a civilisation across the seas, but instead of mighty gods on earth.

The whole concept is to ancient history what Nessie is to zoology - it's a marketed gimmick that is fed entirely by imagination and helps sell things. Perhaps more seriously, it's a piece of ancient folklore mis-read as literal, and turned into the product of contemporary imagination, nothing more.

As for being able to justify itself - well, Eric Von Daniken's works can seem extremely well argued - until you start using third party information.

But that's just my opinion, and I'm a cynic, I guess.

Brian let me preface my comments here as I am not "trashing you"...howeber...

See, this is what I mean...is it that very very easy to Thrash "historical period works" of Plato? What is this based on? To scientifically "thrash" Plato, you should have some scientific fact. The truth is, that today (more and more scientists and historians and geologists are coming to the belief that) and in our life-time we will finally see that Atlantis existed right where Santorini blew it's top a long long time ago and where Plato said it would be.

Let's take a step back for just a moment, prior to the late 1800's, the "story" of Troy was considered a "greek myth". Then there was (if I remember my history correctly) a certain discovery where exactly the "ancient greek mythilogocal texts" said Troy was....oops.

 

[The Ace]

Gotcha ! Santorini was the one I was looking for. If that's the root of the Atlantean legend then there's a strong possibility of fact. Cheers Spartan 27.

 

[SpaceShip]

I voted maybe - it's the romantic in me wanting some of these exotic tales to be true in these dull (but scary) days; believing something like this lightens things up. There are lots of tales and myths that could be true! and some are so similar and from places so far from each other that there must be some truth in them somewhere.

 

[McMurphy]

I think there is a chance it existed in the same sense that the Biblical World Flooding has some grounds in history due to some immense regional flooding around the same time as the appropiate scripture. There could have been, once, a land mass which had been populated that had descending into the ocean. Perhaps both unrelated examples could be seen akin to a treat of truth covered with a healthy amount of the chocolate that, in these cases, would be mythology.

 

[SpaceShip]

I think there is a chance it existed in the same sense that the Biblical World Flooding has some grounds in history due to some immense regional flooding around the same time as the appropiate scripture. There could have been, once, a land mass which had been populated that had descending into the ocean. Perhaps both unrelated examples could be seen akin to a treat of truth covered with a healthy amount of the chocolate that, in these cases, would be mythology.

Yeah but, McMurphy - I think I read somewhere that archaeologists have said they have evidence that the Biblical Flood did happen. Whereas, do we have any evidence relating to Atlantis?

 

[Urien]

Atlantis lies under the railway yards in Doncaster.

 

[Hiro Protagonist]

I certainly want to believe Atlantis is real. Hopefully I will get around to reading that book at some point.

 

[McMurphy]

My Charlie Brown Answer

Yeah but, McMurphy - I think I read somewhere that archaeologists have said they have evidence that the Biblical Flood did happen. Whereas, do we have any evidence relating to Atlantis?

Good point, because, as far as I know, evidence directly related between a mythological Atlantis and historical records of a large land mass sinking into a sea or ocean in which would inspire the myths like that of the Biblical flooding is not nearly as apparent. I just believe that is quite possible---far more so than an actual Atlantis---that some form of a lesser scaled human event took place within the ancient world that could have spurred lore.

Then again, and speaking of lore, the tale of Atlantis (from how I remember it) is rich with the common trademarks of folklore meant to relate a message or a lesson. In this case, it would be under the topic of civilization and how, even for a powerful and proud society, its underbelly---namely that of greed and power lust---is its greatest predator. The sinking would be symbolic of such a downtrodden turn of events. Very little actual environmental inspiration would be needed, while the likelihood of political/sociological reference points being present would be bountiful.

Maybe the real question is what would Plato be observing in his world that would influence his desire to relate such a lesson?

 

[Esioul]

I've been researching a new novel I intend on writing and have found the most excellent source for the case of Atlantis as a real part of Earth's history. In THE DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS, the author Frank Joseph has accumulated an astounding wealth of evidence that Atlantis at one time did indeed exist. Although he uses the 900 instead of 9000 years ago theory, which he explains along the way why, this book is an eye-opener!

All the information is perfectly cross referenced, comes from the four corners of the earth, and makes for a very, very convincing case. By far, it's the best book I've read on the city of Atlantis. Anyone wanting to learn about this ancient culture that disappeared beneath the waves should without a doubt get this book as well as it's companion book, SURVIVORS OF ATLANTIS -Their impact on world culture. Both books are absolutely convincing.

Perhaps you could join in with the discussions on the site a little more before you try to sell things to us?

And what is your evidence for the existence of Atlantis?

 

[Esioul]

Yes, there are references to a 'flood' in various mythology, like the epic of Gilgamsh etc, although no similar references to Atlantis, or none that I've ever heard of.

 

[Dr.Jackson]

I have to say that I believe that Atlantis existed and still exists in some form.
Generally, myths have some basis in reality and we have evidence for a number of cities that have subsided into the ocean. For example, part of Greek Alexandria fell into the ocean, and you can still find evidence of habitation under the water. It is true that over time the myth has been embellished time and again, with the addition of technology and various abilties attributed to the Atlanteans, but this happens with most mythology.
I am sure that in time the issue will be resolved as long as we can strip down the myth to its bare bones and work on theories. I think it may involve tectonic shifts which led to an earthquake in which the place known to us as Atlantis sank.

 

[McMurphy]

I have to say that I believe that Atlantis existed and still exists in some form.
Generally, myths have some basis in reality and we have evidence for a number of cities that have subsided into the ocean. For example, part of Greek Alexandria fell into the ocean, and you can still find evidence of habitation under the water. It is true that over time the myth has been embellished time and again, with the addition of technology and various abilties attributed to the Atlanteans, but this happens with most mythology.
I am sure that in time the issue will be resolved as long as we can strip down the myth to its bare bones and work on theories. I think it may involve tectonic shifts which led to an earthquake in which the place known to us as Atlantis sank.

Now we are getting somewhere! Great post. Perhaps it is too soon in the discussion to rule out any historical influence on sunken city mythologies, after all.

 

[Dave]

I think I read somewhere that archaeologists have said they have evidence that the Biblical Flood did happen. Whereas, do we have any evidence relating to Atlantis?

I remember reading that too, I think it was somewhere in Mesopotamia, around the time of Gilgamesh, and that the accounts in Genesis, Popol Vuh and Critias are all of the same flood.

A Vast mid-Atlantic island? Very unlikely as that is a region where the tectonic plates are separating and the sea-bed is newly formed, and also very deep. Of course, Iceland straddles the mid-Atlantic Ridge, and other island groups such as the Hawaiian islands are each formed from a volcano. It is possible for a volcanic island to have formed and then been destroyed, but it would have to have been a huge one.

There is very little doubt that the flood myths derive from the melting of the vast glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. Many civilizations were destroyed by these floods, particularly those by the (then) seaside when sea levels rose sharply around 10,000BC.
That's not myth, it's solid fact.

Really? Y-chromosome and mtDNA studies have found evidence for a very small population size in the post-Ice Age period. They have found that the Ice age forced the human populations to migrate and cluster into smaller isolated communities, areas described as genetic refuges. In Europe, these refuges were concentrated in three areas: The Basque country between France and Spain, the Balkans and the Ukraine. When the ice retreated the survivors remaining on the European landmass began to expand north wards. With such a low population level anyway, I can't see how a sea-level rise would destroy civilizations. The sea-level rise would not be a catastrophic event either, such as that described in Genesis, Popol Vuh and Critias. It would happen more slowly over a long period of time, and the people would move with it.

 

[Parmenion]

has anyone read heavens mirror by graham hancock, some very interesting stuff in there, while he does not claim atlantis, he does pick out some interesting points that there may have been civilisations before our know ancient history.

 

[Spartan27]

Maye we can say that, Atlantis was the birth place of "western civilization", or at the very least gave birth to "greek type culture". A myth is only a myth until science proves it existed....and that will soon happen

 

[Brian G Turner]

An historical basis for Atlantis from the Plato story isn't far fetched - the volcanic destruction of the island of Santorini in the Med has long been suggested as a source, as has the flooding of what is now the Scilly Isles - once a major stopping point for Med traffic to Northern Europe.

However, the idea that there was an Atlantis with super technology beyond even the 21st century - that seems to go way beyond the remit of Plato, and essentially into the realm of fiction.

2c.