For more than 2000 years, the imagination of poets, scientists, archaeologists, geologists, occultists and travelers has been fascinated by Atlantis - a continent that has disappeared in an amazing way. In distant antiquity, having reached its heyday, a highly developed island civilization was suddenly destroyed as a result of a monstrous natural disaster. The mention of it prompted those who believed in the existence of Atlantis to explore almost every corner of the Earth in search of traces of this once great civilization. Most archaeologists believe that the legend of Atlantis is just a legend, an allegorical story that has nothing to do with real history. However, occultists have their own point of view on this score: for many of them, Atlantis is the personification of the lost cradle of spirituality (such as Mu / Lemuria) or, in general, the concept of another dimension. What is Atlantis, and why is the legend about it so hotly debated? Is there some truth in the tradition?
Atlantis is first mentioned in two short dialogues of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato - Timaeus and Critias (359-347 BC). Presumably, Plato borrowed the story of the mainland from the story of his distant relative, the famous Athenian legislator and lyricist Solon. He, in turn, heard the legend when he was visiting the city of Sais, on the western bank of the Nile delta, at the court of the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis (569-525 BC). In Sais, Solon visited the temple of Neith (*), where he talked with the priest, and he told him about Atlantis. According to the worshiper, it was a huge island, larger than Libya (**) and Asia combined. It existed 9000 years ago and was located on the other side of the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar), in the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantis was ruled by a union of kings,leading a family from Poseidon - the god of the sea element and earthquakes. In honor of Atlas, the eldest son of Poseidon, the island and the ocean that washed it were named.
The Atlantean Empire stretched from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean - Egypt in the south and Italy in the north. Trying to expand the empire to the Mediterranean lands, the Atlanteans faced resistance from the Europeans, the united forces that led Athens - in those distant times, already a fairly large city-state ruled by the military elite. Warriors contempt for wealth, preferring an ascetic lifestyle. And although on the eve of the battle, the Allies betrayed the Athenians, leaving one on one with the enemy, the Atlantean troops were utterly defeated. Soon there was a devastating earthquake, followed by a gigantic flood, and, according to Plato, the continent of Atlantis sank "in one terrifying day and one night."
Information about the location of Atlantis beyond the Strait of Gibraltar and its death occupies only a few lines in Plato's Dialogues, but the author described the political structure and way of life on the island in more detail. Atlantis was originally an idyllic place rich in natural resources; it abounded in forests, gardens, wild animals (including elephants) and numerous mines. Each king on the island owned his own city. Most impressive, however, was the capital, ruled by the heirs of the Atlas. This ancient city was protected by three metal-lined, concentric rings of walls, each of which was surrounded by a moat of water. The outer wall was covered with bronze, the next one with tin, and the inner one “shone with the red color of orichalcum (***)” - an unknown metal. Atlanteans dug a huge underground channel under the ditches,connected the central part of the city with the sea, and carved a harbor into the outer stone walls. In the central citadel was the main temple - the Temple of Poseidon, which was three times the size of the Pantheon in Athens. The outside of the temple was completely covered with silver (except for the roof - that was gilded). From the inside, the vault was lined with ivory and decorated with gold, silver and orichalcum. The walls, columns and floor of the temple were covered with the same unknown metal. The room was decorated with numerous golden statues, including a statue of Poseidon on a chariot drawn by six winged horses. It was a colossal statue - the head of the god touched the vault, which was 381 feet high.which was three times the size of the Pantheon in Athens. The outside of the temple was completely covered with silver (except for the roof - that was gilded). From the inside, the vault was lined with ivory and decorated with gold, silver and orichalcum. The walls, columns and floor of the temple were covered with the same unknown metal. The room was decorated with numerous golden statues, including a statue of Poseidon on a chariot drawn by six winged horses. It was a colossal statue - the head of the god touched the vault, which was 381 feet high.which was three times the size of the Pantheon in Athens. The outside of the temple was completely covered with silver (except for the roof - that was gilded). From the inside, the vault was lined with ivory and decorated with gold, silver and orichalcum. The walls, columns and floor of the temple were covered with the same unknown metal. The room was decorated with numerous golden statues, including a statue of Poseidon on a chariot drawn by six winged horses. It was a colossal statue - the head of the god touched the vault, which was 381 feet high.including the statue of Poseidon on a chariot drawn by six winged horses. It was a colossal statue - the head of the god touched the vault, which was 381 feet high.including the statue of Poseidon on a chariot drawn by six winged horses. It was a colossal statue - the head of the god touched the vault, which was 381 feet high.
Other ancient sources, referring to the disappeared continent, followed Plato. They gave a colorful description of Atlantis, in the existence of which in ancient times people really believed. In the IV century. BC e. the settlement of the Atlanteans was mentioned by Aristotle's student Theophrastus, an ancient Greek philosopher from the island of Lesbos. Unfortunately, most of his work has been lost. The ancient Greek author of the 5th century BCE wrote about Atlantis in his comments on Plato's dialogues. Procl. Claiming that the mainland really existed, he noted that Atlantis "dominated all the islands of the Atlantic Sea for many years" and that Crantor was the first author to comment on Plato's dialogues as early as the 4th century BC. BC BC, - visited the city of Sais in Egypt, where he saw a golden column, on which the history of Atlantis was captured in hieroglyphic writing. In the work of the Roman writer II century. n. e. Eliana Claudius "On the nature of animals", describing a huge island in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantis is mentioned as an ancient city on the southwestern coast of Spain, known according to the legends of the Phoenicians (and later the Carthaginians of Cadiz).
For many centuries, the legend of Atlantis was forgotten, and only in the 19th century. interest in her was revived. The search for the legendary island continued in early 1882 after the publication of the book of the American Congressman and writer Ignatius Donnelly "Atlantis: The World Before the Flood." Don-nely took Plato's account of Atlantis as a historical fact, deciding that the disappeared continent was the ancestral home of all known ancient civilizations. Around the same time, Helena Blavatsky, the co-founder of the Theosophical Society and head of the growing occult movement, began to show interest in disappeared continents such as Atlantis and Lemuria. She mentions Atlantis several times in her first work "Isis Unveiled" (1877), and the basis of Blavatsky's fundamental work "The Secret Doctrine" (1888), according to her statement,laid the "Book of Dzyan" - a mystical treatise, supposedly written in Atlantis. In The Secret Doctrine, Blavatsky describes Atlantis and its inhabitants in detail, mentions advanced technologies, ancient flying machines, giants and supernatural forces. From some rather vague descriptions of Atlantis, it followed that the disappeared continent existed on a different, rather spiritual level, which means that it was radically different from the physical continent as Donnelly presented it. Her point of view influenced in a certain way the theories of atlantologists.that the disappeared continent existed on a different, rather spiritual level, which means that it was radically different from the physical continent, as Donnelly presented it. Her point of view influenced in a certain way the theories of atlantologists.that the disappeared continent existed on a different, rather spiritual level, which means that it was radically different from the physical continent, as Donnelly presented it. Her point of view influenced in a certain way the theories of atlantologists.
At the beginning of the XX century. world-renowned medium Edgar Cayce gave a number of lectures, including on Atlantis. He believed that Atlantis was a highly developed civilization, and the Atlanteans had ships and airplanes controlled by the mysterious energy of the crystal (in this, Case's opinion echoes Blavatsky's). Keyes predicted that part of Atlantis would be discovered in 1968 or 1969 in the Bimini area, near the Bahamas.
In September 1968, an area was discovered on the shores of North Bimini, neatly paved with limestone blocks half a mile long, now known as the Bimini Road. Many researchers believe that these are the remains of the disappeared Atlantis.
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In 1980, Edjin Shinn of the US Geological Survey published the results of a study of underwater rock structures on Bimini. Testing showed that the blocks were formed by the forces of nature, and with the help of radioactive carbon analysis, it was possible to date the shells that had grown into the stones and made it possible to conclude that the blocks of the so-called road were laid between 1200 and 300 BC. e., that is, much later than the supposed time of the existence of Atlantis.
Many researchers, relying on the words of ancient historians, searched for Atlantis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, believing that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (a long chain of underwater volcanoes in the middle of the ocean) is the remains of a disappeared continent. Nevertheless, geologists, referring to modern data on drifting continents, exclude the possibility of such existence in the Atlantic. However, the movement of tectonic plates is only a hypothesis, therefore, until it is proven, those who believe that the disappeared continent existed in the Atlantic will continue to search. Like Ignatius Donnelly, who wrote about Atlantis in the 80s of the XIX century, modern researchers believe that if the island was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, then it is likely that its remains are the Azores - a group of nine islands,located in the middle of a series of seamounts in the Atlantic; some also include Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. However, today there is not a single proof of the existence of an extinct ancient civilization in this area.
Almost every year, the pages of newspapers are full of headlines on the theme "Atlantis Found!" The variety of hypotheses about the location of Atlantis is truly staggering. For a long time, it was believed that the Minoan civilization, which existed in the Late Bronze Age on the island of Crete and, presumably, was destroyed by an earthquake of unprecedented strength that occurred nearby on the island of Tira, had an indirect influence on Plato. However, as you know, the Minoan civilization existed after the earthquake in Tire. Europe and the Mediterranean are also considered a possible location for Atlantis, in particular Ireland, England, Finland, Heligoland Island off the northwestern coast of Germany, Andalusia in southern Spain, Spartel Island in the Strait of Gibraltar, Sardinia, Malta, the city of Helika in Greece, the territory in the Mediterranean between Cyprus and Syria, Israel,Troy in northwest Turkey and Tantalis. There are suggestions that the ancient civilization was located in other parts of the world: in the Black Sea, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bolivia, French Polynesia, the Caribbean and Antarctica.
The emergence of various theories is explained by the skeptical attitude of researchers to Plato's description of Atlantis. In their opinion, the ancient Greek author used a political allegory: he argued that Athens was capable of opposing the decadent and insatiable empire of the Atlanteans, thus trying to extol Athens as a state. That is why the legend of Atlantis is known exclusively from the words of Plato. So Solon has never been to Egypt and has not heard the legend from the priest in Sais? And Plato placed Atlantis behind the Pillars of Hercules, because behind them opened up a huge ocean, which the ancient Greeks identified with everything unknown. Indeed, before Plato, Atlantis was not mentioned in ancient literature. But in the "History" of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (484- 425 BC) information has been preserved thatthat Solon took over some laws from the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis. This means that Solon was still in Egypt exactly at the time that Plato writes about. Of course, the ancient Greek philosopher is trying to extol Athens: proving the veracity of his political and philosophical ideas, he points to the inability of a rich and powerful state to defeat an impeccably organized and well-governed society. Consequently, in order to give credibility to his story, Plato could draw on events of the recent past, such as monstrous destruction, which was not difficult for the philosopher to find information about.he points to the inability of a wealthy and strong state to defeat an impeccably organized and well-governed society. Consequently, in order to give credibility to his story, Plato could draw on events of the recent past, such as monstrous destruction, which was not difficult for the philosopher to find information about.he points to the inability of a wealthy and strong state to defeat an impeccably organized and well-governed society. Consequently, in order to give credibility to his story, Plato could draw on events of the recent past, such as monstrous destruction, which was not difficult for the philosopher to find information about.
In the summer of 426 BC. e. in Greece, just north of Athens, one of the most powerful earthquakes in the history of the ancient world occurred. The tsunami caused by this powerful earthquake devastated the coast, destroying part of the island of Atalant. In 373 BC. e. (15 years before Plato wrote his dialogues) a devastating earthquake with a tsunami destroyed and flooded the rich ancient Greek island of Gelika, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth. Gelika was known as the city of Poseidon, the second settlement after Delphi, where the sacred forest of this merciless god of the sea and earthquakes grew. The connection between these earthquakes and the Platonic death of Atlantis is indisputable, which means that most of the text was written under the influence of recent events in the homeland of the philosopher. Then the question arises:If Plato used information about the disasters that happened in Greece of his day to confirm his words, why did he attribute the authorship of the tradition to the Egyptian priests? Undoubtedly, his contemporaries should have guessed that we are talking about an earthquake that occurred in the area of Athens or Corinth, because this happened only fifteen years before the dialogues were written. One gets the impression that some of the information that Plato used to create dialogues was unknown to his contemporaries.that some of the information that Plato used to create dialogues was unknown to his contemporaries.that some of the information that Plato used to create dialogues was unknown to his contemporaries.
Among the latest theories, the hypothesis of Dr. Rainer Kuen of the University of Wuppertal in Germany, put forward in 2004, is considered curious. Looking at satellite images of the southwestern tip of Spain, he discovered fragments of buildings that exactly correspond to those described by Plato. Photographs of the Charisma de Jinojos salt marsh area, near Cadiz, show the outlines of rectangular buildings. They were probably once surrounded by structures in the form of concentric rings, the remains of which can also be seen in the photo. Dr. Kuen believes that the rectangular structures may be the ruins of the silver temple of Poseidon described by Plato, as well as the golden temple dedicated to Poseidon and Kleito. Presumably, between 800 and 500 BC. e. there was a destructive flood here,which confirms the version of Dr. Kuen not about the island, but the continental location of Atlantis. He explains his point of view by the fact that when translating the legend, the Greeks confused the Egyptian word "coast" with the word "island"; and to test his theory, Dr. Kuen hopes to begin excavations in the area in the near future. I wonder if the search for Atlantis in the area of the Pillars of Hercules will finally help solve this riddle?
* Neith - in Egyptian mythology, the goddess of the sky, who created the world and gave birth to the sun. She was also considered the patroness of queens, the goddess of war and hunting. Nate was associated with a funeral cult, her images with outstretched wings were placed on the lids of sarcophagi.
** Libya is the ancient Greek name for the territory of North Africa adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea (west of the Nile Delta). The ancient Greeks called Asia the territory of modern Asia Minor.
*** Most scientists believe that it is an alloy of copper and zinc.
B. Houghton. "Great secrets and mysteries of history"