The question of the existence of Atlantis should be considered from a geological point of view, said Alexander Gorodnitsky at the opening of the Marine Lecture Hall on November 4.
"What can I say? Atlantis is a myth that had no confirmation and no refutation, no documentary evidence, except for two dialogues of Plato. Writers, science fiction writers, archaeologists were engaged in Atlantis. But in fact, this is a question for us, geologists. And it is formulated as follows: "Was there a microcontinent or a large archipelago in historical time that sank catastrophically quickly into the water?" If not, then there is nothing to talk about. If you have, you have to look there!”- said the professor.
According to Gorodnitsky, there was such an archipelago, and there is a geological basis for the death of Atlantis and its search. The scientist described how in 1984 a Soviet expedition aboard the Vityaz in the Atlantic, 300 miles from Gibraltar, explored the Horseshoe underwater mountain system. And on the flat top of one of the seamounts, "strange structures resembling the ruins of an ancient city were discovered." At that time, the Western press even began to say that "the Russians have found Atlantis!"
According to the scientist, it has already been established from a geological point of view: all these mountains are extinct volcanoes, and indeed once were islands. Therefore, Plato's dialogues could have quite real historical foundations.
In Soviet times, the mystery of Atlantis was one of the most discussed scientific mysteries. Interest in it did not fade away, and then - at the Institute of Oceanology named after P. P. Shirshov already four times held congresses of researchers of ancient civilizations, at which, among others, issues of atlantology were very actively discussed. However, as Gorodnitsky said, after the IV congress, which took place in 2015, “a denunciation was written against us that the institute had provided a platform for representatives of the 'occult' sciences!”
Let us remind you that Atlantis (ancient Greek Ἀτλαντὶς) is a mythical island-state. The most detailed description of Atlantis is known from the dialogues of Plato. The island is also mentioned by Herodotus, Diodorus of Siculus, Posidonius, Strabo, Proclus.
The ancient sources did not indicate the exact location of Atlantis, however, according to Plato, the island was located west of the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar), opposite the Atlas Mountains. According to legend, during a catastrophic earthquake and flood, the island was swallowed up by the sea along with all its inhabitants in one day. According to Plato, the catastrophe could have occurred around 9500 BC. e.