ATLAS - ATLANTIS - ATLANTIC
"... because he was the first of the kings of that time. His name was Atlas; the island is called Atlantis and the sea Atlantic after him." PLATO (1, p.1300)
The story of Atlantis is considered by some to be Myth or Legend and others to be a historical fact. There have been many speculated locations for Atlantis, including the South Pole! Some have even speculated that Atlantis is reference to the world that perished by the Great Flood of Noah.
The story of ATLANTIS comes to us from one source and that by-proxy (second-hand). Plato (427 B.C. - 347 B.C.) wrote numerous philosophical works, among these Timaeus and Critias. Plato recites the telling of the story via Critias, who as a 10year old heard the story of Atlantis from a 90yr old man at a poem recital. The 90yr old man tells of when SOLON (a Greek poet and nobleman) visits Egypt, in particular the city of Sais) and an Egyptian priest tells Solon of the story of Atlantis.
Sais (Sa el-Hagar), Egypt
The story of ATLANTIS comes to us from one source and that by-proxy (second-hand). Plato (427 B.C. - 347 B.C.) wrote numerous philosophical works, among these Timaeus and Critias. Plato recites the telling of the story via Critias, who as a 10year old heard the story of Atlantis from a 90yr old man at a poem recital. The 90yr old man tells of when SOLON (a Greek poet and nobleman) visits Egypt, in particular the city of Sais) and an Egyptian priest tells Solon of the story of Atlantis.
Sais (Sa el-Hagar), Egypt
Solon & the Priest of Sais - Natural Disasters
When Solon visits the Priests of Sais in Egypt he asks the priests, who were scholars of antiquity, about ancient times. Also, it is interesting to note that Solon was revered by the Egyptians partly due to the fact that the city of Sais was founded by the goddess 'Neith' or otherwise known in Greek as 'Athena'. So there was some connection between the antiquity of this city and the Greek nation.
On one occasion Solon was trying to make conversation with the priests regarding ancient history and he began to recount Greek history including: "talking about Phoroneus - the first human being, it is said - and about Niobe, and then he told the story of how Deucalion and Phyrrha survived the flood."1(p.1230) After hearing this, one of the old priests said to Solon: "Ah Solon, Solon, you Greeks are ever children. There isn't an old man among you."1(p.1230) Solon was taken back by this and asked the old priest to explain.
The old priest explained that Natural Disasters have often destroyed civilizations so that the history is lost to time.
"There have been, and will continue to be, numerous disasters that have destroyed human life in many kinds of ways. The most serious of these involve fire and water, while the lesser ones have numerous other causes. And so also among your own people the tale is told of Phaethon, child of the Sun, once harnessed his father's chariot, but was unable to drive it along his father's course. He ended up burning everything on the Earth's surface and was destroyed himself when a lightning bolt struck him. This tale is told as a myth, but the truth behind it is that there is a deviation in the heavenly bodies that travel around the Earth, which causes huge fires that destroy what is on the Earth across vast stretches of time. When this happens all the people who live in mountains or in places that are high and dry are much more likely to perish than the ones who live next to rivers or by the sea. Our Nile, always our saviour, is released and at such times, too, saves us from this disaster. On the other hand whenever the gods send floods of water upon the earth to purge it, the herdsmen and shepherds in the mountains preserve their lives, while those who live in cities, in your region, are swept away by the rivers into the sea. But here, in this place, water does not flow from on high onto our fields, either at such a time or at any other. On the contrary, its nature is always to rise up from below. This, then, explains the fact that the antiquities preserved here are said to be the most ancient. ... In your case, on the other hand, as in that of others, no sooner have you achieved literacy and all the other resources that cities require, then there again, after the usual number of years, comes the heavenly flood. It sweeps upon you like a plague, and leaves only your illiterate and uncultured people behind."1(p.1230)
On one occasion Solon was trying to make conversation with the priests regarding ancient history and he began to recount Greek history including: "talking about Phoroneus - the first human being, it is said - and about Niobe, and then he told the story of how Deucalion and Phyrrha survived the flood."1(p.1230) After hearing this, one of the old priests said to Solon: "Ah Solon, Solon, you Greeks are ever children. There isn't an old man among you."1(p.1230) Solon was taken back by this and asked the old priest to explain.
The old priest explained that Natural Disasters have often destroyed civilizations so that the history is lost to time.
"There have been, and will continue to be, numerous disasters that have destroyed human life in many kinds of ways. The most serious of these involve fire and water, while the lesser ones have numerous other causes. And so also among your own people the tale is told of Phaethon, child of the Sun, once harnessed his father's chariot, but was unable to drive it along his father's course. He ended up burning everything on the Earth's surface and was destroyed himself when a lightning bolt struck him. This tale is told as a myth, but the truth behind it is that there is a deviation in the heavenly bodies that travel around the Earth, which causes huge fires that destroy what is on the Earth across vast stretches of time. When this happens all the people who live in mountains or in places that are high and dry are much more likely to perish than the ones who live next to rivers or by the sea. Our Nile, always our saviour, is released and at such times, too, saves us from this disaster. On the other hand whenever the gods send floods of water upon the earth to purge it, the herdsmen and shepherds in the mountains preserve their lives, while those who live in cities, in your region, are swept away by the rivers into the sea. But here, in this place, water does not flow from on high onto our fields, either at such a time or at any other. On the contrary, its nature is always to rise up from below. This, then, explains the fact that the antiquities preserved here are said to be the most ancient. ... In your case, on the other hand, as in that of others, no sooner have you achieved literacy and all the other resources that cities require, then there again, after the usual number of years, comes the heavenly flood. It sweeps upon you like a plague, and leaves only your illiterate and uncultured people behind."1(p.1230)
It is interesting to note a few important messages from this introduction to the story of ATLANTIS:
1. Egypt appears to have the longest continuous antiquity and recorded history on Earth.
2. The founder of the city of Sais was said to be a goddess Athena (in Greek) - Founding people of civilizations and cities, or those who did great deeds in antiquity are often deified. This is also true of Poseidon and Atlan (Atlantis and Atlantic is named after this king).
3. Some myths and legends are stories based upon factual events - The story of Phaethon driving his father's chariot into the Earth and burning it up actually referred to a natural disaster event in antiquity where a heavenly body crashed into the earth or came near enough to the Earth to burn the surface of the Earth and then was destroyed by a lightning bolt most probably between the Earth and this heavenly body. For all those who are worried about anthropomorphic climate change - this pales into insignificance compared to the natural disasters unleashed by the interaction between heavenly bodies, the Sun, and the Earth.
4. There is some suggestion by the priest of Sais that natural disasters caused by heavenly bodies are cyclical, as are the circuits of the heavenly bodies themselves. Another words, they return at appointed times and can most likely be predicted. This may be the reason that many of the ancient civilizations studied the heavens with great interest e.g. Aztecs.
5. History has been lost as civilizations and cities have perished.
1. Egypt appears to have the longest continuous antiquity and recorded history on Earth.
2. The founder of the city of Sais was said to be a goddess Athena (in Greek) - Founding people of civilizations and cities, or those who did great deeds in antiquity are often deified. This is also true of Poseidon and Atlan (Atlantis and Atlantic is named after this king).
3. Some myths and legends are stories based upon factual events - The story of Phaethon driving his father's chariot into the Earth and burning it up actually referred to a natural disaster event in antiquity where a heavenly body crashed into the earth or came near enough to the Earth to burn the surface of the Earth and then was destroyed by a lightning bolt most probably between the Earth and this heavenly body. For all those who are worried about anthropomorphic climate change - this pales into insignificance compared to the natural disasters unleashed by the interaction between heavenly bodies, the Sun, and the Earth.
4. There is some suggestion by the priest of Sais that natural disasters caused by heavenly bodies are cyclical, as are the circuits of the heavenly bodies themselves. Another words, they return at appointed times and can most likely be predicted. This may be the reason that many of the ancient civilizations studied the heavens with great interest e.g. Aztecs.
5. History has been lost as civilizations and cities have perished.
ATLANTIS - Its Location
The priest of Sais goes on to tell Solon that due to natural disasters the antiquity of his nation has not been passed down accurately. The priest says that the city of Athens was founded by Athena a thousand years before the city of Sais. Furthermore, the priest tells of the military greatness of the descendents of Solon in antiquity in Athens. Solon is greatly intrigued and asks to know more.
"'Now many great accomplishments of your city recorded here are awe-inspiring, but there is one that surely surpasses them all in magnitude and excellence. The records speak of a vast power that your city once brought to a halt in its insolent march against the whole of Europe and Asia at once - a power that sprang forth from beyond, from the Atlantic ocean. For at that time this ocean was passable, since it had an island in it in front of the strait that you people call the 'Pillars of Hercules'. This island was larger than Libya and Asia combined, and it provided passage to the other islands for people who traveled in those days. From those islands one could then travel to the entire continent on the other side, which surrounds the real sea beyond. Everything here inside the strait we're talking about seems nothing but a harbour with a narrow entrance, whereas that really is an ocean out there and the land that embraces it all the way around truly deserves to be called a continent. Now on this Isle of Atlantis a great and marvelous royal power established itself, and ruled not only the whole island, but many of the other islands, and parts of the continent as well. What's more their rule extended even inside the strait, over Libya as far as Egypt, and over Europe as far as Tyrrhenia. Now one day this power gathered all of itself together, and set out to enslave all the territory inside the strait, including your region and ours, in one fell swoop. Then it was, Solon, that your city's might shone bright with excellence and strength, for all humankind to see. Preeminent among all others in the nobility of her spirit and in her use of all the arts of war, she first rose to the leadership of the Greek cause. Later, forced to stand alone, deserted by her allies, she reached a point of extreme peril. Nevertheless she overcame the invaders and erected her monument to victory. She prevented the enslavement of those not yet enslaved, and generously freed all the rest of us who lived within the boundaries of Heracles. Some time later excessively violent earthquakes and floods occurred, and after the onset of an unbearable day and a night, your entire warrior force sank below the earth all at once, and the Isle of Atlantis likewise sank below the sea and disappeared. That is how the ocean in that region has come to be even now unnavigable and unexplorable, obstructed as it is by a layer of mud at a shallow depth, the residue of the island as it settled.'"1(p.1232)
"'Now many great accomplishments of your city recorded here are awe-inspiring, but there is one that surely surpasses them all in magnitude and excellence. The records speak of a vast power that your city once brought to a halt in its insolent march against the whole of Europe and Asia at once - a power that sprang forth from beyond, from the Atlantic ocean. For at that time this ocean was passable, since it had an island in it in front of the strait that you people call the 'Pillars of Hercules'. This island was larger than Libya and Asia combined, and it provided passage to the other islands for people who traveled in those days. From those islands one could then travel to the entire continent on the other side, which surrounds the real sea beyond. Everything here inside the strait we're talking about seems nothing but a harbour with a narrow entrance, whereas that really is an ocean out there and the land that embraces it all the way around truly deserves to be called a continent. Now on this Isle of Atlantis a great and marvelous royal power established itself, and ruled not only the whole island, but many of the other islands, and parts of the continent as well. What's more their rule extended even inside the strait, over Libya as far as Egypt, and over Europe as far as Tyrrhenia. Now one day this power gathered all of itself together, and set out to enslave all the territory inside the strait, including your region and ours, in one fell swoop. Then it was, Solon, that your city's might shone bright with excellence and strength, for all humankind to see. Preeminent among all others in the nobility of her spirit and in her use of all the arts of war, she first rose to the leadership of the Greek cause. Later, forced to stand alone, deserted by her allies, she reached a point of extreme peril. Nevertheless she overcame the invaders and erected her monument to victory. She prevented the enslavement of those not yet enslaved, and generously freed all the rest of us who lived within the boundaries of Heracles. Some time later excessively violent earthquakes and floods occurred, and after the onset of an unbearable day and a night, your entire warrior force sank below the earth all at once, and the Isle of Atlantis likewise sank below the sea and disappeared. That is how the ocean in that region has come to be even now unnavigable and unexplorable, obstructed as it is by a layer of mud at a shallow depth, the residue of the island as it settled.'"1(p.1232)
The 'Pillars of Hurcules' are today called the Straits of Gibraltar. The strait that is referred to by the priest is the gap between the Straits of Gibraltar. The reference by the priest to the 'harbour' within the strait is the Mediterranean sea area - Libya, Egypt and Europe are stated as being within the strait.
The war mentioned seems to state that Atlantis's army was intending to subjugate the inhabitants within the straits. Greece seems to have battled against them and overcome them. However, it is interesting that the Greek army was swallowed up by the Earth, while the Island of Atlantis was swallowed up by the Ocean at the same time.
When the island of Atlantis sank beneath the ocean pushed a huge amount of mud into the strait and seems to have made sailing difficult even up to Solon's time, presumably out of the Strait. The Isle of Atlantis was positioned just outside the strait. Now there are only small remnants of seamounts and islands in that location.
Another thing that is worthy of attention here is the suggestion that peoples from within the strait did sail and visit and possibly trade with Atlantis and also visited the continent past the strait i.e. North and South America. It seems South America is referred to as the 'Continent' by the priest. Atlantis also appears to have ruled parts of the continent mentioned.
The war mentioned seems to state that Atlantis's army was intending to subjugate the inhabitants within the straits. Greece seems to have battled against them and overcome them. However, it is interesting that the Greek army was swallowed up by the Earth, while the Island of Atlantis was swallowed up by the Ocean at the same time.
When the island of Atlantis sank beneath the ocean pushed a huge amount of mud into the strait and seems to have made sailing difficult even up to Solon's time, presumably out of the Strait. The Isle of Atlantis was positioned just outside the strait. Now there are only small remnants of seamounts and islands in that location.
Another thing that is worthy of attention here is the suggestion that peoples from within the strait did sail and visit and possibly trade with Atlantis and also visited the continent past the strait i.e. North and South America. It seems South America is referred to as the 'Continent' by the priest. Atlantis also appears to have ruled parts of the continent mentioned.
Again, Plato via Critias describes the mud that blocks the passage:
"...this city of Athens was the ruler of the [Mediterranean] peoples and fought for the duration of the entire war. They said, too, that the kings of the island of Atlantis were the rulers of the other peoples. This island, as we were saying, was at one time greater than both Libya and Asia combined. But now because of earthquakes it has subsided into the great Ocean and has produced a vast sea of mud that blocks the passage of mariners who would sail into the great Ocean from Greek waters and for this reason is no longer navigable."1(p.1297)
It could be that here is reference to the Straits of Gibraltar (Pillars of Hercules) being blocked with mud at the time of Plato. SInce that time the mud may have dissipated to enable navigation through them again.
Discussion is made of the past fertility of Athens and how that fertility was washed away in climate change: "A single night of torrential rain stripped the acropolis of its soil and reduced it to bare limestone in a storm that was accompanied by earthquakes. Before the destructive flood of Deucalion, this was the third such cataclysmic storm."1(p.1298)
"...this city of Athens was the ruler of the [Mediterranean] peoples and fought for the duration of the entire war. They said, too, that the kings of the island of Atlantis were the rulers of the other peoples. This island, as we were saying, was at one time greater than both Libya and Asia combined. But now because of earthquakes it has subsided into the great Ocean and has produced a vast sea of mud that blocks the passage of mariners who would sail into the great Ocean from Greek waters and for this reason is no longer navigable."1(p.1297)
It could be that here is reference to the Straits of Gibraltar (Pillars of Hercules) being blocked with mud at the time of Plato. SInce that time the mud may have dissipated to enable navigation through them again.
Discussion is made of the past fertility of Athens and how that fertility was washed away in climate change: "A single night of torrential rain stripped the acropolis of its soil and reduced it to bare limestone in a storm that was accompanied by earthquakes. Before the destructive flood of Deucalion, this was the third such cataclysmic storm."1(p.1298)
The Island of Atlantis
"...Posidon received as one of his domains the island of Atlantis ... Now seaward, but running along the middle of the entire island, was a plain which is said to have been the loveliest of all plains and quite fertile. Near this plain in the middle of the island and at about fifty stades distance was a uniformly low and flat hill. ...To make the hill on which she lived a strong enclosure he broke it to form a circle and he created alternate rings of sea and land around it. Some he made wider and some he made more narrow. He made two rings of land and three of sea as round as if he had laid them out with a compass and lathe. They were perfectly equidistant from one another. ... He divided the entire island of Atlantis into ten districts. ... because he was the first of the kings of that time. His name was Atlas; the island is called Atlantis and the sea Atlantic after him."1(p.1300)
There are some clues as to the location of Atlantis from the districts and territories portioned out to Posidon's ten sons, who were kings. For example, "...To the twin born after him, who had received as his portion the cape of the island facing the pillars of Heracles opposite what is now called the the territory of Gadira after this region, he gave the name that translates into Greek as Eumelos, but in the language of Atlantis, it is Gadirus. It would seem that he gave his name to the region of Cadiz...."1(p.1300)
In Critias there is much detail regarding the island of Atlantis and its harbour and channels, its Great covered canal, as well as shipping and military, housing, transfer of kingship, as well as plants and animals, water sources, and mining, temples and statues etc.... These can be read from PLATO's writings.
It is interesting to note two things - Firstly, that there were both hot and cold springs on the island. The presence of hot hydrothermal springs may be evidence of conditions conducive to vulcanism and earthquakes. Secondly, The slope of the island is said to have sloped toward the south.
There are some clues as to the location of Atlantis from the districts and territories portioned out to Posidon's ten sons, who were kings. For example, "...To the twin born after him, who had received as his portion the cape of the island facing the pillars of Heracles opposite what is now called the the territory of Gadira after this region, he gave the name that translates into Greek as Eumelos, but in the language of Atlantis, it is Gadirus. It would seem that he gave his name to the region of Cadiz...."1(p.1300)
In Critias there is much detail regarding the island of Atlantis and its harbour and channels, its Great covered canal, as well as shipping and military, housing, transfer of kingship, as well as plants and animals, water sources, and mining, temples and statues etc.... These can be read from PLATO's writings.
It is interesting to note two things - Firstly, that there were both hot and cold springs on the island. The presence of hot hydrothermal springs may be evidence of conditions conducive to vulcanism and earthquakes. Secondly, The slope of the island is said to have sloped toward the south.
The Bimini Road - near Bimini Island, Bahamas
Some suggest the Bimini road is a natural formation and others that it is remnant of a lost civilization. Interestingly in nearby areas there can be seen on Google Earth™ street scapes in the ocean.
References
1. PLATO Complete Works, (1997), Edited by: John M. Cooper, Hackett Publishing Company, Cambridge. Timaeus - Donald J. Zeyl, p.1224, Critias - Diskin Clay, p.1292.
1. PLATO Complete Works, (1997), Edited by: John M. Cooper, Hackett Publishing Company, Cambridge. Timaeus - Donald J. Zeyl, p.1224, Critias - Diskin Clay, p.1292.