We have all heard about Atlantis, the legendary island, which one day disappeared under the water. Who first found out about it? Whether there was Atlantis really like? What else do we not know about it? The story of Atlantis came to us in the retelling of the Greek philosopher Plato. Or rather, two of his works “Timaeus” and “Critias”. It is believed that these books were written in 360 BC
In them, Plato wrote that the Greek sage Solon became aware of this story when he was serving as a priest in Egypt. Upon returning Solon told it to his relative Droped. Then, Groped gave it to his son Critias who told it to his grandson, Critias, too, the latter shared it with Socrates and his circle.
This list should not be taken as historical or scientific fact, but as a true retelling of Plato. If we believe the legend — is a personal choice. Science does not give accurate data about Atlantis, but the lost city was found and will find. One day it may become the legendary island.
We know a place
Many books and documentaries were created on the possible location of Atlantis. A quick Google search will show that some point on Santorini as Atlantis in the past; others believe that the waters of Bimini hiding the way to the lost city. If we take as a basis the text of Plato, he tells us where once was a now submerged city.
The text says that Atlantis “sailed from the Atlantic ocean.” It further States that “there was an island in front of gerkulesovy pillars”. Today these pillars have to remain on the Strait of Gibraltar, where Spain and Africa are separated by a narrow strip of sea. Although this is, of course, not the GPS coordinates, the location of the island is shrinking.
In 2011, the University of Hartford archaeologist Richard Freund and his team found “city memorials”, or city, built in the image of Atlantis. A number of cities have been found buried in the bolts Donana national Park, North of Cadiz, Spain.
It turned out that Cadiz is right in front of the pillars. This forced Freund to think about the fact that the real Atlantis was buried in mud swamps of the Atlantic. The results coincide with the text of the story that “the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because on the way there are minor dirt; and it occurred due to subsidence of the island”.
Cadiz is also considered one of the oldest cities that are still in Western Europe. It is believed that it was built by the Phoenicians around 700 BC, but some records claim that the city was already in 1100 BC, the Greek myths say that this city even more.
Why is it important? Because a long time ago this city was called Hades. It is suitable, because the text says that the Prince-Atlanta, who was called Gadara prehistoric citizens of Hades. He belonged to the far Eastern part of Atlantis.
This part of the island had to look at the modern Cadiz. So the story goes that Cadiz, or Gades, was named in honor of the Prince. Of course, Plato wrote all this at least after 340 years after the discovery of the city, so could afford the liberty in naming Atlantic princes.
Atlantis is the name of the demigod
Most people believe that Atlantis got its name in honor of the Atlantic ocean, but in fact it was exactly the opposite. Legend has it that Poseidon, the Greek God of the seas, there were five twins of a mortal women named atlantci Clito.
God gave each of his 10 sons of different parts of the island that needed them. Ghadeer was the second oldest. Although it was named after the city in Spain, it was his older brother Atlas was honored to call the city its name. Being the firstborn, Atlas, had acquired the whole island and even surrounding ocean was named in his honor. His children also had to rule Atlantis forever.
Half the story is missing
We know that Plato wrote at least two books about Atlantis. Today we have a full version of Timaeus, but the full version of “Critias” no.
“Critias” is dropped on the fact that Zeus, the head Greek gods, “has collected all the gods into their most Holy habitation, which being placed in the center of the world, beholds all created things. And when he had gathered them together, he said the following”. That’s about it.
It is unknown if Plato book intentionally unfinished or finished version was lost long ago. We do not have the end of the “Critias,” but I also believe that Plato wrote or at least planned to write a third book about Atlantis — “Critias”.
There are a few facts to support this theory. Line in “Krytie” States: “Critias, we will satisfy your request and provide as needed an the same thing that you and the Timaeus”. Therefore, the third part of the story should be devoted to An.
In addition, the names of the three books contain a hidden message, especially if you look at the order in which Plato wrote, or had to write them. Timaeus is derived from the Greek “tio”, which means “to honor”. Critias comes from the Greek “Krima” which means “court”. Critias comes from Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods. Timey prehistoric Athens honors for their heroism. Critias presumably ends with the court of Zeus on Atlantis. But what message could pass Critias?
The answer may lie in what we know about the Critias. He was a real military leader who helped lead the successful defense of Syracuse against Athens during the Peloponnesian war. Like the story of Atlantis. In this story afinance the state from prehistoric times reflects the attack of superior forces of Atlantis.
Perhaps the message of Critias was, why attack Athens for Syracuse failed and how Syracuse was able to fend off the conquest. If only someone could find a copy of this book, we may never know the full story of Atlantis.
Atlantis was supposed to be at least 11,500 years ago
Salt was considered the wisest of all the Greek sages. The texts says that the story of Atlantis was told to Solon in Egypt, when he wanted to “pull out” of the priests of the most ancient of their tales.
To do this, Solon has decided to tell the priests about the ancient Greek stories that I can remember. He talked to them about the great flood and the first man. After hearing salty, one priest said, “Oh, salty, salty… There is among you of old people… Mind you are all young; there is among you of old opinions, past traditions.”
Then the priest told that Athens, the hometown of Solon, was much older than he thought. In the records of the Egyptians in Size (where they were) it was said that of says was founded 8000 years before. And it was also recorded that Athens was founded 1000 years before Says and that the Athenians of that time fought with the Atlanteans.
Solon lived from about 630 BC to 560 BC If this story is true, the fall of Atlantis happened around 9500 BC, And then Atlantis should be the age Gobekli Tepe, which appeared in 10,000 BC and is considered the world’s oldest temple.
The story starts to exist. But while still in the fog.
The story is true… Plato
We said that this list cannot be considered a historical summary. In the text, however, Critias claims that his story is true. “Listen to the story, though strange, is certainly true and confirmed by Solanum”. Plato it is very important to distinguish fact from history. Plato openly says that some myths are symbolic in nature. However in his book he claims that Atlantis was real, not mythical. If Atlantis was Plato’s imagination, why would he claim that the story of Atlantis is true, but not to say that the Greek myth was created to represent something else?
Atlantis was an Empire
Most of us probably imagine a lush green island surrounded by deep blue ocean waters when I think about Atlantis. Although the story takes place on the island, most of us probably assume that this island of Atlantis and limited. But Plato says that Atlantis was an Empire that was ruled from this island.
“On this island of Atlantis was a great and wonderful Empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent, and besides, the people of Atlantis conquered Libya up to the pillars herakovich, to Egypt and Europe up to Tirrenia”.
Tirrenia is another name for Etruria, now known as Central Italy. This means that Atlantis would stretch to modern Tuscany in Europe to Egypt in Africa. We would like to know how the Athenians defeated such a big Empire? Maybe Plato did not know, so I decided not to finish the ending.
The ancient Mediterraneans may have known about the Americas
Although it may well be that Plato created Atlantis for the sake of philosophy, there is this story one part that would be difficult to fabricate. In the history of the Egyptian priest tells Solon: “This island has opened the way to other Islands, and from them you could go to the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean. Adjacent land can be truly called a boundless continent.”
Well the continent was on the other side of the Atlantic, so much so that it seemed as if surrounded by a whole ocean? Does it mean that the ancient Greeks and perhaps the Egyptians knew about the Americas and even been there?
In 1970, the famous Explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed with a crew of six people in a reed boat called “RA II”. They sailed from Safi in Morocco, across the Atlantic to Barbados in 57 days.
This journey proved that reed boats could survive in the ocean travel and that ancient people could actually cross the Atlantic in them. A feat once considered impossible.
But this does not prove that the Egyptians or the Greeks came all the way in America. Heyerdahl proved just what is possible.
In ancient Athens women were allowed to serve
The issue of women in the armed forces are often raised in developed countries. Should we allow women to serve in combat units? Do women have to sign a contract for service?
2,500 years ago, after learning about our issues, the Greeks would be laughing. In fact, Plato’s student Aristotle once said: “Silence is the glory of woman.”
And what would the Spartans, try a woman to join their ranks? They would not like. This is Sparta-a-a-a!
But in Athens 9500 BC it was different. According to Plato, “military service was common for men and women; men and women, in full armor, and under the auspices of the goddess Athena, could practice the same practice of martial arts, without any sex differences”.
Perhaps Plato was just dreaming about the ideal state, but maybe not. Perhaps the Athenians 9500 BC did everything possible to deter the enemy.
Plato wanted to keep people from ocean
If the Greeks really knew what lies beyond the Mediterranean, they would want to have other people recognize it too? Maybe not. Perhaps that is why Plato wrote that no one can sail in the Atlantic ocean.
“But then there were violent earthquakes and floods; and in one day and one night of misfortune all are able to fight the men went under the earth, and the island of Atlantis likewise went into the depths of the sea”. According to Plato, it appeared impenetrable sediment of mud at the Strait of Gibraltar.
This could stop the curious from crossing the Strait. Plato insisted that in the Atlantic during his life can not swim, “for in those days the Atlantic was navigable”.
Is Plato trying to keep people from care in the Atlantic? He really believed that the shallow dirt blocks to ocean travel? Or Atlantica was too dirty, so the boats could pass in those time? If the boat was too small, why not just walk?
Mankind has been and will be destroyed many times
The Egyptian priest told Solon, that none of his stories were not “truly ancient” compared to his own. According to the priest, the reason that Solon was not enough “truly ancient” knowledge, lies in the fact that humanity was destroyed again and again.
“Was and will again be the destruction of mankind for different reasons; the greatest of them brought the manifestation of fire and water, lesser — countless other reasons”.
Then the priest explained: “When the gods purify the Earth with water flow, the living are only the shepherds living in the mountains.”
If the only people who survive the cataclysms, it is mountain people who do not know its long past, it is easy to see how the whole history of civilization over time is lost. The priest believed that Egypt had experienced these disasters, while others are not, because Egypt is in General almost never rains. Instead, it happened the annual floods due to the flooding of the Nile, which rose enough to feed the crop, but not to destroy their world. Somewhere too humid where it is too dry. In Egypt, everything as it should be (but in fact it is very dry).
10 facts about the lost Atlantis, of which not all know
Ilya Hel