Atlantis' Existence and Place On Earth

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence and potential location of Atlantis, a legendary island mentioned by Plato. Participants explore various theories regarding its historical basis, possible connections to ancient civilizations, and the implications of geological events on the narrative of Atlantis. The conversation touches on historical, archaeological, and mythological aspects of the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the only known claims about Atlantis come from Plato, with no conclusive historical evidence supporting its existence.
  • Others suggest that Atlantis may have been inspired by real events, such as volcanic eruptions that affected ancient civilizations like the Minoans on Crete.
  • A few participants propose that Atlantis could be linked to various archaeological sites around the world, including locations in the Andes and Greece.
  • There are discussions about the lack of evidence for trade or interaction between ancient Greeks and South American civilizations, which raises questions about the plausibility of certain theories.
  • Some participants highlight the significance of the time frame in which Atlantis is said to have existed, particularly in relation to the Younger Dryas period and its climatic impacts.
  • There are references to the idea that myths, including that of Atlantis, may have roots in historical events, similar to the story of Troy.
  • Questions arise about the interpretation of Plato's writings and the implications of his claims regarding the Atlanteans' advanced civilization.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the existence or location of Atlantis. Some argue for its historical basis, while others maintain it is purely mythological. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing theories presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenges in interpreting ancient texts and the potential influence of geological events on the legends surrounding Atlantis. The discussion acknowledges the complexity of linking archaeological findings to the narrative of Atlantis.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the intersections of mythology, history, and archaeology, particularly in relation to ancient civilizations and their narratives.

  • #91
I see what you mean, I tend to jump the gun when I think, and try to weave it through, letting imagined momentum follow through piece by piece. But I tend to think it through b/c I can imagine a paranoid group of people trying to fix something with just simple knowledge, increasing step by step constantly, working in total fear until a practical result. Invariably, with a little luck and chance, being incredible, much like genius today, playing with an arcane art, and discovering something amazing, fueled by fear and wounder.

Ok, this hopefully unrelated, but I just typed that and accidently opened 14 windows at once, including this one. That, was creepy. *Also I have no clue how I did that.
 
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  • #92
MoonlitFractl said:
I see what you mean, I tend to jump the gun when I think, and try to weave it through, letting imagined momentum follow through piece by piece. But I tend to think it through b/c I can imagine a paranoid group of people trying to fix something with just simple knowledge, increasing step by step constantly, working in total fear until a practical result. Invariably, with a little luck and chance, being incredible, much like genius today, playing with an arcane art, and discovering something amazing, fueled by fear and wounder.

I can imagine that too, in fact I think we could both find examples in history of just that. I'm still not sure that it's enough to justify the existence of Atlantis, merely because people COULD live in such a way. Frankly, with so much power in their time, and so much strife such as you imagine, I'd think we'd see a record.

By the same token, in many ways your description is valid for our lives today, in oh so many ways. If you're saying that you believe in Atlantis because you can imagine it, I disagree, but if you're saying that the mentality of possible Atlantians would naturally lead to destruction, I can see that being possible.
 
  • #93
Nicodemus said:
OK, I see what you're getting at, but why do you believe this based on very meager evidence that is largely considered a fictional source? You're adding a great deal of complexity to the situation, and seem to be taking it as read that it follows logically.

According to Plato, Athenians defeated the Atlantean invasion 10 thousand years before Plato's time.
But at that time there were no Athenians (no Greeks at all) and no Egyptian or Mesopotamian civilizations, so no writing except for possible Atlantean documents.
Since no signs remained from Atlantean civilization, how did the Egyptian priests know of it?
 
  • #95
Imagine that 50000 years from now our civilization has ended and alien explorers arrive on Earth.
Those aliens decypher our writings. They find Asimov's Foundation series and believe we have colonized the galaxy. Then they go in search of Trantor.
This is similar to the search of Atlantis, based on Plato.
 
  • #96
CEL said:
Imagine that 50000 years from now our civilization has ended and alien explorers arrive on Earth.
Those aliens decypher our writings. They find Asimov's Foundation series and believe we have colonized the galaxy. Then they go in search of Trantor.
This is similar to the search of Atlantis, based on Plato.

Hopefully they'd find a little more than that, like our garbage, and our EM emissions (radio, TV, satellite). I think the biggest problem with Atlantis is... where are the Atlantean dumps, wineries, bakers, anything?

If I were those aliens I'd trust vast evidence of other civilization, and the total lack of anything matching Asimov's writings, and conclude that it was an aberration.
 
  • #97
Max™ said:
I noticed quite a few references to this region when I was researching the last ice age for a discussion regarding climate variability in the past.

fig1.jpg


http://www.atlan.org/articles/true_history/index.html

Kinda makes sense compared to the stuff I've seen in random TV "searches for the lost city of atlantis", what do you think?


I stumbled upon that theory about ten years ago.

What makes it interesting is that we know for a fact that large areas of the South China Sea was dry land, and Indonesia was a contiguous land mass instead of an island chain. That area sunk into the ocean as sea levels rose around the time Plato claimed Atlantis sunk.

Now the glacial melting wasn't a sudden event, but a tsunami caused by a large volcano (Krakatoa? )could have caused a sudden and permanent flooding of land that was already near or below sea level. If you even want to consider this the "Biblical Flood", an erupting undersea caldera could have even provided the 40 days of rain in an area around Indonesia.

Here's a quick check list the author put together comparing Plato's description with Indonesia, and they match on many points.
http://www.atlan.org/articles/checklist/
 
  • #98
Ummm that link isn't something I'd use as a check-list... or anything else. This isn't a question of the realty that which land masses are above sea-level... it's more to do with the very commonality of that event. The idea that a city could be destroyed is hardly new, and not even controversial! Pompeii and Herculaneum spring to mind, but they weren't magically advanced cultures.

As for the biblical flood, I argue for that as a parable, but others who do like to find concrete elements to support their faith often look at the Black Sea Deluge Theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theory .

There are all kinds of things wrong the "links" made by that author, but then... when you're selling a book purporting to have found Atlantis, it probably hurts sales to do anything else. I strongly suggest that you read the S&D guidelines regarding what is and is not a legitimate source. Even casually, the link you provide hurts you more than it helps.
 
  • #99
MilosOpacic said:
<< crackpot 2012 prophecy YouTube link deleted by berkeman >>

there u go...watch that before you delete my post again

I understand that you are new to the PF. Please re-read the rules links, especially the parts about valid sources, and about forbidden topics.

Thank you.
 
  • #100
Well he passed away a few years ago, and his day job was physics professor. It seemed strictly a hobby and not a money making scheme. The checklist was based on Plato's description.
But don't you find it interesting that such a large area of habitable land was flooded around the time Plato claimed?
 
  • #101
Atlantis was said to be outside the straights of Gibraltar. Of course there is nothing there but the atlantic ocean.

when sea level was lower during the last ice age there would have a straight between Italy and Libya. I wonder if atlantis was simply an island beyond that straight.
 
  • #102
And on those continued necroposts, I'll close the thread.
 

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