A Myth Of Legendary Island : The Atlantis

One of the most intriguing mysteries of the ancient world was the alleged existence of a highly advanced civilization of people who lived on a continent known as "Atlantis". The Legend places Atlantis at almost 11,000 years into the past, yet the Antlanteans were said to have possessed technology that was far in advance of their time. The stories of this technology vary, but it was Plato himself who kept the whole idea alive - claiming that Atlantis did indeed exist.

Satellite image of the islands of Santorini. This location is one of many sites purported to have been the location of Atlantis.

Atlantis is the name of a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. In Plato's account, Atlantis, lying "beyond the pillars of Heracles", was a naval power that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9500 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune".

A map showing the supposed extent of the Atlantean Empire.

The original story of Atlantis is long and diverse, but it is said that Poseidon, God Of The Sea, created the island for his love, a mortal woman named Cleito. On the top of the hill in the center of the island a great temple was constructed to honor Poseidon, as well as a large golden statue of him riding a Chariot pulled by winged horses. The combined size of the Continent on which Atlantis became situated was particularly vast, and a great number of people came to live and work there.

Illustration by Lloyd K. Townsend

For many centuries the Atlanteans lived out there lives with peace and dignity, fulfilling their daily chores with contentment and determination. However, before too long greed and power began to overwhelm many of them, and Zeus decided to punish Atlantis. Soon afterwards the entire Continent was lost under the ocean, taking with it one of the world's most perplexing mysteries. Although no conclusive evidence has ever been found to support the existence of Atlantis, stories and historical records have been the source for many years of mystery and intrigue.

Underside of Ancient Atlantis medallion, there are symbols and text that may repersent some kind of calender system

Atlantis was said by some to have possessed technology such as spacecraft, powerful fuels and other devices which would look futuristic even by today's standards. Many believe that Atlantis was a colony of Alien beings from another world, while some think that the Atlanteans are still alive to this day, somewhere deep down beneath the waves. Whether we will ever discover the full secrets of Atlantis however, remains for the moment, unknown.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire A fictional Atlantean symbol rises above a raging ocean, where Atlantis is thought to be.

The legend of Atlantis is featured in many books, films, television series, games, songs and other creative works. Recent examples of Atlantis on-screen include the television series Stargate Atlantis and the Disney animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The video game Tomb Raider features Atlantis as the basis of its plot and the location for its climactic ending. It is also featured prominently and somewhat philosophically in Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea's epic Illuminatus! trilogy.