Are We Any Closer to Fathoming Plato’s Atlantis?

For centuries, the legendary lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination. Its first description by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in 360 BC made it seem incredibly advanced and ever since, this lost civilization that disappeared beneath the oceans was subject to great interest and scrutiny. For millennia, scholars, adventurers, treasure seekers, and archaeologists alike all sought this fabled city and its submerged wonders. Yet no one ever found it.

Did it ever exist? Are we getting any closer to the truth in the modern age?

The Origins of the Story of Atlantis

The famed ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, was the first to mention Atlantis, and described it as a wondrous and very advanced civilization that once waged war on Athens but has disappeared long since. Writing in his dialogue “Critias”, Plato tells us that he first heard of the story of Atlantis from his grandfather, who had heard it from the Athenian statesman Solon, some 150 to 200 years before Plato’s time. Solon, in turn, learned the story from an Ancient Egyptian priest, who claimed that Atlantis thrived roughly 9,000 years before that time. This advanced age and the described magnificence all added to the great mystery of this fabled land.

In his accounts of Atlantis in “Critias” and “Timaeus”, Plato describes it as an island, larger than Libya and Asia combined (common comparisons in his time), and was located beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the modern Strait of Gibraltar). Powerful, superior in technology and art, and one of the greatest civilizations in the world, Atlantis was said to have been way above its contemporaries in the distant past. But even so, it perished. Plato says that this major power had “fallen out of favor with the Gods”, and as a result it was swallowed by the ocean “in a single day and night of misfortune”.

A printed edition of ‘Timaeus’ in Latin, from 1491. (Public Domain)

And ever since, the mystery of this place has endured. Plato seemed confident in its existence, dedicating substantial work to write about it and introduce it to the general public. But even so, the question remains – is it real? Because no one knew where exactly the site of the city was, and because it is supposedly now far below the surface of the seas, what became of the story of Atlantis is it is now relegated to the category of myth . But nevertheless, centuries of scholars and historians came up with theories that Atlantis might be an ancient name for some other civilization, whose remnants are known to the world.

Centuries of Theories

One of the earliest theories about the possible origin of Atlantis was the connection with the ancient Minoan civilization. This theory placed Atlantis within the Mediterranean, and aligns it with the civilization of the Minoans, which flourished on the island of Crete and the neighboring islands of the Aegean Sea. The Minoans existed roughly between 3100 and 1100 BC, and at their height were one of the most impressive ancient cultures. Known for their complex urban planning, the impressive architecture and lavish palaces, and their hegemony over contemporary maritime trade networks, the Minoans were truly a sophisticated ancient civilization.

Yet even so, this civilization disappeared almost suddenly. This decline and vanishing were linked to the devastating eruption of the Thera volcano, located on modern day island of Santorini and close to the northern shores of Crete. The eruption occurred in 1600 BC and was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. A catastrophe of great magnitude, the eruption caused widespread devastation across the region, creating enormous tsunamis, earthquakes, and ashfall that obliterated many advanced cities. Today, scholars believe that it is this volcanic eruption that inspired the legends of Atlantis, as an advanced and prosperous civilization was brought to an end because of this natural disaster.

Volcanic craters on Santorini, June 2001. (Rolfsteinar/CC BY-SA 3.0)

But even so, there is no direct evidence or link between Atlantis and the ancient Minoans. Even though their rapid demise, the geographical location, and all other similarities with the Atlantean myth make them a good candidate, nothing can be said for certain. Nevertheless, research continues.

The Azores, Atlantis in the Atlantic

A theory that has been around almost as long as the Minoan one is the one that places Atlantis in the Atlantic Ocean, specifically at the Azores Islands. This archipelago, located some 1500 kilometers (900 mi) west of the coast of Portugal, has long been associated with the location “beyond the Pillars of Hercules”, which Plato first described.

1584 map of the Azores Islands. (Public Domain)

During the 19th and 20th centuries, many scholars and explorers introduced the idea that the Azores are actually remnants of a larger land mass that sank beneath the ocean. What is more, it has been proposed that volcanic activity and tectonic shifts occurring in the past might have caused a previously existing civilization or a larger island to sink. The theorized mountain peaks remained above water – creating the modern Azores.

And even though this theory is highly popular amongst Atlantis believers, no concrete evidence exists to confirm this. Modern geological studies have largely debunked this idea, without any evidence that a larger landmass existed at this site. However, archaeological excavations in these islands were never conducted on a large scale, mainly because there was no evidence of previous human habitation before the arrival of the Portuguese explorers. But recently, new evidence appeared, showing that this might not be true.

Several Portuguese chronicles, from the time of the discovery of the Azores in the 1400s, mention some unique discoveries on some of the islands, specifically the smallest and the northernmost island of Corvo. Here, settlers discovered an odd equestrian statue carved in stone, with a dedication in an unknown script.

The stone monument was perched on a remote hilltop and attempts to remove it resulted in its destruction. Several remaining pieces were sent to Portugal to the royal court, but they were subsequently lost. Similarly, a hoard of ancient coins was discovered on the same island, containing coins of Carthage and Cyrene. All this led scholars to believe that the islands were known in ancient times, especially by Carthaginians. Could the Azores have been the site of a greater city that was lost?

Athanasius Kircher’s map of Atlantis from Mundus Subterraneus (“The Subterranean World”) (1669), drawn with south at the top. (Public Domain)

A Flurry of Theories

In a quest to discover the true origins of Atlantis, many explorers and scholars sought to find that crucial piece of evidence to prove its existence. One of the more notable theories centered on Atlantis belongs to Igatius Donnelly, an American politician and writer. In his 1882 book, “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World”, Donnelly writes that Atlantis was a real civilization, and that it served as a “progenitor” of all known ancient cultures. Furthermore, he suggested that advanced knowledge of agriculture, metallurgy, and architecture spread from Atlantis to the emerging civilizations such as Ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, and Mesopotamia. Many sought to disprove and debunk the theories of Ignatius Donnelly, but his work nevertheless persists and is once more popular in modern circles and amongst believers in Atlantis.

Another popular belief holds that Atlantis can and will be discovered thanks to the appearance of modern discovery methods. Most notably, technological advancements such as sonar mapping and satellite imagery, can allow researchers to explore the landscapes beneath the oceans with incredible accuracy. In recent years, these tools helped uncover several submerged structures and landforms, whose origins are still a matter of heated debate. A notable example includes the Yonaguni Stone Platforms off the coast of Japan, whose massive stone formations are still unexplained.

 The enigmatic underwater Yonaguni monument.  (nudiblue/Adobe Stock)

One of the lesser-known theories links the Greek island of Atalanti, with the myth of Atlantis. Well known in ancient times, the island was mentioned by Greek and Roman writers such as Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Pausanias, Thucydides, Strabo, Livy, and others. They all mentioned the same facts: in ancient times, the island of Atalanti was “torn asunder” from the coastlines by a massive and devastating earthquake. As a result, a massive wave emerged (a tsunami), causing widespread destruction in the region. Could this place hold any secrets yet to be uncovered?

The Mystery of the Richat Structure

Currently one of the most popular Atlantis-related theories is the one linking this ancient myth with the enigmatic Richat Structure located in the Sahara desert. Also known as the Eye of the Sahara, this massive circular formation is situated in Mauritania and is the only such formation on the planet. Although its connection with Atlantis remains controversial, it is nevertheless the strongest candidate for the lost city in recent years. This geological formation spans roughly 40 kilometers (25 mi) in diameter and is composed of concentric circles, resembling a giant “bullseye” or “eye” from aerial or satellite images, hence its nickname. Scientists considered it a meteor impact crater, but the official designation is still uncertain.

And that is why modern Atlantis believers link this massive structure with the remnants of a lost city of wonders. The first piece of “evidence” is the location, which certainly could be “beyond the Pillars of Hercules” as Plato wrote. Of course, 9000 years before present, Sahara was not an arid and lifeless desert, but a lush and green savanna that had great conditions for life. What is more, Plato described Atlantis as a city that is made of three concentric rings of water separated by land, with a diameter similar to that of Richat structure. All these similarities led believers to place Atlantis right here.

Satellite picture of the Richat Structure (false color) (Public Domain)

Of course, the Richat structure today is located far inland from the sea, and in the middle of the barren Sahara. But believers suggest that the Sahara region may have been wetter in ancient times, with rivers or seas nearby, possibly connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. All this points to the possibility that some natural disaster or a sudden change in climate led to the rapid decline and abandonment of a thriving civilization that could have been Atlantis.

An Enduring Belief Without an Evidence

Most notable historians completely dismiss the idea of Atlantis as a separate, unique, and superior civilization that completely disappeared. Even after decades and generations of extensive research and numerous archaeological excavations, no concrete evidence of Atlantis has been found although many arguments for its possible location have been proposed. Of course, considering that it is likely submerged, discovering its remains without knowing where to look can be a considerable challenge. However, countless locations have been argued for and any submerged ruins that are discovered almost immediately have the Atlantis association attached.

Just a quick search on this website will bring you proposals for the location of Atlantis from Tunisia, to Ireland, India to the Azores and more, but none that has conclusive proof.

But even so, many scholars believe that Plato’s Atlantis did exist, and that it was in fact the Minoan Civilization. Superior and far more advanced than its contemporaries, especially the Greeks, this Cretan culture was held in high regard by all those who learned from it. But its sudden decline and disappearance due to a devastating natural disaster could have brought to life a theory of divine wrath and the submersion beneath the waves. Although we may never know the truth, the story of Atlantis will continue to captivate our shared imagination, and people will rightly search for evidence of its location and very existence.

Top image: A stylized rendering of Plato’s Atlantis by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich.          Source: Public Domain

By Aleksa Vučković

References
Spence, L. 1996. The History of Atlantis. Health Research Books.

Wilson, D. 2020. The Lost Atlantis and Other Ethnographic Studies. Library of Alexandria.

Zhirov, N. 2001. Atlantis: Atlantology: Basic Problems. The Minerva Group, Inc.