Atlantis
Atlantis: Myth, Memory, or Lost Civilization?
The legend of Atlantis, a mysterious and advanced civilization that vanished beneath the sea, continues to captivate human imagination well into the 21st century. First mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias, Atlantis has evolved from a philosophical allegory into a global symbol of lost knowledge, spiritual legacy, and forgotten power.
According to Plato, Atlantis was an imperial maritime power located beyond the “Pillars of Hercules” (modern-day Strait of Gibraltar). The Atlanteans were said to possess remarkable technology, architectural mastery, and social order—but they became greedy and corrupt. As divine punishment, the gods unleashed catastrophic earthquakes and floods that destroyed the island, sinking it into the ocean in a single day and night.
Plato’s Intentions: Allegory or History?
For centuries, scholars have debated whether Plato meant Atlantis to be taken as a mythical parable or a historical account. Skeptics argue that he constructed Atlantis as a cautionary tale to illustrate the dangers of hubris and materialism—a civilization destroyed because it turned away from divine principles.
However, many researchers, mystics, and alternative historians argue that Plato was referencing a real place, citing the unusually detailed descriptions of Atlantean architecture, infrastructure, religious rites, and geography. Plato claimed that the account came through Solon, a respected Athenian statesman who allegedly learned about Atlantis from Egyptian priests during his travels in the 6th century BCE.
Solon was a real historical figure, and his connections to Egypt are plausible. This gives weight to the argument that Plato was transmitting an inherited historical memory, rather than inventing a pure allegory.
Atlantis as the Source of Ancient Civilizations
In the late 19th century, the American congressman and writer Ignatius Loyola Donnelly fueled modern Atlantis enthusiasm with his book Atlantis: The Antediluvian World (1881). Donnelly proposed that Atlantis was not just a real civilization, but the mother culture from which all ancient civilizations sprang—spreading to Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and the Americas.
According to Donnelly, the Atlanteans were the first technologically advanced humans, and their influence can be traced in myths of floods, gods, and golden ages across global cultures. He believed that when Atlantis sank, its survivors became the seed bearers of human progress worldwide.
Though widely discredited by mainstream archaeologists, Donnelly’s theories inspired generations of spiritual seekers and fringe researchers. His influence can still be seen in New Age thought and esoteric traditions today.
Alternate Locations: Crete, Thera, and Beyond
Not everyone agrees with Plato’s location of Atlantis in the Atlantic Ocean. Some archaeologists and historians argue that Atlantis may have been inspired by real catastrophes in the Mediterranean.
- Crete and the Minoan Civilization: Around 1500 BCE, the highly advanced Minoan culture thrived on Crete, exhibiting sophisticated architecture, naval power, and ritual worship of the bull—details Plato also attributes to Atlantis.
- Thera (modern-day Santorini): Roughly 100 km north of Crete, the volcanic island of Thera experienced a massive eruption around 1600 BCE that destroyed much of its infrastructure and devastated nearby Minoan settlements. Some archaeologists believe this could have inspired the Atlantis myth.
In Unearthing Atlantis: An Archaeological Odyssey (1991), Dr. Charles Pellegrino explores this theory, comparing Minoan ruins and artifacts to Plato’s description of Atlantis. He suggests that the collective trauma of this eruption may have been mythologized over generations into the Atlantis narrative.
Other Theories: Andes, Antarctica, and Underground Cities
While some focus on the Mediterranean, others argue that Plato’s geography was off altogether. Proposed locations include:
- The Andes Mountains in South America, where certain megalithic sites seem to reflect ancient architectural genius.
- Antarctica, where proponents claim satellite imagery shows evidence of unnatural formations beneath the ice.
- Underground civilizations, where Atlantis did not sink into water but was buried beneath the Earth—possibly beneath the Great Sphinx in Egypt, as suggested by some fringe theorists.
These ideas are often influenced by symbolic readings of ancient texts and speculative archaeology. They often blur the lines between science, mysticism, and myth.
Atlantis and Extraterrestrial Theories
In the 20th century, the legend of Atlantis merged with ancient alien theories. Some claim that the Atlanteans were not humans at all, but extraterrestrial beings or hybrids, whose advanced knowledge allowed them to build technologies far ahead of their time.
These theories often connect Atlantis with:
- The construction of the pyramids and other global megalithic structures
- Ancient astronaut hypotheses
- Interdimensional beings and starseed concepts
Proponents such as Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy, claimed clairvoyant visions of Atlantis and believed it was a spiritually evolved race that degenerated. Edgar Cayce, known as the “Sleeping Prophet,” spoke extensively about Atlantis in trance states, claiming many of his clients were reincarnated Atlanteans with psychic abilities.
In the 1970s, J.Z. Knight began channeling a being named Ramtha, who claimed to be a warrior from ancient Atlantis. This gave rise to a modern mystic movement around Atlantean teachings, reincarnation, and metaphysical science.
Atlantis Today: Archetype and Mystery
Whether viewed as a literal place, a lost civilization, or a symbol of spiritual memory, Atlantis continues to fascinate. In modern esoteric thought, it often symbolizes:
- Humanity’s fall from grace
- The lost Golden Age of harmony and wisdom
- The yearning for a more advanced, spiritually awakened world
Atlantis functions not just as a lost city, but as an archetype: a symbol of what humanity could have been—and could become again.
While mainstream science continues to classify Atlantis as legend, its influence is undeniable across literature, philosophy, occultism, and popular culture.
Atlantis remains one of the most enduring mysteries of human consciousness. Whether as a historical truth waiting to be uncovered, or as a metaphor for humanity’s forgotten potential, the tale of Atlantis invites us to explore the depths of memory, myth, and meaning. Perhaps, in seeking Atlantis, we are ultimately seeking ourselves.
SOURCE:
The Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Paranormal Phenomena – written by Patricia D. Netzley © 2006 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning
