The Atlantis Puzzle
Humanity's understanding of the past is limited, with written records covering only a fraction of our 300,000-year history. Myths have long served as a way to explain our origins, but they are often dismissed as mere fantasy. However, some myths, like the stories of Troy and the Great Flood, have been proven to have historical roots. This raises the question of whether other myths, such as the legend of Atlantis, might also contain elements of truth.
The Atlantis myth, recounted by Plato, describes a powerful, advanced civilization that existed around 9600 BC. This civilization, located on a continent beyond the "Atlantic Pelagos," conquered vast territories before being defeated by the ancestors of the Athenians and subsequently destroyed by a cataclysmic event. The story's specific details, including dates, have intrigued and puzzled historians for centuries.
George Sarantitis, an independent researcher, proposes a new interpretation of Plato's texts. He argues that Plato used myths as teaching tools, embedding clues within the narratives. Sarantitis re-translated Plato's dialogues, revealing inaccuracies in previous translations, particularly regarding geographical terms. He suggests that the "Atlantic Pelagos" was not the Atlantic Ocean but rather a navigable body of water within the Pillars of Heracles, which he identifies as the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia. This reinterpretation places Atlantis in West Africa, a region that was once fertile during the Green Sahara period.
Sarantitis's theory suggests that the Atlantis myth may reflect a historical reality: the existence of a sophisticated civilization in West Africa during the early Holocene. The Green Sahara period, from around 11,000 BC to 3000 BC, saw the region transformed into a lush landscape with large lakes and rivers. This environment could have supported a thriving civilization, potentially the Atlantis of legend. The myth's depiction of a powerful Atlantean empire might be linked to the expansion of Niger-Congo speaking peoples during this period. While the specifics of the Atlantean war remain uncertain, archaeological evidence suggests that warfare was indeed a feature of the early Holocene.
Furthermore, recent discoveries challenge conventional understandings of ancient seafaring and trade. Obsidian tools found in Tunisia and Greece, dating back to the sixth and thirteenth millennia BC respectively, indicate that maritime trade networks existed far earlier than previously thought. These findings lend credence to Plato's account of advanced seafaring capabilities in ancient civilizations, including the possibility of Atlantean trade and naval power. While the Atlantis myth remains shrouded in mystery, Sarantitis's research and recent archaeological discoveries offer compelling evidence that it may be more than just a fable, potentially a distorted but real memory of a lost civilization.
superb documentary. One of the best i have ever seen. The presentation shows the deep mystery of existence and human paradox through the deeper meaning within the work of Plato.
Yet more graham hancock inspired nonsense!
The “Great Flood” does not have historical roots. Full stop.