Somewhere where myth and history meet, we find the land of legends. For some peoples, these places are true ancient stories. For others, they are just a legend. Perhaps the most cautiously metaphorical stories, from which some useful lessons for their contemporaries can be drawn. Legendary geographical locations are a constant in popular mythology, but perhaps those references to continents stand out more because they must have been very large. The most famous case for us is Atlantis because it was part of Greco-Roman mythology and an important part of our own culture. We have always wondered where Atlantis is.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you where Atlantis is, its origin, characteristics and everything about the legend.
The mythical story of Atlantis
According to Plato's dialogues, Atlantis was a land west of the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar). It possessed great economic, social, and military power and dominated Western Europe and North Africa before the city of Athens managed to halt its advance.
At that moment, an unspeakable disaster sank the island and all the armies at its disposal. Atlantis has completely disappeared from the map and from history. Since the Middle Ages, myths have been considered fables, but from the XNUMXth century, thanks to romanticism, assumptions of real places began to emerge.
If we adhere to history (an island beyond the Pillars of Hercules), our gaze is fixed on the Atlantic Ocean. The first theory places Atlantis there, with its highest discovered mountains, corresponding to the islands that make up Macaronesia. In other words: the Azores, Madeira, the Desertas Islands, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.
The idea that such a large continent would suddenly disappear is completely implausible. This theory is the focus of most mystical and other thoughts related to extraterrestrial life.
where is atlantis
The second hypothesis narrows down a bit and assumes that Atlantis was a myth based on some kind of civilization that fascinated the Greeks. These stories can be exaggerated to the point of fantasy.
The best-known examples, therefore, are the cultural counterparts Atlante and Tatsos , the latter located roughly in the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River. Since the capital was an island with a channel, it has been suggested that it was the archipelago the Greeks called Gadra, or Cádiz (which had a shape quite different from the present-day city).
Plato speaks of the sunken continent at the same time that Herodotus speaks of Argantonio, the mythical king of Tartessos, so perhaps this is a known story that had some repercussions. Furthermore, the end of the Tartessian culture seems to be a mystery. However, it is difficult to know whether the comparison between Tartessos and Atlantis is accurate.
ancient volcanic eruption
The third theory refers to a specific historical event that has been the subject of legend for generations. The Minoan civilization was the main rival of mainland Greece. Its fame spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and its ships waged wars in several countries. It had a rich culture and was long an important economic center, and its population enjoyed the high standard of living of the time.
For some historians, one of the reasons for the decline of the Minoan civilization was a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini (formerly known as Thera) around 1500 BC. This natural catastrophe is directly connected to the search for the location and origin of Atlantis.
The current shape of the Greek paradise island is a testament to a natural disaster that occurred thousands of years ago. The eruption was one of the most powerful ever recorded in Europe. In distant places like Egypt, thick smoke obscured the sun for days. Even in China, its aftermath can still be seen in the skies. Thus, the catastrophe and the disappearance of the Minoan civilization would correspond to Plato's mythology.
Is Atlantis real?
The scientific community has almost unanimously rejected the existence of Atlantis. Certain facts or cases of inspiration in historical civilizations are different. While this may be true, how do you prove that Plato was talking about Santorini or Andalusia?
It seems that Atlantis will remain a mystery for a long time. However, the hypothesis of its existence should not be completely dismissed. Until the 19th century, Troy was as legendary to us as Atlantis was until it was discovered.
The debate about the existence of this rich civilization is far from over. Plato described her and for centuries historians believed that he was writing fables. Many philosophers, including Aristotle, also believed that Atlantis was fictional. However, other philosophers, historians, and geographers take this story for granted.
It wasn't until 1882 that US Congressman Ignatius Donnelly published a book called "Atlantis: The Antediluvian World," in which he claimed the city was indeed a real place and that its existence and location had been relatively undisturbed. This work would fit within the context of myths about past civilizations and their relationship to ancient history, as in the case of...
Years later, even the Nazis believed in the stories of the imaginary lost city of Atlantis, where people of "purest blood" supposedly lived and which was said to have sunk after being struck by a divine lightning bolt. In the Nazi imagination, the surviving Aryans moved to safer places. The Himalayan region was considered one of those safe havens, especially Tibet, which is known as the "roof of the world."
Scholars and historians generally consider Atlantis to be one of Pluto's allegories. Their argument is supported by the fact that he often used fiction. Through the story of Atlantis, these scholars believe he was warning the Greeks about political ambition and the dangers of elevating the nobility for personal gain.
As you can see, science today does not allow for the existence of legends such as Atlantis, but there will always be people who believe that it exists. I hope that with this information you can learn more about where Atlantis is, its origin and characteristics.
