Somewhere where myth and history meet, we find the land of legends. For some peoples, these sites are true ancient stories. For others, they are just a legend. Perhaps the most cautiously metaphorical stories from which some useful lessons can be drawn for their contemporaries. Legendary geographic locations are a constant in popular mythology, but perhaps those references to continents stand out more because they must have been so 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 is atlantis.
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 had great economic, social and military power and dominated Western Europe and North Africa before the city of Athens managed to stop it.
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 are true to history (an island beyond the Pillars of Hercules), our eyes are fixed on the Atlantic Ocean. The first theory places Atlantis there, with its highest mountains discovered, and corresponding to the islands that make up the so-called Macaronesia. In other words: Azores, Madeira, Desertas Islands, 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, thus, they are the Atlantean and Tatsos cultural counterparts, the latter located more or less in the last part of the course of the Guadalquivir. 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 was quite different in shape from the present city).
Plato speaks of the sunken continent at the same time that Herodotus speaks of Argantonius, the mythical king of Tartessos, so perhaps this is a well-known story that has had some repercussions. Furthermore, the end of the Tartis culture seems to be a mystery. Nevertheless, it is difficult to know if the comparison between Tartessos and Atlantis is true.
ancient volcanic eruption
The third theory concerns a specific historical event that has been the stuff of legend for generations. The Minoan civilization was the main rival of mainland Greece. His fame spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and his ships fought wars in various countries. It has a rich culture and has long been 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.
The current shape of the Greek island paradise 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 places as far away as Egypt, thick smoke obscured the sun for days. Even in China, its aftermath can be seen in the skies. A) Yes, the catastrophe and the disappearance of the Minoan culture would correspond to the mythology of Plato.
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 ruled out. Until the XNUMXth century, Troy was as legendary to us as Atlantis 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 the city was actually a real place and that the existence and location of the site has been relatively quiet. He even claimed that all known ancient civilizations arose from the Neolithic high culture of this place.
Years later, even the Nazis believed the stories of the imagined lost city of Atlantis, where people of "the purest blood" apparently lived and were said to have sunk after being struck by divine lightning. In the Nazi imagination, the surviving Aryans moved to safer places. The Himalayan region is considered one such safe haven, especially Tibet, as it is known as the "roof of the world."
On the whole, scholars and historians consider Atlantis to be one of Pluto's allegories. His argument is supported by the fact that he used to use fiction. Through the story of Atlantis, these scholars believe that he was warning the Greeks about political ambition and the dangers of raising 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.