Abstract This paper examines the story of Atlantis, its myths, history, legends and literature. The paper focuses heavily on Plato and his account.
From the Paper "The story of Atlantis has captivated the minds of humans for thousands of years. People from all walks of life have debated weather Atlantis really existed or weather it was just a story, nothing more. The myths and legends concerning Atlantis have come down through the centuries as one of the most enduring legends of all time. Thousands upon thousands of books have been written about weather Atlantis actually existed and there are even more secularization as to where Atlantis actually is. Some stories say that Atlantis was really the ancient land of Thera and the Minoan civilization, others insist that Atlantis was a gigantic island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that sunk 9,000 years ago, and still others even believe that Atlantis flew off from the Earth and become the moon. It is no doubt that Atlantis actually existed. Almost every civilization has a myth that tells of an ancient, corrupt civilization that was punished and was swallowed by the sea."
Abstract In this article, the writer points out that the concept of Atlantis originally came from Plato's two books, 'Timaeus' and 'Critias' written in approximately 370 B.C.. The writer explains that according to Plato, Atlantis was first founded by a mix of gods and mortals. In 'Timaeus', Plato describes Atlantis as a prosperous nation out to expand its domain. The writer concludes that Plato's 'Timaeus' and 'Critias' are the only written records that describe Atlantis in detail. The writer notes that they are written in two dialogues of conversations between Socrates, Hermocrates, Timeaus, and Critias as a result of an earlier talk by Socrates about perfect civilizations.
From the Paper "The residents lived in buildings and plantations, where separate accommodations, with baths, were provided for royalty and commoners, women, horses, and other beasts of burden."
"This sounds very feasible and could very likely be a nation state that existed at that time. It is very indicative of other cultures at that period. However, this is not the whole story. According to Plato, Atlantis was first founded by a mix of gods and mortals. Poseidon wed the mortal woman Cleito. As a god, Poseidon easily created the
centre island and brought up the two springs of water as well as every variety of food to grow from the rich soil."
Abstract This paper examines the archaeological search for the historical Atlantis, the theories that have been suggested over the years and the techniques which have been used to investigate them. It looks at how the myth has been captured by many authors over the years such as Ignatius Donnelly. It also considers whether K.T. Frost's hypothesis attempting to prove that the lost city of Atlantis was in fact in the Aegean is the solution to the problem of its location.
From the Paper "However, if we are equating the destruction of Minoan Crete to that of Atlantis, we run into problems. The most obvious of these is that Atlantis was supposed to have sunk under the sea after experiencing "earthquakes and floods of extraordinary violence" . While Crete probably did experience earthquakes as a result of Santorini, it is quite plainly still there, not sunk under the waves at all. Supporters of the Crete/Thera theory have two arguments to this. The first is that the eruption of Santorini could have caused a tsunami that would have hit Crete. This would certainly be a watery end for the Minoans, but even stretching the imagination one cannot say that it 'sank' the island."
Abstract This paper explores evidence suggesting that the island of Atlantis, long thought to be a fictional island paradise, may actually have existed at one time. The paper discusses the discoveries of famous explorers of the past and more recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt that all support the idea that the island of Atlantis did indeed once exist.
From the Paper "Deep in thought, the man leans back in the klismo, shifting his weight and rubbing the small of his back. Although cushioned with fleece and animal skins, the heavy wooden chair is still hard on old bones. At a slight movement to his right, sensed more than seen, he reaches out his hand to steady the tall, thin vase his motions have disturbed. He absently pushes the fragile blue pottery closer to the window and away from the small table and chair. Shafts of late afternoon sunshine stream through the open window, bathing the piece in gold. On any other day, the man might pause to ponder and appreciate the exquisite beauty of this mixture of nature and man's handiwork. This day, however, the moment passes unnoticed. This day the man's thoughts are still at the noisy afternoon agora. The need for basic necessities had drawn him to the market, but it was the conversation which had kept him on the square most of the day. Through the years he had witnessed much strife and conflict as his city and his country fell into disorder and decay. But never had he seen such a cloak of dark despair as the one presently falling over his beloved Athens."
Abstract This paper will seek to understand the utopian society of the "New Atlantis" by Francis Bacon. By understanding the complex notions of government in Bensalem, w can learn how Bacon presents a society that can be criticized for its lack of moral integrity.
Abstract This paper discusses various theories based on literature, science, archaeology, oceanography, and religion to provide an interdisciplinary look at the legend of Atlantis. Using the ideas of Brazilian scientist, Arysio Nunes dos Santos, R. Cedric Leonard, and several other thinkers, a hypothesis is formed about the vestiges of this ancient society.
From the Paper "The Mediterranean Sea has been also looked at as a possibility, and on the surface, it might seem quite believable that an advanced civilization did exist in that area. Plato believed that the island of Atlantis flourished approximately 9,000 years before his time. However, it is believed that the philosopher might have miscalculated, for about 900 years before Plato's time, there was a civilized people known as the Minoans, who inhabited what is now the Island of Crete. They were a very advanced nation with many parallels to Atlantis, including their peacefulness, their love of bullfighting (common in Spain, another Mediterranean country), their advanced irrigation system, and equal rights for women."
Abstract This paper focuses on the opening pages of "The New Atlantis", explaining that it is an account of a long voyage across the Pacific as well as a brief introduction to two different peoples - the sailors on the one hand and the Bensalemites on the other. Additionally, the paper is a textual analysis of the work that examines the devices employed to generate doubt and uncertainty, and therefore, suspense.
From the Paper "The beginning of the New Atlantis is, on the first place, an account of a long voyage across the Pacific, undertaken by a crew of 51 sailors. At the same time, it serves as a brief introduction to two different peoples - the sailors on the one hand and the Bensalemites on the other. The passage also presents the narrator's first impressions of the newly discovered island of Bensalem. In addition, the opening passage of the New Atlantis is more than a simple description of an adventure which begins at sea and is triggered by a tempest. The phrase "We sailed from Peru" not only establishes the nature of the story one is about to read but also plunges the reader into a hasty and unexpected departure. "We" are caught unprepared for an adventure that tosses both reader and characters into a peculiar setting, where complete loss of orientation, purpose and identity melt together to form the basis of a questioning about the real purpose of the text."
This paper discusses various theories surrounding the myth of Atlantis written by the Greek scholar Plato in 400 B.C., even today captivating the minds of archaeologists and philosophers.
Abstract This paper explains that the most "extreme" theories say that either Atlantis was no more than a figment of Plato's vast imagination or that the "lost city" was real in every respect. The author points out that the lost city has been rumored to have existed in the Caribbean Sea, in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Aegean Sea and even in the Arctic Ocean. The paper supports another theory, which seems more than likely, states that Plato's epic story was little more than an exaggeration of an historic event: the sinking of Thera, a small island in the Aegean Sea, after a series of massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
From the Paper "Thera is again likened to Atlantis through its technological level, which was supposedly much more advanced than other civilizations of the era. According to Plato's Critias (which was actually named after his grandfather), Atlantis was "set apart from other [civilizations] with their countless new contrivances and concepts." This technological power made Atlantis a ruling class, and closely resembles the Minoan culture. The Minoans were a supposedly advanced people who were some of the first to make many uses of the wheel and keystone concepts."
Abstract This paper examines Francis Bacon's classic novel "New Atlantis, which is somewhat based on Plato's "Republic" and the accompanying dialogues "Timeous" and "Critious". The paper relates that Both Bacon and Plato are seeking the perfect city. The paper also relates that the concluding speech of this novel, which is delivered by a scholar of the city Bensalem, the Father of Salomon's House, seems to be an abrupt ending to the story. However, it is the perfect conclusion because, unlike Plato's perfect city, Bacon describes Bensalem as not being a city of enlightened and virtuous people, but rather one of robots who hold their scientist higher than their God.
From the Paper "This statement made by the Father of Salomon's House shows the scientific part of the house. This goal, which is described by the scholar, seems to be bent on the improvement and the extending of the human knowledge. However, this statement that is made by the Father of Salomon's House seems a bit hypocritical. As the scholar says, their end is "knowledge of causes, and secret motions of things." Knowing causes and motion in the scientific and philosophical world would resort back to the most fundamental cause and the first motion."
From the Paper The story of Atlantis has been examined from a variety of perspectives, with some viewing the story as myth and some as history waiting to be proven true. For those who are going to try to prove the truth of Atlantis, though, the evidence they offer must be of a compelling nature to overcome skepticism and to demonstrate that what appears to be only an ancient morality tale has a basis in reality. Many of those who believe most strongly in the story of Atlantis as fact, however, do so as a matter of faith rather than because of any stringent historical or scientific analysis. They also may begin their investigation not by asking whether the story is true or not but by assuming that it is true and then shaping the evidence to fit this preconception. One instance of this sort of presumptive analysis ... "
Abstract "The City in the Sea", written by Edgar Allan Poe, tells the tale of the legendary Fall of Atlantis. The poem, divided into four stanzas comprising an introduction, two bodies and a conclusion is a wonderful representation of many poetic elements. This paper examines how, in the poem, Poe uses several of these elements of poetry to strengthen the integrity of his work and convey the story and tone of the poem. The paper also points out that through his use of key poetic elements, particularly through the use of repetition, allusions, figurative language, alliteration and assonance, Poe manages to create a wonderful poem which recreates the ancient legend of Atlantis in vivid and formal detail, a strong poem of extreme clarity and integrity.
From the Paper "Edgar Allan Poe particularly utilizes the repetition of key words and phrases to achieve great clarity in "The City in the Sea". Through the use of repetition, Poe highlights the importance of the phrases which become central to the poem. "Lo!" (line 1) appears not only as the very first word of the poem, but also at the beginning of the last stanza. By repeating the word "Lo", Poe introduces not only the suddenness of the first portion of the poem, but also introduces the conclusion. The two stanzas are, in fact, tied together by the common word, and thus readers are encouraged to use their imaginations by comparing and contrasting the sad reverence of the introduction with the fiery inferno which becomes the end of the city. Such an encouragement ties the poem in its entirety into the reader's mind and allows easier, clearer recollections of the events depicted in the poem."
From the Paper "The story of Atlantis is one that has fascinated man kind for thousands of years, leaving many speculations as to if it really existed and what it was like. It is a remarkable tale of discovery, technology, power, and destruction that the world has forgotten and now struggles to remember. Though many people turn there heads in opposition at the mere suggestion of such a place, there is actually an immense amount of factual evidence that supports the existence of a great lost continent. Such evidence is present in ancient stories, underwater ruins, and maps that have only recently been discovered. There is also compelling evidence that an advanced race was connected to the constructions the Sphinx and the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Atlantis has become a legacy that will not die until the mystery is finally solved, and when this happens man kind will begin to respect the great continent that was swallowed by the sea."
Tags: cayce, continent, edgar, legendary, lost, plato, story
Abstract In his book ,"The Lost Continent: The Story of Atlantis," C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne presents a fantastic world where mammoths and dinosaurs roam free alongside ancient Atlantians, whose empire stretches from Egypt's Nile Valley to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This paper discusses the story and summarizes the plot.
From the Paper "Nais secretly gives Deucelion shelter among the rebels. Shortly after he awakes, Zaemon comes to speak to the rebels. They tell him that they no longer wish to be ruled by priests or tyrants, that they are their own rulers. However, Zaemon tells them that the gods have punished them for this sort of hubris. According to him, it is because the people of Atlantis no longer venerated the gods that Phorenice rose to power and now tormented them. Soon, the crowd realizes that Deucelion is a stranger among them and take him for a spy."
Abstract This paper attempts to prove that indeed there was (or is) an eighth continent and discusses how expeditions and new underwater search equipment should be utilized to prove that the theories are accurate.
From the Paper "Of course, Berlitz and Hapgood are not the only ones who believe there actually is an Atlantis, this eighth continent somehow lost under the seas. While Hapgood claims that the maps clearly indicate the southern Atlantic as the location, other theories abound. For example, on the internet, one can find a theory from a Russian, Viatchislav Koudriavtsev, who claims that there is an Atlantis, but that it is not located where most people think it is, but that is actual location is on what is now known as the Celtic shelf, north of the British Isles. There is also an Atlantis web site which claims that Atlantis was lost during the flood, exactly 11,600 years ago. This web site claims that Atlantis is really under the South China sea."
Abstract The paper discusses the strange disappearance of a group of United States naval airplanes just after World War Two in the vast expanse of ocean that is bounded by the Bahamas and the Straits of Florida, the Azores and the numerous islands of the Caribbean. The paper goes on to show how the popular version of events is at odds with official investigations into this occurrence; popular theories dismiss scientific explanations such as mechanical compass failures, fuel leaks, and human inexperience and instead look to extraterrestrials, and especially to the denizens of the lost ancient civilization of Atlantis. The paper concludes that there is little hard evidence to support the existence of any unusual phenomena in the area at all, let alone to attribute those phenomena to explanations that themselves depend on speculations.
From the Paper "One of the enduring mysteries of our times, the Bermuda Triangle has captured imaginations for nearly sixty years. Though vague stories of the phenomena associated with the area date back centuries, the region first attracted widespread attention with an article in 1950 concerning the disappearance of a group of United States naval airplanes just after World War Two. The account would be similar to the many that would follow: planes or ships mysteriously disappear in the vast roughly triangular expanse of ocean that is bounded by the Bahamas and the Straits of Florida, the Azores, and the numerous islands of the Caribbean. As with the five naval airplanes of Flight 19 that disappeared in 1945, the objects simply vanish with little or no warning, no remains ever being found, nor any clue as to why the craft should leave behind no trace of their existence."
