What Do We Know Today about the Lost City of Atlantis?

The idea of the “lost” city of Atlantis has captivated many dreamers and occultists alike. After all, this place was described as a utopian society with wisdom that could bring peace to the whole world. Because of its greatness, many magazines, books, and websites have discussed the existence of Atlantis. Many metaphysical icons, such as Edgar Cayce, have also theorized about Atlantis throughout the generations, as well. Many of these backgrounds believe that Atlantis may have utilized crystals as computers and lived a society far more advanced than we could ever imagine. However, did this place really exist? Here are some facts about the lost city of Atlantis.

The Origins of Atlantis

The origins of most legends have disappeared after generations. However, many people knew the facts about the lost city of Atlantis and when it originated. To be specific, the story about this marvelous city was introduced in Plato’s two dialogues, the Critias and the Timaeus.

In the book “Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology”, professor Ken Feder noted that Atlantis was not a perfect society. Instead, it embodies sophistication, material wealth, military power, and technological advancements. Aside from that, he stated that Atlantis would have enslaved and killed us if it existed today.

How Atlantis Became Popular

In the book entitled “Meet Me in Atlantis: Across Three Continents in Search of the Legendary Lost City,” author Mark Adams explained how the Greek legend became popular. According to him, the city’s popularity was due to Ignatius Donnelly, an amateur historian and a Congressman.

In his book entitled “The Antediluvian World,” Ignatius Donnelly stated that the great advancements in technology and civilizations are due to the lost island mentioned by Plato. However, Donnelley added some of his ideas to make the Atlantis myth more popular. To be specific, the Congressman promoted “diffusionism,” which states that the “great cultures can be traced back to a single source.”

Because of Donnelley’s ideas, Mark Adams thinks that Donnelley thinks Plato’s dialogues are accurate except for their supernatural elements. However, some people who read Donnelley’s book, like Charles Darwin, believed the idea was interesting but lacked persuasion.

After some years, other writers elaborated on the theories written by Donnelly. Plus, they added their ideas and speculations. However, none of their statements and facts about the lost city of Atlantis are verifiable.

Did Atlantis Exist?

Today, many people know Atlantis as the legendary city with an advanced civilization that sank beneath the sea. However, a lot of these people are wondering if it really existed.

Keep in mind that there are no other records of Atlantis in the world except for Plato’s stories that were written around 360 BC. As such, there are no pieces of evidence that would verify the existence of this utopian society. Some historians believe that Plato used the city to illustrate the dangers and drawbacks of aggressive imperialism. And, without solid evidence, Atlantis remains a famous ancient mystery.