Myth

Myths
The legend of Atlantis
Introduction：Victoria
The legend of Atlantis tells of a highly advanced and
powerful civilization that existed thousands of years before
recorded history. Atlantis was known for its incredible
wealth, advanced technology, and strong military, which
allowed it to dominate much of the known world.
However, the Atlanteans grew corrupt and overly
ambitious, leading to their downfall. As a result of their
moral decay, the gods punished Atlantis by submerging it
into the ocean, where it was lost forever. Although Plato’s
account is often interpreted as allegory or philosophical
commentary on human nature and ideal societies, the
mystery of whether Atlantis ever existed as a real place has
intrigued scholars, explorers, and storytellers for centuries.
Origin：Susan
The origin of the legend of Atlantis comes from the works
of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, specifically in his
dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written around 360 BCE.
Atlantis was a powerful and advanced civilization located
beyond the "Pillars of Heracles," which many scholars
believe to be the Strait of Gibraltar, at the entrance to the
Mediterranean Sea.
However, in Critias, Plato explains that the Atlanteans
became greedy and morally corrupt, waging wars of
1
conquest. In response, the gods punished them by
sending a series of earthquakes and floods that caused
Atlantis to sink into the ocean "in a single day and night
of misfortune."
Location: Yami
Plato described Atlantis as a vast island or continent
situated in the Atlantic Ocean, just beyond the known
world of his time. Over the centuries, however, many
theories have emerged, proposing various possible
locations for Atlantis. Some of the most prominent include:
• The Mediterranean (Santorini or Crete): One of the most
widely accepted theories suggests that Atlantis was
actually the Minoan civilization, centered on the island
of Crete and its surrounding territories, including
Santorini (ancient Thera).
• The Atlantic Ocean: Some researchers believe that
Plato's description of Atlantis being beyond the Pillars of
Hercules points to the possibility of a lost landmass in
the Atlantic Ocean.
• Antarctica: A more fringe theory posits that Atlantis was
located in Antarctica, which may have been farther north
in prehistoric times before shifting due to plate tectonics.
People’s of where believe in this myth:
The myth of Atlantis has fascinated people worldwide.

Here are some key groups and regions where the belief in
or fascination with Atlantis has been prominent:
2
1. Ancient Greeks
• Plato's followers and later Greek philosophers
Ancient Greek culture often intertwined mythology
and history, so the tale of Atlantis became part of
their broader mythological tradition. Many ancient
Greek scholars and philosophers, such as Aristotle,
did not take the story literally, and there is no
evidence that Atlantis was part of Greek mythology
prior to Plato.While Atlantis did not become a
central myth in ancient Greek culture, Plato’s
account did inspire later writers and thinkers,
particularly in the Roman and medieval periods.
2. Europeans during the Renaissance

• As Europe entered the Age of Exploration, the
legend of Atlantis took on new significance.
Renaissance explorers, spurred by the discovery of
the Americas, wondered whether Atlantis could
have been a real place located in some uncharted
part of the world. Many Renaissance thinkers
believed Atlantis could have been a historical
civilization, perhaps linked to distant lands that had
not yet been discovered, like the Americas.
3. Modern Europe and America

• In the 19th and early 20th centuries, interest in
Atlantis surged again, especially with the
publication of Ignatius Donnelly’s book,
3
"Atlantis: The Antediluvian World"
(1882).During the 19th century, as archaeology and
geology began to develop as scientific disciplines,
many explorers and scholars attempted to find
evidence for Atlantis as a real, historical location.
At the same time, pseudoscientific theories about
lost civilizations and the origins of humanity
flourished. In the 20th century, the search for
Atlantis took on new dimensions, blending science,
archaeology, and pop culture. Some sought to
locate Atlantis based on new discoveries and
technological advances, while others continued to
explore its potential as a metaphor or symbol of
human ambition and failure.
Conclusion
The myth of Atlantis, originating from Plato's works, has

captivated cultures around the world, particularly in
Greece, Europe, and the Americas. While it is largely
viewed as a fictional allegory of moral decline and
catastrophe, it continues to inspire speculation about lost
civilizations and ancient mysteries.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the story of Atlantis
continues to captivate the human imagination, serving as
both a cautionary tale and a symbol of humanity’s eternal
search for lost knowledge, unexplored worlds, and
forgotten pasts.

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Myths

The legend of Atlantis

People’s of where believe in this myth:

The myth of Atlantis has fascinated people worldwide.

2. Europeans during the Renaissance

3. Modern Europe and America

The myth of Atlantis, originating from Plato's works, has

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