The Legend Of Atlantis
Posted by Swarupa in India, Mexico, My World
Atlantic Ocean, Atlantis, Caribbean Sea, Crete, discovering mexico, Mount Orizaba, Olmec, Plato, South India, South-East Asia, Veracruz, Yucatan
The perception of a simple linear development of society from the Stone Age to the present is no longer tenable. Cyclic processes are identifiable in the history of every culture: there is a process of rise and fall, flowering and decay, renewal and regeneration. Highly advanced human races existed here on earth prior to the majority of them being wiped out due to a cosmic cataclysm. After earth settled down, a group of men known as "Gods of Wisdom" scattered themselves around the world in an attempt to regroup and rebuild.
According to theosophic tradition, numerous rich and advanced cultures flourished around the globe over millions of years. But these civilizations degenerated and collapsed gradually, resulting in migrations of the surviving inhabitants.
Of all the frequently told myths and legends on earth, the story of ancient Atlantis has never ceased to be popular. Atlantis is a legendary continent or island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that submerged over 12,000 years ago. It was first mentioned in Greek philosopher Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias written in 360 BC. According to Plato, Atlantis was an earthly paradise with mighty mountains, fertile plains, rivers, marshes, lakes, a thriving population and many species of animals, including elephants. The "Atlanteans" constructed temples, palaces, harbours, and docks and at the height of their civilization they were giants both in body and in intellect, which was greater than that of modern-day scientists. Unfortunately for their own future, they turned their knowledge to negative and material uses. Many modern practices such as human vivisection, the transplanting of animal glands to human bodies, the craze for personal wealth and power, etc. existed there. In direct defiance of nature, the Atlanteans used their knowledge for warfare. When the cyclic hour for the climax of the geologic changes in the earth's surface finally arrived, the catastrophe occurred during which the greater part of Atlantis and its population, largely of sorcerers, perished beneath the sea. But "the wise and holy" among the Atlanteans had left Atlantis before this, migrating to the high tablelands of Asia. Other island-continents sank later. This is evidenced by the great deluge stories around the world in all cultures.
Although, a large percentage believes, as did Plato, that it is a sunken island under the Atlantic Ocean, there are others who believe it is located near the Greek islands of Crete or Thera (Santorini), the Azores, Madeira or the Canary Islands. The Caribbean has also been suggested. Speculation continues as to where it was located.
There have been many stories on the various Atlantises on Earth which are now deep below the oceans. One of them is believed to have sunk in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Southern Veracruz and Yucatan in Mexico. In the 1970s, a Mexican engineer, Eduardo Robles y Gutiérrez wrote a book, La Atlántida Está en México (Atlantis is in Mexico) on his discovery of the foundations of an ancient "Atlantis" about 30 miles inland from the coast of southern Veracruz, in what is now the jungle-covered region of San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán. Through research, he learned that magnificent abandoned buildings of fine stone blocks, all containing precious stones and idols, had once rested on the foundations of San Lorenzo. After the Spanish conquest, these treasures were removed and taken to Spain. An ancient spiral-shaped harbour with high banks or dikes lining the channels had once existed near San Lorenzo, exactly as described by Plato. The archaeological remains in San Lorenzo supposedly belong to the Olmec civilization whose people were either survivors of the Atlantis disaster or latecomers to the area.
One story goes that in ancient India, a number of North and South Indian tribes including those of Sri Lanka were exiled to the Latin American continent. These people settled on an island off the coast of the states of Yucatan and Veracruz in Mexico. Later, some violent natural catastrophe caused the island to sink below the sea. However, a large peak, existing between the Olmec site of San Lorenzo and the place where the island sank, was too high to sink below the water. That mountain peak was Mount Orizaba, which today is the third largest peak in North America. The Olmecs called it Citlateptl (Mountain of the Stars).
Anthropologist George Erikson presented evidence that an Atlantis once existed in the Yucatan and in the submerged lands off the Yucatan, Bahamas and Cuban coasts some 11,500 years ago. Geologists have long suspected that a fearsome tsunami or super-hurricane once flattened Yucatan. So, it is possible that a meteorite falling on the said island destroyed it, simultaneously sending a super-destructive tsunami across the Yucatan Peninsula.
The ancient literature of the Tamil people of South India speaks of lands which existed beyond ten thousand years BC.
We owe much of our modern civilization today to the rediscoveries of the inventions and skills that were common to the Atlantean civilizations which are now buried beneath the vast oceans.
I hope you enjoyed reading my work as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you're interested in knowing all about Mexico, do check my three e-books Discovering Mexico, Mexico: The Country, Its History & The Maya World and A Guide To Mexican Cuisine which are available for sale on this blog.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you again 🙂
4 thoughts on "The Legend Of Atlantis"
Call of the Siren said:
There are so many books available about Atlantis — in fiction and nonfiction. I'm really interested in learning more about the theories and myths, and your blog post increased my appetite to find a book about it. Thank you! Are there any titles that you'd recommend?
Hi 🙂 thanks so much for visiting my blog and for your comment. I'm happy to know that my post made you curious to know more about Atlantis. You'll find books on Atlantis at these links: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5067.Best_Books_on_Atlantis
http://www.amazon.com/Best-books-on-Atlantis/lm/3C48L05Q2Y3IU
http://classiclit.about.com/od/atlantismythology/tp/aatp_atlantis.htm
I hope these might help you..Best 🙂
David Stewart said:
The view of cyclical history is interesting. It makes you wonder when the next great downfall of civilization will be.
Thanks David 🙂 Well there won't be one at least in the next fifty years…till then life goes on. Cheers 🙂
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