The Legend of Atlantis and the Great Flood
The legend of Atlantis is one of the most enduring mysteries in human history. Originating from the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, Atlantis is described in his dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias” as a powerful and advanced civilization that existed around 9,000 years before his time.
According to Plato, Atlantis was a utopian island nation located beyond the “Pillars of Hercules” (modern-day Strait of Gibraltar), which eventually met its demise due to a catastrophic flood.
This story, while often regarded as a myth, has captured the imagination of scholars, writers, and explorers for centuries, leading to numerous theories about the possible existence and location of Atlantis.
Plato’s account of Atlantis is not just a simple story; it is imbued with philosophical and moral lessons. He uses Atlantis as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the potential downfall of civilizations that lose their moral compass.
The Atlanteans, according to Plato, became corrupt and greedy, leading to their eventual destruction by the gods as a form of divine retribution. This narrative reflects Plato’s broader philosophical concerns about the nature of society and the balance between power and morality.
Interestingly, the timeline provided by Plato, placing the destruction of Atlantis around 11,000 years ago, aligns with various other ancient flood myths found across different cultures.
For instance, the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark, the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, and the ancient Hindu texts all describe a great flood that wiped out earlier civilizations.
These similarities have led some to speculate that these stories might be based on real events, possibly linked to the end of the last Ice Age, when melting glaciers could have caused massive flooding.
The Advanced Knowledge of the Atlanteans
The Atlanteans were said to possess advanced knowledge that far surpassed that of other civilizations of their time. This knowledge was believed to be the product of thousands of years of accumulated wisdom and scientific understanding.
The Atlanteans had a deep comprehension of the natural world, the cosmos, and the human mind. They were masters of engineering, capable of constructing monumental structures and complex systems that modern scientists still struggle to understand.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Atlantean civilization was their ability to harness and manipulate energy. It is said that the Atlanteans developed technologies that allowed them to control the forces of nature, such as generating energy from the Earth’s electromagnetic fields.
This technology was not just for practical purposes but was also deeply intertwined with their spiritual beliefs. The Atlanteans saw the universe as a living entity, with all things connected through a web of energy.
Their technology was a means of aligning themselves with these natural forces, allowing them to achieve feats that seem miraculous by today’s standards.
The priests of Atlantis were particularly skilled in astronomy and astrology. They studied the stars and planets, understanding their influence on the Earth and its inhabitants. This knowledge allowed them to predict cosmic events and understand the cycles of time that governed the universe.
The Atlanteans believed that humanity was a living union between heaven and earth, influenced by celestial bodies that formed the basis for their calendar and religious rituals.
However, their advanced knowledge also revealed to them the impending doom that awaited their civilization. The priests of Atlantis discovered that the planet was nearing the end of a great cosmic cycle, which would bring about catastrophic changes.
Despite their warnings, the majority of the population ignored the priests, leading to the eventual destruction of their civilization.
Citing Plato’s “Timaeus and Critias,” we see how these ideas of an advanced civilization echo through time, suggesting that Atlantis might have been more than just a myth—it could represent the memory of a lost civilization that once existed and was wiped out by natural disasters.
The Megaliths of Baalbek and Jerusalem
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the existence of a highly advanced ancient civilization, possibly Atlantis, is the presence of megalithic structures around the world.
These structures, such as those found at Baalbek in Lebanon and the foundation stones in Jerusalem, are some of the largest and most enigmatic ever constructed.
The monoliths at Baalbek, known as the Trilithon, each weigh approximately 1,200 tons, which is far beyond the lifting capacity of even our most advanced modern cranes.
The precision with which these stones were cut, transported, and placed raises significant questions about the level of technology that was available to the builders. Modern engineers are still puzzled by how these massive stones were moved from quarries miles away and positioned with such accuracy.
The fact that these megaliths are often found in locations that were considered sacred by later civilizations, such as the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, suggests that they held great significance and were possibly remnants of a much older and advanced civilization.
The stones in Jerusalem, particularly those forming the foundation of the Temple Mount, also exhibit similar characteristics. These stones, some weighing over 800 tons, were carefully placed to form the foundation of what would become one of the most important religious sites in the world.
The scale and precision of these constructions have led some researchers to suggest that they were built using lost technologies that might have originated with the Atlanteans or a similar advanced civilization.
Referencing “Fingerprints of the Gods” by Graham Hancock, we can explore theories that propose these megalithic sites were constructed by an advanced prehistoric civilization, potentially linked to Atlantis. Hancock’s work delves into the mysteries of ancient technology and suggests that the knowledge to build such structures could have been passed down or rediscovered by later cultures, preserving a connection to the ancient world.
The Catastrophe that Changed the World
Around 10,900 BC, the world experienced dramatic climatic shifts and natural disasters that reshaped the landscape and brought an end to several early civilizations.
According to many ancient texts and myths, including those from Egypt, the Earth was struck by a series of cataclysmic events, including massive floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
This period of upheaval coincides with the timeline provided by Plato for the destruction of Atlantis and has been linked to the end of the last Ice Age, which saw the melting of glaciers and a rise in sea levels.
The survivors of these cataclysms, including the priests and leaders of Atlantis, are said to have fled to other parts of the world, bringing with them their knowledge and wisdom.
These refugees possibly settled in regions such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Americas, where they played significant roles in the development of new civilizations.
The influence of these survivors can be seen in the construction of massive stone monuments, such as the pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt, which align with the stars and reflect a deep understanding of astronomy and engineering.
Drawing on “The Flood Legends of the Ancient World,” we find that many cultures—ranging from the Mesopotamians to the Native Americans—share similar stories of a great flood that destroyed earlier civilizations. These commonalities suggest that the legend of Atlantis and its catastrophic end might be rooted in a collective memory of real, widespread destruction. The similarities between these myths point to a shared experience of natural disasters that had a profound impact on human history, possibly linked to the destruction of Atlantis or other advanced civilizations.