# Was Atlantis once a continent, or just an “unusual” once-upon-a-time…Myth? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899 "2015-01-15T15:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/101 "2015-01-16T16:17:13Z")
> [@Watchtower](#): > > Would you treat a myth seriously? But is this just a myth, any myth? That was one of the points on the OP. It’s the majority of the posters that have made a joke of it, not me. Read carefully and the truth will set me free. > > E lucevono le stelle! I treat myth ‘seriously’ as literature or understanding as I do any writing - that doesn’t mean I treat it ‘seriously’ as fact. You are, in fact, the one making a joke out of it with your ‘game’ and that you clearly don’t want to actually discuss it. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/102 "2015-01-16T16:18:45Z")
> [@Watchtower](#): > > A seeker after truth is someone who, trampling underfoot prejudice, tradition, venerability, universal assent, authority----in a word, everything that overawes the crowd----dares to think for himself, to ascend to the clearest general principles, to examine them, to discuss them, to admit nothing save on the testimony of his own reason and experience. However, although in apparent contradiction to the preceding, we should also take in consideration the old proverb, “don’t be a fool and learn by experience.” Take in consideration what others have handed down to us, but always, subject them to others’ scrutiny, you included. Assessing all these things, take that which you reason to be correct and stand your ground. If it is not the final goal, then march on. Imagination, although most likely to beget a wind-egg, is an assistant to reason, so use it at will, as you may find a treasure. Use your gut feelings just as a “flag,” a signal, and if turns out to be just wind, nothing will come of it, just an innocent and necessary fart; if you happen to be by yourself. > > Did Cecil awe you with his statements on Atlantis? > > Sometimes I dream! you certainly haven’t awed us with nay of your statements - you have yet to make one. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/103 "2015-01-16T16:19:10Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > My money is down on Crete or possibly another island civilization in the Med getting wiped and the mythical side growing out of it. I don’t think anyone has questioned this. Continuing to argue that Plato might have been influenced by a real city destroyed by cataclysm is arguing that water is wet. That some truly fabulous, great, advanced (maybe even super-advanced unto godlike) civilization on its own continent was wiped out thusly, or even ever existed, based on a few airy Platotudes about arrogance and hubris… let’s just say I think he’d be amused by the vast libraries of nonsense written on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Watchtower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/67e7ee/32.png) [@Watchtower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watchtower)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/104 "2015-01-16T17:12:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What “truth” are you referring to? What Quartz are you talking about? I plead the fifth, as “moderation” is a virtue. But there is only one truth, and many quartz; some polished and shining, some not and dull. The truth will reveal to you, without the need of the physical senses, which is which. For someone who is such big “fan” of science fiction, what interest have you with truth? Tell me that and then I will tell you when I will cast my vote on OP. But there are still posters out there that think that I took some kind of position when posting the thread. I DID NOT! I cast them to the lot of you, for your opinions. When the Levee breaks, come to Chicago; from Oblivion was the tale brought back. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/105 "2015-01-16T17:19:18Z")
**Watchtower** , would you kindly address my questions of post #67? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/106 "2015-01-16T17:19:26Z")
> [@Watchtower](#): > > I plead the fifth, as “moderation” is a virtue. But there is only one truth, and many quartz; some polished and shining, some not and dull. The truth will reveal to you, without the need of the physical senses, which is which. For someone who is such big “fan” of science fiction, what interest have you with truth? Tell me that and then I will tell you when I will cast my vote on OP. But there are still posters out there that think that I took some kind of position when posting the thread. I DID NOT! I cast them to the lot of you, for your opinions. > > When the Levee breaks, come to Chicago; from Oblivion was the tale brought back. **fffffffffppppppp** Wow, man. I hear you. ---
**Author:** ![Watchtower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/67e7ee/32.png) [@Watchtower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watchtower)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/107 "2015-01-16T18:00:38Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I don’t think anyone has questioned this. Continuing to argue that Plato might have been influenced by a real city destroyed by cataclysm is arguing that water is wet. > > That some truly fabulous, great, advanced (maybe even super-advanced unto godlike) civilization on its own continent was wiped out thusly, or even ever existed, based on a few airy Platotudes about arrogance and hubris… let’s just say I think he’d be amused by the vast libraries of nonsense written on the topic. To kill two birds with one stone, as the saying goes. To kopek: We have to stick to the “facts” of the “myth.” Otherwise, we, like others, will be wondering all over the globe trying to posit a location to find our apparent “duck.” Besides, a cataclysm of that size within the Med would have caused a tsunami of such proportion that not only the whole of Egypt would have been totally underwater, let alone the Nile’s delta, but the Med would no longer be a sort of harbor anymore, just a way to unite the Indian Ocean with the Atlantic, “sans” the Suez canal. Then where would the old and wise priest’s ancestors be, to pass down the tale? To Czarcasm; The priests would be underwater, same as you, and we would be, not in Bermuda, but somewhere in the Great Ocean, in a spot believed to once, having been Egypt and searching for the proof of the pyramids, to say “Eureka!,” the sunken land of Egypt has been found! And then somebody, reflecting, would say, wait a minute, was not Sicily also underwater, too? Then how can we know about and use Eureka? ---
**Author:** ![Watchtower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/67e7ee/32.png) [@Watchtower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watchtower)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/108 "2015-01-16T18:21:13Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > **fffffffffppppppp** Wow, man. I hear you. I got one for your other ear, just in case you did not understand me. Justice is deemed a virtue, as it controls extremes, and things not allowed in any extreme, too. And this is moderation, in my opinion. The warning is what I’m getting at; we have to heed to that. And I did consider that in replying now, as also then. I don’t get your _fffffffffppppppp_, if you don’t get this or the other, which is the same. Moderation, in one or more sense, right? Am I going over your head, since this may be incomprehensible, if you don’t get the picture, without the picture? Think of “Pagliacci.” what “air” does it have? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/109 "2015-01-16T18:34:52Z")
> [@Watchtower](#): > > To Czarcasm; The priests would be underwater, same as you, and we would be, not in Bermuda, but somewhere in the Great Ocean, in a spot believed to once, having been Egypt and searching for the proof of the pyramids, to say “Eureka!,” the sunken land of Egypt has been found! And then somebody, reflecting, would say, wait a minute, was not Sicily also underwater, too? Then how can we know about and use Eureka? I have no idea why you addressed this claptrap to me-it doesn’t directly(or even indirectly) address anything I’ve said in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/110 "2015-01-16T18:40:31Z")
> [@Watchtower](#): > > I got one for your other ear, just in case you did not understand me. Justice is deemed a virtue, as it controls extremes, and things not allowed in any extreme, too. And this is moderation, in my opinion. The warning is what I’m getting at; we have to heed to that. And I did consider that in replying now, as also then. > > I don’t get your _fffffffffppppppp_, if you don’t get this or the other, which is the same. Moderation, in one or more sense, right? Am I going over your head, since this **may** be incomprehensible, if you don’t get the picture, without the picture? > > Think of “Pagliacci.” what “air” does it have? (Bolding mine) _May_ be incomprehensible? ---
**Author:** ![Watchtower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/67e7ee/32.png) [@Watchtower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watchtower)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/111 "2015-01-16T18:50:20Z")
> [@andros](#): > > I’m very interested in reading what these people have to say. Please share. > Several reasonable explanations have been provided in this thread so far. I’m sorry you do not find them compelling. May I ask why that is? You are a persistent rascal; we have hope, yet. Which “reasonable explanations” are you referring to? Cite them for me, please. Then you can ask your question again. Melancholy man: Moody Blues! ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/112 "2015-01-16T18:53:59Z")
CalMeacham: > [@](#): > > I have yet to see or read a really good Atlantis story. Have you ever read DC Comics’s “The Atlantis Chronicles”? While it’s obviously set in the DC Universe (it makes passing reference to Arion, and the final chapter is about the birth of Aquaman, and there are many points that tie in to the established modern-day Atlantis of the DCU), it stands up well as an engaging set of stories without needing to care about that millieu. (Sadly, it does not seem to have ever gotten collected as a trade paperback edition.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/113 "2015-01-16T19:00:27Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > CalMeacham: > > Have you ever read DC Comics’s “The Atlantis Chronicles”? While it’s obviously set in the DC Universe (it makes passing reference to Arion, and the final chapter is about the birth of Aquaman, and there are many points that tie in to the established modern-day Atlantis of the DCU), it stands up well as an engaging set of stories without needing to care about that millieu. > > (Sadly, it does not seem to have ever gotten collected as a trade paperback edition.) I remember those stories. Rather entertaining, but I’m afraid DC has recreated their universe once or twice since then, making the possibility of there ever being a collection put out even slimmer. ---
**Author:** ![Watchtower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/67e7ee/32.png) [@Watchtower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watchtower)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899/114 "2015-01-16T19:03:18Z")
In the meantime here’s a rundown of the leading theories about Atlantis’s location: Plato made the whole thing up, the weasel. Plato of course is the guy who related the Atlantis legend circa 348 BC in two of his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias. The entire account covers maybe 20 pages of printed text. A character in the dialogues says the legend had been told 200 years previously to the Athenian statesman Solon by an Egyptian sage. How many of you agree with the above? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-atlantis-once-a-continent-or-just-an-unusual-once-upon-a-time-myth/709899.md?page=5)