Old Sea Legends For Crew: Atlantis

Old Sea Legends For Crew is our monthly blog that takes you through the lore and tales of the sea. This month, we learn about the long lost city of Atlantis!

Where Does The Story Of Atlantis Originate From?

Although we are mostly aware of the lost city, a fabled place waiting for re-discovery underneath the waves, have you realised where the story comes from?

The legend began with the philosopher Plato as he wrote about it in his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias. And you might be surprised to find that this is the only written record that mentions the city.

These dialogues, crafted for the festival of Panathenaea in honor of Athena, describe a meeting where Socrates asked Timaeus of Locri, Hermocrates of Syracuse, and Critias of Athens to recount tales of ancient Athens’ interactions with other states. Critias narrated a story passed down from his grandfather, who heard it from the Athenian poet Solon. Solon had learned from Egyptian priests about Atlantis, an advanced civilisation in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Atlantis tale, part of a Socratic dialogue – rather than a historical account – follows the myth of Phaethon and is told to illustrate a utopia’s downfall. According to Critias, Atlantis was a powerful empire that ruled several islands and parts of Africa and Europe. It featured concentric rings of water and land, rich soil, advanced engineering, and grand architecture, including an elaborate irrigation system. Atlantis had a structured government, military, and religious rituals similar to Athens.

However, in its hubris, Atlantis waged an unprovoked war against Asia and Europe. Athens, leading the Greeks, stood alone against the mighty Atlantis and triumphed, preserving freedom and defeating the invaders. Following the battle, catastrophic earthquakes and floods sent by the gods caused Atlantis to sink into the sea, and the warriors were swallowed by the earth.

But Was Atlantis Real?

Unlikely.

Plato’s story was likely told to depict a small but honourable city triumphing over a powerful aggressor. The tale explored a cultural war between opposing forces. Wealth and modesty, maritime and agrarian society, engineering science and spiritual force. A parable for the dangers of avarice and hubris.

While Atlantis is probably just a legend, medieval European writers were influenced by Arab geographers. They believed it to be true and sought to identify its location. During the Renaissance, some attempted to link Atlantis with America, Scandinavia, and the Canary Islands.

Having said that, if there is a ring of truth to Plato’s tale, inspiration might be found from ancient Egyptian records of a massive volcanic eruption on the island of Thera around 1500 BCE. This catastrophic event, marked by earthquakes and tsunamis, devastated Crete’s civilisation and could have inspired the Atlantis legend.

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