Do you believe Plato when he says that Atlantis existed and was later destroyed? ?

Question

Do you believe Plato when he says that Atlantis existed and was later destroyed? ?

Answer 1

Like so many ancient writings, I believe Plato was simply relating an earlier story that was commonly known and believed in that area at that time. As technology advances and we are able to dig deeper into the past, we find that many stories do in fact have historical basis. My feeling about Atlantis run along those lines. Our main problem seems to be trying to pinpoint the location(s) mentioned by Plato.

Answer 2

Yes. But, maybe not how we think. It may be a reference to a culture we're already aware of.  

Answer 3

I'd love to believe it.

Answer 4

Aristotle says Plato invented Atlantis to teach a lesson to Athens in his time. Aristotle was Plato's protege, so he knew more about this matter than anyone else ever did. Some think Plato might've gotten the idea from the volcanic destruction of Thera, now Santorini, that caused a tsunami that also destroyed the Minoan civilization on Crete. Plato says Egyptian priests told Solon the story of Atlantis, but there's no mention of anything like this in Egyptian literature. Plato used Socrates in his "Dialogs" and probably invented episodes that never happened and put his own words into Socrates' mouth. He used Solon the same way. Geologists say Atlantis couldn't exist where Plato said it was, i.e beyond the Pillars of Heracles or Gibraltar. There's no evidence that Atlantis was real, and much evidence it was fantasy. some people want to believe nonsense, so people who say atlantis didn't exist will get some thumbs down from ignorant people. One of my contacts said she had many e-mails from a man who believes atlantis was real and in the Carribbean. I hope he doesn't find me.

Answer 5

I believe he was talking about the Minoan civilization and errors or misunderstandings in translation changed some of the details. The Minoans had some pretty advanced technology, for the time, and some of their building techniques were not duplicated until the modern era. They didn't have ray guns or aircraft or any of that rubbish, but having flushing toilets and being able to build mammoth buildings out of stones weighing many tons around 1000 b.c. was pretty high tech for the era. A big tsunami messed their civilization up beyond repair. If they hadn't been messed up like that, we would be studying their culture instead of the Greeks as 'Classical' civilization. The temples on the island of Malta are some examples of their amazing capabilities.