Atlantis: The Evidence [ Thera, Crete, the usual modern myths ]

Watchumentary ^ | January 1st, 2011 | BBC, Timewatch, Natalie Maynes, Bettany Hughes

[SunkenCiv]

In this Timewatch special, historian Bettany Hughes unravels one of the most intriguing mysteries of all time.

She presents a series of geological, archaeological and historical clues to show that the legend of Atlantis was inspired by a real historical event -- the greatest natural disaster of the ancient world.

She is tracing the origins of the Atlantis myth and presenting evidence that the Thera eruption inspired Plato's account of the mystical land.

2,400 years ago Greek philosopher Plato wrote of an ancient island civilization of unparalleled wealth and splendor, which was struck by earthquakes and floods and was swallowed up by the sea in one grievous day and night.

"But afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. For which reason the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island." (Plato, as translated by Benjamin Jowett).

[SunkenCiv]

I also enjoyed Tolkien.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Beowulf9.

[stpio]

“I also enjoyed Tolkien.”

~ ~ ~

My favorite Tolkien quote. The Holy Eucharist is true. Remember for the time ahead.

The inspiration for the great fantasy novels of J.R.R. Tolkien cannot be separated from his profoundly Catholic approach to life:

“The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work,” he wrote, “unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like “religion”, to cults or practices, in the Imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism” (Letter 142).

In fact, two of the great loves in the hidden world of Tolkien’s imagination were the Eucharist and Our Lady, - upon which all my own small perception of beauty both in

majesty and simplicity is founded”. By way of encouraging his son, he once wrote:

“Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament ... There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth ... which every man’s heart desires” (p. 53).

[SunkenCiv]

[stpio]

Thanks SunkenCiv~!

I’ve never seen this pic, ah, the rosaries. I’ve only read
a little about Tolkien’s life, his life was not easy.

[SunkenCiv]

There was Motsognir the mightiest made
Of all the dwarfs, and Durin next;
Many a likeness of men they made,
The dwarfs in the earth, as Durin said.

Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, Ai, Mjothvitnir.

Vigg and Gandalf) Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vit and Lit,
Nyr and Nyrath,-- now have I told--
Regin and Rathsvith-- the list aright.

Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali,
Heptifili, Hannar, Sviur,
Frar, Hornbori, Fræg and Loni,
Aurvang, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.

The race of the dwarfs in Dvalin's throng
Down to Lofar the list must I tell;
The rocks they left, and through wet lands
They sought a home in the fields of sand.

There were Draupnir and Dolgthrasir,
Hor, Haugspori, Hlevang, Gloin,
Dori, Ori, Duf, Andvari,
Skirfir, Virfir, Skafith, Ai.
Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, Fith and Ginnar;
So for all time shall the tale be known,
The list of all the forbears of Lofar.

-- The Poetic Edda: Voluspo, the Wise-Woman's Prophecy

[wardaddy]

couldn't resist

[SunkenCiv]

The spoken intro was always the best part of that “song”.

[wardaddy]

it’s like a curse i swear

for weeks now since watching Rock hall of fame (farce that it is..rap) and they inducted Donovan..who actually does merit it

i have been stuck on his electric stuff

he wrote some cool stuff...gotta be over 50 to know it though

except for Goodfellas when Billy Batts gets clipped...kids would know that

gotta go listen to Hurdy Gurdy Man one more time..lol

[dixiechick2000]

I love late 60s/early 70s music. I have two radio stations tuned to classic rock, not to mention those I have in my iphone and ipad.

Donovan...way down below the ocean. Love it!

My absolute fav is Mississippi Queen.

My fav for dancing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3U7zR18M_s

The all time best...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeNbuHOVDHk&feature=related

[Condor51]

At this point in time I have to go with Minoa being Atlantis. The only thing that doesn't fit is the 'Beyond The Pillars of Hercules' part which is 'assumed' to be the Strait of Gibraltar. Other than that Plato has it all covered. Plus he was right about ancient Troy. So Plato's got some street cred on 'ancient history'. (yes, that's a pun)

Then again ........

:-)

[SunkenCiv]

It’s clear that Plato describes the Atlantic (names it), Gibraltar, and gives the dimensions and era of an island, and states that it no longer exists — IOW, no, not Crete, Thera, or anywhere else in the Aegean.

Plato was right about ancient Troy?

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve got an old title of Donovan’s, on CD, can’t prove it right now. :’) The first track is a Bob Dylan song I think.

[wardaddy]

yep...he mimicked Dylan

even wrote Bob an ode to the tune of Mr Tambourine Man

Bob was polite but unamused..lol

Donovan was an unusual boy-man...could sure pen a song quick

when he split with producer and adviser Mickie Most ...his career stalled...

eccentric

[colorado tanker]

Well actually, I haven’t seen this much concern about nudity in art in a long time, and so hadn’t given it much thought. The bottom line is, they weren’t us.

I just hope that a new Egyptian government doesn't take to defacing the ancient art because the women weren't wearing burkas.

[SunkenCiv]

Egypt has been hand-painting museum-quality reproductions of pharaonic-era papyri, but eliminating nudity, and really almost all skin; this has gone on for more than a decade. The originals can’t be transported due to fragility, but the repros aren’t really repros. And before the digital photog era took off in earnest, it was difficult (at best) to get photos of anything out of Egypt; inspections would either ruin or lose the film.

[Little Ray]

Isn’t there some argument for Atlantis being some land adjacent to Cuba that apparently subsided?

[SunkenCiv]

Among many other places.

• Keyword: atlantis
• Update on the Underwater City off the Coast of Cuba.
• Scientists Interrupt Search for the "Mayan Atlantis" in the Caribbean.
• In Cuban Depths, Atlantis or Anomaly?Images of Massive Stones!
• Probe Into Cuba's Possible *Sunken City* Advances
• Evidence of ancient city found in depths off Cuba (best article yet)
• Explorers View 'Lost City' Ruins Under Caribbean
• Update on Underwater Megalithic

[SunkenCiv]

Donovan appears in person and in an onstage joke in that semi-documentary on Dylan’s UK tour of 1966 or so.

[Condor51]

Actually, I pretty much agree with you. Plato was right about everything else so far, like Troy and proof of the Trojan War, so why not Atlantis.

The only thing is that of late it *appears* the Minoans 'fit better'. And with the current Sonar Imaging of the Atlantic Ocean 'if drained', it doesn't look like Atlantis could have been anywhere in it. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs right down the middle. Unless Atlantis was there and 'The Ridge' opened up and swallowed it whole? Maybe I'm watching too many 'expert documentaries' on the History Channel (H2). After all, It's not like they've never been wrong before ;-)

One other thing regarding 'Atlantis' being in the Atlantic Ocean area is very interesting though, The Bimini Road. Right now I can't buy that that 'Road of Blocks' was made by water currents and erosion as the 'Experts say'. And if prehistoric humans made that road, they had some hi-tech help. Those blocks are huge and would be a tough task today with our Big Construction Equip/Machines. Like that underwater 'Temple of Steps' off Japan's coast which is supposed to be 'naturally made' by sea currents (I don't think so).

Bottom line, I guess I'm torn on Atlantis. Two answers seem to fit.