Posted on 07/26/2025 2:16:47 PM PDT by nickcarraway
In the fourth century BCE, Plato wrote about the legend of Atlantis. The general belief is that he was the very first person to write about it. This has led many to claim that Plato invented the story. However, is it possible that the Bible makes reference to the story of Atlantis, too?
The Minoan Theory of Atlantis One common theory about the origin of Atlantis is that it comes from distorted accounts of the Minoan civilization. This was a Bronze Age naval civilization centered on Crete. The Minoans had control over several other islands, and they also had colonies on the Anatolian mainland. This is just as Plato described the civilization of Atlantis. Various other similarities exist between the Minoans and Atlantis.
Although this Minoan theory is not universally accepted, there are many scholars who support it. It is even mentioned in the Encyclopedia Britannica as a possible source of the legend. However, one issue that has been brought against this theory is that Atlantis was said to have engaged in violent conquest. Plato describes how the men of Atlantis waged war against several of the Mediterranean nations.
Regarding the Minoans, archaeologists know that they did engage in war against the Greeks. However, while they had a grand trading empire, there is little evidence they engaged in violent conquest.
Nonetheless, the Bible provides support for this Atlantis theory by recording certain information pertaining to the activities of the Minoans. Let us examine what this evidence is and how it shows that the Bible does, in effect, mention Atlantis.
Grecian Delight supports Greece Caphtor, the Atlantis of the Bible The Bible mentions the Minoans in that it references the Cretans of the Bronze Age. The ancient Hebrew name for Crete was Caphtor. This seems to be related to the ancient Egyptian name for Crete, which was Keftiu.
The Bible only mentions the Caphtorim, that is, the people of Caphtor, a handful of times. One of these mentions in the Bible may well be related to Plato’s story of Atlantis. It appears in the Book of Deuteronomy. The account is set in the time of Moses, who lived around 1500 BCE.
This was the era of the Minoan civilization and was only shortly before the Mycenaean Greeks overthrew it. The account itself describes events that occurred sometime before Moses’ day although it does not say exactly when they happened.
The Bible’s account of Minoan conquerors Minoan & Mycenaean women On the left is a fresco depicting a Minoan women and on the right, a plaster cast of a Mycenaean woman. Take note of the distinctive colors of the Mycenaean plaster, which may be representative of preferences for makeup. Credit: I Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Sharon Mollerus / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons The beginning of the Book of Deuteronomy provides an overview of the Promised Land, that is, the land of Canaan. In Deuteronomy 2:23, we find the following information about a certain region of it:
“As for the Avvim, they had dwelled in settlements as far as Gaza until the Caphtorim, who came out from Caphtor, annihilated them and settled in their place.”
According to this, the Caphtorim had “annihilated” the Avvim in southwestern Canaan and taken over their territory. It should be kept in mind that the Caphtorim are the men of Crete, and this account is set around 1500 BCE.
This would mean that the Caphtorim mentioned here are actually the Minoans. In other words, the Minoan civilization is identified with Atlantis. This is quite a significant assumption. It would mean that the Bible describes the Minoans attacking and conquering part of the mainland on the Mediterranean coast.
How the Bible supports the Minoan theory of Atlantis This strongly supports the Minoan theory of Atlantis. It disproves the notion that the Minoans were not known conquerors. Even if the Bible is rejected as a historical source, as many would have it, this demonstrates at the very least that there was a tradition of the Minoans engaging in conquest during the Bronze Age.
There is, in fact, some archaeological evidence supporting Minoan presence in Canaan in that era and even earlier. One example is the presence of Minoan Kamares ware in the city of Ashkelon dating to around 1800 BCE.
However, regardless of historical facts, the Bible proves that the Bronze Age Minoans were remembered for being violent conquerors, which is the important thing when it comes to the legend of Atlantis. This provides strong support for the theory that the Minoans were the likely origin of the legend of Atlantis. This being the case, it would mean that the real Atlantis is indeed mentioned in the Bible.
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BCE is not in the Bible
Cool!
“...Is the Lost Atlantis Mentioned in the Bible?...”
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No.
Yes it is. See SG book of Revelations where they write about Atlantis....
Who said it was?
Can you be anymore cryptic? SG = Senegal? Singapore? Star Gate?
Caleb Howells
No, he’s giving a period of time in history not making a direct Biblical quote from the Bible. We know the approximate times of different ages and civilizations from other documents as well as the Bible.
Then there are the Cherethites and Pelethites, mercenaries in the time of David and Solomon (see I Kings 1.38). Is the name Cherethite connected to the name Crete, or Pelethites to the Peleset of the Sea Peoples (generally identified as Philistines)?
The Minoans may have disappeared as a recognizable group before these invasions of the land of Canaan, having been conquered by the Mycenaeans. But Homer thinks there were various languages spoken on Crete. There was still a remnant of non-Greek speakers in classical times, the Eteocretans, in the eastern part of the island.
Someone watched some of Rome or Greece disappear under water and then wrote the Atlantis story
The account is set in the time of Moses, who lived around 1500 BCE BC.
It should be kept in mind that the Caphtorim are the men of Crete, and this account is set around 1500 BCE BC.
There is, in fact, some archaeological evidence supporting Minoan presence in Canaan in that era and even earlier. One example is the presence of Minoan Kamares ware in the city of Ashkelon dating to around 1800 BCE BC.
FIFY
Atlantis is a parable. It never existed. It isn’t lost. And it definitely was not mentioned in the Bible.
But I don't they are mentioned in the Bible.
So because Minoans are mentioned as conquerors in the bible, that means that Atlantis is real? Hard pass.
Brave search inquiry: Does India appear in the Old Testament?
[snip] The name "India" is mentioned in the book of Esther, specifically in Esther 1 and 8, where it is described as the eastern boundary of the territories of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes). [/snip]
Brave search inquiry: Does China appear in the Old Testament?
[snip] ...some interpretations suggest that China may be indirectly referenced through terms like "kings of the east" or in connection with ancient names such as "Sinites" or "Sinim"... the Bible mentions "the land of Sinim" in Isaiah 49, which some scholars associate with ancient China. [/snip]
Brave search inquiry: Does Atlantis appear in the Old Testament?
[snip] The Old Testament does not explicitly mention Atlantis by name. However, some scholars suggest that references to "Caphtor" may be connected to the legend of Atlantis. In the book of Amos, Caphtor is associated with the Philistines, an ancient people known for their maritime skills. [/snip]
(Caphtor -- Keftiu to the Egyptians -- refers to Cyprus)
Spoiler alert: No, Atlantis isn't the Bible; Crete is not Caphtor; the Minoans are not Atlanteans. Cyprus, Crete, and Thera are not Atlantis.
I Know !
makes it way too annoying to read.
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