Discovery of Atlantis
Chapter 3 Excerpt

We cannot rely solely on Plato’s Critias and Timaeus to find the actual location or determine the size of Atlantis. There are inconsistencies in the text itself and uncertainties concerning our knowledge of the ancient Egyptian and Greek understanding of regional geography. It is not surprising then that today’s camps in Atlantology are divided on the issue of location. Nevertheless, we have before us an unambiguous set of clues concerning many other important features of Atlantis, all of which will be explored in the following chapters. These clues, coupled with new empirical data, will, I believe, offer compelling reasons for our claim to have discovered the location of the sunken isle.

          Let us conclude this examination of Plato’s text for useful clues. Displayed below is the complete list of propositions we now believe can reasonably be inferred from Plato’s account of Atlantis.

1.    Atlantis Island rose sharply from the sea.

2.    There were smaller islands nearby that served as stepping-stones to an opposite continent.

3.    The mountainous island rose to a very high level above the sea.

4.    The cities of Atlantis were situated on a plain.

5.    The capital of Atlantis Island was Atlantis City, situated near the middle of the plain.

6.    The plain was long and rectangular.

7.    Mountains that came right down to the sea enclosed the plain, and therefore the city.

8.    The plain was uniformly flat.

9.    The plain was very beautiful, fertile and near the sea.

10.           The capital of Atlantis was situated roughly 6 miles from the sea.

11.           The plain of Atlantis faced south.

12.           The plain was reported to be 3000 stades (340 miles) long and 2000 stades (227 miles) wide, but was probably much smaller than that.

13.           The cities on the plain were sheltered from the cold northerly winds.

14.           The mountains that surrounded Atlantis were “numerous, higher and more beautiful than any which exist today.”

15.           Both the island and its southern plain were elongated.

16.           The island and the plain ran parallel with one another in an east/west direction.

17.           The island was north of the equator.

18.           Atlantis had both a winter and a summer.

19.           Atlantis was neither too close nor too far from the equator.

20.           The plain was in a valley.

21.           There was snowfall on the high mountain peaks of Atlantis.

22.           The island’s rivers originated on the highlands.

23.           The Acropolis Hill was about 3 miles in diameter.

24.           The Acropolis Hill was a low mountain.

25.           The outer stone wall that surrounded Atlantis City was circular and had a diameter of about 14 miles.

26.           The outer stone wall met the southern sea area and was about 6 miles away from the base of the Acropolis Hill.

27.           The plain of Atlantis must have been close to sea level.

28.           The island provided almost all the requirements for human life.

29.           The Atlanteans mined solid materials as well as various metals on the island.

30.           Atlantis had gold.

31.           Atlantis had silver.

32.           Atlantis has copper.

33.           Atlantis had tin.

34.           Atlantis had precious stones.

35.           Timber was plentiful.

36.           Atlantis had black, yellow and white rocks that were used for construction.

37.           The island had marshes, swamps, rivers, mountains and a plain.

38.           Atlantis had roots, herbs, bushes, gums, fruits and flowers.

39.           There were crops, cereals, pulse and oils in “wonderful quality and profusion.”

40.           There were elephants on the island.

41.           The island was composed of igneous rock.

42.           Atlantis had hot springs and cold springs.

43.           Atlantis had to be located on or around an area that experienced volcanic activity.

Plato provided a few other clues which will be discussed in upcoming chapters, including:

44.           Atlantis was “swallowed up by the earth.”

45.           Atlantis was prone to violent seismic activity and flooding.

46.           The Atlantean empire embraced three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.

47.           The island was flooded about 10,000 B.C.

48.           Atlantis was opposite the Pillars of Hercules.

49.           Some of the island’s highest peaks may still be above water.