Atlantis: The Lost Civilization That Likely Existed
For centuries, the idea of Atlantis a vast, advanced civilization lost beneath the Atlantic Ocean has been dismissed as myth. However, Atlantis: The Antediluvian World by Ignatius Donnelly presents compelling evidence that Atlantis was a real, historical landmass. Drawing from ancient texts, geological findings, linguistic connections, and cultural parallels, Donnelly builds a strong case for Atlantis as the cradle of civilization. Here’s why the lost continent most likely existed.
Plato’s Account and Ancient Texts
The primary historical source for Atlantis is Plato’s dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written in the 4th century BCE. In them, he describes Atlantis as a powerful island nation beyond the Pillars of Hercules (modern-day Strait of Gibraltar) that existed 9,000 years before his time. Plato’s account includes details of its geography, society, and eventual destruction, suggesting it was more than a mere metaphor.
Donnelly argues that Plato’s description aligns too well with geological and cultural evidence to be purely symbolic. He also references other ancient historians such as Diodorus Siculus, who wrote of islands in the Atlantic inhabited by an advanced people, and Marcellus, who noted a "great island" once located in the ocean. The Egyptian priest Solon, who relayed the Atlantis story to Plato, claimed it was a historical account preserved for generations by Egyptian scholars.
Donnelly references historian Proclus, who quotes the writings of Marcellus:
“There were seven islands in that sea in their time, sacred to Persephone, and also three others of enormous size, one of which was sacred to Pluto… the inhabitants preserved the memory of a much greater island, Atlantis.”
This implies that ancient sources beyond Plato were aware of Atlantis, lending credibility to its historical existence.
Striking Similarities Between Ancient Civilizations
Donnelly highlights parallels between ancient civilizations separated by vast oceans, arguing that these similarities suggest a common Atlantean origin.
Architectural Evidence
Pyramidal Structures: The pyramids of Egypt and the step-pyramids of Mesoamerica (Mayan, Aztec) are strikingly similar in construction and purpose. Donnelly suggests that such monumental structures were influenced by a shared Atlantean architectural tradition.
Megalithic Monuments: The presence of massive stone structures, such as Stonehenge in England and the megalithic temples of South America, indicates a diffusion of advanced engineering knowledge from a lost civilization.
Cultural and Mythological Parallels
Flood Myths: Nearly every ancient culture has a great flood myth, from the Biblical story of Noah to the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. Donnelly argues that these myths are rooted in real events related to the destruction of Atlantis.
Shared Symbolism & Mythology: The serpent deity appears in Egyptian (Apep), Mesoamerican (Quetzalcoatl), and Indian (Naga) traditions, suggesting a common ancestral belief system.
Advanced Metallurgy: Plato described Atlantis as rich in orichalcum, a mysterious metal. Donnelly notes that ancient American civilizations, such as the Inca and Muisca, had metallurgy practices far ahead of their time.
Supporting Quote from Donnelly’s Sources
Linguist and scholar Dr. Le Plongeon, cited by Donnelly, states:
“The civilization of the ancient Maya appears to be the mother of that of Egypt and Chaldea.”
This reinforces the theory that Old and New World cultures stem from a shared, now-lost civilization.
Linguistic Connections
Donnelly provides linguistic evidence that Indo-European and Native American languages share common roots. He cites philological studies showing connections between Sanskrit, Greek, and indigenous American dialects, suggesting they may have diverged from a lost intermediary language potentially from Atlantis.
Philologists have noted root words, syntax, and phonetic similarities between these languages, which cannot be easily explained by conventional theories of migration and isolation.
