Is Atlantis Real? The Mystery Behind the Lost Civilization

Being one of history’s greatest mysteries, the legend of “Atlantis” has inspired books, movies, and games for centuries. You have probably heard about Atlantis at least a few times since childhood. I remember hearing about it first in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. It was a great depiction of an amazing utopia that is highly pleasant to watch. But is there any truth to the tale, or is it just a philosophical allegory? Let’s dive into the roots of this mysterious society and see what we know and do not know about it.

The story of Atlantis originates from Plato’s dialogues with Timeos and Critias. Carrying the meaning of “Atlas’ Island," Atlantis was described as a utopian society with advanced technology, architectural marvels, and abundant natural resources. Plato described the location of Atlantis as “beyond the Pillars of Hercules.". Although there are allegations on where it refers, the exact location it refers to or whether it refers to any proper place at all is still unknown.

If you have watched some movies or read books that somehow referred to Atlantis, you probably know that it is depicted as a city under the ocean. According to Plato, over time, Atlanteans grew greedy and corrupt, which led to their downfall. The gods punished them by sinking the city into the ocean in a single night of disaster. This being the very basic story of Atlantis, let's talk about some theories about its existence.

Many historians and philosophers believe that Plato’s story was purely symbolic, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of moral decay in societies. They assume that Atlantis was just an idealized society or a warning against the consequences of unchecked ambition and moral decline.

Some researchers, on the other hand, argue that Atlantis may have been a real civilization that is now lost under the sea. The name may not be the same, but they believe that Plato was inspired by a real society. They even have some theories on where the city may have been located. One of the theories is Santorini, a Greek island in which a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE destroyed the whole civilization. Other theories also involve The Azores, a set of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and The Bahamas, as the underwater structures fuel the speculations about a lost city in the region. Some assumptions also include that Atlantis was not a specific place but rather a misremembered or exaggerated account of factual historical events of the destruction of civilizations by natural disasters like tsunamis or earthquakes in history.

Atlantis may or may not be a real civilization, but it surely stands out among many other metaphors and mysterious events in history. So, why are we so fascinated by it specifically? This question has at least a few answers. As it is often imagined as a civilization that’s a lot more advanced than ours, it sparks dreams of uncovering lost technologies and wisdom. It also awakens our fear of catastrophe as it resonates with the fragility of civilizations. And lastly, it is a whole “lost” world. It appeals to our curiosity excessively, and that curiosity inspires us to include it in our works for centuries.