Plato’s story of the Utopian Atlantis Kingdom has captured the minds and souls of millions throughout the centuries. A place hinging between myth and reality. Moreover, evil and kindness have been roaming around the kingdom until sadly, evil prevailed. Therefore, the Atlantis Kingdom was cursed and submerged to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and totally disappeared. However, Greece is very far from this ocean and more specifically, Santorini lies in the Aegean Sea. Consequently, how can Santorini be the missing Atlantis!
What Inspired Plato to Craft His Atlantis Masterpiece?
Greece is one of the most active volcanic and tectonic-movement nations around the world. Moreover, in ancient times, these incidents were not fully comprehended by mankind. Many commoners and even philosophers believed in the ancient gods of Greece as the source of these mysterious events.
Those gods bestowed blessings as equally as curses upon the people of the lands. Therefore, it was a matter of time till a good or bad event happened. However, prior to Plato’s times, people did not have the ultimate skill of writing. Therefore, stories were carried orally from generation to generation. This made the listeners’ imaginations overflowing with ideas and mythologies. Hence, the stories were typically crafted to capture the listeners attention and explode their thoughts, inspirations and fantasies.
Of course, these same human traits are still existent till our present day. Some are good, others are greedy and evil. This is exactly what happened to the people of Atlantis, they became morally deprived and sinfully engaged.
What is The Atlantis Kingdom?
It was the year 360 B.C. and Plato was immersed with his writings regarding the Utopian state that should govern the people of Greece. He has lived in an era where legends and ancestral stories were the normal discussions around him. These stories carried a lot of maxims, heroism, harsh punishments, devotions, passions and much more. Basically, all of these legends told story of the desires of flesh and the purity of the soul. They also devoted a lot of scrutiny on how the latter should be superior to earthly materialistic desires.
Plato has always pleaded to write about a Utopian perfect place. This place is sin-free, full of wisdom, kindness, rules and simply the best kingdom on the face of the earth. In his writings, he describes a place very similar to Thera Island, or Santorini. He depicts it as heaven on earth full with all blessings our hearts can desire. Moreover, its inhabitants are a special breed of people who were half divine and half human. Furthermore, they were full of kindness and they naturally obeyed the rules without supervision or punishment threats.
However, as the years passed, people turned to wit and greed and the whole kingdom plunged into utter darkness. This is the time when gods decided to punish the people. Therefore, they sent balls of fire accompanying high wrecking wakes of the sea that totally sunk the Atlantis and the Minoan civilization that inhabited it to the bottom of the ocean, never to be seen again.
Real Location of The Atlantis Kingdom
Many theories emerged concerning the actual location of the Atlantis. Some state it might be off the coast of Spain at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Other stories claim it to be in the Mediterranean water between Europe and Africa. Some fantasy filled stories trace the Atlantis roots to the Antarctica. These legends speak of the buried kingdom underneath this huge continent, as it was doomed by the gods to rest there for eternity.
According to modern science, The Atlantis has never existed. James Romm, a classics professor and lecturer at Bard College-New York, states that: “It’s a great myth. It has a lot of elements that people love to fantasize about.” He elaborates that Plato is very much remembered for his style of writing that pretty much captures the imagination. It deals with the human feelings, fears, inspirations, devotions and dreams. Therefore, with more than 2300 years after Plato’s very existence, we still find great lessons in his writings.
Additionally, Patrick Nunn a researcher and geologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast-Australia, states: “I don’t think there’s any question that the story of Atlantis is a myth”.
Despite having no scientific evidence for the existence of the Atlantis, some historians find a truth in Plato’s story. According to them, there are huge similarities between Santorini’s geographical’s location and the Atlantis. Moreover, the beauty of the island (or what remains of it after the volcanic eruption) closely resembles the Utopian place in Plato’s writings. Also, the people of the bronze who have inhabited the island, mysteriously disappeared after a huge volcanic eruption that wiped them completely.
Architectural and Writing Inspirations Depicting The Atlantis Legend
Many hotels around the world chose the theme of the lost kingdom of the Atlantis to erect gigantic hotels on beach fronts.
The Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas is one of the finest luxury hotels around the globe. It comprises many halls and rooms that breathes the soul of the Atlantis kingdom.
On the other part of the globe, Atlantis Dubai is a true breeze of the Atlantis. Correspondingly, a walk in the venue will truely give the feel of submerging in the Atlantis Kingdom. The decor with its finest details including all the shells and marine life, project the feeling of being underwater. Moreover, the combined effects of lights and ambiance radiates a warm feeling for the place.
Also honorable mentions include Atlantis Sanya, China and Atlantis Hawaii, USA. Moreover, The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences in Dubai which is scheduled to open in 2020 is a brilliantly crafted architecture.
On a different aspect, the story of the Atlantis inspired the comic book of the Atlantis published by DC comics. This later became the cinematic debut of Aquaman in 2018.
No matter whether you believe in the story or not, Atlantis forms part of our life and imagination. However, there are those places that wake up these feelings inside of us. Some of these places include Santorini in Greece, a volcanic island that is out of this world. If the claim holds true, then you would be stepping a foot on the Atlantis and opening new doors in your soul.
