Has Atlantis Been Found?

Plato's account of Atlantis is one of the most famous and enduring legends in human history. In his dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias," Plato describes Atlantis as a highly advanced civilization that existed thousands of years ago. According to his account, Atlantis was a prosperous and powerful city-state that sank into the ocean after it angered the gods.

Plato's story of Atlantis begins with the philosopher Critias recounting a conversation he had with his grandfather, who had heard the story from the ancient Athenian statesman Solon. Solon had traveled to Egypt and had learned about Atlantis from the priests there, who claimed that their civilization was older than any other on Earth.

In the story, Atlantis was ruled by a series of kings who were descended from Poseidon, the god of the sea. The Atlanteans were said to have created a utopian society, with advanced technology, sophisticated architecture, and a highly organized political system. The city itself was said to be constructed of precious metals, including gold, silver, and bronze.

However, as the Atlanteans became more prosperous and powerful, they became arrogant and began to act disrespectfully toward the gods. According to the story, Zeus, the king of the gods, became angry and decided to punish the Atlanteans by causing a catastrophic earthquake and flood that destroyed their civilization and caused the city to sink beneath the ocean.