Atlantis: The Making of Myth (L)

Atlantis: The Making of Myth [266] by Phyllis Young Forsyth gives a good oversight of the Atlantis mystery as viewed at that time with particular reference to the growing support for a Minoan solution as the archaeological discoveries on Santorini supported the popular concept of a forgotten Aegean civilisation. However, Professor Forsyth is not seduced by this idea and argues for Syracuse in Sicily and its ruler Dionysius I as the principal inspiration behind Plato’s morality tale. Unfortunately, this still leaves too many unanswered questions: where were the Pillars of Heracles? Why did Plato not simply name Sicily? How do we explain the fact that Syracuse was not submerged? How do we reconcile Plato’s 9,000 ‘years’ with the time of Dionysius’ reign? etc, etc.