Latest News
NEWS September 2023
September 2023. Hi Atlantipedes, At present I am in Sardinia for a short visit. Later we move to Sicily and Malta. The trip is purely vacational. Unfortunately, I am writing this in a dreadful apartment, sitting on a bed, with access to just one useable socket and a small Notebook. Consequently, I possibly will not […]Read More »
Joining The Dots
I have now published my new book, Joining The Dots, which offers a fresh look at the Atlantis mystery. I have addressed the critical questions of when, where and who, using Plato’s own words, tempered with some critical thinking and a modicum of common sense.Read More »
Thalassocracy
Thalassocracy is a term frequently applied to Atlantis as many readers will know. At its simplest it is applied to nations whose wealth is derived from naval supremacy. Other early thalassocracies were the Minoans and the Phoenicians.
Plato describes the busy shipyards full of triremes and their equipment (Critias 117d). While the use of the word ‘triremes’ may be an anachronism it was probably introduced as the easiest way to impress his audience. However, triremes were warships but Critias 117e refers to the commercial harbour which “was filled with ships and merchants from all quarters”. All this would seem to indicate an important trading nation backed by powerful naval support.
Some commentators have highlighted on the apparent conflict between Critias 117 with its description of a naval power and Critias 113e which relates that “at that time neither ships nor sailing were as yet in existence”. However, the context makes it quite clear that the 113e refers to the time of the foundation of Atlantis which may have been during the Late Stone Age, while 117 refers to the Bronze Age.