Archive 2056

English Translation from French

Atlantis , myth, legend, History

Generally speaking Atlantis is a myth.

My position is opposite to this word “myth”. Why ?

A myth is a written or oral story used in order to speak about religious subjects in a coded manner. This kind of  production was used to show the knowledge of the author , probably sometimes under the influence of drugs, dreams and mystical feelings. The code always used is the phonemes eared in the words and names.

For example, this way of thinking has been pointed out by the commentators of the Veda. Nowadays, we are searching in myths some (visual) symbols, because we don’t know the ancient language. We are almost totally blind. In the word myth, there is the word mystery, a religious mystery.

As CRANTOR, a Greek philosopher (ca.300 BC) (quoted by PROCLUS, a Greek philosopher of the 5th century A.D., (commentary upon the Plato’s Timaios), I say that PLATO wrote an historical relation. The events reported are so ancient that they can be called “ a legend”.

Though, I cannot make up my mind for decide whether Plato knew or did not know that Atlantis was India. Possibly, if the entire text of the Critias would have been preserved, we should have more information…but as often, part of the Plato’s work is lacking. In conclusion, the story reported by PLATO does not possess the characteristics of a myth. He told what he knew, without any attempt to disguise reality. Atlantis is History and legend, as most of History when there is only one text to reconstitute the past.

Philippe POTEL-BELNER, 21 avril 2013