Philo of Alexandria
Philo of Alexandria (20 BC-50 AD) also known as Philo the Jew, was a philosopher based in Alexandria. He was a firm supporter of the reality of Atlantis’ existence. He wrote on the subject in his De Aeternitate Mundi (On the Eternity of the Earth) [1423.v.141]+ where he is thought by some to be quoting Theophrastus(a), Aristotle’s successor. This view is held by Thorwald C. Franke [0880.131] and J. V. Luce in Atlantis: Fact or Fiction [0522.51].
It is interesting that from around 330 BC and for nearly a thousand years(b) the Strait of Messina was known as Fretum Siculum, which translates as the Sicilian Strait, prompting Philo to write “Are you ignorant of the celebrated account which is given of that most sacred Sicilian strait, which in old times joined Sicily to the continent of Italy?” [v.139].
Note how Philo refers to Italy as a continent.
[1423.v.141]+ https://archive.org/details/deaeternitatemu00philgoog *