Heidel, William Arthur

William Arthur Heidel (1868-1941) was an American scholar, who denied the reality of Atlantis and wrote a critical paper^[374] on the subject (republished July 2013^(a)). Heidel claims that an expeditionary naval force sent by Darius c. 519-518 BC, under Scylax of Caryanda to explore the Indus River, which eventually encountered waters too shallow for his ships, was the inspiration behind Plato’s tale of unnavigable seas. Heidel further claims that Plato’s battle between Atlantis and Athens is a distortion of this war of invasion between the Persians and the Indians.

This pathetic attempt by Heidel to find an alternative historical explanation collapses under the most cursory scrutiny. Darius’ expedition was a reconnaissance mission. Herodotus states that, after its completion, Darius conquered the Indians, but gives no account of the campaign or of any particular military engagement. However, it should be noted that Heidel’s attempt to find real historical events behind Plato’s narrative would appear to reveal a subconscious acceptance that there may be a core of truth in the Atlantis story. Richard Ellis, another Atlantis sceptic, quotes Heidel in his book^[288] as saying “Certainly it is more reasonable to look for the answer in Greek history and geography than in the findings of modern geology.” Again, we have a tacit admission that there may be a historical foundation underpinning Plato’s tale.

^(a)  https://www.jstor.org/stable/20022944?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents