Atlantis Discovered!

There have been many theories regarding Atlantis. There have been many candidates as well. Some claim it was just beyond Gibraltar. Others think it is in the Bermuda Triangle. Still others believe it was Ancient Ireland. However, the best candidate appears to be the Minoan Civilization from Crete.

The Minoans (2700-1450 BC) had a highly advanced trading civilization on Crete. They were the most advanced civilization in Europe at the time. Their maritime civilization was rich in culture as well as material wealth. Around 1450 BC, they ceased to exist.

Minoan Civilization collapsed at the same time the Santorini volcano erupted. The Santorini Volcano is on the Ancient Island of Thera. The Minoans homebase was Crete, but they had a colony on Thera. The eruption was one of the strongest in human history. The eruption caused a tsunami with waves upwards of 500 feet. Ash from the eruption was found in Turkey and Egypt. The tsunami, ash fall, and earthquakes associated with the eruption destroyed the Minoans.

Were the Minoans the basis of the Atlantis myth? Well, they were very advanced as were the Atlantians. Santorini has rock quarries matching Plato's descriptions. Plato's description of the Atlantian Apocalypse matched the Minoan demise. Their civilization was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as described by Plato.

The one problem is the date. The general consensus is the Santorini event occurred between 1650-1600 BC while the Minoans collapsed about 1450 BC. Perhaps, the volcano wiped out the Minoans, they rebuilt, only to be wiped out by the geologic activity as a result of the volcano. Perhaps Atlantis was based on the Minoans on Thera only and not the whole Minoan civilization.