[tokarski21]

Here's the story - I've got a history show on youtube that I'd like to take to the next level (whatever that is). So I figured I needed a BIG topic for my latest episode, like solving the mystery of Atlantis in 8 minutes. Surprisingly, that's what I think I've done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cvT44vbkhA

What do you think? Mystery solved? Should I call up the History Channel?

[Guy_Fawkes]

From what I have seen from the 'History' Channel in the states, they would say it is not solved. They would even propose that Aliens did it, or that they are stuck in a time trap or that they crashed into Atlantis....

[Mustang1]

Are you kidding me?!?!? This is a revelation? Virtually any history/classics/anthropology first year student knows that Atlantis didn't exist as Plato described. In fact, all the video had to do was look at the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and it becomes pretty clear that no civilization matches the time period, geography or culture that is presented (which would've likely taken far less than 8 minutes). Moreover, a simple historiographical examination would've gone a long way to addressing why the legend still has traction in certain unenlightened circles than focusing on some building blocks of the agricultural revolution.

[Dayseed]

Mustang1 wrote:

Are you kidding me?!?!? This is a revelation? Virtually any history/classics/anthropology first year student knows that Atlantis didn't exist as Plato described. In fact, all the video had to do was look at the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and it becomes pretty clear that no civilization matches the time period, geography or culture that is presented (which would've likely taken far less than 8 minutes). Moreover, a simple historiographical examination would've gone a long way to addressing why the legend still has traction in certain unenlightened circles than focusing on some building blocks of the agricultural revolution.

That's not entirely true. In the 30's, Dr. Henry Jones of Barnett College theorized that the third dialogue after the Timaeus and the Critias, the Hermocrates, was written by Plato despite Plato not finishing the Critias. The Hermocrates gave a much better and more defined description of Atlantis than either of the two previous dialogues combined.

[stratos]

I suspect that the Minoian (sp?) society based on the Island of Creete is romantisised into Plato's Alantis.

[tokarski21]

Mustang1 wrote:

Are you kidding me?!?!? This is a revelation? Virtually any history/classics/anthropology first year student knows that Atlantis didn't exist as Plato described. In fact, all the video had to do was look at the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and it becomes pretty clear that no civilization matches the time period, geography or culture that is presented (which would've likely taken far less than 8 minutes). Moreover, a simple historiographical examination would've gone a long way to addressing why the legend still has traction in certain unenlightened circles than focusing on some building blocks of the agricultural revolution.

There are actually more than a few people who aren't, or never were history/classics/anthropology first year students. And every year good money and time is spent on explorations, programs and books searching not only for Atlantis - but other ancient and unknown civilizations. I think an understanding of the basis building blocks needed to start and maintain a true civilization (ie. crop and animal domestication) and when and where it was available in prehistory goes a long way toward resolving some of those myths.

[Mustang1]

tokarski21 wrote:

Mustang1 wrote:

Are you kidding me?!?!? This is a revelation? Virtually any history/classics/anthropology first year student knows that Atlantis didn't exist as Plato described. In fact, all the video had to do was look at the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and it becomes pretty clear that no civilization matches the time period, geography or culture that is presented (which would've likely taken far less than 8 minutes). Moreover, a simple historiographical examination would've gone a long way to addressing why the legend still has traction in certain unenlightened circles than focusing on some building blocks of the agricultural revolution.

There are actually more than a few people who aren't, or never were history/classics/anthropology first year students. And every year good money and time is spent on explorations, programs and books searching not only for Atlantis - but other ancient and unknown civilizations. I think an understanding of the basis building blocks needed to start and maintain a true civilization (ie. crop and animal domestication) and when and where it was available in prehistory goes a long way toward resolving some of those myths.

I understand but academics in the field have known for years that Plato's Atlantis wasn't a tangible entity - that was my point. Amateurs, charlatans and treasure seekers can look/publish/pontificate all they want, but academic history has spoken. And the former isn't in that discussion

In regards to the "building blocks" of civilization, its immaterial to the discussion because the Timaeus and Critias clearly stipulate a geographical and temporal context for Atlantis that is currently absent from the historical record. I'm not suggesting that there aren't unknown civilizations still to be found (just look at the Harappan), but they won't mirror Plato's Atlantis.

Lastly, a historiographical study would've quickly addressed the myriad of myths, missteps, misinterpretations and misinformed works that have historically centred on finding the "historical" Atlantis. That would've gone a long way to explaining why there isn't one - the history is and has been bad.

[ShepherdsDog]

Dayseed wrote:

Mustang1 wrote:

Are you kidding me?!?!? This is a revelation? Virtually any history/classics/anthropology first year student knows that Atlantis didn't exist as Plato described. In fact, all the video had to do was look at the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and it becomes pretty clear that no civilization matches the time period, geography or culture that is presented (which would've likely taken far less than 8 minutes). Moreover, a simple historiographical examination would've gone a long way to addressing why the legend still has traction in certain unenlightened circles than focusing on some building blocks of the agricultural revolution.

That's not entirely true. In the 30's, Dr. Henry Jones of Barnett College theorized that the third dialogue after the Timaeus and the Critias, the Hermocrates, was written by Plato despite Plato not finishing the Critias. The Hermocrates gave a much better and more defined description of Atlantis than either of the two previous dialogues combined.

Sounds Greek to me.

[Dayseed]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

Dayseed wrote:

That's not entirely true. In the 30's, Dr. Henry Jones of Barnett College theorized that the third dialogue after the Timaeus and the Critias, the Hermocrates, was written by Plato despite Plato not finishing the Critias. The Hermocrates gave a much better and more defined description of Atlantis than either of the two previous dialogues combined.

Sounds Greek to me.

Well, I suppose that's just the fate of Atlantis...

[stemmer]

Troy was thought to be a myth until discovered by Heinrich Schliemann... Perhaps in the near future we will know for certain if Atlantis and Lemuria ever existed or not... regardless of the channeling of Edgar Cayce...

[Mustang1]

stemmer wrote:

Troy was thought to be a myth until discovered by Heinrich Schliemann... Perhaps in the near future we will know for certain if Atlantis and Lemuria ever existed or not... regardless of the channeling of Edgar Cayce...

We do know about Atlantis...and by "we" I mean the people that actually have university training in history...and it doesn't exist.

[ShepherdsDog]

Next you'll be claiming the Hyborian Age was merely the product of someone's imagination, or that those ruins found in Antarctica by Miskatonic University Peabody expedition was just a story. Continue with this line of thought and I 'll see that you are drummed out of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. By the way, Innsmouth High's swim team kicked ass again.

[Mustang1]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

Next you'll be claiming the Hyborian Age was merely the product of someone's imagination, or that those ruins found in Antarctica by Miskatonic University Peabody expedition was just a story. Continue with this line of thought and I 'll see that you are drummed out of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. By the way, Innsmouth High's swim team kicked ass again.

You realize stemmer just googled "Hyborian Age", "Miskatonic University" and "Esoteric Order of Dagon".

[stemmer]

I know of the Hyborian Age... I'm a big fan of Robert E Howard and his Conan character... as well as King Kull, Soloman Kane, etc...

But I do suspect you googled Heinrich Schliemann... as well as Edgar Cayce....

[Mustang1]

stemmer wrote:

I know of the Hyborian Age... I'm a big fan of Robert E Howard and his Conan character... as well as King Kull, Soloman Kane, etc...

But I do suspect you googled Heinrich Schliemann... as well as Edgar Cayce....

Nope...but then I actually know history...and unlike you, don't think Atlantis will be found because it's NOT real. This is far beyond you...go mess up another thread somewhere else.