Atlantis Destroyed

Plato's legend of Atlantis has become notorious among scholars as the most absurd lie in literature. Partially dismissed because of the philosopher's eclipsing reputation in the twentieth century in conjunction with Nazi adoption of the Atlantis allegory, Atlantis Destroyed explores how Plato's account can be perceived as historically true. Since its mention first in Timaeus and then Critias, Atlantis has hovered between fable and folk tale, taken as history by some and acknowledged as allegory by others. In this fascinating book, Rodney Castleden theorizes how the tale of Atlantis is not one piece of identifiable proto-history, but several, and that Plato's story was really a parable told to comment on the state of the world in his own times. The author incorporates the latest findings on Knossos (in Crete) and Thera, the two islands long considered the "real" site of Atlantis. In examining Minoan civilization, Castleden discusses the material culture, trade empire and agricultural system, writing and wall paintings, art, religion and society, providing a comprehensive picture of the islands during the Bronze Age. His research demonstrates for the reader parallels between Plato's narrative and Aegean civilization which might indicate the geographical place of Atlantis. Just as Plato's story of a land swallowed up by the sea sought to entertain, improve and exalt, Atlantis Destroyed will captivate readers the world over with the telling of how a myth was made. Plato's legend of Atlantis has become notorious among scholars as the absurdest lie in literature. Atlantis Destroyed explores the possibility that the account given by Plato is historically true. Rodney Castleden first considers the location of Atlantis re-examining two suggestions put forward in the early twentieth century; Minoan Crete and Minoan Thera. He outlines the latest research findings on Knossos and Bronze Age Thera, discussing the material culture, trade empire and agricultural system, writing and wall paintings, art, religion and society of the Minoan civilization. Castleden demonstrates the many parallels between Plato's narrative and the Minoan Civilization in the Aegean. Fired by the imagination a new vision of Atlantis has arisen over the last one hundred and fifty years as a lost utopia. Rodney Castleden discusses why this picture arose and xplains how it has become confused with Plato's genuine account. Preliminaries......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 9 List of illustrations......Page 11 Acknowledgements and preface......Page 15 1 All the island and many other islands also'......Page 17 2 Preludes to discovery......Page 30 3 Thera: the second rediscovery......Page 48 4 The bronze age city of Thera emerges......Page 59 5 Atlantean arts and crafts......Page 74 6 Theran food and trade......Page 82 7 Writing and wall-painting......Page 96 8 Art, religion and society......Page 106 9 The last days of Akrotiri......Page 130 10 Atlantis destroyed......Page 150 11 Deconstruction of Atlantis......Page 188 Appendix Dating the Thera eruption: a major controversy......Page 207 Notes......Page 209 Bibliography......Page 221 Index......Page 235 Archaeology Preliminaries 1 CONTENTS 9 List of illustrations 11 Acknowledgements and preface 15 1 All the island and many other islands also' 17 2 Preludes to discovery 30 3 Thera: the second rediscovery 48 4 The bronze age city of Thera emerges 59 5 Atlantean arts and crafts 74 6 Theran food and trade 82 7 Writing and wall-painting 96 8 Art, religion and society 106 9 The last days of Akrotiri 130 10 Atlantis destroyed 150 11 Deconstruction of Atlantis 188 Appendix Dating the Thera eruption: a major controversy 207 Notes 209 Bibliography 221 Index 235 Legendary Atlantis long has hovered between fable and folk tale, taken as fact by some, allegory by others. Author Rodney Castleden incorporates the entire body of scholarship extant on Bronze Age cultures to demonstrate how what he calls the "myth" of Atlantis evolved. 30 photos. 50 line figures. 19 maps. Fired by the imagination a new vision of Atlantis has arisen over the last one hundred and fifty years as a lost utopia. Rodney Castleden discusses why this picture arose and explains how it has become confused with Plato's genuine account