Atlantis – Lost World

I. Crete – could it be Atlantis? 3500 years ago – Volcanic Eruption

A. Plato

1. Western philosopher wrote about Atlantis, a civilization rich in wealth and knowledge

2. Lost from the world after a Tsunami

B. Knossos 

1. Arthur Evans – first anthropologist to start excavating the region

2. A.E. found a palace the size of 4 football fields, with 10x as many rooms as the White House (1300 rooms)

3. The civilization was named the Minoan civilization, after King Minos. The name stayed and is still used

C. Palace

1. Amazing construction and art

2. Older and more advanced architecture

3. Pre Greek and Roman Empire water drainage system

4. Drainage from the Royal Quarters – something similar was described by Plato. Clay pipes were used

5. Acropolis situated at the top of a great hill

6. Multiple levels

7. Constructed using Gypsum – white rock that would look shiny from the distance, also fitting observations of Plato

8.  Different structures, including: Redwood pillars, wood logs as part of the wall construction to give more stability during Earthquake, smart doors used for partitioning (still in use today), rectangular light well on the 4 storey stairwell

9. Evidence of earthquake during the first phase of the Palace (reconstruction was carried out) – large rocks found at the south of the palace

D. Cataclysmic event at 1500 BC – Tsunami. Salt water would have destroyed the land

II. Tera → Santorini

A. Volcanic Island where layers of ashes can be seen from previous eruptions along the hills

B. Central Island would have held the main city (described by Plato)

1. Concentric circles of water, and causeways for the boats

C. Akrotiri

1. Layer of ashes covered the whole town

2. Found in 1966, and digging still being carried out

3. Amazing engineering and architecture

4. Lavatories in bedrooms in top levels of multi-storey constructions

5. Drawing found that corroborate the writings of Plato for Atlantis

6. Cataclysmic event destroyed Crete, land was swollen by sea. Volcanic eruption that generated 60 miles³ of ashes. Magma and ashes entering in the water → pyroclastic surges and tsunamis

7. At least 10 distinct tsunamis

III. What happened to the populations?

A. Egypt – survivors might have fled to their commercial partner

B. Conquered by Greeks