For as long as man has been able to recount stories and events, he has had an almost obsessive tendency to believe in things he cannot see or really explain. Along with that there is also the belief in forces or beings bigger, better and stronger than himself.
One only needs to glance back in history at the ancient civilisations and their pantheon of gods, ranging from Egypt’s Ra to Ishtar in Mesopotamia and the Roman emulation of Greece’s deities to realise that the glorification of a higher being and an ideal society has always been a very human concern. Christianity and Islam of course have eliminated all need for a range of supreme beings as both religions have changed man’s belief system.
One of the most enduring myths though and which has placed Cyprus firmly in its spotlight is the suggestion of the lost city and empire, of Atlantis. There are two very distinct approaches to the Atlantis debate, one of which states that it is a myth and never actually existed, while the other believes that it was part of a much older world, going even further back than the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, with one theory proposing that Cyprus itself is the geographical remnant of Atlantis.
The man behind the theory that Cyprus is what remains of Atlantis is American Robert Sarmast and while many have disagreed and attempted to disprove his idea, his book, called “Discovery of Atlantis, The Startling Case for the Island of Cyprus” certainly does pose many interesting points that could mean that the island, which we already know has a written history dating back about nine thousand years could be the answer to an age-old theory.
To understand just how far back the whole issue of Atlantis goes, one should realise that the most famous Greek philosopher Plato (second only perhaps to his teacher Socrates), provided the sole literary source of Atlantis and it could be suggested that contrary to a strongly held belief, popular among new age thinkers that Atlantis is some far-flung Utopia, the story is an ancient one, having been committed in writing by the great Plato in two parts - Timaeus and Critias - of an unfinished trilogy. In the dialogue style which is characteristic of the ancient Greek philosophers, Plato wrote “Then listen, Socrates, to a tale which, though strange, is certainly true,” and so began to relate the tale of Atlantis which has been perplexing mankind ever since.
According to Plato, the ancient gods had divided the earth between them, giving the island of Atlantis to Poseidon, the god of the sea; he was adamant also that it was understood that these gods were not the same fickle and somewhat debauched gods usually associated with the Acropolis. Instead the gods in Plato’s writings were wise and virtuous and did not at any time fight or disagree amongst each other, neither did they ever covet or try and take what did not belong to them. He writes, “They retained a certain greatness of mind and treated one another with wisdom and forbearance. They bore the burden of their wealth and possessions lightly and did not let their high standard of living intoxicate them or make them lose their self control.”
Plato goes on to say that the gods descended from their holy place and began to take a direct involvement in the lives of the humans who were already living in the region, taking care of the primitive people in a caring and nurturing way. Inevitably, the gods started to mix with the people, which led to the creation of a native race of Atlanteans and even though the first few generations inherited and upheld the inherent good qualities of their superior ancestors and the strength of the empire was determined by their innate wisdom and superior bodies and minds, the inhabitants of this lost world lost their genetic superiority through the frequent interbreeding with the native mortals.
They then apparently sank to the primitive nature of their human side and degenerated into aggressive, ambitious and hateful people who fought amongst each other for physical, earthly rewards and possessions. As their resident god, Zeus decided that punishment was needed and Atlantis was destroyed by an earthquake and devastating flood. “And the god of gods, Zeus, who reigns by law and whose eye can see such things, when he perceived the wretched state of this admirable stock decided to punish them and reduce them to order by discipline.”
In this way, Atlantis and all its evidence of agriculture, architecture, industry, the arts and religion was lost to the world forever. If you are of the belief that Plato’s story is an act of fiction then you would think that this is exactly where the story ends.
If however, you think that there is more to this than the writings of an ancient Greek philosopher and that sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction, then you should be interested to know that theories have abounded for many years that Atlantis was a real place, with suggestions for its location involving The Azores, the Americas, including parts of the Caribbean and Bolivia, and even Antarctica.
Perhaps the most plausible though and the one based on fifty matching criteria, is the one brought forward by Robert Sarmast who tells us that Cyprus can be the only plausible location for the remains of what was once an ancient epic land and civilisation. Sarmast poses the theory that geographically and geologically, Cyprus ticks all the boxes. Using computer simulation technology, the water of the Mediterranean was drained and river water flow was taken into account, all of which led to a modelled version of a vast land area, of which Cyprus’ Troodos Mountains are literally right at the top, as the ‘towering peaks’ described by Plato. Sarmast explains that “our modelling of Atlantis Island corresponds not only to clues extracted from Plato, but to well-known illustrations of Atlantis. A simple visual comparison between the best-known drawings of Atlantis from Plato’s description and our sonar-based recreation of antediluvian (pre-flood) Cyprus offers an eerie similarity.”
Naturally Sarmast offers more clues and evidence that Cyprus could be the tip of the lost huge island of Atlantis and its proof of a vast and advanced civilisation and if read with an open mind, perhaps his book and further writings could persuade even the greatest cynic. Next time you are enjoying a majestic view of the Mediterranean, let your mind wander to what and who could be buried deep beneath its constantly shifting seafloor.
Weight for me tomorrow. Paul
Paul Lambis is the author of “Where is Home?” – A journey of hilarious contrasts.
For more information on Paul Lambis, and to order his book online,
visit www.paul-lambis.com
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