Atlantis
Samantha Znaniecki
Estes
English I
24 October 2013
Mythical or Actual?
The myth of the mysterious, advanced Lost City of Atlantis has led people to questioning the reality of it for centuries. Many do not know whether to believe or to just laugh at the thought of the phenomenon. The Greek philosopher, Plato, left people not knowing what to believe. Some people are for it, while others are against the idea of the lost city. Many people cannot seem to prove whether it was real or fake. Although they are still unsure, the advanced, mysterious descriptions and view of the city are used in Plato’s belief and writings.
Greek philosopher, Plato, started the story of the lost city around 355 B.C. (Lee). In Plato’s writing, he described it as “an extraordinary Utopian society” (“Lost City”). This was a society “which valued peace, art and wisdom, possessed technological knowledge for the time, and enjoyed riches beyond that of any subsequent civilization” (“Lost City”). Plato explained that the land had many resources, but there were also downfalls. The soil was very rich, and they had a plentiful supply of food, water, animals, wood, and flowers. Although they had an abundance of resources, the civilization soon began to fall.
After many generations went by, the leaders started becoming very selfish and greedy. Once this started, war began to wage with neighboring countries. One of the examples is mentioned as, “They conquered parts of North Africa and Europe and were about to attack Egypt and Athens, when the Athenian army valiantly drove them back and defeated them” (“Lost City”). Many people believe that after this victory a dangerous earthquake, tidal wave, and a flood came to the city. As a result of these violent storms, the Athenian army and Atlantis were ruined. It is said that the city sank in a single day and night. While some thought of this stormy theory as being true, others thought it could have been volcanoes, asteroids, or even
Estes
English I
24 October 2013
Mythical or Actual?
The myth of the mysterious, advanced Lost City of Atlantis has led people to questioning the reality of it for centuries. Many do not know whether to believe or to just laugh at the thought of the phenomenon. The Greek philosopher, Plato, left people not knowing what to believe. Some people are for it, while others are against the idea of the lost city. Many people cannot seem to prove whether it was real or fake. Although they are still unsure, the advanced, mysterious descriptions and view of the city are used in Plato’s belief and writings.
Greek philosopher, Plato, started the story of the lost city around 355 B.C. (Lee). In Plato’s writing, he described it as “an extraordinary Utopian society” (“Lost City”). This was a society “which valued peace, art and wisdom, possessed technological knowledge for the time, and enjoyed riches beyond that of any subsequent civilization” (“Lost City”). Plato explained that the land had many resources, but there were also downfalls. The soil was very rich, and they had a plentiful supply of food, water, animals, wood, and flowers. Although they had an abundance of resources, the civilization soon began to fall.
After many generations went by, the leaders started becoming very selfish and greedy. Once this started, war began to wage with neighboring countries. One of the examples is mentioned as, “They conquered parts of North Africa and Europe and were about to attack Egypt and Athens, when the Athenian army valiantly drove them back and defeated them” (“Lost City”). Many people believe that after this victory a dangerous earthquake, tidal wave, and a flood came to the city. As a result of these violent storms, the Athenian army and Atlantis were ruined. It is said that the city sank in a single day and night. While some thought of this stormy theory as being true, others thought it could have been volcanoes, asteroids, or even