Atlantis: The Richat Structure
A view of the Richat Structure and the surrounding area from space. Image credit: busy.org
A while ago I came across a couple of very interesting videos on YouTube, by Bright Insight, that I would like to share. The main topic of these videos aims to provide evidence to suggest that the legendary Atlantis was real and can be located with relative ease in the modern day. The main sources of evidence provided for this suggestion draws from Plato’s accounts of Atlantis in his Timaeus and Critias dialogues.
For those who are unfamiliar with Plato (approx. 428 BC – 348 BC), he was an Ancient Greek philosopher whose works are considered to be one of the most influential in Western Philosophy. As a note, we ought to be aware of Plato’s wide use of myths and tales as a means to address deeper philosophical issues, so that we are not so quick to conclude all of his works as literal facts.
Origins of Atlantis
A bust of the Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. Image credit: ancient.eu
Plato came to know of Atlantis through the writings of his ancestor (six generations removed) Solon, who was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker and poet. Solon challenged the political, economic and moral decline of Athens during his time, so he was regarded as someone with wisdom and integrity. It is said that Solon came to know of Atlantis through an Egyptian priest at the temple of Neith at Sais, Egypt. They had records (in hieroglyphics) of Atlantis dating around 9,000 years back due to their shared militaristic conflict alongside Athens.
The classical description of Atlantis is of an island that was home to a rich, militarily powerful, and technologically advanced civilisation. The first king of Atlantis was known as Atlas and the name ‘Atlantis’ is said to mean ‘Island of Atlas’. In the dialogues, Atlantis is said to have lost a war against Athens, dating back to around 11,000 years ago from the modern age. Furthermore the disappearance of Atlantis was attributed to excessively violent earthquakes and floods which caused the island to sink into the sea within one day and night.
Some interpretations of Plato’s work suggest that the story of Atlantis was based on a real civilisation and location. Other interpretations suggest Plato used Atlantis as an example to demonstrate the capacity for society to sink from a utopian civilisation, into one of corruption, greed and immorality under the weight of its own hubris. Therefore, the interpretations of Plato’s accounts of Atlantis often take either a historical or philosophical perspective.
An artist’s depiction of what Atlantis may have looked like based on Plato’s descriptions. Image credit: vvikipedia.co. Click on image to enlarge.
Location Theories of Atlantis
There are many theories regarding the possible location of Atlantis and I will briefly cover some of them here.
1. Greece
It is said that Atlantis was closely related to Thera or what is known as modern day Santorini, Greece. Some suggest the famous island inspired Plato’s story of Atlantis, whilst others suggest it and the nearby area (much of which could be buried in the sea) was a structural part of Atlantis.
Could Santorini be related to Atlantis? Click on image to enlarge.
In 1967 a hidden settlement known as Akrotiri was discovered having been buried under volcanic ash for approximately 3,500 years. Around a similar time, a catastrophic volcanic eruption (sometimes known as the Thera eruption) occurred. The magnitude of this eruption is thought to have been ‘Ultra-Plinian’ (7 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index) which was roughly 100 times more powerful than the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii. It is theorised that this eruption coincided with Plato’s detailing of a cataclysmic event that sunk Atlantis into the sea in one day and night.
A list detailing the different explosive qualities of various volcanos. Image credit: wikipedia.org. Click on image to enlarge.
A view of Santorini and its nearby waters as it exists today. Image credit: assets.nasa.gov. Click on image to enlarge.
2. Black Sea
One theory suggests that Atlantis used to be where the Black Sea currently is. The idea behind this theory follows from the previous Ice Age and the dramatic rise of water levels around this time. It is said that partial parting of the Eurasian continent (to the extent it was known) allowed saltwater from the Mediterranean Sea to flood a freshwater lake, thus creating the Black Sea and drowning Atlantis simultaneously. Some say that this event was the inspiration for the Bible’s story of Noah’s flood.
A view of the Bosphorus Strait that cuts through Istanbul, Turkey. To the left is the Black Sea whilst on the right is the Marmara Sea, which is connected to the Mediterranean Sea. Image credit: assets.nasa.gov. Click on image to enlarge.
3. Bahamas
Another theory suggests that Atlantis may be hidden in the nearby waters of the Bahamas’ Bimini islands. In 1968, a few divers noticed a pavement-like structure on the seabed which was later described as large round stones. This structure is now known as the Bimini Road or Bimini Wall. However, geologists have said that this structure is naturally occurring rather than manmade.
Whilst it may be a stretch to claim that this reveals the location of Atlantis, there is another interesting point to this theory. In the 1930s, a renowned psychic, Edgar Cayce, claimed that part of Atlantis would be discovered in 1968 or 1969, off the east coast of North America. This prediction coincides with the time and location of the Bimini Road discovery and has prompted many expeditions and explorations over the years.
Divers explore the Bimini Road off the Bimini islands in the Bahamas. Image credit: allthatsinteresting.com. Click on image to enlarge.
4. Morocco
Plato mentions that Atlantis was beyond ‘the pillars of Heracles’, which is now known as the Strait of Gibraltar found in the southernmost peninsula of Spain. From this, some believe that Atlantis might be somewhere in South-West Morocco by the Atlantic Ocean. Plato also mentioned that Atlantis had structures made from ‘red, white and black bedrock’, which have been found around the West Souss-Massa region of Morocco.
The Strait of Gibraltar, looking out into the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is on the right whilst Morocco is on the left. Image credit: assets.nasa.gov. Click on image to enlarge.
5. Antarctica
Charles Hapgood’s ‘Earth Crustal Displacement’ theory in his book, Earth’s Shifting Crust (1958) suggests that the relatively quick movement of the outer crust could cause continents to shift great distances over time. With the notion of Hapgood’s theory, some began to suggest that Atlantis could have been the Antarctic continent itself or is hidden somewhere under the giant ice sheet.
6. Nordic Countries
During the period of Nazi Germany in the 20th century, several global expeditions were launched to locate Atlantis. One of the main ideas of Nazism was that the Nordic race was the most superior, ‘the true Aryans’. In particular, there was a belief that the people of Atlantis were ancestors of this race as they had been described as a utopian civilisation with a population that had traits of perfection. This prompted their investigations and expeditions to find descendants of the people of Atlantis in countries such as Sweden, Scotland, Iceland, France and even Tibet.
Atlantis and Contemporary Culture
In contemporary thought and in pop culture, Atlantis has been depicted in a variety of ways that heavily draw from Plato’s accounts, such as being a utopian city that was built by an ancient civilisation with advanced technology, or as a mystical place that is often influenced by magical properties. However, a common theme is that Atlantis was once on land and is now hidden or lost somewhere in the ocean. An example of this can be found in the comic-inspired movie, Aquaman (2018), in which Atlantis is home to a technologically advanced, magical, superhuman underwater civilisation known as the Atlanteans.
Another pop culture depiction of Atlantis can be found in the Disney animated movie, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). In this movie, Atlantis was initially on the surface, but due to a massive wave, only its most inner part was saved as it sunk beneath the ocean. Many centuries later, an expedition to the bottom of the ocean manages to locate Atlantis which has been hidden inside a dormant volcano. The movie draws inspiration from the ‘Hollow Earth’ theory, which is a concept that proposes that there are pockets of space under the Earth’s outer crust where lost civilisations and other life may exist. In this movie the Atlanteans speak multiple languages such as Romani, French and English. They are also granted access to advanced technology and long life through ancient Atlantean crystals.
Despite the varied depictions of Atlantis, it is undoubtedly an idea that has captured the imaginations of many people in both ancient and contemporary times. There are perhaps a couple of reasons for this consistent resurgence of Atlantis throughout the ages. For many writers, the concepts within the story of Atlantis can drive interesting plot points. For example, ideas such as a ‘utopian fall from grace’ or a ‘mysterious underwater civilisation’, allows writers to stretch their audience’s thoughts from a different, unique perspective. Furthermore, with the description of Atlantis as such a rich and powerful nation, there is much attraction in the promise of finding vast amounts of fame and wealth for the first people to discover and excavate its location.
As humans, we love mysteries and we are evolved to explore the unexplored to discover things that may help us further our understanding of the world around us. Many may be intrigued by Atlantis due to the idea that it would have once been at the pinnacle of human civilisation in both wealth and power. I think that a large part of Atlantis’ allure lies in the fact that its location has never been conclusively confirmed, which keeps open a wide array of possibilities. Whether the belief is that Atlantis was a great city that sunk into the sea due to a natural disaster, or that its destruction was Plato’s allegory for the dangers of a society’s hubris, people of all backgrounds and cultures around the world can engage with its existential mystery.
The Richat Structure
Briefly summarising the main points of evidence that have been suggested in Bright Insight’s videos:
- Based on Plato’s descriptions, the suggested location of Atlantis is the Richat Structure (also known as the ‘Eye of the Sahara’), a geological structure of concentric rings, two of land and three of water.
- The destruction and disappearance of Atlantis is suggested to be around the time of the ‘Younger Dryas’ period, where global temperatures and sea levels drastically shifted towards a more hostile environment for many land mammals. The initial cause for this period has been attributed to several theories, such as an impact from fragments of a comet, that led to a global catastrophe.
- The land surrounding the Richat Structure appears to have been affected by a large movement of water, perhaps from a catastrophic tsunami. Weather maps also show that the Richat Structure would have been surrounded by the sea due to the higher sea levels in the distant past.
- There are several concise qualitative and quantitative details in Plato’s accounts, that appear to match up with the environment within and surrounding the Richat Structure. For example mountainous areas can be found to the north, alongside the remnants of what seem to be dried up streams of water. Atlantis was also described by Plato as 127 Stadia (unit of measurement) wide which roughly translates to 23.5 kilometres, which happens to be relatively near the size of the Richat Structure. As with the Morocco location theory, red, white and black rocks can be found at the Richat Structure.
- Herodotus (484 BC – 425 BC), a highly respected Ancient Greek historian, created a map that places Atlantes (Greek plural of Atlas, a legendary king of Mauritania) around Western Africa. This is a crucial piece of corroborative evidence as the Richat Structure is also found in the country of Mauritania, which is located in West Africa.
If the evidence is true and Atlantis really existed, it would change much of what we know about human history. That is, if such an advanced civilisation existed so long ago, it would reshape our current estimations of the first complex civilisation to develop (currently thought to be around 3,000 BC, Mesopotamia).
According to Plato, the main god the Atlanteans worshipped was Poseidon, famous for being the Greek god of the sea. In many depictions Poseidon is portrayed with a humanoid torso and head whilst having a lower body of a fish instead of legs and feet. He usually wields a trident which is thought to have aided him in controlling bodies of water, such as creating springs when striking the ground with it.
Similar beliefs in Greek deities have waned across West Africa (in favour of Islam). However, the Dogon people of Mali still hold some of their ancient beliefs, including the belief in spirits called ‘Nommos’, which are often described as amphibious, fish-like creatures who are considered to be masters of the water. This seems to reflect the appearance and descriptions of Poseidon very closely, which may suggest that some of the beliefs that existed in Atlantis could have been maintained by generations of people in the nearby settlements of West Africa.
Even if we overlook the possibility that the Richat Structure might be the location of Atlantis, it is still an outstanding geological site. There are a few theories as to how the structure was formed, but it is generally thought to be a result of a natural process beneath the Earth’s crust (such as a laccolithic thrust). However, due to the heavy erosion and its remote location, the accurate history of the structure is unclear.
In a similar way, the famous city of Troy was once thought of as a lost city that only existed in myth. When it was discovered in 1868 by an amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, that mainstream perspective shifted. With the nature of Plato’s concise descriptions of Atlantis, alongside his global reputation as one of the forefathers of Western philosophy, it is quite possible that Atlantis could also be found by modern day explorers and archaeologists. In this way, there are many people across the world who remain hopeful that Atlantis will be discovered one day.
VIDEO (Part 1): Ancient Map Shows The Lost City of Atlantis is The Eye of The Sahara
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Atlantis-Ritchat-1.mp4
VIDEO (Part 2): The Lost City of Atlantis – Hidden in Plain Sight?
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Atlantis-Ritchat-2.mp4
VIDEO (Part 3): The Lost City of Atlantis – Hidden in Plain Sight?
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Atlantis-Ritchat-3.mp4
VIDEO: Lost City of Atlantis Documentary
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/atlantis-full-base-docu.mp4
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richat_Structure
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_hypotheses_of_Atlantis
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/atlantis/
- https://www.ancient.eu/atlantis/
- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-myths/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MScbhEYUgB0
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/444076/The-Nazis-search-for-Atlantis-and-the-Holy-Grail
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04Zajli_2E
- https://visitingatlantis.com/
- https://youtu.be/b4mv9znfJkE
- https://youtu.be/LJjJ0oA9PKw
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy
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Very cool! My Dad is a fan of Edgar Cayce and I grew up hearing about Atlantis. A video popped up on my feed today about the “Eye of the Sahara” and its potential connection to Atlantis and I’m fascinated. I also took some philosophy courses in University and really admire the writings of Plato. Great article. Found this while searching information on the Richat Structure. Will be reading up more on this now. Thanks!
The Richat Structure in Mauritania has also been proposed as the site of Atlantis. This structure is considered to be a deeply eroded domal structure. The Richat Structure of Mauritania has captured the attention of astronauts for further research. The Richat Structure resembles an impact crater, formed when a volcanic dome hardened and gradually eroded, exposing the onion-like layers of rock. That’s amazing how it was formed. Researchers do believe that the Richat structure was caused by process of geological uplift followed by erosion from wind and water. More logical indeed . Looking at those pictures tells all, it has concentric bands of resistant quartzite rocks which form the ridges. Erosion region began to settle down and collapse in on itself, creating the roughly circular eye feature. Through the eyes of astronauts on-board when seen from far is eye-popping…….a fascinating circular structure. Interesting read of how theories regarding the possible location of Atlantis .
Thank you Rinpoche and Wei Tan for this amazing sharing