S E C RET O FPL AT O S

L O R DA R TJNHE TL L ap WA R DUR ,
s

A UT H O R OF

L O ND O N : BU R N S A ND O A T E S .
 PR E FA C E .

T H E fo llo w i ng page sr ritten fo r t h e Mo n th , b ut i n

we e w

t h e co u r se o f w r i t i n g e xt e n d ed th em se lv es b ey o n d t h e

li mit s o f a m agaz in e arti cl e ; t h e thi r d chapter m or e

particu larly b e co min g too e laborate i n for m fo r sui table
p u bli cati o n in a pe ri o di cal I have th e refor e pr eferre d
.
, ,

to p ubli sh th em separat ely A s ho w e ver it w o u l d have

.
, ,

i n volved too m u ch tro u bl e to have r e wri tten a n d re ca st

t h e arti cl e s I have pr i nt ed th em i n th ei r or i ginal for m
, ,

a s a ddr esse d to t h e r e a d e r s o f t h e Mon t h .

T h e su bj e ct at le a st i s a c u ri o u s a n d i n t e restin g
, ,

an d Mr Do nn e ll y s work wh i ch w as t h e occa si o n of

one .
,

t h ar ti cl e s b ein g w ri tt en co n tai n s m u ch c u r io u s sp e c u la
e ,

tio n an d i s wri tt en i n a style calc u lat ed to give z est to

,

t h e i n qu i r y It h a s h ad a wide c irc u lat i o n

. .

I canno t exp e ct t h e sa m e c irc u latio n for this little

volu m e m or e esp e ci ally a s t h e th eory it o ers i s n o t o f
'

t h e s a m e ro m a n ti c an d pop u lar charact er ; b u t I hop e i t

m ay co nt rib u t e so m et h in g towards t h e solu t io n o f a n

i nterestin g an d d ifc ult q ue stio n .
 T E NT S .

C R A P.

I AT LAN TIS H EORY

. PL A T o s D oNN E L L Y s T

II . C ON J EC T U RE A s T O T H E P RO BABL E BA SIS O

F PL A T o s

A T LAN TIS

FU RTH ER C ON J E C TU RE S D I LU VI A N T RAD ITI ON S

Iv . R EC EN T T E sT IMO N IE s

v . A L T ERN ATIVE T H E O R I E s

APPEN D I X T HE

PE R IPL us or H A NN o

APPEN D IX B A T LA N TIS

PL A T o s

A PPEN D IX T H EORY A S To THE PRO MI N E N C E or THE

BU LL IN T RAD ITI ON I oo
 PL A T O S A T L A N T I S

C H A PT E R I .

PL A T o s

A T LAN T I S ME . D oN N E L L Y s

T H E ORY .

B OOK whi ch i s n ow ( 1 8 8 3 ) i n it s seven th e diti o n se em s

to clai m so m e reply fro m t h e po i n t o f vi ew o f Tra diti o n .

It i s en ti tle d A tla n t is! t h e A n t ed ilu vl a n W o r ld " a n d

~ '
,
e
,

i n fact a nn o u n c e s that t h e D el ug e i n wh ich w e have

, ,

h ith e rt o b elie ve d a n d have calle d u n i ve r sal at any rat e to ,

t h e e xten t o f t h e d es tr u cti o n o f all m a n ki n d T did n o t ,

really occ u r b u t that t h e su b sid e n c e o f t h e i sla nd or c en

,

t in e nt o f Atlan t i s at s o m e i n d e n i te p er i o d w a s att en d ed
b y very sim i la r c i rc u m stan c e s a nd that i t i s t h e tra di ti o n
,

o f th i s cata stroph e w h i ch h a s so m eho w spre a d thro u gh all

co u n trie s w hi ch h a s cr e at ed t h e im pre ssi o n o f a unive rsal

,

d e l u ge ; i n o th er w or d s that th e r e w a s a d e l u g e b u t a
, ,

d el u g e as re ve al e d accordin g to Plato an d n o t accor di n g ,

to Mo ses .

T h e ev id en c e w h i ch Mr Do n n e lly h a s acc u m u lat ed b o th

.
,

as to t h e di l u vi a n tra di ti o n a n d al so a s to t h e co mm o n

tl ti t h A t di lw i n W ld By Ig tius D lly 7 th e di
A an s e n e v a or . na o nn e .

t i on .
( S am pson L ow
)
L on d on , 1 8 8 3 .

1

hi s ch p r
T pr v
a t e w as w ri t t en troversy o n t h e D elu ge
e i ou sly t o t h e con

in t h e p a ges r
o f t h e T a blet i n t h e y ea n o t ho w eve r a w a re
1 8 84 I am .
, ,

t ha t an y thi n g tra n spir e d i n that c o nt ro versy w hi ch wo uld re quire m e t o

retrac t or m o d ify a ny statement i n th e present paper If so I shall b e .
,

o bli ge d t o a ny o n e w h o wi ll pu t h i s nger on i t .

2 PL A T o s A TLA N TI S .

origi n rat e of t h e ci vilised n ati o n s on both sid e s

, at a ny ,

o f t h e Atl an tic i s by n o m e an s i n consid e rabl e ; an d i t

,

w i ll b e seen that i n so far a s h e fai l s t o su stain h i s spe

,

ci a l th e ory o f t h e su b m e rg e d Atlan ti s h i s co n vict i o ns , ,

fact s a n d t esti m o n i es m u s t pa ss to t h e acco u n t or lap se

,

to t h e in h er i ta nc e of what I have r egar ded a s t h e traditi o n

o f t h e h u m an rac e .

A s it i s always safe r a n d fa i r e r to pr esent t h e t h e ory

o f a n a u thor i n h i s ow n w or d s so fa r as m ay b e p ossi bl e ,

I w i ll gi ve t h e prin cipal h e a d s u n de r wh i ch Mr Do n n elly .

s u m m ari se s t h e p u rpo se o f h i s w o rk I shall have occa .

si o n at an
, y ra te i n di rectly to re fe r to t h e o m i t t ed h ea di n g s ,

i n t h e co u r se o f thi s d i s c ussi o n

1 h at th ere once existed

. T ta tc
i n t h e A l n i O e n , o pp o si e ca t
th e m o uth of t h e Medi terran e an .
S ea , a
lar ge i sl n d , w h i h w a s a c
th e remn ant of an A tlanti c c ont t t i n en a nd kn o w n t o t h e
, n i en a c
w o rld a s A tlantis 2 T hat t h e d escri p ti o n of thi s i sl an d gi v en b y
. .

Pl to i s not as h as b een l on g su pp ose d fabl e b u t v eri tab le h i st ry

a , , ,
o .

3 T hat A tla ntis w as t h e r egi on w h er e m an r st r ose fr o m a tate

. s

of b arb ari sm t o c i vili sati o n 4 T hat i t b ecam e in t h e c ou r se f

. . o

a ges p op ulous an d m ighty n ati on fr om w h ose o v erowi n gs t h e

a ,

s h o res of t h e Gulf o f Mexi co t h e Mi s i ssi pp i t h e A maz o n t h e Paci

,
s , ,

c co ast of S o u th A meri ca th e w e st co a t of E urop e an d A fri ca t h e

,
. s ,

B alti th e Bla c k S ea and th e C as pi an w ere p o p ul a te d b y ci vili se d

c , ,

n ati o n s 5 T h at i t w as t h e tru anted il uvi an w orld t h e Gard en

. . e

o f E d en t h e Gard en of t h e H e p rid e s t h e E ly si an Fi eld s t h e Ga r

,
s e , ,

d en o f A l cin ous th e M esom ph a l o s t h e O lymp os th e A sgar d o f t h e

, , ,

tradi tions of an ci ent nati on s rep r e n ti ng a uni versal m em o ry of se

a great land w here early m an kin d d w elt for ages i n p eace an d

h app in ess 1 2 T hat A tl an ti s p eri s h ed in a terri bl e c on v l i o n
. . u s

o f n at re i n w hic h th e w h ol e i sl and san k i nt o t h e o c ean a n d n e arly

u , ,

a ll i t s i nh abi tan ts 1 3 T hat a few p er son s escap ed in shi p s a n d

. .

o n rafts a n d carri e d t o t h e n ati n s e ast a n d w e st t h e ti din s o f

, g o

t h e a pp alli ng catas tr oph e w hi ch h a su r vi v ed t o our ow n ti m e in

, s

t h e Flo o d a n d D eluge le gen ds o f th e differe n t nations of th e ol d

a n d t h e n ew w orld s

.

thi s th e ory th e re are t w o d i st in ct propo si ti on s

In
( 1 ) that an i sla nd or co n tin en t o f At lant i s e xi ste d a nd ,

PL A T o s A TLA N TIS . 3

a k i n t h e ocean ; ( 2 ) an d that thi s sub mer sio n was t h e

s n

ori gin o f t h e vari o us di l uvi an leg en ds which are fou n d in

all part s o f t h e worl d .

T h e l e g end of Atla n ti s can har d ly b e as serted e ve n b y

Mr D o nn elly to b e t h e tra di t i o n o f t h e h u m an rac e for h e
.
,

him sel f t er m s it a n ove l propo si tio n .

act that t h e story o f A tl anti w a s for thousand f y ears

T he f s s o

regarded s a fable pro ves n othi ng T here i s an unb eli f w hich

a .
'

gro w s o t of ignoran c e a s w l l s a cepti ci sm w h ic h i b rn o f

u e a s s o

i ntelli g n For
e tho sand ears it w as b elieved that t h e
c e. a u y

l eg n d o f th e b u ri ed c iti es o f P m p i i an d H erculau eu m w ere

e s o e

myth s T h ere w as a time w he n t h e e xp edi ti on sent o t b y

. u

N e cho t ci rcu mn a vigate A fr i ca w

o d o b te d b ecause th e expl o rers as u ,

state d th at after th ey h a d p ro gressed a c ertain d i stan c e t h

, n , e su

w a s n ort h of th em T hi s circum st an c w hi ch th en aro

. ed s s e, us u

p i i o n n w p ro v e s t o u s th at th e E gyp ti an n a vi gato rs h d re ally

c , o a

p ass d t h equ ator a n d an ti ci p at ed b y 2 1 00 y ea rs Vasq

e e , d u ez a

Gam a i n h i s of t h e C ap e o f Go od H op e (p .

O oth er han d altho u gh it do es not app e ar that

n the ,

Mr D on n elly hi m self b e lie ves in t h e inspi ratio n o f Gen esi s

.
,

yet t h e fact th at i t h as b e en so b e li ev ed by m a ny m i ll i o n s
i n m a n y part s o f t h e wo rl d d u ri n g a lo n g con ti nu an c e o f
ye ar s m ust s tand for so m ethi n g a s agai nst a th e ory .

A s i t i s my wi sh to co n n e my arg um en t to t h e li mi t s
o f h i stor i cal tra di ti on I s h o u l d hav e b een wi llin g to have ,

acc ept ed Mr Do nnelly s r st pro po siti on viz that Atlan tis

.

, .

e x i st e d an d su b si de d at a n y rat e p ro a/rgwmen t o if h i s , ,

t o ri ca l i n v esti gatio n h a d no t d estroy ed t h e p rim a) fa ci e

e v id e n c e which seeme d to co m p e l or i nvi t e t h e i n q u i ry .

Thi s ho w ever i s a poin t w h ich t h e r ea der mu st de c id e

, , .

Apart ho w e ver from t h e h i sto ri cal e vi denc e I m u st

, , ,

re m ark that Mr Do nn ell y s theo ry i s opposed fro m th ei r

.
.

,

se v e ral poin t s of v i e w b y Mr W allac e Mr Dar w in , .

, .
,

a n d Pro fe ssor G ei ki e (s i d e W allac e s I sla nd L ife chap

.
,

vi .

Mr W allac e s arg um ent

.

is no t , it is tr ue a ddr e sse d to
,

4 PL A T o s A T LAN T I S .

am e set of fact s as are a dduce d in Mr Do n nelly s

th e s .

chap s v v i. . T h e T e stim on y o f t h e S ea
. T h e T e st i

m o n y o f t h e Flora a n d Fau n a Th i s ho w eve r i s a m att e r
.
, ,

w h i ch Mr Do nn e lly m u st s e ttl e w i th Mr W allac e

.
T he . .

d at e o f Mr Do n n e lly s r st e di t io n i s n o t stat e d

.
.

Mr Do nne lly s se c o n d propo sit io n i s o f co u r se d e p en

.

, ,

d e n t o n t h e r st ; b ut I w i ll co nt i n ue t h e a n aly si s o f hi s
e vi d e n c e .If t h e e xi st en c e o f Atla n t i s co u l d have b een
-

co n sid ere d probabl e w e m i gh t have b e li eve d it to have

,

b een t h e sc ene o f t h e e arthl y para dise t h e locati o n a nd ,

d o m i ci le o f m an in t h e a nt e di l u v i a n w orl d a n d t h e di rec ,

t io n to w h i ch alik e t h e sa d r e mi ni sc e n c e s an d br ight hopes

o f m a n k i nd r e v e rt e d .

I w i ll n o w proc ee d to di s c u ss t h e pri n c i pal e vi den c e

w h i ch Mr Do n nelly a dd u c e s
. Th er e i s o n e t est im o ny at
.

p 9 5 w h i ch see m s i n so m e sor t to favou r t h e s u gge s tio n

.

I have j ust m a de T h e tra dit io n s o f t h e e arly Chri sti a n

ag e s to u chin g t h e D el uge poi n t e d to t h e qu art e r o f t h e
w orl d i n w h i ch Atlan ti s w as si t u at ed Thi s ho w eve r .
, ,

i s o nly ba se d o n t h e th e ory o f t h e goo d m o n k Co sm a s w h o ,

b el ie ve d that t h e w orl d w a s at Th e r e w a s a q u ai n t .

o ld m o n k n am e d Co sm o s [Co sm a s] w h o abo u t a tho u s a n d ,

year s ago p ubli sh e d a book T op ogr ap hi a C h r i sti a n a

'

, , ,

acco m panie d b y a m ap [an en g ravin g o f wh i ch i s g i ve n] ,

i n wh i ch h e g i ve s hi s v i ew o f t h e w orld a s i t w a s t h en
u n d erst o o d
*
It w as a bo dy su rro u n ded b y wat e r a n d
.
,

r estin g on n o thing It w i ll b e ob se rved that wh i le h e

.

locat es Para di se in t h e E a st h e plac es t h e sc en e o f t h e ,

D e l u ge i n t h e W e st a n d h e su pp o ses that N oah ca m e

,

fro m t h e S c en e o f t h e D elu ge to E u rope In Dr S m i th s . .

Gre ek a n d R o m an b iography it i s howeve r said o n t h e , ,

co n trary T h e obj e ct o f th i s tre ati se i s to S ho w i n ,

p
o p o si t io n to t h e u n i v e r sal o p i n i o n o f a s tro n o m e r s that
,

t h e e arth i s n o t sph er i cal b u t a n ext end ed s u r fac e

,

I t ali t hr gh t cs min ou l s th
ou nt rary stat d
ar e e , u n es e co e .

PL A T o s A TLA N TI S . 5

W eapon s of e v ery kind are e m ployed a gai nst t h e pr eva iling

t heory &c , A n d altho u gh h e q u ot e s in t er a lta t h e
.

au thori ty o f t h e Fath e r s i t w i ll har d ly b e di sp ut ed t hat ,

t h e pr e v aili n g Chri sti an o pi ni o n co mm en ci ng wi th ,

Gen xi 2 .

A nd wh en th ey re mov e d fro m t h e E a st to
.
,

t h e plai n o f S enn aar h a s locat e d t h e desceh t fro m t h e ,

Ark in t h e mo un tain s o f Arm e ni a .

W e ha ve r ady
that Bero su s rel ates h o w in hi s time
al e seen

p orti on s of th e A rk w ere re m v d an d us ed s amulets J osephus o e a .

say s th at re m ain s of t h e A k w e re t o b e seen i n h i s d ay u p on

'

A rarat N ic ol as of D am a c
. repo rt th e sam e S t E piphani a s s us s . .

w ri te s T h e w o o d of t h e A k o f N o a h i s s ho wn to t hi s d ay in t h e
,
r

Kard aean [Koo rd] cou ntry ( A d v B arr lib i ; L egends of O ld

. es . . .

T est a men t C ha ra ct ers S Ba i ng Go l d i , . r -

u ,
.

So mu ch at any rat e as to t h e prevai ling opi ni o n

, , .

Co sm as b efor e h e h ad b eco m e a m o n k h ad been a great

, ,

n av igator bu t h i s explorat i o n s h a d b e en in t h e I ndia n

,

O c ean .

Mr Do nnelly i s nec e ssari ly lim it ed t o t h e data fo un d in

.

t h e fr agm ent of Plat o Plato c o m m en c es with thi s state .

m ent
tal e w hi ch w a s of great l en gth b egan a s foll ow s I
'

T he , ,
.

h ave b efO re rem arked i n sp ea kin g of t h e all otments of th e gods

, ,

that they distri buted t h e w hole earth in to p ortions diff rin g in e

e x ten t and m ad e th em sel v s tem pl es a n d sacri ces

,
A nd Poseidon e .
,

receiving for hi s lot th e i slan d o f A tlan ti s b egat children by a ,

m ortal w oman H e l o b egat n d b rou ght u p v e p ai rs of

. a s a

m ale children : t h eld est w h o w a s kin g h e n am ed A tl as a n d

e , , ,

from hi m t h e w h ole i sl an d a n d t h e o c ean rec ei v ed th e n ame of

A tlanti s ( p

.

N ow , t o Po se i d o n , I r e co mm en d Mr D o nn e lly to a
as .

short b ut abl e tre ati se Posei d on a L i n k bet w een S emi te,

H mi t e,
er a nd A r ya n By R Bro w n (L o n gm an s , 1 8 7 2 )
. .

in which the w or sh i p i s trac e d

fro m i t s start ing po i n t i n -

C h ald ma, thro ugh Ph oen i cia , Ph i l i sti a , L ib ya , a n d Gr eec e

a nd Mr Brow n n ally i d e n t i es h i m with t h e
. patriarch

6 PLA T O S A T LA N T IS
'

N oah , ha nd ed d o w n i n L i byan m ythology fell o w i n g i n

as ,

*
th i s t h e li ne s o f tra d it oi n .

A n d look in g t o t h e d iffu si o n o f th i s w or sh i p o f Po sei d o n

i n Afri ca i n cl u di n g E gypt Cartha ge E th i o p i a Ma u ri
, , , ,

tan i a and thro u gho u t t h e Phoeni c i an colo n isati o n w e

,
,

s ee m to u n d e r sta n d Plato s state m e n t that A tla n t i s o n c e

h ad an e xt e n t gr e at e r tha n L i by a a n d A si a For .

m a ny c e n t u r i e s say s L e n o r m a n t t h e Pe la sg i o f t h e

, ,

Arch i p elago Gr ee c e a nd Italy t h e Ph ili stin e s o f Cr e t e

, , , ,

t h e S i c i l i a n s t h e S ar di ni an s t h e L ibya n s t h e Ma xya n s
, , ,

o f A fri ca i n s p i t e o f t h e d i s ta n c e o f se a se parat in g th e m
, ,

u n i t e d in a cl o se co n fe d e rati o n m a i n tai n i ng a con s ta n t ,

i n t e rc o u r se a n d th u s e xplai n in g t h e L i b ya n e l e m en t
, ,

h i therto i n expli cabl e in t h e m o st a n c ie n t r e li gi o u s tra di

,

ti o n s o f Gr e ec e t h e w or shi p o f th e A th en i an Tr i to ni s
,

a n d o f t h e L i b ya n Po seid o n .

Atlan t i s tak e s it s n am e from Atla s t h e ki n g We .

h ear o f Atla s r st i n H esi o d a s so n o f Japet us h i s ,

broth e r w as Men oeti us ( Mn e siu s Plato ; Men u L a

,

,

n o r m ant ) and acc o r din g to Apollo d or u s h i s m oth e r s

, , ,

n a m e w a s A si a I n t h e Ho m e ri c po em s h e kn o w s all
.

t h e d e pth s o f t h e sea ; h e b e ar s t h e lo n g col u m n s w h i ch

te ar a su n de r or carry all aro u n d e arth an d h e aven : i n
e i th e r ca se t h e m e a n i n g o f k e e p i n g a s u n d e r i s i m pl i e d .

Atla s i s al so d escrib e d a s t h e l ea de r of t h e Ti tan s I n th ei r

Mr . B r o w n s ar gum en

t w o ul d have been
if h e h a d mu c h e n fo rced

n o t i c ed t h e fo llo win g p a s sa ge i n t h e J o ur na l of t h e A s i a t i c S o ci e t y , xv .

p 2 3 1 , b y C olo n e l R awlin so n , C B
. I e a d t h e t w o n am e s t h e c u n ei
. r
r r
fo m w i t in g can n o t b e t r a n sferr e d t o y ou c o lu mn s d o u b t ful ly as S i si r
r o n a nd N ahu (N o ah
) T h at t h e go d in qu e st i on ep e se nt s t h e Gr e ek
.
r r
rt t r
N ept u ne i s , a t a ny a e , a l m o s c e t ai n ; h e w a s w or shi pp ed o n t h e sea
s h o r e a n d shi p s o f go ld w e e d e d ic a e d t o h i m
.
r t
H i s O r di n ary i t le . t
a n d th e lat e tr
w o r d i s e xpl a i n e d in t h e vo cabul ar y a s ha i s , t t
a pzu , whi ch m ay b e al li e d t o Poo i n Po sei sw n, a s i t i s al so j oi n e d w it h

nun ,

a sh H i s o t he epi t he t s a re
. r
sur ma rr a ,

kin g o f th e t
se ,a

a nd pr oba bly go d o f t h e ship o r a r k O the t i t les I c an . r
n o t expla in ; b u t t he y se e m t o b e a ll co n n ec te d w i h r a di t i o n s o f t h e t t
bib lical N o ah .

PL A T o s A TLA N T IS . 7

co n t e st w i th Z eus ; oth er s represent Atl as a s a p o we r fu l

ki ng w h o po sse ssed gre at k no w le d g e o f t h e co u r se o f t h e
,

star s ( S m i th s D i ct i o n a r y )

.

I n t h e Tar gu m s N im ro d i s th u s m a de to a dd re ss h i s
,

su bj e ct s : Co m e let u s b ui ld a gr eat c ity , In t h e .

m id st o f o u r c i ty let u s b u i l d a h i g h to w e r Yea .
,

le t u s go fu rth e r le t u s p rop up t h e h ea v en o n a ll si d es
fro m t h e top of t h e t o w er that i t m ay n o t aga i n fa ll a n d ,

i nu n d a t e u s Th en let us climb up to h e ave n a n d br e ak

.

it u p w i th ax e s (Bari n g Go u l d O ld T est a men t

.
-
,

C h a r a ct ers , i .

W e m ay b e all o w e d to c o nj e ctu r e th e n that eith e r , ,

Atla s i s t h e tra dit i o n o f N i m r o d or N i m ro d o f Atla s , .

W i ll Mr D o n n e ll y m ai n tai n t h e latte r i n fac e o f t h e h i s

.

t o ri ca l e vi d e n c e o f N im ro d i n t h e B i bl e a n d i n t h e c u n e i ,

for m tabl e t s Am o n g oth e r so n s o f Po seido n w h o b ear

r
I n t h e Mon t h , J a n u a y 1 884 , I di scusse d t h e e vide nce as t o t h e
r
hist orical exi st en ce o f N i m o d wi t h efe en ce t o t h e cunei fo m ablet s r r r t .

tr
It h a s s uc k m e sin c e t hat t h e di ec t evid e nce , so far a s I kno w , h a s r .

n eve r t
been coll at ed w i h t h e i n dire c t e vid enc e , a s , fo r in st ance , as t o
t
t h e e xi s en c e o f C h u s t h e fa t he o f N im o d
. N ow , for t hi s the e i sr r . r
t
t h e t e s im o n y no t o n ly of A si a , b ut o f A fri c a A s e gar d s t h e l a t t e , . r r
t t
here i s t h e est i mony of J o seph us e co di n g t h e Ge n ile evi den ce o f h i s . r r t
d ay , a n d t h e in d epe n d en tr
e ce nt evi d e n ce o f t h e E gyp ti an mo nu men t s .

J o se phu s sa y s (A n t i vi S o m e i n de e d o f i t s n a m e s ( d esce nt o f
. . .

r
H am) ar e u t t e ly v ani she d ; y et t i me h a s n o t h ur t a t all t h e
n a m e o f C hu s

for t h e E t hi o p i a n s, over w ho m h e e i gn e d , ar e e ve n at r
t hi s d ay , bo th b y t h ems elv es a n d b y a ll men i n A si a , ca ll e d C h u si t es .

T h e m e m ory a l so o f, due T h a t t hi s t e st i m on y o f J o se phu s i s c o rro b o

.

r a t ed b y t h e m o s tr
ec en t evid e nc e w il l b e a pp a e n f o m t h e fo llo wi ng r t r
refer ences t o Bru g sc h s E g yp t (i W e have sub st it u t e d for t h e

.

E gyp t i a n a pp ell at i o n s T a Khou a n d Ku sh , t h e b et t e k no wn n am e s

-
t r
N u bi a a n d E t hi o p i a ; (i i 7 6) t h e l a n d o f Ku sh ; a n d u pon t h e
.

A ssyrian c onqu e st o f E gy p , t
1 0 0 0 , w e n d t h e na m e N imro d r e
a pp eari n g (ii 20 6) .

for T a k el o t h , U s ark o n , N e ma r o t h ep resen t i n t h e r
t
E gy p i an form wri t in g t h e n a m e s T i gl a t h , S ar go n, a n d N i m o d , so w ell r
r
kn o wn in A s syri a A S e gar d s A si a , th e ra dit ion h a d been fully r eco g
. t
n is ed (v i d e J of A si a t i c S oc , v xv pp 2 3 0
. I n S u si a n a t h e c hi ef
. . . .

s e at of t h e C u s h , w e ha ve t h e S cy t hi c S cy thi c o r H a mi t i c , [p 2 3 2 } .

in scri pt i o ns of S u sa a n d E ly m a i s, a n d t h e S cy t hi c n a m es o f Ki ssi a , C o s
r r tt
si ca , S hu s A fa , & c , no t fo ge i ng t h e t rad it i o n o f t h e E t hi o pi a n Me m
.

t
n o n an d t h e E hi o pi a n C e phe u s A long t h e li n e t o I n di a t h e E thi opi a n s
.
8 A T LAN TI S

PL A T o S .

resem bla n c e to At la s and N i m ro d are O rio n t h e gian t ,

h unt e r N i mr o d i s call e d i n t h e LXX t h e g i a n t .

t h e colo ssal y o u th s O t o s an d E ph i alt e s

'

h u n t er , an d ,

who at n i ne year s old at t e m pt e d to scal e h eaven b y p ili n g

u p m o u n tai ns ; which s ay s Ho m e r th ey wo u ld have
, ,

a cco m pli sh ed h ad n ot Apollo slain t h em Mr . .

Gla dsto n e r em ark s t h a t t h e effort s of t h e t wo yo u th s

(J uv Ma n

re call t h e tra ditio n s of t h e Towe r of B ab e l . .

251 Bro w n s Po seid on

,

Mr Do nnelly s b est po in t i s h i s su ggest i o n that Atlan

.

ti s i s i den tic al with Aztlan i n C en t ral A m e ric a

t at art
U p on h p r ca c t t ar t
of th e A f i n t
o n i n en ne es t o t h e si e o f

ta
A l nti s w e nd a c a
t r t
h in o f m ou n ai ns known f om t h e m o s
c t t
an i en ta t c
im e s a s th e A l s m ou n a in s a ta
W h en e th e n m e A l s,
.

r a r at
if it b e n ot f om th e n m e of t h e g e a t kin g of A tl n i s !
L ook at it ta ta r r ca
A n A l s moun in o n t h e sh o e of A f ita an A l n .

t r r ca
ow n o n th e sh o e of A me i ta t a rt
t h e A l n i s li vi n g l o n g t h e n o h
w est cat o s of A fri ca
i tc
an A z e r ta
p tra
eo p l e f om A z l n i n C en l
r ca
A me i c r
; a n o ean t r ca
oll in g b e w een t h e t wo w o l d s ll e d t h e
ta tc a t
A l n i ; c t ca
my h ologi al d ei y ta r
ll ed A l s holdi ng t h e w o ld on
r r a tra t
hi s s h o ul d e s; a n d a n imm em o i l a ta t
di i on O f a n i sl n d of A l n i s .

t t r t ac
C an all hes e hin gs b e esul o f t c id en (p .

We h al l present ly have to con side r t h e qu esti on how

s

far t h e i mmemo ri al t r adi ti o n i s t h e offspring o f t h e
i n v en t i on of Pl at o B efor e aba n d o n i n g t h e pre sen t gro u n d
.
,

let m e r e m ark th at o ne form o f t h e l eg end of Atla s m ake s

h i m Ki n g o f Mau ri t a n i a w h er e are a l so locat ed t h e
,
'

m o u n tai n s of At las an d t h e At lan ti s Atla s w a s f abl ed .

to have b een t ur ned i n to a m o un tai n by Per seu s w h o w a s ,

r ew ed ho spitali ty by Atla s b e cau se h e h ad b een in form e d

,

of Be n tham Persi a were know n t o H o m e , H e o do us, an d S tra b o r r t .

r
T h e B ahu i divisi on o f t h e Be l s re j o in ed t hei C u shi t e b e t hre n in r r
r
Makr a n b y crossing f om A r abi a , a n d still spea k a S cy hi c di al ec ; t t
w hi le t h e n ame s of Ko o ch an d Beloo ch fo r Kus and Bels r e m a i n t o t h e
presen day " C olon el R a wli nson , C B (now S ir H enr y R a wlin son ,
t . . .

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 9

by an oracl e Th em is that h e sho u l d b e dethro ned b y

of

o n e o f t h e d e sc e n d a n t s o f J u p i t e r Th i s r e a d s ve ry m u ch
.

l ik e t h e tra di ti o n that t h e d es c en dan t s o f J aph et w e r e to

dw ell i n t h e t en t s o f Ca n aa n ; a n d t h e b e li e f o f Atla s
havi n g b een su b du ed b y Pe r seu s t h e Grec ian h ero t h e r
'

fri e n d o f Ath en e m ay acc o u n t fo r that part o f t h e spe e ch

pu t i n to t h e m o u th s o f t h e E gypti a n pri e st s b y Plat o

Ma n y gr eat a n d w o n de r fu l d eed s a re rec o r de d o f yo u r

Stat e in o u r h i st o r i e s ; b ut on e o f th em exc ee d s all t h e
r est i n gr eat n e ss an d valo u r fo r th e se h is t o ri es t ell o f a
m i ghty po w e r w h ich w a s aggr e ssi n g w an to n ly a ga i nst t h e
w h o l e o f E u rop e a n d A si a an d to w h i ch yo u r c i ty
, p u t an
en d . Th s p ow e r cam e forth o u t o f t h e Atla nt i c O c e an
i
,

&c . Howeve r I shall gi ve later o n a n alt ern at ive sug

,

gesti o n .

T h e i n a d v ert e n t re a de r n ee d s to b e v ery m uch o n h i s

gu ar d i n r e a d i n g Mr Do n n e lly E ach su b se q u en t chapt e r
. .

ab so lu t ely a s su m e s t h e c o n cl u sio n s o f t h e pr evi ou s chap

t er . Th u s ch vii
, . T h e Iri sh C o lo n i e s fr o m Atla n t i s
.
,

,

w h i ch n at u rally exc it e s o u r i n t e r e s t c o m m en c e s We
, ,

have seen that b eyo n d q u e sti o n Spai n a n d Fra n c e o w ed a

g r e at part o f th e i r p o p u lat io n t o Atlan t i s b u t if w e

r e vert to ob i v . T h e Ib er i an Co lo ni e s o f Atla n t i s
.
, ,

wi th t h e e xc e ptio n o f t h e stat e m en t w h i ch I shall pre ,

se n t ly d i sc u ss that t h e T u r d et a n i a r e sa i d b y S t rabo t o
,

have h a d w r it i ng s 60 0 0 ye ar s o ld th er e i s n othi ng W hat

,

e v e r t en d in g to s u pport h i s c o n t e n t io n Th er e i s in d ee d
.
, ,

t h e a s se rti o n that t h e B a sq u e la n g u ag e h a s a n al o gi es
w it h t h e A lgo n q u i n a n d oth e r A m e r i ca n la n g u age s ; a n d
th e r e i s a sim ilar arg um en t i n an oth e r ver y le ar n e d
'

chapt e r i n r e sp ect to t h e a fni ty b et wee n t h e Maya a n d

Phoeni c ia n I r e m em b er r ea di n g in t h e Mon t h th a t
.

t h e d ev i l i s s ai d to have sp en t t w o y e a s i n t h e Ba s q u e
r
c o un try en de avo u rin g t o le ar n t h e la ngu age b ut at t h e ,

e n d o f that t i m e aba n d o n e d i t a s h e h a d o n ly m a s t e r e d
,
10

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

o ne wor d wh i ch w a s w ritt en li ke N ab u cho do n o sor an d

,

pro n o un c ed S e n n ach eri b Allowing ho w e ver Mr

.
, ,
.

Do n nelly to have seen farth e r i n to t h e m i ll s to n e t h an a ny

o ne e l se thi s correspo n d e n c e o f lan g u age wo u ld ten d t o
,

prove t h e co m m o n origi n o f m an kin d t h e or i gin al u ni ty ,

o f to n g u e a n d t h e migrat i o n fro m a c o m m o n c en tr e i n
,
.

Me sopot ami a e q ually with e migrat i o n fro m Atla n t i s ;

u n l ess i n d e e d t h e r e a de r i s pr epar e d t o b e l ie ve th at t h e
, ,

Maya s o f Am e rica are d e sc end ed fro m Mai a t h e

,

d a ught e r o f Atla s ! T h e Ib e rian s havi n g b een th u s

d e m o n st rat e d to b e
Atlan t ea n s i t su fc es to sho w i n ,

t h e ch apt e r o n Ir ela n d t h a t t h e e arly i n va si o n s ca m e fr o m

'

Ib er i a. Spai n in that d ay w a s t h e la nd o f t h e Ib e ri a n s ,

t h e Ba sques tha t i s to sa y o f t h e Atla n t e an s

, (p .

Agai n w e re a d ( p 28 6) .

W e nd th e barb ari an s o f th e c oa st of t h e Me diterra nea n re

gardin g t h e ci vili sed p eop le of A t l n t i s w ith a w e a n d w o nd er
a T h ei r .

phy sical stren gth w s extraordi n ary th e earth shak ing sometim es
a ,

u n d er th ei r tr e ad W h atev er t h e y d id w as do n e sp ee d ily T h y
. . e

m o ved thr o ugh s p ac e alm ost w i th ou t th e l o ss of a m o m en t of ti m e

.

T hi s p rob ab ly all u d ed t o th e ra pid m o ti o n o f th eir saili ng v essels .

T hey w ere w i se a n d c omm uni cated th ei r w i sd o m t o m en T h at

.
,

i s t o say th ey ci vili se d t h e p eo pl e t h ey came i n c on tact w ith

, .

O th e r q uotati o ns follo w , all w ith r efer en c e to Mu rray s

Myt h ology .

W e sho u l d n at urall y e xp e ct th at t h ese q u otations fro m

Mu rray h ad so m e referen c e to Atlan t i s N o t at all Mr . . .

Mu rray i s o nly sp eak i n g o f t h e O lym pi a n s But Mr . .

D o nne lly havin g sati s ed him sel f th at O ly m po s i s i denti cal

w i th Atla n t i s ( h e e v en co n t e n d s th at t h e l e tt e r s of t h e
.

w o r d s are i n t e rchan g e abl e a n d t h e n a m e s id en tical ) h en c e ,

fo rwar d e ve ry th i n g that i s re cor ded o f O lym po s i s c on

v e rt i b l
y t o b e spok en o f Atlan t i s .

Fro m o ne po int of vie w Atla nti s an d O ly mpo s A sg ar d

, ,

a n d A t la n t i s a re part o f a c o m mo n tra di t io n a q u est i o n

, ,

wh i ch I shall pr esent ly di sc u ss W h en howeve r Mr .

, , .
 '

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S . 11

Do nn elly r e cog n i se s r esem bl an c e s th ey m u st at o nce b e ,

r e gar d e d a s c o n cl u si ve e g that O lym po s i s a tradi tio n o f

. . .

A tlan ti s .I n sh o rt Mr D o nn e lly app e ar s u n ifo r m ly to

, .

arg ue accor d i n g t o t h e fo r m u la C aesar a n d Po m p ey ve ry

m u ch ali k e e sp e ci ally P o m p ey
, .

It see m s u nn e c e ssary t o say that Mr D o n n e lly see s t h e .

n a m e o f Atla n t i s e v e ry w h e r e E xc e pt w h e n h e cl u tch e s .

at ev id e n c e i n th i s way h e app ear s p e r fe ctly able t o we i gh

fact s a n d evide n c e ; a n d i t m u st b e a c kn o w le d ge d that
th e r e i s a see m in g co n r m ati o n o f h i s th e ory i n t h e m y
t h o lo gi ca l a n d cla s si cal l o cat io n o f t h e Gar d e n o f t h e
He sp e rid e s i n t h e I slan d s o f t h e W e st I have alr e a dy .

( p 2 ) q u o t e d Mr Do nn elly on th i s h e a d H i s co n r m a
. . .

tio n o f t h e th eo ry h o w eve r a gai n di sappe ar s w h en w e

, ,

re m e m b e r t h at t h e Gar d en o f t h e H esp eri de s w a s o n ly o n e

o f t h e r e m i n i sc e n c e s o f E d e n It i s tr ue that fro m h i s .

po in t o f view E den i s o n ly a r emin i sc e n c e o f Atla n t i s b u t

apa rt fro m t h e argu m e n t w hi ch I sh all proc e e d to p u t
E d en i n t h e E a s t havin g b ee n t h e pro m i n e n t b e li e f o f
m a n k in d t h e o nu s p r o ba n di l i e s o n h i s si d e o f s h o wi n g
that all tho se tr adit i on s Me r u O ly m p o s E ly si u m A sgard, , , , ,

Mid gard c en tr e d in Atlan ti s So far fro m th i s b ei ng t h e

,
.

ca se t h e salie nt fe at u r e s o f t h e tra di t io n w h i ch a re c o m m o n
,

to t h e o th e r l ege n d s are bar ely di sc er n ible in th e de sc ri p

ti o n o f Plat o a g i nste a d o f a garde n w e ha ve o nly a ferti l e
,
.

plai n W ith t h e e xc e ptio n o f t h e Gar de n o f t h e Hesp e ride s

.

all th ese othe r tra di tio n s plac e t h e Gard e n o f Para di se i n

t h e E a st or t h e supp o se d c e n tr e o f t h e w o rl d
*
.
,

I n all th ese l ege n d s ( w e shall a gr ee so fa r ) w e n d t h e

e m bo d im e n t o f e arly t r a diti o n i n a gar de n o r a plai n a ,

palac e o n or in co nn e ctio n wi th a m o u n tain Th ere i s .

,

Moreover ,
b
t h e Ba ylo ni a n t ra d it i o n l aced ar a d i s e
t h e Bi le an d b p p
and t h e

hr
fa t e o f c o u n t i e s

r
i n t h e E ast (s i d e M L e n o r m a nt , M . .

r x
O pper t , a n d L A bb Vigo u ou , L a Bi ble g t les D cou v er t ea Mo d em es ,

i
.

12 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

howeve r o ne feat u re co m m o n t o th e m a ll w h ich at r st

'

, ,

si ght favo u r s Mr Do n n e lly s th e ory a n d w h i ch p e rhap s

, . , , ,

h as co n r m ed h i m in i t th ey are all su rro u n d e d b y w at e r .

Thi s h e n at u rally c o n t en d s m e an s t h e i sla n d o f Atlan t is .

Bu t wh en w e c o n s i d e r that w h enev er t h e A n c i e n t s r epre

se n t e d t h e w o r ld th ey r epr e se n t e d i t su rro u n d e d by w ate r
it i s so r epr e sen t e d i n Ho m e r a n d i n t h e m a
p w h i ch
Mr Do nn elly gi ve s o f t h e o ld m o n k Co sm a s ; that o n e
.

fo r m t h e l e ge n d tak es i s that o f Mi d gard t h e m idd l e o f ,

t h e e arth t h e w h i ch

m eso m ph alo s
,
w a s e quallv di s
,

ta nt o n all side s fro m t h e sea a n d w h e n w e co n si d e r

that accor din g to t h e exp er i ence o f m an kin d i n t h ei r

e xplorat i o n s i n thr ee d i re ct i o n s i n t h e Atla n t i c a n d ro u n d
,

t h e A fr i ca n coa s t to t h e Chin ese se a s all w a s w at e r t h e ,

n orth b ein g se al e d to th e m a s i t i s to u s I th i n k Mr
'

. .
,

Don n e lly h a s o n ly to en larg e h i s vie w an d h e w ill fall back ,

i n to t h e t ra dit io n o f m a nki n d .

At p 3 26 Mr Do nn elly says
.
, . Th u s t h e n at io n s on
t h e w e st o f t h e Atla n t i c look to t h e e a st fo r th ei r plac e o f
or i gi n w h i le o n t h e ea st o f t h e Atla n t i c they look to t h e
west : th us all t h e li n e s o f tra ditio n co nv e rge u pon

Atlan ti s Bu t pr e c i sely t h e sa m e m ay b e sai d i f w e
start m an ki n d fro m t h e pla i n o f S e n n aar .

A n d if w e start m a n ki n d fro m t h e plai n o f S en n aar o n

t h e l in e s o f t h e b i bl i cal n arrat i ve i s it u n n at u ral to e xp e ct
,

that th ey sho u ld e m bo dy th ei r tra diti o n s o f para di se t h e ,

To w e r o f Bab e l and t h e D e lu g e i n t h e co n c epti o n gro

, ,

t e squ e n o d o u bt o f a gar d e n o n a m o u nta i n su rro u n d ed

,

b y w at e r I n all t h e l e gen d s o f In di a t h e or i g in al se at
o f m a nki n d i s
plac e d o n Mo u n t Meru t h e re sid e n c e o f t h e ,

g o d s a col u m n un i t i n g h e ave n to e arth ( L e n o r m an t F7 a g

, , .

C osm og d e B er o se p
. I n t h e Scan d i n av i a n l e gen d
, .
,

t h e c en tr i cal fortre ss w h i ch t h e g o d s co n str u ct e d fro m t h e

e ye br o w s o f Y m en a n d w h i ch to w e r e d fr om t h e m i d s t o f
,

t h e e arth e q u ally di stant o n all si d es fro m t h e sea i s cer ,

14

PL A T o s A T L A N T IS .

wat er wh ich d ivi ded it self in to several cha n nel s o n t h e

,

si de of t h e m o u n t ai n li ke t h e st re am o f paradi se t h e
, ,

spri n g o f A rva n d a or Ar d av a c u r a o f t h e Ira n ia n Hara -

Bera zui t i a n d t h e Ga n ga o f t h e In d i a n Me r u ( L en orm a n t

, ,

Co m par e thi s with Plato s d e scr i pti o n o f Atla nt i s

O n th e tow ard s th e sea a nd in th e n t e of th e w hole

sid e ,
ce r

i slan d th ere w a s a plain w hic h i said t o h a v e b e n t h e fair est of a ll

,
s e

p lain s an d v ery fertile N e r th e p lain again an d a l o i n t he cen t

, . a ,
s re

o f t h e i sl an d at a di sta n ce of a b ou t fty sta d i a th e re w a s a mo un

, ,

tain no t v ery high on a ny si de I n this mou ntain there d w elt o ne o f .

t h e e arth b orn p ri m ev al m en o f t h at c ountry w h o se n am e w a s E e

-
v

n or an d L cip pe a n d th ey h a d a n only d a gh te r n am e d C hi to
u ,
u .

Poseid on fell in lov e w i th h er an d b r eak i n g th e gro u n d

encl o sed th e h ill in w h i c h sh e d w elt a ll r ou n d m a ki ng alter n ate ,

zon es of s a a n d la nd la r
e
g r an d small er en ci l i ng on e ano th er ;
, e ,
rc

there w ere t w o of land and thr ee of w ater w hi ch h e tu rn ed as w i th a '

l ath e out of t h n t re o f th e i l n d e uidist a nt ev

e ce
q
-

y w y so th at n o
s a , er a ,

m a n c ould get t t h e i slan d f shi p s v oyages w re n o t y et h eard of

o ,
or e .

H e h im self s h e w a s a god fou n d n o difcu lty i n m a ki ng sp ecial

,
a ,

arrangem ents f t h e cent re i slan d bringing tw o streams of w ater

or ,

u nd er t h e e arth w hi c h h e ca ,d t o a sc en d a s sp ri n gs o ne of
u se ,

w arm w ater a n d t h o th er o f c ol d a n d m aking e v e ry v a i et

e
y of fo od , r

t o sp rin g p ab nd antly i n t h e ar t h
u u H e als o b egat n d b r o ugh te . a

u p v e p ai r o f m al e c hil d ren
s d ivi din g t h e isl an d o f A tl anti s i n to
,

t n p orti on s (D o n n elly s A t l n t i p
'
e a s, .

I have gi ven th ese extract s in j u xtapo sit io n at so m e

length a s it w i ll th us b e po s sible to d eci de w h e th e r tho se
,

i n clu din g Atlan ti s are all co m m o n tr adit i o n s o f t h e on e

h i storic n arrati ve wh i ch em brace s an d co mpl e te s the m all ,

or wh eth e r th ey all d eve loped o u t o f t h e sl e n d e r remi ni s

c en c es r ecor de d o f Atl anti s .

I a ssu me that Mr D o nn e lly w ill i nt r en ch h i m se lf i n t h e

.

po sitio n as it se em s t o me t h e o nly po sitio n tha t r em ai ns

,

to h im viz t hat
, .

Plat o states that t h e E gypti an s tol d S olo n th at t h e d estruction

o f A tl anti s o cc rr ed n i n e th ou san d
u
y ears b efore th at d at e t o w i t , ,

ab out nin e tho sand six hu ndred y ears b efor e t C h ri stian er a

u he .

T hi s l ooks li ke an e xtra ordinarily l o ng p eri o d of ti m e b t i t mu st b e , u


PL A T o s A T L A N T I S . 15

rem em b er ed that ge logi sts claim th at t h e remains of m n found in

o a

th e caves o f E ro p d at b ack e h ndred tho usand y ears ( p

u e e v u .

So tr e m en d o u s a po sit i o n ca n o n ly b e taken by a pro

c e ss o f sappi ng an d m i ni n g a s I c o n ne m yself to t h e ,

h istor ical fact s a n d do n o t pro fe ss to have at co mm an d

,

s u ch h e av
y art i ll e ry as w i ll di scharge y ear s i n a
si n g l e e xp lo si o n .

C o n sid eri n g that all chr o no lo gi e s a nd h i st o ri es u p o n

a n aly sis see m t o t er m in at e abo u t 3 0 0 0 B o o r if they in . .
,

clu d e t h e a n t e d i l u v i a n w o rl d to ab o u t 6 0 0 0 B c ; that i f , . .

t h e m i grati o n o f t h e n at i o n s i s r e trac e d th ey a r e fo un d t o
c o n v er g e u p o n t h e c en tral di str i ct ly i n g b et w ee n Pe r si a an d
t h e Me di t e rra n e a n Ar m e n i a t o E th i o p i a
, that acc o r d i n g ,

to Mr Pr o ct o r t h e c o n st ellat io n s k n o wn b y sim i lar n a m es

.
,

to var i o u sly di sp e r sed n at i o n s can a str o no m i cally b e sh o wn

t o have b e e n so n a m ed w i th i n t h e lati t u d e s i n di cat e d ab o v e
a n d abo u t t h e ye ar 2 2 0 0 B C th e r e i s a backgro u n d o f pro
. .
,

h ab i lity fo r tra d it io n s trac i n g back t o that p eri o d a n d a s ,

again st Mr Do nn e lly t h e ar gu m en t m ight alm o st b e s tat ed

.
,

m ath em at i cally G ive n t h e a m o u n t o f scept i ci sm wh i c h
.

w i ll attach to t h e tra n s m i ssi o n o f tra di ti o n s o f su ch cal i br e

a s t h e g ar d en o f para d i se t h e u n i ve r s al D e l u ge t h e d i s
, ,

persi o n d uri n g 3 0 0 0 y e ar s h o w m u ch w i ll ex i st a s to t h e ,

pre se rvati o n o f t h e sl i ght r em in i sc en c e s o f Atla n ti s a s ,

above d u rin g 9 0 0 0 year s

,

A s r eg ar d s t h e r e m i n i sc e n c e s o f Atla n t i s eith e r t h e ,

tra di ti o n o f th i s palac e m o u n tain a n d can al s w a s pr e , ,

F in t n
or o n e t k wh t C l
s a l R wl i
ce , a e
( p p 232) y a o one a n so n su . . sa s

o f t h mi gr t i n f t h S y t h
e a o o H mi t e Th y m t h v
c e or p d a es

e us a e S re a

t h m lv
e se t th es am t im ev r Sy i
sa e d A i Mi re o edi g t r a an s a no , se n n ou

co lo ni es fr om one c o unt ry to Ma u r i t a ni a
Iberi a , fr o m t h e , S i cil y , a nd

ot h e r . It i s w ell kn o w n t o e t hn o gr aphe s t hat t h e p a ssa ge o f t h e r

S cy t he i s t o b e tr
ac e d alo n g all t h e se l in es , eit he b y di e c t hi st ori c a l r r
r t t
t a di i o n , o r by t h e c o gn a e di a lect s sp o ke n b y t hei d esce n d a n t s a t t h e r
r
p e se n t d a y . r
A n d if w e w e e t o b e t hu s gui d e d b y t h e m e e i n e r tr
t t
se ct i o n o f li ngui s i c pa hs , a n d in de pen dent ly o f all r efe r enc e t o t h e
'

r r r r
sc i pt u a l e co d , w e sh oul d st il l b e l e d t o x o n t h e pla i ns o f S h in e r a s
r r
t h e fo cu s f o m whi ch t h e va io u s li n e s h a d r a d i a t e d .

16 PL A T o S A T L A N T IS .

se rv ed befor e or aft e r t h e su b sid en c e o f Atlan ti s If befor e .

,

h o w explai n t h e fact that th i s tra d i t io n so c u ri o u sly r u n s

i n to t h e li n e s o f t h e di lu v i an tra d iti o n ! Th ey m u st

th en have b ee n tra di ti o n al o f a n e ve n t wh i ch happ ened

,

ex h yp o t h esi at lat e r d at e or i f a fte r how e xplain that ,

w hat w o u l d th e n b e t h e di r e ct tra d i t i o n o f t h e D e l u ge ,

or su b m er si o n w a s thu s tra n smi tt ed o n ly in an in di r e ct

, ,

d i sg u i sed a n d l egen d ary form

,
a n d o n t h e oth e r ha n d , ,

that a n appar en tly di r ect re c o r d o f it as in G enesi s , ,

sho u l d, i n fact b e o n l y t h e tra diti o n at se co n d ha n d o f a

,

tra di ti o n i n in dir ect for m

T h e b i bli cal r e cor d t h e c u n e iform n arrat i v e t h e I n
, ,

d i an l egen d & c all p ro fe ss to g i v e t h e tra di t i o n i n di r e ct

, .
,

form . H o w i s i t that th ey all t e ll o f a u n i v e r sal d e l u ge ,

i n w h i ch o n e fa m i ly so m e t im e s o ne m a n su rvi ve d a n d ,

that in all t h e pr o m i n en t ca u se o f t h e d estr u cti o n w a s

u n i n t e r m i tt en t a n d _p r9 t ract e d rain I n t h e ca se o f
Atlan t is t h e cau se w as su b siden c e or e l se t h e geologi cal ,

argu m en t m u st b e aban d o n e d More ove r if t h e in t elli .

,

g en c e o f t h e cala m i ty w h i ch w as u ltim at ely to tak e t h e

,

for m o f t h e di l uvi a n trad it io n w a s to b e e xt en d e d p i e c e

,

m e al ov e r t h e w hole h u m an rac e e v e n i n 90 0 0 ye ar s , i t
co u ld scarc ely have b een thro u gh o n e m an or o n e fam i ly ,

b u t thro u gh m an y ; a n d i t w o u l d see m n o n e o f t h e r e cor d s

or tra di tio n s t e ll o f t h e e ven t i n t h e m an n e r i t i s sup
po se d to have happ ene d eith e r accor di n g to t h e geolog i cal
,

e v i d en c e or accor din g to t h e r e v e lati o n o f Plato

, .

9 I n T r a d i t i o n a n d el sewh e r e I hav e e n de avo u r e d to

collat e tho ugh ve ry i m p e r fe c t ly t h e var i o u s tradi tio n s
, ,

o f t h e patri arch N o ah i n Chro n o s Po seid o n Sat u r n , , ,

H o a &c
, . Chro n o s n o d o u bt w a s t h e fath er o f Po sei d o n ,

a n d so on ; y e t fu n d am e n tally wh i l st accr e t i n g oth e r ,

tradi ti o n s a s o f Sh e m Cha m a n d J aph et th ey all d e

, , , ,

s cr ib e d a prim e val l e g i slator w h o ,d or app e ar e d

i n co nn e cti o n w i th a n e w or d er o f 1 ca m e o u t o f

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S . 17

or h ad r elatio n s w ith witho u t b ein g i dent i ed wi t h th e

, ,

ocean ; an d altho u gh all a re a ssociat ed with t h e recollec

t i o n of a pri m e val para di se a go l d e n age a p e rio d o f , ,

h appiness an d pro sp er ity w hi ch w a s lo st to m a nkind they ,

are al mo s t all a s soc i at e d i n s o m e w a y wi t h a cata stroph e

or with cala mity Th ey all plan t t h e vi ne o r t h e oli ve

.
,

so t hat i t h a s b e e n s aid that a ll n a ti on s have gi ven t h e

hon ou r of t h e di scoy e ry o f agri c u ltu re to thei r rs t
sove reig n s N o w i t happ en s fo r t h e p u rpo ses of h is arg u
.
,

men t t o b e con ve n i e n t to Mr Do nn e lly to r e cogn i se this

'

.
,

i n part a n d to apply i t i n th i s w a y
, Accor ding to t h e .

requi rem en t s of h i s theo ry t h e i n t e llig enc e o f t h e s ub ,

m er sio n o f Atlan t i s w as co n v eye d by t h e su rvi vor s to t h e

vario u s n atio n s H e ski lfu lly sei z e s ho ld o f t h e tra ditio n
.

t o which I have j u st r efe rr e d in or d e r to despatch t h e ,

vari o us l egen d ary h e ro e s n o lo n ge r a s repr esentati ves o f ,

t h e patriarch N oah b u t so t o sp e ak o n t h ei r o w n acco unt

, ,
.
,

to t h e var io u s n at io n s a s t h e su rvivo r s o f t h e cata stroph e -

a n d as t h e c i v i l i se rs a n d l e gi slator s o f t h e co u n tri es to

whi ch th ey ca m e Th u s H o a o r H e a i s despatch ed _by

.
, ,

h i m to A ssyr ia ( p H e i t w a s w h o was sai d to

.

have bro u ght c ivili sati o n an d l ett e r s to t h e anc estor s o f

t h e A ssyr i an s H e cl e arly re presen t e d an a n ci ent m ari
.

t i m e c i vili sed n ati o n ; h e ca m e fro m t h e oc e a n a n d w a s ,

.

a ssoci ated wi th so m e lan d a n d pe ople that h ad b een

d est royed by rain a n d inu n d ati o n s I n like m ann e r .

S at urn i s sen t to Lat i um ; b ut alth o u gh t h e tradi ti on i s ,

co nne cted al so w ith Kro n o s a n d Po sei do n and altho ugh ,

it i s said (p 82 ) that Chro n o s an d Sat ur n we re t h e

.
.

same , yet Kr o n o s a n d Po seid o n are n ot so di stribut ed ,

for t h e obvi o u s r ea so n that th ey sta n d at t h e co mmen t s

.

m ent o f t h e civi li sati o n o f Atlan ti s ! Bu t thi s affor d s a

m ea su re for t esti ng t h e th e ory If Chro n o s and Satu r n .

are t h e s a m e Chro n o s cann o t b o th b e t h e fath er of

,

Po seid on who is grave ly r egard e d b y Mr D o nnelly as t h e

,
.

O
 18

PL A T o s A T LA N T I S .

ctu al fo under o f t h e ki ngd o m an d dynasty of At la n ti s

a ,

a n d at t h e sa me t i me t h e s u rvi vor a fte r i t s s ub si d e n c e

wh i ch happ d a ft r t h e lap se o f m a ny g ene rati o n s

( e n e e

w h o bro u ght c i vi li sat i o n to L a t i nm .

T h e tradi t io n o f Sa t u r n i n Lat i um I adm it t s i n , ,

ve ry well with Mr D onne lly s th e o ry b ett e r e ven t ha n h e

.

,

see m s a war e I sho u ld like however to k n ow wh e re Mr

. , ,
.

Do nn elly nd s men tio n o f a gre at S at u r nia n co nti n e n t

i n t h e Atlan tic O c ean !

Mr D o nnelly i s n ot lavi sh o f .

r e fe r en c es a nd u ntil h e gi ves o ne in thi s i n sta n c e I ca n

, , ,

o n ly su rm i se that it i s a fre e Tra n satla n tic tran slation o f

the Sat u rni a r egna of Vi rgi l .

It m ay b e as Mr D on n e lly b e li eves t hat Chro n o s

,
.
,

a n d Sat u r n are t h e sam e a n d ye t t hat th e y re pr ese n t t h e

tra di ti o n at d i ffer ent s tag es a n d d at e s and in Lati um at ,

t h e later d at e .

S a n ch oniat h on (ap u d E us b u s) say s

e i
t h at Chro n o s

a n d I I are t h e sam e a n d L e n o rm ant say s t h e sa m e o f
,

Chro n o s and t h e Ch aldea n I lu H er e w e h av e t h e tradi .

ti on at i t s earli est stage an d i t will b e worth whi le gi vin g

a n e xtract fr o m M L en orm a n t a s i t show s clo se r e sem .

,

blance with th e t r adition of Chron o s t hrough Po se id on in , ,

Plato s At lant i s

r tr
Il u , th e su p eme my s e i ou s go d w hom th e Gre eks h ve co n a
st a n tly li k ened t o h ei K on o s T he p t w hi h r rdi i o n , a s . art c tra t
rcr r
e o d ed b y Be osu s , m k es h i m p l a a r a
y i n th e d elu ge i s not p e h p s
t t r r c
w i h ou ra c a
efe en e t o on e of hi s id e o
g phi n mes ; for th e
c t r
o m p l e e g ou p c rtae ra
inl y e d s I lu xa a
for e mple, i n th e n m e o f
B aby lo n Bab il u t h e si gn -
o f w hi c h th e p ri miti v e h ie ro l ph
gy
w hi c h w e p ossess in some m on u m ent s r ep resen ts a l and in te rs ecte d
(coup ee) b y c anal s i s e xpl ain ed in th e syll ab ari es by t h e ro ot

w hi ch in H eb rew si gni es t o cl e an se a nd i n A ss ri an

y t o i n un ,

d ate I t is thus t h e go d of in und a t io n th e god o f th e d el e

g u
.
,

(viz O ppert E xp edi t Me sO p o t a m i e

ii Frag

.
, . en , . 67 ; L enorm an t , .

de Ber o se,

We h v
a e seen Po sei d o n i n Atla nti s encirclin g h is hill
0
 PL A T o S A T L A N T IS

. 19

wi th alt er n ate zone s of sea a n d land and in t h e d e scrip ,

.

t i o n of h i s palac e t h e can al s whi ch h e c on stru ct ed are

tw i c e refe rr ed to If th e se are co m m o rg diluv ia n tra diti o n s
.

o f Kro n o s a n d P o sei d o n it m u s t follo w that i n Plato s

acco u n t of Atlan ti s w e m ay have di l uvia n tra ditio n s b efor e

t h e all e g ed p e ri o d o f i t s su b si d e n c e qua d est i mp ossi bi le , .

E rgo I sh o u l d i n fe r a co n cl u si o n at w h ich I shall arri ve

, ,

m o re d e n i t e ly b y a n oth e r ro ut e that Atla n t i s w a s in t h e , ,

m ai n o n ly gen e ral tra di ti on tak in g for m and e m bo di m en t

,

i n t h e m i n d o f Plat o .

I have sti ll t o n oti c e t h e si ngle fact u po n w h ich re st s

t h e fo u n d at i on o f chap s i v v ii that t h e Ib e r i a n s Ga u l s
. . .
, , ,

a n d C e lti c Ir i sh w e r e Atla n t es
-
v i z that Strabo t e ll s u s .

that t h e T u rdet an i h ad w ri tten book s co n tain ing m e m o

ri al s o f an cien t tim es an d al so p o em s a n d law s set in
,

v er se fo r w h i ch th ey claim an a n ti qui ty o f S ix tho u san d

,
.

ye ar s U n fo rt u n at e ly if w e are to ar gu eo n Mr Do nn e lly s

.
.
,

li ne s a n d if t h e su b m e r si o n o f Atlan ti s took plac e 90 0 0

,

w ri ti n g s e xt en di ng back o n ly s i x th o u s a n d ye ar s d o n o t

h elp u s at all It is sin gu lar ho we ver that this gu r e

.
, ,

S ho u l d hav e b een n a m e d b y Strab o a s d at in g a nno m u n di

60 0 0 w o u l d b e v e r n earl t h e corr ect d at e i n h i s t i m e
y y .

Mr W Pal m e r i n h i s syn chro n ism

. . w ith i n v e ye ar s ,

fo u r m o n th s a n d se ve n d ay s o f t h e H e br e w a n d LXX , .
,

with J o seph u s a n d t h e E gypti an Chro n i cle m ak es t h e ,

co m m en c em en t o f t h e w orld cir ca 5 3 60 I m ay ad d .

that so lo ng as Mr W Palmer s sy st em re m ai ns u nre

, .
. .

fut ed w e m ay b e en t i tle d at a n y rat e to pr efe r h i s co n

, , ,

c lusio n s to t h e a sse rt i o n s o f t h e E gypt ian pr ie st s co n fut e d

by t h e t estim o ny o f th ei r o wn m o n u m en t s .

In Plato s d e scr i pt i o n o f Atla n t i s pro m in en c e i s n at u r

.

ally gi ven to t h e h o rse as i s appropriat e in any myt h o

,

lo gi cal legen d w hi ch co m m en c es w ith Po se i d o n Mr . .

Br o wn ( Posei d dn p 64) a nd al so Mr Gla d sto n e (J u ven tu s

, . .

Ma nd i ) a re m uch e xe rc i sed by thi s r em arkable c o nne c

20

PL A r o s A T L A N T I S
'
.

t io n of Po seid o n wi th t h e hor se I am n o w o n ly co n .

c e r ne d with t h e fact .

It i s o n e o f Mr Do n nelly s co n t en t ion s in proo f o f t h e

,

e xi st e n c e o f A t la ngs that t h e hor se w h i ch u p o n t h e evo

, , ,

lu t i on i st th e ory h e d e clar es m u s t hav e b een r s t d o m e s

"

, ,

t ica t ed i n A m e ri ca co u ld n o t hav e pa s se d fro m A m e r ic a

,

to E u rope w itho u t t h e exist en c e O f c o n tinu o u s la n d c o m

m u n icat i on b et w een t h e two co n t i n en t s .

N o w l et u s approach t h e q ue sti o n fro m t h e oppo si t e

,

di r e ct i o n Accor d in g to t h e b i bli cal in di cati o n s a n d t h e

.

tra dit io n that m a n kin d ove r spr e a d t h e e arth fro m t h e

plain s o f Meso potami a w e sho ul d exp e ct to trac e t h e po s ,

sessi o n an d use o f t h e hor se i n t h e c o u n tr i e s i n t e r m e di at e .

b et w e en t h e T ig r i s an d Atla n ti c fro m E a st to W e st .

If h o w ev er A t lan t i s e xi st e d a n d w a s t h e or i g i n al se at
, , , ,

o f c iv i li sat i o n a n d t h e po i n t fro m w h ich i t S pr e a d to o th e r

c o u n tri e s a n d i f i t i s part o f t h e stat em en t that t h e hor se

,

e x i st e d o n t h e i slan d th e n r e v e r se ly w e S ho u l d e xp e ct t o
,

trac e t h e pr o gr ess o f i t s u se fro m W est t o E a st .

-
M L en o rm an t it n eed scarc e ly b e a dded with o u t any
.
, ,

a dve rten c e to th i s qu esti o n h a s shown in h i s P rem i er es ,

C i vili sa ti on s ( p .

T hat
h o rse n ot o n ly d o e s n ot app ear in a ny m on um en t of
th e
t h e old em p ir e b u t i s e qu all y ab sen t from t ho se of t h e p eri o d calle d
,

t h e m i d d le em pir e w hi c h e xten d s fr o m t h e rst E gyp ti a n re vi v al

,

u n d er t h e el e v en th d n a st u n ti l t h e i n v a si o n of th e sh eph e rd s
y y .

O n t h e c o ntrary w h en t h e m o n u m ents r ecom m e n c e a fter a s o m e

,

w h at l en gth e n ed i n terru p ti o n u n d er t h e ei hteenth d n a st

g y y th e ,

h o rse i s seen a s a n animal in h ab itu al use in E gyp t .

O n o th e r hand t h e phi lolo gi cal arg u m en t t h e

the , ,

o nly o n e to whi ch w e ca n have r eco u r se w o u ld see m to ,

S ho w that t h e hor se w a s w e ll kn own i n t h e E a st d u r i n g

t h e perio d i t w a s a b se nt fro m E gyp t

/

T he h orse w a s on e of t h e d o m es i t c sp ecies w hi ch th e A y r an s
p o ssessed in t h e e arli est ti m es , an d th e
se f w hi c h w a s
u o
ge n e
ral
 CHAPTE R II .

cO N J E C T U R E

As To T HE PR O BA BL E BA S I S or PL A T o s

A T L AN T I S .

IN my la st chapt e r I re serve d a n argu m en t o f Mr Do n nelly s

.

for fu rth er co n sid e ra t i o n , a n d a s i t i s ba se d o n on e o f t h e

fact s u po n wh i ch h e appar en tly obtai n s foothol d one o f
t h e i sl e t s o r p e ak s, so to sp eak , o f t h e su b m e rg ed Atlan t i s
I wi ll gi ve it in e xtract
T h ere an ci en t tradition am ong t h e Persi an s th at th e
w as an
Phoenici an s m i grate d fro m t h e sho res of t h e E y th ean S ea a n d r ,

thi h a s b een supp o sed t o m ean t h e Per si an Gulf ; b ut there w a s

s

a v ery old ci ty of E y thi a i n utt r rui n at th e ti m e of S trab o

r e ,

w hi c h w a s b u il t in so m e an ci en t a ge l o n g b efo re t h e foun din g of

Ga d es n e ar t h e site of th at to w n o n th e A tlan ti c c o a st o f S p ain
, .

M y n ot thi s tow n of E ryt hi a hav e gi v en i t s n ame t o t h e adj a cen t

a

sea ! a n d th i s m a y h av e b een t h e startin g p o in t o f t h e Ph oeni ci an s-

i n th eir E ur o p e an mi gratio n s I t w oul d e v en app ear that th ere w a s

.

a n i slan d o f E yt hi a (D onn elly s A t la n t is p

'
r , .

It will b e p erc eive d that thi s co nj e ct u re r est s en ti rely

o n t h e stat em e n t o f Strabo I n t h e r s t plac e b e t w een
.
,

Strabo s ti m e an d t h e co mm en c em en t o f Phoeni c ian en t e r

pr i se (B C 1 2 0 0 L e n o rm a n t ) th e r e w a s fu ll lap se o f t i me
. .
,

fo r a c i ty t o hav e b e e n fo u n d ed m at u re d a n d t h e m o n arch
, , ,

i cal sta ge hav in g e lap se d to hav e pa sse d thr ou gh t h e

,

i n e vi tabl e stag es o f ar i st o cracy d e m ocracy d e spot i s m , , ,

r e volu t i o n an d de cay a n d so i n Strabo s t im e to have

, ,

b ee n ent i t le d to t h e d e scri pt io n o f an a n c i en t c i ty

Bu t Strabo ( t h e s ol e a u thori ty c it e d ) hi m s el f sa s
y ,

accor di ng to L en orma n t wi tho u t r efe r en c e to th i s q ue s

,

t io n

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S . 23

W e m u st p ecially b ear in mind t h e in fo rmation p reserv ed b y

es

S trab o (xv i 7 66 ) w i th r eference t o t h e c o u ntry rst o cc u pi ed b y t h e

.

C an aan ites in t h e P er si a n Gulf in fo rm ati o n w hi c h su b stanti ally ,

agrees w i th that w hich H ero do tu s ( I i v 8 9 cf J usti n xviii 3 ) . . . . . .

h ad co lle cted fro m t h e m outh s o f t h e Ph oeni ci an s th em selv es that t h e ,

t w o m o st an ci en t san ctu ari es o f th ei r ra ce w er e si tuate d in t h e

i sl an d s o f T ylo s a n d A ra d u s (t w o o f t h e e xi sti n g Ba h ri en i slan d s ) ,

w hi ch r ep ro du c ed later on i n t h e n ew c o u ntry o f t h e Phoenici an s

i n t h e Me di terr an ean t h e i sl an d f T yr e a n d A r a d us (Fragm ens
C osmogon i qu es p 2 2 1 )
. , .

E v en i f Strabo h a d n o t said it a n o th e r lin e o f tra ditio n ,

w o u l d S ho w that t h e t n i ci a n s s pran g fr o m t h e E ryth ea n

S ea b et w e en t h e R e d S ea a n d t h e P e r si an G u l f ; b ut a s
, .

thi s will a ffo r d evi de n c e in a no th er d i re cti o n also it w i ll ,

b e c o n ven i e n t to reserv e i t T h e e vi d en c e w h i ch h as n o w .

acc u mu lat ed w i ll j u stify ou r re verti n g t o Plato s frag m e n t

w i th a v ie w to d i s cov e r if po ssi bl e w hat it s r e al i m port , ,

m ay b e .

Plato
s v r b een co m
A t la n ti s , so far as I kn o w , h as ne e

pared an d co nfro nt e d wi th a d o cu m en t t h e a uthe n ti c i ty o f

'

w h i ch i s r e co g n i se d b y H eer en a n d L e no rm a n t (i t w i ll b e
fo un d i n ext en so i n F L e n o rm a n t Mem d H i s t A n ci enne

. .
.
, ,

ii 41 4 a n d al so i n H ee r e n H i st R esea r c hes, A fr i c
.
, , . .

N a t i o ns p t h e voy age o f Hann o w h i ch h e

vi z, . .
,

h as post ed u p ocuednz eu i n t h e t e m pl e o f K r o n os

T he .

voya ge o f Hann o t o ok plac e ci r ca B C 5 0 0 a n d Plato w a s . .

,

bor n cir ca s o 43 0 Th is doc u m en t w hi ch h a s co m e d o wn

'

. .
,

to u s i n t h e for m o f a Gree k tra n slati o n may r ea so n ably ,

M L n m ant s y thi st ill m r expli i t ly nd emph t i lly (H i t

. e or a s s o e c a a ca s .

A nc. ii p .a if in . t i ip t i f m h t h ry th t f M
s an c a on o so e su c eo as a o r .

D n lly
on eH s ys

T h Ph
s . i i t dit i n g t h d t T yr it lf
e a : e oe n c a n ra o , a ere a e se

by H r d t e o pt d q ll y b y t h j di i s T g P mp i ;
o us , a cce e e ua e u c ou ro us o e ns

t h t di t i n of S
e ra t h A bi o whi h S t r b h r p t d ; i th t
ou ra a, c a o as e or e n ne , a

w hi h w
c rr t i t h t nt i f t h C h i t i
as c u en n wh th
e rs ce u r es o e r s an era , en e

o ri gin al S yr o C al d ai c ms o f t eh - o o h

L
A g ri cu lt ur e N a bu t i en ne w a s
. b k
t
w ri t en , a ll t hr
ee a gr ee i n d ecl arin g t a t h e C h an aani t es h ad pri mit i ely h t v
t r
d w e l n ea t h e C h n si t e s eir th
r et ren i n o ri gin , u o n t h e s h o res of t h e
. b h p
E ry t h ea n S ea o r P ers i a n Gu f
l "
u e e i d en c e i s a dd uced , b ut t i s . F rth r v h
p rh p
will e a s su i ce .

2 4: PL A T O S A T LA N T I S .

be presumed to have b een acc essibl e to Plato d uri ng h i s

r esiden c e eith er in Sicily or in Cyr e ne .

It i s my co n t en tio n ( 1 ) that th i s d oc um e n t for m s so to -

,

s p e ak t h e backb o n e o f t h e A t la n t is
,
I th in k tha t I shall .

b e able to show that Plato d o es no t st at e a n y fact r e sp e ct

'

i n g Atla nti s w h i ch ha s not be en take n fro m thi s d oc u m en t

e xc e pt ( 2 ) fo r I thi n k t h e c ept io n s a re su f cien tly i m

portant to j u stify a seco nd e rt ion r e sp e cti n g i t un l e ss

w hat Pla t o d r e w fro m t h e w e ll of g e ner al or fa mily t ra di

ti o n O ve r t h e whole t h e r e i s t h e glam o u r o f Plato s style

.

a n d i m agin at io n R e se rvi n g what i s pre li m i na ry t h e

.
,

acco unt of Atl an t i s co mmen c e s th us

T h e tale w hi ch w as of gr eat l en gth b egan a s f ll ow s : I h a v e
, ,
o

b ef re remarked i n sp eakin g of t h e all otm ents o f th e god s that th ey

.

o , ,

di stri bu ted t h e w ho l e earth i nto p o rtion s A n d Poseid o n e .

, r

c ei in g for hi s lo t t h e isl an d of A tl an ti s b egat child ren b y a m o rtal

v ,

w m an a n d set t l d t h em i n a p art o f th e i sl an d w hi c h I w ill p ro c ee d

o , e

t o d scrib ee O n t h e si de tow ards t h e sea a nd i n t h e c entre o f t he '

.
,

w h ol e i sl an d th er e w as a p l ai n w h ic h is sai d t o h a v e b e en t h e
,

fair e t o f a ll plai n s a n d v ery ferti l e

s N ear t h e p l ain again al so
, . ,

i n t h e c en tre o f t h e i sl and at a d i stan c e o f ab o t fty sta di a th ere

, u ,

w a s a moun tain n o t v ery hi gh o n a ny si d e I n thi s m ou n tain .

there d we lt on e of th e earth b orn p rim ev al m en of th at count ry -

w ho s e n am e w a s E v en or a n d h e h a d a wi fe nam e d L u cippe a n d
, ,

they h a d a n o nly d aughter w h w a s call ed C leit o (O ri ti a s Pro o

D i a logues of P la t o , ii

fe ss or J o w ett s .

Thi s allotm ent arth co rrespo nd s t o t h e t ra di

of th e e

t i o n o f Ph ero n eu s
t h e fath e r of m an kin d ( Cle m en s
,

Al e x i .t o who m t h e d i strib u tio n o f m a n kind w as

.

attrib ut ed i d em n a t iones d istr i bui t ( Hy gi nus

'

, a nd ,

wh o m Plato call s t h e r st

.

Hann o s ai le d abo u t 5 0 0 wi t h sixty v essels a n d

thi rty tho u sa nd colo ni st s .

A ssum in g that A tlan ti s Wa s i deali sed fro m t h e n arra

I n A pp en dix A a n d A pp e n di x B I gi ve i n e xt ens o t h e d esori ti on of
p .

t t
A tl an is i n Pla o s C ri ti c s (J o w et t s t ra ns ) . a n d t h e r ansl ation of t h e

t
r
P er ip lua of H a nn o f o m H eeren s H i st R esea rc h es

. .

PL A T o s A T L A N T IS . 25

t ive o f Han n o Atla ntis w o u l d b e c o e xt en sive w ith t h e

,

Carth a g in ia n e mpi r e in clu di ng t h e Can ary and Fort unat e

,

I sland s Po seid on so n o f Kr on o s w a s t h e t u te lary go d

.
,
-

of t h e Cartha i n i a n s a s w i t n e ss Ha m i lcar s e laborat e

g ,

sacr ic e to h i m i n t h e w a r w i th G e l o n (J uv ent us Ma n d i ,

p 249) and L en o rm a nt t e r m s h im th e L ibyan Po sei

.

don
T he occ u pati o n of Atlant i s b y Posei don an d h i s
.

b egettin g ch i ld re n b y a m o rtal w o m a n an d sett li ng ,

th e m i n a part o f t h e i sla n d m ay b e c o nj e ct u rally su p ,

p o se d t o b e t he Carthagini an c o lo n i s at ion o f t h e i slan ds

m e n t i o n e d i n Ha nn o s n arrati ve a n d o f t h e m ai n lan d

b eyo nd t h e m o u n tai n s o f Atla s ; a n d thi s see m s exactly

c onr m e d w h en w e re a d in He e re n ( p T h e c o l o ni st s .

w h i ch Ha n n o carr i ed o ut c o n si s te d a s w e ar e e xpr e ssly ,

i n fo r m ed o f L i b Ph aan icia n s a n d w e r e not ch o se n fro m

y
-
, ,

a m en g t h e c it iz en s o f Carth a ge b u t tak en fro m t h e ,

cou n try in hab itan t s .

Th i s corr e sp o nd s sufc i en tly It w ill b e n otic e d that .

Plato a fte r t h e pa ssage ab o u t Po seid o n ( a s above ) gi ves a

'

, ,

d e script io n o f a plain a n d Ha nn o s acco u n t co m m e n c e s

,

th u s : W he n w e h ad pa ssed t h e Pillar s o f Herc u l es o n

o u r voyage a n d h a d s ai l e d b eyo n d th em fo r t wo d ay s w e
,
-
,

fo un d e d t h e r st c i ty w h i ch w e n am e d T h ym iat eri u m

.
,

B elo w i t lay an ext en si ve p la in T h e pa ss a ge i n Plato
.

abo ut Po sei d o n r efe r s to t h e fo u n d ati o n o f h i s r st c ity .

A s r egar d s t h e d e r i vat io n o f T h ym i at eri u m i t i s di th ,

c u lt to get b eyo n d w hat o ld Boch art w rote Q uat a r rygsov , ,

i d e st Th u ri b u l u m qu o rsu m T h ym i at eri u m L eno r m a nt ,

t ell s u s; i s t h e mo der n Ma m o u ra Ma m o ra N o w
"
.
,

t h e d e scr ipti o n o f Ma m ora v e ry w e ll corr e s po n d s w i th

Plato s d e scri pti o n s

It i s si tu at e d u po n a h i ll n e ar t h e
. ,

m o u t h o f t h e r i ve r S uh o e t h e w at e r s o f w h i ch gra d u ally
, ,

w id e n i n g i n th e i r co u r se fall in to t h e Atl a nt i c at th i s

,

plac e an d for m a h arbo ur fo r sm all ve ssel s T h e fe r

.
26

PL A T o s A T L A N T IS .

t ile pa st u re s t h e e xt en si v e w at er s a n d plan tatio n s w h i ch

, ,

w e pa s sed o n o u r w ay h i th e r ha ve a lr e a dy b e en r e m ark e d .

W e trav e lle d a m o ng tre e s o f var i o u s ki n d s so ag ree ably ,

arran g ed that t h e plac e h a d m ore t h e app e aran c e o f a

park than o f a n u n cu lti vate d co un try W e cro sse d plai ns .

w h i ch w e r e r i ch w i th v e r d u r e a n d w e h a d a v i e w o f lak e s ,

w h i ch e xt en d ed m a n y m i l e s l n l en gth

Mc C u lloch .
le
a

( Geog D i et ) s ay s Morocco ( t h e an c ie n t Ma u ri ta n i a ) h a s
. .
,

a l arge e xte n t o f co m paratively le ve l la n d So m e o f t h e .

plain s an d valley s are o f gr eat e xt en t an d extraordin ary

fe rt ili t y t h e so i l i s n o w a s i n a n ti q u i t y prov e rb i al fo r, ,

i t s fe rtil i ty ; t h e g ra ss o ft en atta i n i n g a h ei g ht u n e q u all ed

e xc e pt i n t h e prai r i es o f A m e r i ca O n t h e n orth .

w est er n side o f t h e Atla s ran g e t h e clim at e i s h e al t h y a n d

gen i al . 9 0 50 1047 739 0 i s o n ly t h e Gr ee k r e n d e ri n g o f t h e
L i bya n Ph oen i c ia n n a m e an d p erhap s a fa n cifu l r en de r
-
,

B ch ar t s r co nj e ct u r e i s that i t was so call e d b e ca u se

i

ng . o

si t u at e d i n a plai n whi ch corr espo n d s to t h e fact ;

a n d Plato d e s cr i b es t h e plai n i n w h i ch Po se id o n N e
( p
t un e) se t t le d h i s ch i ld r e n a s t h e fa i r e st o f all plai ns ,

a n d ve ry fe rtil e .

Plato t hen proc ee d s abr u ptly t o i nfor m u s that Po sei

d on n e xt a s h e w a s a go d fo un d n o dif c u lty i n m aki n g
, ,

S p e c i al arr an g e m en t s fo r t h e c e n tr e i sla n d bri n g in g t h e ,

s tr e a m s o f wat e r un d e r t h e e arth w h i ch h e ca u sed to ,

a sc en d as s prin gs on e o f w ar m wat e r an d t h e oth e r o f

,

col d a nd m akin g e ve ry variet y of foo d to sprin g u p

ab u n dan tly on t h e ear t h H e r e Plato a li ttle a n ti c i pat ed
.

Hann o s n arrat i ve appare n tly fo r t h e pu rpo se o f i n tro

d u c i n g t h e e arl i e st Ath en i a n l e g e n d co n c e r n i n g Po seid o n ,

fo r h e i s m a d e to p e rfo r m at Atla n ti s t h e s a m e fe at wi th

L mp i e s T u t M ( Pi k rt ) xv
'
e r r o r o or occo n e on , .

B h rt e
ec ej tu i f d d

c o n ec H br w equi v l nt ; b t thi s
re s o un e on a e e a e u
m ay hold h
t h e P oeni c i a n i s classe d b y th e
, as
.
i lol o gi st s ph as a S he mi ti c
t o n g ue. r x
C on ce ni ng t h e e t en si o n o f t h e S e mi t ic ace , h r vi d e O ri g i n of
t h e N a t i o ns of Wes t er n E t aap e , b y J Pym Yea man
-
. t .

PL A T o s A T L A N T IS . 27

whi ch h e i s cr edit ed a t Ath ens In h i s rei gn ( C e crop s)

.

Po sei do n call ed forth with his tr i d ent a w ell o n t h e Acre

poli s ( S mi th s My t ho logi ca l

Han n o go e s on to say t hat a ft er pa ssin g t h e pla in th ey

proc ee de d rst t o t h e w es t w he r e in a plac e thickly , ,

cove re d wi th tree s th ey ere ct ed a t emple to N ept u ne

,

(Po sei d o n ) a n d the n to t h e e a st

, w h e r e w e fou n d a lake
,

lying n o t far fro m t h e se a w h i ch w o u ld c o r re sp o n d to
,

t h e lake s W h i ch e xt en d e d m an y m i l e s i n l e ngth

(sup ra p , . If th ey ca m e u p o n a co u n try w h e r e
sea an d la n d lan d a n d lake s alt e rn ate d i t m ight
, , ,

have su gge st e d to Plat o s i m a gi n ation t h e alt er n ate

zo n e s o f sea a n d lan d Plat o sa y s A n d w e a r e fu rt he r
.
,

tol d that Po sei d o n w h e n h e br ok e up t h e gro un d

, ,

m a de alt e rn at e z o n e s o f sea an d lan d large r a n d sm all e r , ,

e n c ir

cli ng one a n othe r .

It i s n ext st at ed in Plato that Po seidon proc ee d e d

to be get v e p air s o f m al e ch il dren divi din g t h e i sland ,

o f Atl an t i s i nto t e n porti o n s T h e e ld est w h o w a s t h e
.
,

king h e n a med Atla s a n d fro m h i m t he w hole i slan d a n d

, ,

t h e oc e an r e c ei v ed t h e n a m e o f Atla n t i c T h e n am e of .

Atla s i s h ere im port ed a n d t ran sferr e d t o t h e i sla n d b y

Plato fro m t h e tra diti o n s o f Atla s o n t h e m ai nlan d .

The n follo w s a l o n g acco u n t o f t h e se ttl e m en t o f t h e

ve pai r s o f m ale ch i l d re n w h i ch m i ght b e all ow e d t o
,

pa ss a n d fo r m t h e fo und ati o n fo r t h e th eory o f Atla nt is if , ,

i n corresp on d i ng sequ en ce Ha nn o h ad n o t a dd ed
, havi n g ,

pa ssed t h e lake abo ut a d ay s s ail w e fo u n d e d c iti e s

,
.

Fiv e c i ti es are n a m ed t h e nu m b e r corre spo n d in g w i th t h e

,

ve pa i r s of ch i l d r e n i f Po sei d o n .

Plato then d escan t s u po n t h e w e alth an d po s sessi on s

o f Atla s b u t b efor e h i s eloqu e n c e h a s e xp e n d ed i t sel f b e ,

abr u ptly an d i n co ngr u o u sl y say s as i f in r ec o ll e ctio n o f , .

s o m e fact
.

,
Mor eove r the re w e r e a gre at n u m ber o f
,

C mp r p p 14
o a e su ra , . .
28 PL A T o S A T L A N T I S

.

e lep h a n t s th e r e w a s provi sio n for

i n t h e i slan d , and

a n i ma ls of ev ery ki nd b o th fo r tho se that l i v e i n la kes

,

a n d m a r s h es a n d r i v e r s a n d al s o fo r tho se w h i ch l i v
,
e in

m o u n ta i n s a n d o n pla in s I n c u ri o u s j u xtap o si ti o n
.

wi th t h i s I m ay plac e Ha nn o s stat e m en t j u st b efor e h i s

'

m e n ti o n of t h e v e ci t ieS W e proc ee de d u n ti l w e '

arri ve d at a la ke lyi n g n o t fa r fro m t h e sea a n d lle d ,

wi th ab u n d a n c e o f la rge r eed s H e re elep ha n ts a n d a

.

g r ea t nu m ber of o t h er w ild a n i ma ls w e r e fe e d in g .

T h e c o i n c id e n c e o f t h e m en ti o n i n both n arrati ves ,

e q u ally abr u ptly a n d u n e xp e ct e d ly a nd i n al m o s t id en t i ,

cal w o r d s o f el ephan t s an d oth e r a ni m al s i s n ot i c ea ble

, ,

b u t th e r e i s an oth er co i n c id e n c e e q u ally r em arkabl e .

Plato ( p 40 6) say s : T h e i slan d in w hi ch t h e palac e

.

( t h e palac e o f Po seid o n) w a s sit u at e d h ad a d i a m et e r o f

v e sta d ia T h e Atla n ti s i sla n d or co n ti n e n t th us
.
, ,

s hr in k s to th e se di m e n si o n s N o d o u bt th e r e i s m en ti o n
.

o f a cen t ra l i sla n d w h i ch i m pl i e s oth e r s ; b u t t h e above

,

gi ve s u s a m e a su r e o f t h e localit ies in di cat ed w h i ch corr e

, ,

s p e n d v e ry clo se ly w ith t h e i sla n d s m e n t i o n e d i n Ha n n o s

e xplorat i o n .

Hann o say s T h n ce we proc eede d towar d s t h e e a st ,.

t h e co u r se o f a d ay He r e w e fo u nd i n t h e r ec e ss o f a
.

c ertai n b ay a s m all i sla nd co ntainin g a c i rcle o f ve ,

st a di a Th e r e w e se ttle d a col o ny a n d called i t C e r ne
.
, .

Bu t t h i s sm all i sla n d w o u l d app ea r to hav e b ee n th e i r

'

h ea d q u arte r s fo r i t i s a dd e d W e th en cam e to a lake

-

, ,

thi s lake h a d t h r ee i slan d s large r tha n C erne wh en c e -

, ,

r et r g back w e ca m e aga in to C e rn e
u n i n ,

.

If Hann o s n arrati ve li e s at t h e fo u n d ati o n o f Plato s

frag m e n t o f Atlan ti s i t i s n at u ral that what is ce n tr a l i n

,

t h e o n e sho u l d b e c e n tral i n th e oth e r s a n d accor di n gly

'

, , ,

that w hat was t h e h e ad qu art e r s i n th e on e sho u ld g u re

- -

a s t h e palac e o f Po sei d o n i n t h e oth e r .

Th er e is a sli ght r e se mblan c e i n t h e way i n wh ich t h e

 30 L
P A T o S A T L A N T IS

.

kin d f o w or k Al so what. e v e r fr a gr a n t th i n g s th e r e are

i n t h e e arth wh e th e r ro o t s o r h e rba ge or w o o d s gre w a n d

, ,

thri ved in that lan d Aft e r a n acc o un t o f th ei r law s a n d
.

c usto m s h e d e scr ibe s t h eir sacr ic es o f b u ll s t o Po seid o n

,

h o w th ey b u r n t t h e l im b s o f t h e b u ll a n d took t h e rest ,

o f t h e v i ct i m to t h e r e a ft e r hav in g m a de a p u r i cat i o n ,

o f t h e col u m n all ro u n d a n d th e n po u r e d a l i bat i o n o n t h e ,

r e and w h e n d arkn e ss ca m e o n a nd t h e re abo u t t h e

, ,

sa c ric e w a s cool (b u t no t e xtin ct ) all o f th em put o n ,

m o st b e a u tifu l az u re rob e s an d si ttin g o n t h e gro u n d at , ,

n i ght n e ar t h e em bers o f t h e sacr i c e o n wh i ch th e y h ad ,

s w or n an d e xti ng u i sh i n g all t h e r e s abo u t t h e t e m pl e

, ,

th ey re c ei ve d a n d gave j ud g m en t a sc e n e wh i ch
,

if acc o m pa n i ed a s w e m ay im ag in e w ith , so u n d o f p i p es , ,

cy m bal s co n fu sed sho u t s & c wo u ld brin g to t h e m i nd

, , .
,

m u ch t h e s a m e s c en e w h i ch a ri gh t ed t h e m ari n er s a n d
'

d ivi n e r s o f Hann o s ee t

.

Ha nn o s short n arrati ve or at an y ra t e t h e Gr e ek

, , ,

t ra n slat i o n o f i t w h i ch h a s co m e d ow n to u s o m i tt i ng ,

s o m e n al w or d s abo u t a savage p e opl e w ho se bo die s

w er e ha iry co nj ect u r e d b y L eno rm ant an d oth e r s to b e

gor illa s that w or d havin g b een wro n gly su b s ti t u t ed fo r
,

the gorgo n es or go g e s o
r a d f t h e or i gin al Ms

m a be
y .

said to en d w i th a de scr ipti o n o f a volca ni c r e g i o n

S aili n g qu i ckl y a w ay then c e w e p a sse d a c ou n try b ur nin g wi th ,

res an d p erfum es ; a n d stream s o f re su ppli e d from i t fell into

t h e sea T h e co u ntry w s im p a s abl e on acco nt o f t h h e at
. a We s u e .

sail ed q ui ckly th n ce b ein

g m u c h terri e d ; a n d p a ssin g o n fo fou r
e , r

d ay s w e d i c o v er e d at n i ght a c o n try f ll of re
,
s In th e mid dl e u u .

w a s a l fty e l arger than t h e r est w hi c h see m e d t o to u c h t h e

o r , ,

star s W h en d ay cam e w e di sc o vere d i t t o b e a l arge hill call ed

.
,
,

t h e ch a r i o t f t h e go d s
"
o .

Plato s fragm en t a n d it i s a c i rc u m stan c e to b e n oted

t hat bo t h are fragm en tary t e r m i n at e s w i th t h e followi n

g
pa ssage wh i ch apart fro m t h e arg um ent m ay b e acc ept
, , ,

able

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 31

For m any gen erati on s atur e lasted in , as l o ng as t h e di vi n e n

them they w ere obedi ent t o th e la w s and w ell aecti on ed tow ards
, ,
'

th e go ds w h o w ere th i r ki nsm en ; for th ey p ossessed tru e a n d i n

e

ev ery w y great sp i it
a p racti i n g gentlen es a n d w i d om in t h e
r s, s s s

various hanc es of life a nd in th eir int rc o rse w i th on e an oth er

c , e u .

Bu t w hen thi s di vin e p orti onb egan t o fad e aw ay i n th em t hen ,

they bein g una ble t o bear th eir fortun e b ecam e unseemly an d t o

, , ,

h im w h o h a d a n y e t o se e th ey h a d l ost t h e fair t o f th eir p

e es re

cions gifts b ut t o th se wh o h d n o ey t o see t h e tr happin ss

o a e ue e

th ey still app ear d g l o ri ous an d b lessed at th e v y tim e w hen

e er

they w er ll ed w ith unrighteou s av ari ce an d p ow er Z eus th e

e .
,

go d of go d s w h o rules wi th l a w a n d i abl e t o s ee i nto s ch

.
, , s u

thi ngs p erceivi ng that a n hon rable race w a s in a m ost w retched

,
ou

state ,
n d w anti n g t o in i ct p n i h m ent n th em th at t h ey might
a u s o ,

b e ch asten ed a n d im p ro v e c ll ct ed a ll t h go ds into hi s m o st h oly

, o e e

ha bit ati n w hi ch b in g place d in t h e cent e o f th e w o rl d sees a ll

o , , e r ,

that p artak e of gen eration A n d w hen h e h a d called them together . ,

h e sp ak e a s foll ow s

T here i s no t hing mo r e, p e rhap s for t h e re a son ggeste d ;

su

for Hann o s n arrat ive or t h e Greek tran sla t i o n ext en d s no

fart h er .

T hecat ast roph e which w a s left thu s vagu e ly im p en d

in g h a d to b e i n te rpre t e d i n t h e li ght o f t h e pr evi o us
st at e m e n t ( p 5 99 ) that

Atlanti s wa s sunk b y a n earth
.

qua ke Th u s o n e n arrati ve end s so m ewhat abr u p t ly wi th

.

t h e d es cri pti o n o f a volc an o a n d t h e oth e r wi th a progno s ,

t icat i o n o f a volcan i c sub si d en c e I f i t were w orth whi l e .

,

I might show a fu rth er coin c iden c e in t h e approxim at io n

of t h e t e rm u sed b y H an na t h e chari ot o f t h e god s , ,

wi th t h e e xpre ssi o n o f Plato collecti n g all th e go d s in to ,

h i s m o st holy ha bi tatio n .

A s I have sai d th er e i s n othing m or e ; b u t if I have,

su cc ee d e d i n de m o n s trati n g t h at w hat i s kn o w n as t h e

C mp al so sup
o p 1 2 as t th e entr f th e w rld ; r mark t h
. ra , . , o c e o o e e

st i ki ng r
r mblan t t his d s ri pt i n in t h C h ld ean
e se ce o u t f th e c o e a acco n o e

D lug di
e e vered b y M Ge rg S mith (co l iii 5 7)
s co T he g d
r . o e : . .
-

o s

pass d th t mpest n d ought fuge ; t h y

e e e ande d t o t h
s heav n f re e a sce e e o

A esu ; ( 1 7 1 8) T h go ds in s t s se ted in lame nt ti on cover d

,
f
e , ea a a , e

their lip f t h e coming evil

s or .
"
 32

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

P erip lu s Han n o i s t h e fo u n dat i o n o f Plato s A t lan tis

of

,

t h e d i s c o ve ry if I m a y s o t e r m i t w i ll at a ny rat e su pply
, ,

t h e r e a so n w h y t h e C r i t i c s ( A t la n t i s ) Wa s n e ve r co m pl et ed ,

whi ch h a s r em a in ed a difc u lty e ve n to Pro fe ssor J o wet t .

T h C i ti
e r [A t la n t is] i a fragm ent w hi h br ak s o ff in t h e
cs s c e

middl e o f a n ten c e
se W h y t h e C r i t i s [A t l n t i ] w s n ev er
a a s a

co m pl ted w h eth er fro m accid ent o ad van ci ng a ge or from a

e ,
r ,

s n e seo f t h e artisti c d ifc l ty o f t h e d esi gn cann o t b e d eterm in e d

u ,

(Professo r J o w et t s In tro d u cti o n t o Plato s D ia log es ii

'
u , .

I n sp e ak in g o f t h e A t la n t i s as a ct i o n I by n o m eans ,

i n t e n d that i t w a s a fabr i cat i o n i n t en d e d to d e c ei ve h i s

,
co nt em porar ie s It rath e r seem s to m e a s if Plato w a s
.

i n d u l gi n g w ith th e m i n a co mm o n a n d c u sto m ary gra t i

Ica t i o n o f t h e i m a gi n ati o n a n d that th i s i s al m o s t a c
,

k n owle d ge d l n t h e follo wi n g pre li mi n ary c o n ve r sati o n

Co n si de r th en Socrat es if t hi s n arrat ive i s s uite d to
, , ,

t h e p u rpo se or wh e th e r w e sho u l d see k fo r so m e oth er

'

i n st e a d S o crat e s A n d what o th e r C ri ti a s c an w e

.
, ,

n d that wi ll b e b e tt er tha n th i s wh i ch i s n a tu ra l a nd ,

su i t a ble t o t h e fes t i v a l t h e go dd e s s,
of an d h as the a dvan
tag e b ei ng a fact
of , an d n o t a ct i o n ( Tr u e i n so fa r as

it w a s fo u n d ed o n Ha nn o ) or wh er e shall w e n d
. H ow

oth er s i f w e a ba nd on th is Th er e are n on e to b e h a d
( T i maeus 2 7 J o w et t ) I n oth e r wor d s
,
. I have bro u ght ,

a n i n t e r est i ng d o c u m e n t fro m fo r eig n part s a n d if

you ,

approve I wi ll in t erweave i t wi th o ur t ra ditio ns

.
 C H A PT E R I II .

0
FU R T H E R C O N J E C T U R E S D ILU VIA N T R A D IT IO N S .

IN t h e l a st chapt e r I v en t u re d to co n t en d that t h e Peri pl u s

.

of Hann o w a s t h e m ai n fou n d at i o n fo r Plato s myth o f

Atlan tis E ve n , h o w ever , if th i s i s co n c ede d , so mething

.

m ore w i ll b e r e q u ir e d t o di sp e l th i s m i rag e w h i ch h a s
so lo ng h un g in t h e r etro spe ct o f h u ma n e ve nt s .

J u st a s t h e m irage h a s le d m any i n t h e pa st t o
thei r d oo m in t h e d esert an d in t h e oc e an so i s it n ow ,

apparen tly allu r in g the m to abysses i n t h e re gio n o f

sp e c u lati o n .

T he cti on say s Professor J o w et t h a s e xerci se d gre at

, ,

i nu en c e o ver t h e i m agi nati on o f later a ge s W ithou t regard .

t o th e d esc ri p ti o n o f Plat o a n d w ithou t a su s i ci o n that t h e w h ol e

,
p
n arr ati v e i s a fabri cati on
interp rete rs ha v e l o ok e d for t h e sp ot in
,

e v ery p art o f th e gl o b e A m eri c a , Pal estin e A rab ia F eli x C eyl on

, , , ,

r
S a di ni a
S w ed e n
, T he .t ry h a h d also n effect on th e early
s o a a
.

a at r t th c ntu y (ii p
n vi g o s o f t h e si x een e r . .

If Plato h a d sp o ke n w i th fu ll an d e xact kn o w l edge o f

what w a s kn o wn in h i s d ays a s to t h e ext en t of t h e e xplora
ti o n b eyon d t h e Pi llar s o f Hercu le s an d h ad d e libe rat ely ,

a sse rte d h i s p pin i o n a s to t h e e xist en c e o f a los t conti

n e nt h i s opi n i o n w o u ld have h ad gre at w ei ght Bu t all

.
,

tha t h e s ays i s that in c o n sequ en c e of t h e sub si denc e o f '

t h e I s la n d t h e sea i n tho se part s i s i m pa ss able a n d i m
p en etrable b e ca u se ther e i s su ch a qu a n tity o f shallo w
,

mu d i n t h e w ay .

T h e m an ne r i n w h i ch h e th u s all u d es to t h e Mare di
Sarga sso look s a s if h e h a d h ear d som eth in g o f t h e
'

e xpl o ra

D

34 PL A T O S A T L A N T IS .

ti o n , ayin g th i s an d no m o re w o u ld al so co n vey
b u t hi s s

t h e i mp r essi o n that h e h a d h e ar d o f i t tra d i t i o n ally at a ny ,

rat e n ot ve ry di re ctly I n o ti c e that S ir J L u bbock . .

( P r eh i s to r i c T i m es p 3 9) su gge st s that t h e e xi st en c e o f
, .

thi s sea o f se aw ee d i t se l f or i gi n at e d t h e id e a o f t h e su n ken

i sla n d H e s ay s
. May n o t t h e b e li ef i n t h e Atlan t is
,

b e a s probably o w i n g to .th e g ul f w eed wh i ch w o u ld so

-
,

n at u rally su gg est t h e id e a o f su n k e n la n d a s to a n y o f t h e ,

oth e r cau se s w h i ch are u su ally a ssi gn ed fo r i t ! A n d if

th i s gu lf w eed for m e d an i m pa s sabl e a n d i m p en etrable
-
'

barr ie r to expl o rati o n i n th e Atlan t ic i t m u s t have b een

'

a co n stan t su bj e ct o f sp ec u lat io n w i th t h e Ph oeni cian

mari ners
'
.

Altho ugh t h e co n c epti o n o f Atla n ti s aro se a s a m yth i n

t h e m i n d o f Plato t h ere i s e v e ry i n di cat i o n that a gre at
,
~

d e al o f oati n g tra dit i o n w a s u s ed i n i t s fabri cat i o n an d ,

thi s r e siduu m w i ll r em a in aft e r t h e d i sp e r sal o f t h e

m i rag e .

Th er e i s o ne s tat em en t w h i ch st ran g ely fall s in w i th

t h e l in es o f tra di ti o n a n d w hi ch ca n s carc e ly e scap e ob se rva
,

t io n w h en att en tio n is di r e ct e d to Plato s n arrat i ve v iz

, .

that w h en h e w as t e n ye ar s o ld at a partic u lar fe a st ,

t h e Apat u r i a or r egi strati o no f yo u th h e w as told t h e

h i story o f t h e D elu g e For wh eth e r it w a s a tr u e o r fal se
.

s t o r y o f t h e D e l u ge w h e th e r i t w a s t h e u ni v e r s al D elu e
, g ,

or o n ly t h e de lu ge w h i ch d e stroye d t h e i sla n d or co n ti

n en t o f Atla n ti s t h e fact r e m ai n s as r e gar d s th i s di s
,

c a ssi o n that it w a s ei th e r t h e D e lu ge w h ich Mo ses an d '

t h e H ebr e w s a n d t h e Chal d e a n s a n d
ge n e ral tra di ti o n
r ecord or i t w as t h e su b si d e n c e o f Atla nt i s w hi ch accor d
.

, ,

in g to Mr D o nn elly li e s a t t h e fo un datio n o f all th ese

.
,

tra ditio n s .

B efor e proc ee din g i n t h e i n q ui ry i t m ay b e we ll t o have

Plato s wor d s b e fore u s

I w ill tell y ou a n o ld w o rld story w hic h I h eard from a n aged

-
 PL A T o
s A T L A N T IS . 35

ma n fo r C ri t i a s w a s a s h e s i d ,
; h ,i me n e ly ni n e y y ea sa at t at t ar t r
o f a ge , a n d I w a s t a
b ou t e n y e s o l d N o w t h e d a y w a s t h a t ar .

d a y of t h e A p u i a w h i h I s at r c
ll ed t h e egi s i o n of y ou h ca r trat t

r
H e h a d p e vi o u sly efe ed t o i t as a nr rr n c i en a di ti o n

he a t tr
told u s a n n ci en a t tra t
di i o n ( J o w ett s D i a log ues of P la t o : T i mceu s ,
p .

Th e se wor d s taken i n co nn ecti on w ith t h e gen eral t ra

dit io n ar e v e r y r e m arkabl e b u t th ei r fu ll si gni ca n c e w i ll ,

n o t b e appr ec i at e d u n ti l it i s se e n h o w clo sel

y t h e tra dit i o n
i n A n ci en t Gr ee c e r esem ble s t h e d i lu vi a n tra di t i o n s i n
Am e ri ca a n d A fr ica It i s n ot ho w ever m y in t en tio n t o .
, ,

recapit ulat e h e r e t h e eviden c e w hi ch I have colle ct ed in

chap xi o f T i a d i ti on a nd w h i ch so fa r a s I k n o w h a s
. .
, , ,

n ot b e en r eb u tt ed b u t to su ppl e m e n t i t , .

A s h o w e v er i t m ay b e ra sh to a ssu m e that t h e r e a de r
, ,

h a s r ea d or re tai n s i n h i s r e c o lle cti o n t h e c u ri o u s c e r e

, ,

m o n y c o m m e m o rati v e o f t h e D e l u ge w h i ch Catli n w i t ne sse d

a m o ng t h e Ma n d an In dian s in 1 8 3 2 i t w i ll b e n ec essary ,
'

to gi ve a few detai l s Mr Catl in s acc o u n t i s atte sted by . .

J Kipp ( ag en t to t h e Mi sso u ri Fur C o m pany) J Cra w

.
, .

ford Clark an d Abraha m Bo g ard w h o acco m pa n i e d

, ,

h i m ; a n d i n a su b se qu en t acco u n t p u bli sh e d i n 1 867 ,

b y Messr s T rii b n er a l e tt er o f t h e Pr i n c e o f N eu wi e d i s
.
,

pri n t ed fu lly corroborati n g Mr Catlin s stat em ent s fro m

, ,
.

what h e hear d du ring a w int e r s re sid e n c e am o n g t h e

Man d an s altho ugh h e d id n o t act u ally wi tn e ss t h e c e r e

, .

m o ny ; an d i n T r a d i t i on p 2 7 2 I po in t ed ou t that t h e ,
.
,

c er em o ny a m o ng t h e Man d an I n di an s h ad been m ent io n e d

a n d br i e y d e scr i b e d i n C e r emon i es R e ligi eu ses a c e nt ury

b efor e Catlin s vi si t t o th em
.

That t h e Pr in c e of N e uw ie d di d n o t w itn e ss it i s
acco u n t e d fo r by t h e c i rc um stan c e that it i s o nly per
for m ed o n c e a ye ar a n d i n t h e spri n g ,
.

I r eso l v e d t o a w ait i t s app r oach say s Mr C atlin

a n d on , .
,

in q i ry fou n d i t w o ld co mm en c e a s soo n a s t h e w i llow leave s

u u

w er f ll gro w n u n d r t h e b an k of t h e ri v er I a sk d hi m wh y t h e

e u e . e

36 PL A T o s A T LA N T I S .

willo w h a d anyt hi ng t o d o w it h i t w h en h again r epli ed T h e twig , e ,

w hi ch t h e b ird b rou ght in to th e Big can e w a a w ill o w b o ugh o s ,

a n d h d full grow n l e av s on i t It w ill h ere b e for t h e r ad er

a -
e .
e

t o app reci ate th e sur p ri s e w ith w h ic h I m et suc h a r em ar k from

t h e li p s of a w ild m a n i ghte en h und ed mil es fr m th e n e a rest
e r o

civili sati on T h e cerem ony in qu sti on th e O k ee pa Mr C atlin

. e ,
- -

, .

say s though in m any resp ects app arently so u nli keit w a s stri ctly
, ,

a religi ous ceremony [th e i ta lics ar e Mr C atlin s] w ith ab st in ence

. .

,

w i th sacri ces an d w ith p ray er w hi lst th ere w ere th r e e o th er di stin ct

, ,

a n d o sten si bl e o bj ects fo r w h i c h i t w a s h el d l st A s a n a nnual . .

c elebration of t h e event of th e sub sidin g of t h e w aters of th e

D el ge of w hi c h th ey h a d a d i stin ct tra di ti o n a n d w hi ch i n t h eir

'

u , ,

lan guage th ey ca ll ed Mee nea k h sh ( th e settli n g d o w n of t h e

- -
a - -
a

w aters ) 2 n d For t h e p u rp o s e of d an i n g w h at t h ey call ed t h e

. . c

Bull d an c e t o t h e stri ct p erfo rm an c e o f w hic h t h y att ri b uted th e

, e

comi ng of bua loes to s pply th m w i th f od durin g th e n ui ng

'

u e o e s

y ear . 3 rd For t h e p u rp o se o f c n d u ctin g th e y o u n g m en w h o h a d

. o

arriv ed at th e a ge of m anh ood d uring t h e p ast y ear th ro ugh a n '

o rd al o f pri v ati o n a n d b od il y to rture w hi ch w hil e it w a s s pp o sed

e , , u

t o h ard en th ei r m uscl s a nd p rep ar e th m for e x treme en d ran ce

e e u ,

en abl ed th eir chi efs w h o w er e s p e ctators o f t h e , ce ne t o d ecide s ,

u p on th ei r c omp arati v e b o dily str ength a nd a bility t o end u re p ri va

ti ons an d suff rings that o ften fall t o th e lot of I ndi an w arri o rs a nd

e ,

that they m ight decid e w h o am on gst t h e young m en w a s t h e b est

able t o lead a w ar p arty t o a n e xtreme exi gency 0 kee p a of the
-
.
"
- -

Ma nd a ns by C C atlin (T r iib ner C o

, r. p 9 . .

T w o fact s th en ar e in evi den c e , ,( 1 ) t hat wh en

Plato w as t e n y ear s o ld at a fe a st c alled t h e Apat u ria ,

or t h e registration of yo u th h e h eard 5 d i scou rse

, .

d eli ve red wh i ch coll e ct ed vari o us di l u via n tra dit i o n s a nd

( 2 ) that u n d e r stran g ely diffe rent c i rc u m sta n c e s o f t i me
a n d pl a c e Catl in ca m e u pon a c u rio u s c e r em o n y pro fesse d ly

co mm e morati ve o f a u ni ver s al de l u ge i n which agai n a ,

pr in ci pal feat u r e or i n t e rl ud e Was a cer em o ny which migh t

b e exa ct ly d escrib e d a s a re gi st rati o n of yo u th;
'

If m or eover S e v e r al oth e r po i n t s o f r e sem bla n c e can

, ,

b e show n b etween t h e Gre e k a n d Ma n d a n fe st ival s thi s ,

di scov e ry wi ll go fa r to pre cl u d e any th e o ry which w ou l d

acco un t for t h e Am e ri can tra di tio n thro u gh local co n d itions ,

a nd m o des o f t ho ug ht and wi ll fu rth e r j us tif

y us in i nt e r
,

38 PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

he ld in ho n ou r o f J up ite r Apollo Minerva Bacch u s , , ,

( D i o n y su s ) N e pt u,
ne ( P o se i d o n) C e res an d D i a n a ,
I ,
.

co m e to thi s c onclu sio n u po n t h e e xa m in ati o n o f t h e ( cir ca )

3 1 9 fe st i val s th e r e cor d o f w h i ch B i shop Pott e r colle ct s I n
,

h i s chapt e r o n Gre ci an F e st i val s in h i s A r ch a o logi a

,

Gr es ca H e i s a l s o o f op i ni o n b asin g i t appare n tl y o n
'

. ,

the pa a
ss ge alr a
e dy q u ot ed

th at o r i gi n ally a s Ar i stotle
, ,

r ep o rt s th er e w e r e few or n o fe sti vals a m on g t h e An c ien t s

,

e xc e pt tho se afte r harv e s t or v i n tag e I f Apoll o re pre .

se n t e d t h e Me ssi an i c tra di ti o n w e m a y see a s p e ci al r e a so n

,

fo r t h e o b serv a n ce o f h i s fest i val i n t h e e arl i est t i m e s an d ,

ye t w i tho u t a nyth i n g sp e ci ally c o mm e m orat i v e o f t h e

D e l u g e A s I have d i sc usse d th i s q u e sti o n i n t h e Mon t h
. ,

Apri l 1 87 7 I o m i t fu rth er refer en c e to i t h er e b u t in

, ,

t h e oth e r fe sti val s above m e n t i o n ed a s pr i m i t i v e t h e r e w i ll

b e fo un d s o m e th in g w h i ch co nn e ct s th em wi th t h e d i l u
vi an tra diti o n .

J upi t er ( D y a u s pat er = Z eus pa t ee upit er vid e

,

Ma x Mull er a n d T r a d i ti o n p , li ke Apollo
.
,

m i ght hav e b e en e xp e ct e d to hav e h a d a fe sti val apar t ; yet

at a ny rat e t h e c u lt u r e se co n d ar i ly b eca m e a s so c i at e d w ith
t h e tra di ti o n fo r in t h e c u ri o u s a n n u al fe s t i val t h e H y d ro
,

ph o r ia to w h i ch w e shall a gain have to r e fer t h e Ath en i an s

, , .

w i th gr e at po m p carr i e d v e sse l s o f w at e r w h i ch th ey po u red ,

i n to a g u l f or op en i n g in t h e t em ple o f J u pi t e r ; et d a n s

c e tte occa si o n il s se rappaloi e nt le tri st e so u ven i r qu e le u r

a n c t re s a vo i en t t su b m e rg s ( B o u lan g e r L A n t i q

.
,

d r o i l p a r s es U sa g es i , H e a dd s th ey thr e w i n to
.

t h e sa m e cha sm cak e s o f m e al a n d ho n ey ( Pa u s an i a s ,

i .

Th i s co m par e d w i th t h e followin g in c id en t i n
m ay b e
t h e O kee p a o f t h e Ma n d a n s
- -
T h e m y s t e ri o u s i n di v id u al
.

w h o o p en s t h e c er em o n y call s at e ach W i gw am an d , ,

r e lati n g t h e de str u cti o n o f all t h e h u m a n fa mi ly b y t h e

Floo d e xc eptin g h im sel f w h o h ad b ee n s aved i n h i s b ig
, ,

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S . 39

ca n o e a nd n o w d w e lt in t h e we st d e m an d s so me
, ,

e d g e d to o l to b e gi ve n to t h e wat e r a s a sacr i c e On .

t h e la s t d a y o f t h e c e r em o n y at su n d o w n in t h e pr es
, ,

en c e o f t h e ch i efs an d all t h e tr i b es t h e tool s we r e

,

thr o w n i n to d eep w ate r fr o m th e t op o f t h e rock s a n d ,

th u s m ade a sacri c e to t h e water .

Z e u s or J up iter i s m or e d i r e ctly c o nnecte d with t h e

D elu ge as t h e oo d o f D e u calio n occ u rr e d b eca u se Z eu s
,

d et e r m in e d to d estro y t h e h u m an rac e b y a g r e at oo d
(Mu rray s My t h p I have n o t m e t wi th a ny r efu ta

. .
,

t io n o f t h e arg u m e n t s ide n ti fying t h e del uge o f D eu calio n

w i th t h e u n i v e r s al D e l u ge ( i d e T r ad i t i on p 2 22 t o p
r , . .

T h e s am e c er e m o n y i s d e scr i b e d b y L u c i an at !

Hi erap o li s in Syr i a w h er e th e re w a s t h e sam e c usto m

,

o f po u r i n g w at e r i n to t h e cl e ft o f t h e t e m pl e Br ett i n .
,

T h e Indi a n T r i bes of Gu i a na gi v e s a l e ge n d ve ry si mi lar

,

to that o f D eu calio n Grote ( H i st Greece i 1 3 3 ) Says

. .
, .
,

I n th i s a s i n oth e r part s o f Gr ee c e t h e i d e a o f t h e
, ,

D eu k a li o ni a n d e l u ge w as bl e n d e d w i th t h e re l igi o u s i m
pr e ssi o ns o f t h e p e o pl e an d co m m e m o rate d b y th ei r m o s t
,

sacr e d c e r e m o n i es Bo u lan ge r (i 3 9) says It w a s

. .
, ,

acc o r din g to t h e l egen d b y t h e o p eni ng o f th i s cha sm th a t

,

t h e w at e r s w h i ch cove r e d Att i ca h a d di s app e ar ed a nd it

w as all eg e d that D e u cal i o n h a d e r e ct e d a n altar near th i s

plac e a n d tr adi tio n attrib ut e d to D eu calio n an d h i s grati
,

t ud e to w ard s t h e go d s t h e r st fo u n d atio n o f t h e t e m ple .

o f J u p i t e r O ly m pi u s a u pr es d u q u e l se fa i s o i en t ces c r
'

m o n i es lu g u bres

.

A ssu m i n g a sim pl e p ri m it ive fe st ival W hi ch fo r m ed t h e

n u cl e u s r o u nd w hi ch t h e vario u s dil uvian tra di ti o n s

c o llecte d t h e pro m ine n c e o f t h e fe sti val s o f C e r e s a n d

,

D i an a w o u l d b e r esp e cti ve ly acc o u n te d fo r b y t h e general

tradit i o n havin g pa s se d thro u gh a p e ople w h o w ere ei the r

h u sban d m e n or h u n te r s i n th ei r ori gi n or in the i r pre

d o m i n a n t co n st i t uen t A pa storal pe ople wo u l d have re
.

40 PLA T O S A T L A N T I S .

m ai n ed m or e catt ere d and i solat ed a nd the i r tra ditio n

s ,

wo uld r e q ui r e spe ci al co n si derati o n .

I f th e r efo r e w e nd that i ro n w a s th r ow n i n to t h e
, ,

water a s a t o k en o f sacr i c e i n O n e in stan c e a n d me al ,

i n anoth e r i t wo u l d b e o n ly w hat w e s ho u l d e xp e ct in t h e
,

ca se o f tr ibe s havin g differen t avocati ons b ut a com m o n ,

tra di ti o n .

In Ath ens th e re w as a fe a st calle d A M7a

in th e
m o n th o f Posid o n in ho n o u r o f C e r e s a n d Bacch u s by
, ,

w ho se bl e ssin g t h e h u sba ndm en r e c e i v e d t h e r e co m p e n se

o f th e i r to i l a n d l abo u r and th e refor e th ei r oblati o ns

, ,

co nsi st ed o f n oth in g b u t t h e fr ui t s o f t h e e arth O th e r s .

sa y th i s fe sti val w as i n sti t u t e d a s a co m m e m orat i o n of t h e

prim i ti ve Gr eek s w h o li ved Er m fg 021 430 1 i s i n vine

, , . .

yard s a n d corneld s Th i s festi val r e call s t h e pri mi tive
.

sim pl i c i ty o f t h e an c i e n t fest i val s n ot e d by Ar i stotl e a n d ,

at t he sa m e ti me i n dicat es a fusi o n w ith t h e di lu vi an

tra di t io n s i n it s co nnect i o n s w i th Po side n an d Bacchus .

Th e re as a oth r
w n e fes t val (
i p 4 0 0 ) n a m e d fro m
th e .

gath eri n g o f t h e fr ui t s h el d accor din g to Men an der in

, , ,

ho n o u r o f C e res a n d Bacch u s a nd at wh i ch accor din g to , ,

E u st at hi us

th ere w a s al so a solemn proc es si o n i n ho n o u r

,

o f N ep tu n e W e are e l sew h e re tol d that t h e fe st i val

.

pbgra w a s ke pt uni ve r sally thro u gho u t Gree c e e xc e pt

(lea/b oc ,

b y t h e E re t rians ( p Thi s festi val w a s h el d i n ho n o u r

.

of C e r e s a s t h e law g i ve r
, b eca u se sh e w a s t h e r st who
-
,

ta u ght m an kin d t h e u se o f laws wh i ch m ay m e a n that

t h e fe st i val we n t back t o t h e t i m e w h en l a w c o mm en c ed
or re co m m e n c ed to N oah a n d t h e D e l u ge ! .

Th e r e w a s on e sacri c e i n t h e Aloa festival whi ch h as

Bi h p P t t r i p 3 6 1
s o o e , . . .

1 O p nt v i i

n n e ppli ti n d l regle d apres l aqn ll e n
o r ci u e a ca o e a
'
e o

tr v l i gin d t m s l pl s bi r qu nd n pent l

ou e or e es c ou u e m es u z ar es , a o es co
p r r h l p pl di v r
a e c ez es t es t
eu mm q
es d t m s
e s , en o ur e co e an u es e cou u e
m n frq mm t bs rv bl s v i nt d n peupt a l tr
'

n s i

ces o r e s
'
oi s ue en o e a e , ar a u e au e,
m i s piv t nt
a t d un i d t j r l m em (L R lig i n d
o a a n o ur
'
e e ou o u s a e
"
es e o s es
Peup les non- ci vi li s s , par A . R e ville , 1 883 , i . p .
 I

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S ; 41

a clo se re se m blan c e to a fe stival a m o n g t h e Mina t arce s

t h e v i llage c o mm u n i t a dj i i g t h M a d a the

y o n n e n n s

T h a lu s i a a sacri c e o ffer ed b y t h e h usba nd m en a fte r

harve st , 7; xaga oq
7 7 oogfa g t e in g rati t u d e to t h e go d s
'

,
. .
,

b y w ho se bl es si n g t h ey e nj o ye d t h e fr u i t s o f t h e gro u n d
'

T h e w hol e fe sti val w a s call e d Al o a H en c e c o m e s .

(9 051 130 70 ; ocgr og so me ti m es call e d (ari a Mag w h i ch w a s

/
, ,
.

t h e r st br ea d m a d e of t he n ew cor n (B i shop P o tt er i , .

p .

C o m pare Catlin N o r t h A mer i ca n I n d i a n s i p 1 8 9

, , . .

A t th e a son a nd th e tim e w h n from o tw ard app ear
u su a l se e ,
u

an c e t lks a n d e ar s o f t h e corn i t i s s pp d t o b n rly

of th e s a , u o se e ea

ready fo se sev eral f t h ld w m n w h e t h e ow n ers of eld s o

r u , o e o o e o ar r

p at h es of corn
c d legated b y t h e m edi i n m n t l k
a re e

c e e

o oo

at t h e c n ld s v ery m ornin g at su nri s n d b i ng i nto th e

or e e e, a r

co u n cil h o -
e se v eral ar
us f c rn t h h k s o f w hi h t h w m n
e s o e o , e us c e o e ar

n t all o w e d t o b re ak op en o e v en t o p ee p throu gh
o W h n from
,
r . e

rep eated x am in ati n they om t o t h d ci si on th t i t w ill d they

e o c e e e a o,

d p atch r n n er s o cri er s an n o n ci n g t o v ry p art of t h e villag o

es u r u e e e r

trib that t h e Great S pi rit h b n kin d t o t h m nd th y m st

e as ee e , a e u .

a ll m eet th n e xt d y t o return th an ks f
e h i goo d n ess
a or s .

A fea st an d d an c e follo w I w ill n o te fu rthe r that .

j ust a s th er e w as a festi val in ho n o u r o f C er e s w he n t h e

new co r n w a s r i p e so w a s th e r e (B i sh o p P o tt e r p 4 1 6 ) i n
*
.
, ,

hon o u r o f Bacch u s w he n t h e ne w w in e w a s r st ta sted ;

an d a n oth e r ( p t h e Pro t ru gei a i n h o n o ur o f N ep tu n e
.
,

a n d B a cch us i n co nn e cti o n w i th t h e ne w w i n e It wi ll .

b e r em em b e r e d that t h e Ma n da n di l u vi a n co m m e m o rat i o n
took plac e as so o n a s t h e w i llow leav es w e r e fu ll gro wn
a n d at Ath e n s ( p 3 9 3 ) th e r e w as a festi val o f el en oph ori a
. ,

fro m i l eum ve sse l s m a d e o f b u lr u sh e s w i th e ar s o f

, ,

w illo w i n w h i ch c erta in m y st e ri o u s th in g s w e r e carr i e d

,

u po n th i s d ay T h e fe sti val o f My si a ( Pott e r p

.
.
,

i n ho n o u r o f C e r e s c o n ti n u e d se ve n d ays u p o n t h e

, ,

r t
T h e H e b e w s ( Levi i cu s xxiii 1 0 ) w e e c o m ma n d e d . r to bring sheaves
- rr t
o f ca n , th e rst f ui s o f y ou h a v s , e t t o t h e pri e st s
"
r .
42

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

thir d of w h i ch all t h e m e n a n d d o g s b ei n g sh u t o u t o f t h e
,

t e m ple t he w o m e n r e m a in e d w i t h i n In .
,

t h e Man d a n fe st i v al o r d e r s w e r e g i ve n b y t h e ch i e fs

,

that t h e w o m en a n d chi l d r en sh o u l d all b e si len t a n d

r e ti re wi th in th ei r w ig w am s a n d th e i r d o g s all to b e ,

m u z z l e d d u ri n g t h e w hol e o f that d ay w h i ch b e lo n g e d to ,

t h e Gr e at Spi r i t ( Catlin p ,
.

In t h e m i dd l e o f t h e la st d a n c e o n t h e fo u rth d ay
e Ma n d a n c e r e m o n y Catl i p a su d d e n
[ i n t h n , ,
.

alar m thro u gho u t t h e gr o u p a nn o u n c ed t h e arr iv al o f a

s tra n ge charact e r fro m t h e W e st Thi s stra n ge a nd .

fright fu l charact e r w ho m th ey call e d t h e e v i l sp i ri t

, ,

d art e d thr o u gh t h e cr o w d w h e n t h e b u ffalo d an c e w a s pro -

c e e di n g .H i s bo dy w a s pa i n t e d j e t black H e is .

co nfro n t ed by t h e co n d u ctor o f c e r e m o n ie s a n d h i s m e di
c i ne p ip e w h o lo okin g h i m fu ll i n t h e fac e h el d h im
, ,

,

m o t io n l e s s u n de r i t s char m u n t i l t h e w o m e n an d ch i ld r en

h ad w i th d raw n fro m h i s r e ach A fter a w h i le t h e w o m e n .

g ra d u ally a d va n c e d a n d gath e r e d aro u n d h i m I n th i s .

d i str e ssi n g d i l e m m a h e w a s approach ed b y a n o ld m atro n

w h o ca m e u p sl yly b e h i n d h i m w i th b o th ha n d s fu ll of

ye llo w di rt w h i ch b y r e ach i n g ro u n d h i m sh e su dd en ly
, , ,

d a sh e d in h i s fac e cha n g i n g h i s col o u r ;,

a n d at

l en gth a n oth er sn atch ed h i s w an d fr o m h i s ha n d a n d

brok e i t acr o ss h e r k n ee H i s p o w e r w a s th u s go n e
.
,

an d bolt in g thr o ug h t h e cro w d h e m a d e h i s w a

y

to t h e pra ir ie s I n (th i s w e see m to see trac e o f t h e
.

pr i mit iv e tra di tio n that t h e w o m an sh o u ld cr u sh t h e h e a d

o f t h e se rp e n t Th i s tra d iti o n * w h ich m ay b e al m o st sai d
.
,

to n d di r e ct expr e ssio n i n t h e ant agoni sm o f t h e se rp e n t

Py tho n to Lat o n a a n d h i s n al d i sco m t u re an d d e ath
,

at t h e han d s o f h e r so n Ap o llo i m m e di at ely u po n hi s

b i rth m ay p e rhap s al so b e see n i n t h e pro m i n e n c e given
,

to wo m e n i n so m e o f t h e Gr e c i a n fe st ival s o sten si bly n o

-

Vi d s ppl m nt l vid n
a u i f e p 70
e a e e ce, n ra , . .

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S . 43

do u bt , in c om m e m oratio n o f so m e local vi ctory ; e g . .

( Potte r 40 4)
, Th e re w a s a m y st er io u s sacr ic e called
d i o rm a or apo d i o r m a b e ca u se all m e n w e r e e xcl u d ed ;
, ,

b e ca u se i n a d an ger o u s w ar t h e w o m e n s praye r s w e r e so

prevale n t w i th t h e go d s that th ei r e n em ie s w ere d efe ate d

.

a n d p u t to i ght a s fa r a s Chalc i s a nd i n t h e u t ri st ika

at Ar go s ( p w h er e t h e ch i e f c e r e m o ny w a s that

.

t h e m en a n d w o men exc h a nged h a bi t s i n m e m o ry o f t h e , ,

gen e ro u s ach ie ve m en t o f T a la silla w h o havi n g en li st e d ,

-
,

a su f cie nt n u m b e r o f w o m e n m a de a vi goro u s d e fe n c e ,

agai n st t h e w ho le Spartan ar my It sho u ld ha v e b een .

m en ti o n e d that a ft e r t h e d e fe at o f t he ev i l sp i ri t b y t h e
w o m a n i n t h e Ma n d a n c e r e m o ny t h e Wh o l e go ve r n m en t

,

o f t h e Ma n d a n s w a s th e n i n t h e han d s o f o n e w o m a n sh e

w h o h a d di sar m e d t h e e vi l sp i r i t ; that all m u st

r epai r t o th ei r w i gwa m s ; that t h e chi e fs o n that

n i ght w e r e o ld w o m en a n d h a d n oth in g to sa y

,
In .
]

t h e A t omJ a me o c a zdr ega ( Pott e r p a s di sti n

/
f
.
,

g u i sh e d fro m t h e vearr ega c e le brat e d i n t h e t e m pl e o f

'

Bacch u s t h e ch ie f p e r so n s w h o o fci at e d w e r e fo u rtee n

,

w o m e n appo i n t e d b y t h e Ba mh edg w h o w a s o n e o f t h e
, ,

Archo n s Th ey w e r e call e d t h e Ve ne rable .

T h e Apat u ri a it wi ll b e r e m em b e r e d w a s t h e fe a st o f
, ,

the re gi st ra t i o n o f yo u th at w hi ch Plato tell s u s h e wa s
,

t o ld t h e l ege n d o f t h e s u b siden c e o f Atl an ti s; w hi ch a s I ,

co n te n d w a s o n ly a fo r m o f t h e tra di ti o n o f t h e u ni
,

ve r sal D elu ge N o w t h e t e r m A pat u r i a w hich si gn i e s

.
, ,

d e c ei t ( S m i th My th D i e t ) h as n o expla n ati o n i n

,
.
,

a nythin g that occ u rr e d or i s re cor d e d o f t h e Gre c i a n

fest i val.

T h e r e are ho w e ve r t wo legen d s i n e xplan at io n I n

, ,
.

t h e o n e i t i s c o n n e cte d w i th a s u r n a m e of A ph ro di t e ; w h o
.

e n ti c e d t h e gi a n t s i n to a ca v e r n to th ei r d e str u ct i o n b y

He racle s T h e lege n d n o d o ubt i s su sc epti bl e o f an oth e r

.
, ,

i n te rpr e tati o n b ut i n i t s m a in fe at ur e i t i s t h e d e str u ct i o n


44 PL A T o S A T L A N T IS .

of th e p i ri t s o f e vil thro u gh t h e arti c e o f a w o m an

s ,

I n t h e ot h e r i t i s tol d that t h e fe sti va l w a s r st i n sti t u t e d

at Ath e ns i n m e m o ry o f t h e stratage m b y w h i ch Me la n
th in s t h e A th en i a n kin g ove rcam e Xa n th u s t h e Ki n g o f
, , ,

Bmo t i a i n si n gle co m bat A s th ey w e r e j u s t go in g t o

'

. .

b egin t h e ght Mela n th i us th i n kin g or pret e n di n g that

, ,

h e s a w at X a n t h u s s back a p e r so n habi t e d i n a bla ck goat

s k i n cr i e d o u t that t h e art i cl e s w e r e v i olat e d ; u po n th i s

, ,

Xa n th u s lo o k i n g back; w a s tr eache ro u sly slain b y Me la n

,

thi n s (B i shop Pott e r i Th i s brin gs t o reco llec

, .

tio n t h e sc en e w e have j ust wi t nessed in w h ich t h e Ma n ,

dan ma i d en di sco m te d t h e e v i l s pi ri t pa i n t e d black b y

st e alth i l y approach i n g h im fro m b e h in d .

T h e r ese m bla n c e m ight b e d ee m e d i n s u f c i e n t a n d

i nc o n cl u si ve if it w e r e n o t fo r t h e re la tio n o f t h e l e gen d to
,

t h e fe st ival o f t h e r egi strati o n o f yo u th fo r th i s j u xta

po siti o n w i ll b e fo u n d al so i n t h e Ma n d a n c e r em o ny .

W h en t h e h e ro i ne a ft e r h e r vi ct o ry i s c o n d u cte d t o t h e

m e di c i n e ( or m y st e ry ) lo d g e sh e o r d e r s t h e b u ll d a nc e
,
-

to b e stopp ed t h e fou r t o r t o i se d r u m s (co n c e rn i n g w h i ch

,

pr e sen tly) to b e carr i ed i n t h e b u ffalo an d h u m an s k u ll s

,

to b e h u n g o n t h e fo u r po st s a n d sh e th e n i nvite s t he ,

ch ie fs to en t e r t h e m edic in e lo dg e t o w itn es s t h e vo l un -

tary t o rt u re s o f t h e yo u n g m e n n o w t o co m m en c e ( see
above p , .

T h e Apat u ri a i t i s tr u e d id n o t at a ny rat e in t h e
, , ,

t im e o f Plato presen t t h e h o rr ibl e feat u r e s o f t h e Man d an

,

ce r e m o ny ; b u t i n oth e r Gr e c i a n fe st i val s th e r e are e v i

d e n ce s o f s c en e s q u i t e a s r e vo lti n g a s tho se wh i ch Catlin

witn esse d a n d en act e d appar en tly u po n t h e sa m e m o t ive s
,

r r
In t h e st i n st an ce i t i s t h e a l a m of t h e w o m an in t h e Ma nd an
r r t
c e e mo ny w hi c h b in gs a bo u t h e i n t er ve n t i o n o f t h e m an w i h t h e m e di t
ci n e o r my st e ry pi p e , wh o c ur b s t h e e vil o n e . a s i n t h e le e n d A h ro
g p
r
d it e d ecoy s th e gi an t s t o t h e c a v e n s i n w hi c h H e a cl e s ( w h o , a cco r di n
g
r
rr
t o a n i nt e p e t a t i o n o f cert a i n l e ge n ds a s H er cul e s m i ht b e c al le d
g th e
t
r s or only m an , " like th e my s e y m a n ) i s co ncealed tr .

46 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

N ot e i n co n n e ct i o n w i th t h e w or ship o f D i a n a T a u/ri cer

t ha t t h e Ma n d a n c u sto m w a s pr e c e e d by

d t h e b u ll
d a n c e a n d follo w e d b y t h e fe a s t ( if t h e b u ffalo es a nd ,

that t h e gra n d op erator i n t h e t o rt u re s sa t w ith a d ried

I n S i c i ly ( p 4 3 1 ) th e r e w a s a

b uffalo sk u ll b efo re h im . .

fes ti val in w h i ch t h e y o u th s b e at e ach oth e r with sea

o nio n s t h e victor w a s rew arde d w i th a b u lb I h av e m ade .

a su g gesti on as t o t h e sig n i can c e o f t h e b u ll i n co nne c

t io n with t h e d i l u v i a n tra di ti o n in N a tur e Myt h T h eo ry , ,

pp 7 1 0 w h ich I now re prin t in App en dix C

.
-
,
T he ..

L ace dee m o ni a ns d e te st ed t h e wor shi p o f D ian a T a u rica ,.

b u t feared t h e an g er o f t h e g o d de ss To t h e fai th ful

. .

ob servan c e o f th ei r c ust om t h e Man d an s look ed for th ei r

a nnu al su pply o f b uffalo e s Th e r e w as a festival o f Pan .

i n Arca dia wh e n t h e boys u se d to b eat h i s st a t ue with

,

sea o n i o ns m or e esp e c i ally w h e n th ey m i ssed th eir pr ey

-
,

i n h u n t in g .

Th er e i s som eth in g in t h e Ma n da n c er em o ny t hat

r em i n d s u s of t h e D iony si a alt h o u gh th ey wo uld appear
'

t o hav e b een a w at e r d r in ki n g p e opl e w h en Catli n vi si t ed

-

th em ; at an y rat e th ere i s n o m e n ti o n of i n t oxi c ati ng

,

d ri n k s T h e i mm oral i t y o f t h e clo sin g sc en e in t h e c er e

.

m o n y how eve r r e call s t h e Baccha n ali a n orgies a n d m ore

, , ,

ove r t h e c ent ral obj ect in th eir vi ll age w h i ch t h ey calle d ,

t h e b i g ca n o e an d r o u n d w h i ch t h e d an c e s took place
, ,

wa s shap ed li ke a ho g sh e a d ca s k ( c o m p a re i nfr a p , .

A ssu min g t h e fact that Bacchus r e presen t s t h e late r

t radi tio ns of t h e patri arch N oah or po ssibly t h e tra di t io n ,

o f Cha m embo dyi n g tra d i ti o n s o f t h e e pi s o d e r e cor d ed i n

,

t h e Bible t h e sub s t it u ti o n of wi n e s acks for wa t er sack s

,
-
-

i n t h e followi n g n arrati v e s w o u l d corr e spo nd t o t h e c o n

fu si o n o f t ra d i t i o n w e hav e j us t s ee n i n t h e co m bi nat io n
o f th e w in e b ut t an d t h e can o e-
*
.

T h e la t e C ol l G g M d ll C B r l t d that
o ne eor e
ertain
ac on e , . .
, e a e c
J esuit mi ssionari s w nt in ar h ef an I n di n t ibe whom S ir J o n
e se c
h o a r

PLA T O S A T LA N T IS . 47

Ma nda n (C atli n) . A rch wo . Gra ca , i . p . 372 .

T here
realso fo ur arti cles
we A axa h a A festi val c el e

a t .

o f v en eration a nd i mp o rt n c e.
b a t ed b y t h e A th eni an h s a r u

lyi ng on t h e groun d w hi h w r e b n d m en i n h on ou r o f Bacchu s

,
c e a ,

sa k s co n taini n g ea ch som thr ee

c t o w hom they sacri ced a h e e

or four ga ll ons of w ater T h y g t b ecau se that a nim al de

. e oa

seemed t o b e o bj ects f gr e t stroy s t h e vin es oO ut of a .

su p ersti ti ou s regard vi tim s skin it w as u s

'
'
T h th . e e c c

sack s of w ater h a d t h e app e ar t o m a y t o m ake a sack w h i c h r , ,

a nc e of great an ti quity a n d t h e b in g ll e d wi th wi n e a n d oil

, e ,

Mandans p retend ed t h t t h e w a t e they end eavour ed t o leap up n i t

a r , o

h a d b een c ontain ed i n th m v er w i t h o n e fo ot a nd h e th at rst

e e ,

sin ce t h e D elu ge D rin g x d him self u p on i t w as d e

. u e

e ach an d ev ery on e of th se cl d vi cto r a nd rec ei v ed t h e e a re ,

b ll dances th e four ol d m n sack s a re w ard T h e festi v al

u -
e a .

w h o w ere b eating on t h e sacks w o c all e d from l eap in

g on as s

o f w ater w ere c h antin g forth th i t h e sack ( o T hi s m st e r r u

suppli cad on s t o th e Gre at S p i ri t b n sid er ed i n c onn ecti o n w i th

'
e co

fo r a c onti nu ati on o f h i s fa v rs t h e c nj o i nt festi val s o f N p t n ou o e u e

in sendin g th em b ualo es t o s p n d Bacchu s

th e u a ,

ply th em wi th foo d for th e en s i n g fro m n ew w i n e u

.

y ear . T h e y ou n g men at R om e w ere

i n v t d w ith t h e t oga v ir i li at es e s

t h e li ber li a a festi val i n h onou r a ,

o f Bacchus ( D ollin ger J ew a nd ,

Gen t i le i t ,

R t
h is voya ge o w ar ds t h e N o th Pol e h a d de sc ri bed as w i t hou any
ose in r t
r
c e e d o f a ny ki nd T h e J e su i t s foun d t ha he y h ad n o wo rsh i p exce p
. tt t
t
t ha a t mid d ay t hey a ssembl e d in a c irc le , a n d he n th e o ldes m an call ed t t
ou t t
hr ee ti mes Ye h o w a h ,
"
w hi c h t he y e ga r d ed as a n i nvoc at i o n o f
- -
r
J eho va h .
r
H i s info m ant w a s t h e R e v G Gl o ve r . 8 J , at R ome . . . . .

v
I nd a e y si mi la a r
ccou n t i n S t a r
nl ey F a b e
'
s P ag a n I d o la try , 11 r .

t r
p 3 09 , w h o q uot es f o m T he H i s o ry of t h e A meri can I ndi a ns, b y J ame s

t r r r
.

A d a ir , a r a de wit h t h e I n di a n s a n d e si d e n t i n t h e cou nt ry for fo t y ,

y e ar s M r
. A d ai giv
.
r
e s a n a cco un t o f a n I n di an t ib e wh o h a d carr i ed r
t t
ab o u t wi h he m an a rk in whi ch he y k ept v a ri ou s hol y ve ssel s t T hi s .

t r
a r k t h e p ri e s s w e e w on t t o b e ar i n so l e m n p o c e ssi o ns T hey n eve r . r
r
pla ced i t on t h e g oun d ; when s t o n e s w e e t o ha n d , t hey e s ed it upon r r t
t he m ; when n o t , u pon lo g s o f w o o d N o o n e p resumed t o o uch i t . t
x h
e c e pt t h e c i eft ai n a nd h si a t t e n d a n t s , a n d o n l y o n p a t i cu l a oc ca si o n s

r r .

t
T h e d e i t y of t hi s ark he y i nvoked b y t h e n a me o f Yo h e w ah , w hi c h
- a

r
Mr A d a i supposes to b e a sli ght varia i o n o f t h e J ehovah of th e
.
t
H e b e ws r r r
Fabe , how eve , af e addu cing supplemen a y evidence , c on
.
tr tr
48

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS .

If Dio ny su s ( or Bacch u s) em bo di es a t rad iti o n of

N o ah and if ( Gen i x 3 ) t h e per m i ssmn t o eat esh m eat

,
. .
.
-

w a s r st g i ve n to t h e patr i arch t h i s i s an e ven t which w e

t ,

sho u l d expe ct t o n d tra n smi tte d i n tr a di tion a nd w e ,

see m to see i t i n t h e A er wa a n d t h e cip woiy m fest iv a l s ,

h e ld in ho n o u r o f Bacch us a s t h e e at e r of raw esh

.

(A r chceo. e ca , 3 62
T h e probabi li ty o f su ch i n di re ct trad i t io n i s incre a sed
by t h e fact o f di re ct tra di ti on i n t h e pages o f Porphyry,
t h e opponen t o f Chri st i a ni ty ( vid e e xtrac t fro m Porphyry , '

i n L A bb Gaine t

H i st d c l A

D e A bs ti n en ti a , li v ii

. .
, s . nc .

at N e w T est p a r les
. . sea ls t m o ig na g es pr ofa nes, i .

m of Porphyry s w ork w a s to r e viv e t h e sy s tem o f

T he ai

Pyt hagora s, a nd b ey on d i t to bri n g m en back to t h e m an

n er s o f pri m itiv e l ife

N o w , h e s ay s, .th ese en , les m
h a bi ta n t s r ai si n s d es gn m t io n s d i v in es , ea t n o t hi n g which
h a d life , in or d e r to giv e th e m se lves u p m or e fr eely to t he
e xe rc i se o f t h e i nt e ll e ct , a n d to hol d th em selves a loof from

t h e depr ava t io n o f m ann e r s Porphyry q uo t es D icear .

ch us t o thi s effe ct , and a d d s w hat h a s a sp ecial signi can ce ,

e t
with referen c e to t h h eo ry o f pr i mi ti ve barbari sm : A nd

it i s evi dent that t h i s light an d s i m ple ki nd o f foo d g ave

b i rth to th e proverb whi ch ci rc u lated in t h e su cc eeding
ages, Then t h e acor n suf c e d .

W e ha ve seen a t t h e c om m en cem ent of t hi s i n quiry

el udes : I am incline d t o be li e ve t hat as H o i s E u o r Ba cchus (co mp .

r
W elsh C el t ic legen d o f R u , F a b e ; p 3 0 4, an d C hal d aic H o a) , so w e ha ve .

no o h et rthan t h e Bacchi o cry of H ev a h or E voe, an d co nsequently t ha '

t
t
t h e excla ma i on Yo h e w ah is in fact n oth in g m o e th a n H o- H evah ,
- -
r
t
w hi ch i s e quivalen t o H u es E vo e , o r i n ve rse ly E vo Baoch e I mus

t
m
.

r r
leave t h e e ad e t o d ec i d e b e w ee n h ese c onic i n g vi e ws t S t C le en st t . .

r
o f A l exand i a s ays , d e scrib ing t h e o r gi es o f t h e B a ccha n e s : C oron a i t t
s erpentib u s et ulul an t e s E va m E v a m i lla m p er qu a m e o est conse
. rr r
t
ou an s e t signu m Bacch i e o ru m or i o n em est se rpe n s m st erii s i niti a t us
g y

( A dmon a d Gen t i s, p
. I h ave di sc uss e d t h e evi de nce fu her in
. rt
tr
c h ap e i v t r r
a nd al so, wi h efe e nc e t o th e I nd ia n sn ak e da nce c omp a e
.
,
- r
page 71 , i nf a r .
 '
PL A T o S A T L A N T IS . 49

that t h ere w a s at Ath en s a n a nnu al c erem ony di r ectly

co m m e m orative o f t h e D e l uge which w a s calle d t h e Hyd ro ,

ph o r ia fro m h ea ri ng w at er whi ch th ey po u red i nto a n

, ,

ape rt u r e i n t h e t e m ple in m em ory o f tho se w h o p er i sh e d

,

i n t h e D e lu ge Th i s c e r em o ny h as thi s fe atu r e in co m
.

m o n wi th t he S yri a n c e r em o n y d es cri b e d b y L u ci a n It .

i s n ec e ssary t o r e call th e se fact s i n or d e r to p e rc ei ve t h e

fu ll si gn i ca n c e o f t h e obj ect s carri ed i n t h e pr o c essi o n

(vi d e T rad i ti o n p , It w as c ele brat ed o n t h e 2 5 t h

.

T h argeli o n 5 t h May ( co m p Catli n above )

z E v ery c i ti z e n
. .

con trib u te d a n e x a n d o li v e bra n ch e s In t h e c er e m o n i es

-
.

w i tho u t t h e c i ty th er e w as a n e n gi n e b u i lt i n t h e f or m of a
ship on p u rpo se fo r th i s so l e m n i ty u p o n th i s t h e s acre d

garm en t o f Mi n e rva w a s h u n g i n t h e m ann e r o f a sai l ;

t h e w h o l e co n vey e d t o t h e t e mpl e o f C e r e s E leu si ni a

This proc e ssi o n w a s led b y old m en togeth er as so me , ,

say , w i th o ld w o men carryi n g oli ve bran ch es i n th ei r

,
-

s ojo u rne r s w ho carri e d li tt le

ha nd s . A ft e r th em

,

boa t s a s a tok e n o f th e i r b ein g for ei gn e r s a n d w e re call e d ,

o n that acc o u n t bo a t bea r ers th en fo ll owed t h e w o m e n

-
,

w h o w e r e n a m ed ddgl o w dgm fr o m bea r i ng w a t er ,

p ots ( co m p t h e hyd rophori a a s ab o v e)

.
,
.

I have excl u d e d fr om t h e i n q u i ry t w o thi n gs w hich in ,

c ertain a spe ct s a re c o m m o n t o a ll th e se c er e m o nie s i n

,

th ei r lat er an d d e gene rat e fo rm s o b sc e n i ty a n d so lar

w o r sh i p . B efo r e pr o c ee di n g to j u st ify t h e e xcl u si on o f
t h e latt e r I m u st co n cl u d e t h e evide n c e w i th one stri kin g
,

r ese m blan c e or coi n cide n c e b et w e en t h e Ma nd an an d Gr e

ci a n fest i val s w h i ch p e rhap s o u ght to ha v e b ee n m en ti o n e d
, .

b efo r e T h e op en i n g o f t h e Man dan c er em o ny i s th u s

.

raph i call d s cr i b e d b Catl i n ( p 9)

g y e y .

T he ason havi n g ar i v d for t h h ldi ng of these c rem ni e

se r e e o e o s,

t h e l ea d i n g m di ci n ( m y st ry ) m n p re sen ted hi m self o n t p o f a

e e e a o

W i w am o n meo rn in g b efo r e n ri s n d hara n

g in g t h e p eo p l e
su e, a u
g ,

told them that h e di sco v ered som ething v ery stran ge in th e

E
50
PL A T o S A T L A N T I S .

t hori on a nd h e b eh aved th at at t h e ri in g o f th e sun a

w es ern z ,
s

great w hi te m a n w ld e nter t h e vill ge fr om t h e w st n d p

ou o en t h e a e a

I n a few m o m en ts t h t p s o f th e w i gw am s an d

m e di ci n e l o d ge . e o

a l l o th r l e va ti o n s w re c o v er e d w i th m en w o m e n a n d ch i l dr e n o n
e e e , ,

t h e l o o k out ; a n d at t h e m o m ent t h e ray s o f t h e su n s h e d thei r r st

-

li ght a ll ey es w e r e d i rected t o t h e p ra i i e w h er e at t h e di s r , ,

tan c of a m ile o o from t h e v illage a solitary hu m an g re

e r s ,
u

wa s seen d esc en d in g t h e p ra iri e hi ll s a nd a pp ro achin g t h e v i ll ge a

i n a strai ght l in e ntil h e r each ed th e pi c ket

u T h e h ea d chi ef .

a n d t h e c o n ci l o f c hi efs
u so o n m ad e th ei r a pp earan c e in a

b o dy at t h e p icket a n d rec ogni se d t h e vi si tor a s a n old ac qua int

,

ance w ho m th ey add ressed s N h m ohk m uck a n h (th e rst or a u - - - -

a

o n ly m a n ) A ll S h oo k h an d s w ith hi m
. n d i n vite d hi m w i thi n t h e , a

p ick et H e th en h aran gue d th em fo a few m in u tes r emi n di n g th m

. r , e

th at every hu man b ei ng o n th e surface o f t h e earth h a d b een d e

stro y e d b y t h e w ater e x c ep t hi m self w h o h a d l an d ed o n a hi gh m o n , u

tain in th e w est in h i s can oe w here h e still resid e s a nd fro m w hen ce

, ,

h e h a d co m e t o o p en t h e m edi cin e l o d ge that t h e Man d an s m i ght ,

c eleb rate th e s bsidi ng of t h e w a t s (c m p hy dropho ri a L u cian s

u er o .

accoun t f th e cerem ony at H i erap oli s) a n d m ak e t h e p rop er s i

o a cr ~

e es t o t h e w a t er l est t h e sam e cal ami ty s ho ul d a gai n happ en t o

,

th em .

L et li st en if w e d o no t seem to catch t h e e cho o f th is

us -

in t h e acco u n t wh i ch Ath en aeu s ( li b iii ) h a s given us o f . .

t h e m MG Bato ne pen si a n rh e tor i c i a n

gm n t h e S i , in ,

h i s d e scri pt i o n o f Th ess aly a n d H aem o nia d e clar es that ,

t h e S a t u r n a lia was a Gr e ci a n fe sti val a n d calle d by t h e ,

Th essalia n s Pe lor i a H i s wor d s a re th e se .

a tim e w hen t h e Pela sgi an s w ere offerin g p ublic sacri ces

At ,

o n e Pel oru s me i n a n d t old n e o f th m that th e m o u ntai n s of

ca , o e

T em p e i n H eem oni w er e torn a su nd e r b y a n earthq u ake a n d th e

a
,

l ak e w hi c h h a d p r vi u ly c o v re d t h e adj acen t v all ey m aki ng i t s

e o s e
,

w a y th r gh t h e b r eac h a n d fallin g i nto t h e str eam o f Pen eu s h a d

ou
,

l eft b ehi n d a v a st b u t m ost pl ea san t a n d d eli ghtf l p lai n T h e Pelas u .

gian s h gge d P l oru s fo hi s n ew s n d i nvi t ed hi m t o a n en t er t a i n

u e r , a

m n t w h ere h e w s tr eated w i th ll so rts o f d a in ti &

e a In a .

m emo ry o f thi s w h en t h e Pela sgi an s h a d se ate d th em sel v es in

,

t h e n ew ly di sco v er ed c ou ntry th ey i n sti t ted a festi v al w h erei n , u

they o ffered sacrices t o J up i t surn am e d Pelo r nd m ad e er ,

, a

su m p tu ou s ent erta i n m ents w h ereto th ey in vite d n o t o nl ,

y a ll th e
.
 '
PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 51

r
fo eign e s r among th em (comp are th e Pan athenaea) b ut p ri son ers ,

al so n d sl a v es a ll o f Wh om the
a , y p ermitte d t o si t d o w n a n d ,

t
w a i ed o n t h em .

Thi s latte r fe at u re co nn ect s i t w ith oth e r Grec i an

fest i val s a n d al so w i th t h e Pe r si a n festi val h e l d i n t h e
,

S pr i n g o f e v e ry ye ar wh e n t h e h u sban d m en w e re a d mit ted

,

w i tho u t d i st in ct io n t o t h e t abl e o f t h e ki n g a n d h i s
satrap s ( G i bb o n ii , .

Co n si de r in g t h e pr o m i ne n t part w h i ch Bacch u s play s in

th ese c er e m o ni es a n d in m ythological tra ditio n it i s c u r io u s ,

that h e sh o u l d o n ly o n c e b e m e ntio n e d i n S ir G W C o x s . .

My t ho logy of t h e A ry a n N a t i o ns I s it n ot a n otabl e .

i n sta n c e o f t h e part o f Ha m l et b ein g o m i tt ed i n t h e play

o f H a m let ! Thi s ca su al r efer en c e to hi m wi ll b e fo u nd
(ii .p . Bacch o s t h e son o f D i o ny so s an d I m a
y he re
n o ti c e that S ir G W Cox s m yth o logy d o e s n o t accor d
. .

e ith e r w i th t h e di scar d e d L em pr i e r e or w i th Dr S m i th s

, .

D i ct i o n a r y of My t h o logy o r w i th Mu rray s Ma n u a l

, ,

e v en w h e n th ey all a g r ee a n d S i r G W ,
Cox gives fe w . .

cla ssical r efe r en c es Ho we ve r i t i s n o t n ec essary he r e t o

.
,

d i sc u ss w h e th e r or n o t Bacch o s i s t h e so n o f D i ony

or w h e th e r h e i s Bacch u s t h e R o m a n e qu ivale n t fo r

so s ,

t h e Gree k D i o n y so s .

I a m n o t i m p each in g S ir G W Cox s exten si ve . .

acqu ain ta n c e w ith cla ssi cal lite rat u r e b ut I d o prot est ,

again st t h e mann e r i n w hi ch th i s sch ool pr esen t s it s th eory

-

to t h e e xclusi on o f e very oth e r view I thi nk w e m ight .

have e xp e ct ed so m e r ec o gni tio n o f t h e th eory ori gin ally

h eld that Bacch u s or D i o ny so s e m b o die d tra diti o ns of t h e
patriarch N o ah or Cha m or N i m ro d (fo r eith er m ight have
for m e d a n u cl e u s

r o u nd w h ich t h e tra ditio n s or myth s
m i ght have coll e ct ed ) ; at a ny rat e , w e sho u l d have exp ect ed
so m e a d ve rt e n c e to t h e fact s .

T h e s ali en t fact s fro m t h e tra di ti o n al p o i n t o f vie w a re

1 That altho ugh th e r e are l eg en d s o f a yo u th fu l
.
52

PLA T O S A T LA N T I S .

Bacch u sj an d o f h i s d o u bl e
b irth ( e q u al ly expli cable o n
solar th e o ry a n d on t h e th e ory of t h e r e v i val o f l i fe a n d

se c ond b i rth a ft e r t h e D e l u g e w h i ch l e g e n d by t h e b ye, , ,

take s t h e fo rm o f A d o n i s w h o i s al so sav e d i n a n ar k) yet

, ,

t h e c irc um sta n c e s a n d su rro u n di n g s w h i ch t h e l e g e n d s

r e ve al ne c e s sari ly locat e h im in t h e pr im itive ag e s of t h e
w orl d .

2 N ei th e r i s i t a d i f c u lty that th e r e
. w e r e thr ee
Bacch u se s fo r th ey a r e all re s olvabl e in to var i o u s for m s
,

o f t h e s a m e l e ge n d or m y th e q u all y fro m t h e h i s tor i cal

, ,

or n at u r e myth po in t o f vie w L i ke t h e Th eban win e .

g o d A d o n i s i s b o r n on ly o n t h e d e ath o f h i s m oth e r
, and

t h e t w o m yth s a re i n o n e ve r si o n so fa r t h e sa m e that
, ,

D i o n yso s li ke Ad o n i s i s plac ed in a ch e s t wh i ch b eing

, , ,

ca st in t o t h e se a i s carri ed to Bra si ai w h e r e t h e bo dy o f
, ,

( C o x My t h 1 1

h i s m oth e r i s b u ri e d A d o ni s
, . .

s ta n d s to D i o n y s o s i n t h e r e lat i o n o f H e li o s to Pho ibo s

( Cox ii , . T h e e xt i n ct m oth er m ay a s we ll b e t h e
for m e r worl d d es troye d a s t h e n i ght or t h e w i n t e r .

3 Vari o u s l e g e n d s co nn e ct Bacch us w i th t h e sea

. .

4 H e i s t h e r s t l e gi slator
. .

5 Bacch u s r st di scov e r e d an d plan t e d t h e v i ne

. .

T h e pri n c i pal tra di t io n s re gard i n g Bacch u s a re r e cor d e d

b y D io d o r us S i cu lu s a n d alth o u gh D io d o ru s e xpl ic i tly
,

stat e s th i s t h e s tat e m e n t i s i g n or e d i n Cox Mu rra

,
y and , ,

e v e n i n S m ith a n d L e m pri e r e Thi s i s so i m porta n t that

.

I m u st gi ve t h e actu al t e xt W ri t i n g at a p er i o d B C 8 . . .
,

w h e n tra di t i o n h a d b e co m e ob sc u r e d D i o d o ru s i n cl i n e s to ,

t h e n at u ral i st vi e w s wh i ch by t h e by e pr e su ppo se t h e a n t e
, , ,

c e d en ce o f t h e h i st o r i cal tra dit i o n or m th i n a sm u ch a s

y ,

D i o dorns S i c t
ell s u s 1 i v
.
( . . t
) t ha D io ny su s (li ke J a nus) h a d t wo
t
fa c e s , t ha t t h e an ci e n D i o ny sus al wa y s w o e a l o n g b ear d I n t h e r
r r r
.

o t he a sp ec t h e i s r ep e se n t ed a s a spruce ou m
J a n us (bi f ons)
y n g a n .

i s r e pr e se n t e d w i t h a p ro w o f a s h i p o n t h e r e v er se o f h i s
m e d als ,
a n d o n t h e S i cili a n c o i n s a t E
y x w ut h r
a d o ve e n cir c le d w i h a c own

t r
w h i ch se e m s t o b e o f o l i ve ( B y a n t , My t h r .
,

54 PL A T o s A T L A N T IS .

(T

a
w s wgi S -
b eari n g J o v e th at sp ok e it rst)
T h e go d ly seed fare s w ell t h e w ic k e d i s a ccur s t
,
.

( C alv erl ey

s T h eoc ri t us, I d yll xxvi ) .

8 Bacch u s w as r egar de d a s t h e go d o f t h e d ra m a a nd
.

t h e prot e ct o r o f th e atr e s ve ry n at u rally if t h e c o m mem o ,

r a t iv e c e r e m o n i es w e hav e b een d i sc u ssi n g w e r e pr i m i t i v e

a n d a n te c e d e d t h e stag e a n d t h e d ra m a .

9 I n t h e l i n es o f t h e O rph i c h ym n
.

K m k c xw A 1 6vuoov ep/B

poa ov eba cr pa
'

p r y ovov, A qua!) r p/y ovov .

T he thr ee la st e pi the t s e xactly apply t o N oah A m oun .

d o u b le = b ifro n s a s w e hav e j u s t seen h i m r e pr e sen t ed

,

looki ng back o n t h e w orld that h a d p e ri sh e d an d fo r ,

war d to t h e new birth h e w a s i n a u gu ratin g ; r gfy ovov in f f

all u sio n to h i s thr ee son s ; b u t m or e e sp e c i ally i n t h e

e p i th e t r st bor n ar wr d ovov A S I have e l s e w h e re
'
g y
-
.

r em arked si n c e all a n t e dilu vi an tra di ti o n s m eet i n N oah

, ,

a n d are tra n sm i tt e d thro u gh h i m th e r e i s an a p r iori ,

pr o babi lity that w e shall n d all t h e a n tedi l u vi a n tra di

t io ns c o n fu se d i n t h e tra ditio n o f N oah a n d accor din gly ,

t h e r e d u pli cati o n o f A d a m i n N o ah h a s n o t e scap ed ob se rva

ti o n Th us t h e e pith et rst bor n c u ri o u sly applie s ; a n d
.
-

I m u st fu rth e r not e t h e rem arkabl e r esem blan c e to t h e

e p i th e t a dd resse d to t h e p e r s o n ag e who app e ar e d fro m t h e

plai n to op en t h e Ma n d an c er e m o ny ( vid e sup p , .

t h e r s t or o n l y m a n .

T h e c u m ulat iv e forc e o f t h e e vid en ce app e ar s to m e

ve ry str o n g a n d a ssu m in g t h e e xi ste n c e o f N oah I thi n k
, ,

i t m u st b e a d m i tt ed that t h e tra d i t i o n poi n t s to t h e

patr i arch or to so m e origin al progenitor im m e di at ely i n
,

c o ntact w ith h i m It m ay i n de e d b e alt e r n ati ve ly a s

.
, ,

s ert e d that Bacch u s i s t h e su n b ut th i s w i ll n o t su fc e , .

Thi s m ay b e o bj ect e d by th o se w h o b e li e ve i n G e nesi s o r ,

b y tho se w h o d o n o t I f b y t h e for m e r I r e ply that

.
,

wh en e ve r mythology co m m en c e d N oah or C h am m ay , .

PL A T O S A T LA N T I S . 55

have b een i denti ed w i th or dei e d in co nnec t io n with , ,

th e su n ; a n d fro m th i s p o i n t o f vi e w t h e mythology
m ust h ave b een su b se q u en t to t h e D e l u g e an d acc epti ng , ,

t h e script u ral in dicatio n s n oth i n g i s m o r e probab le than ,

that t h e m yt hology sh o u ld ha v e ab so rb e d or embo di ed t h e

i n c iden t s o f th at st u p e n d ou s e v en t a n d t h e p er so nages ,

an d fact s o f ea rly hi s t o ry .

To tho se who only recogni se th e book o f Gene sis a s

a hi storical r ecord I m u s t su b m i t that in suppo sin g th e
patri arch pe rhap s th ey w ill re c ogni se h im at an y rate , ,

a s a prog eni t or to hav e b e e n d e i e d in conn ecti o n with

t h e su n I am no t hazardi n g a m e r e conj e ct u r e b ut a m
, ,

statin g a s a h ypoth esi s w hat th e r e i s e v id e n c e to S how

w as probabl e b eca u se i n acc o r d a n c e wi th t h e t enden cy o f

,

t ho u h t at th at day
g .

T h e E gyptian p ri ests s w e l earn fr om Pl utarch (D e I sid p

, a . .

d ; de xb xocg A di rm i 6 pm) ta ght e xp ressly that C ron o s

/
3 54,
r u / te 7 ,
u ,

O si ri s H or us and a ll th ir p i n cip l d eiti e s w ere o nc e mere men ;

, , e r a

b ut that after th ey d ied their sou l s m i grat d i nto some o n e o r other e

of t h e h ea v enly b o di e n d b ca m t h e genii o r a nimati n

s, a g S p iri ts e e

o f th ei r new c el ti al m ansi o n s es I n a si milar man n er w e a e . r

told b y S anch oni t h n that Il s o C ron [comp sup r a p 1 8]

a o a r os , .

w a s o nc e a m a n th at h e w as d i d b y t h e Ph oen i cian s after hi s

,
e e -

d eath a n d that hi s so ul w
, b li ev e d to hav e p a ssed i nto th e
as e

planet w hi ch b e ar s h i s n ame E b i s P p E va n li b i c 1 0 . u se u , re . . . . .

(S tanl ey F aber P aga n I d o la t y ii p

, r , . .

T he xpressi on
e of Ci c e ro al so , o por t e t co n tra illo s
e tiam qu i h o s d e o s gen e re in ccel um
ex h om in u m (De
N a t D eorum iii
. m ay b e a dd u c e d i n evide n c e o f t h e
, .

ten den cy to thi s m o d e o f dei cat i o n T h e i n quiry wo u ld .

seem to have resu lted so far i n t h e followi n g fact s , ,

Taki ng t h e evid en c e o f Gen e si s ( w he th er as reve aled tru th

or h ist o ri cal r ecor d ) at t h e p ri miti ve co mm en c emen t of
,

t h e h u m an fam i ly aft e r t h e D e l u ge ( or o f a larg e sect io n

o f m a n ki n d a ft e r a d e l u ge ) w e have t h e acco u n t of t h e ,

r st pl an tin g of t h e vi n e b y t h e r st progen itor followed ,

56
PL A T o S A T L A N T IS .

by a sc ene o f in toxi cati on wh i ch w o u ld fro m i t s c i rc u m

,

sta n c es have i m pr e ssed i t se l f o n t h e m emor i e s o f h 1 s

,

d e sc e n d a n t s .

Trac in g back w ar d s w e n d eviden c e s of co mm em ora

,

ti ve c erem o n i es whi ch co rre spo nd to t h e fact s above re

,

cor d ed I n t h e c i rc u m sta n c e s th at th ey we r e co mm e m orati ve

o f a d e l u g e o f a r s t l e gi slator o f t h e r s t pla n ti n g o f t h e
, ,

wi n e o f t h e r st c u lti vator al m o st i n var i ably t e r m i n at i n g

, ,

i n a sc e n e o f r i ot o r i n toxi cat i o n n o t alway s i t i s tr u e , ,

co m bin in g all t h e se tra ditions, b ut so co m b in in g fe at u re s

o f th e m a s to d i s cl o se a co m m on p a re n t a ge .

O n t h e oth e r han d i t i s co n t e n d e d that t h e D e l u g e o f

'

G en esi s w as o n ly o ne li ne o f t h e tra di ti o n o f t h e su b m er
si o n o f Atla n t i s w h ic,h w o u l d gi v e a m e a s u r e o f i t s m a g

nit ud e that gre at d el uge o f all a s Plato call s it A s
, .

ag ain st thi s I have po i n te d to a d oc um ent to whi ch

,

Plato s n arrat i ve v e ry clo sely correspo n d s a n d w h i ch if

, ,
'

h i s n arrati ve i s n o t to b e acc e pt e d l i t e rally m ight e a sily

,

have forme d t h e fo und ati o n fo r t h e ct i o n That i s h o w .

t h e arg um en t at pr e sen t sta n d s .

 CHAPTE R Iv .

R E C E NT T E S T I MO N IE S .

S IN C E t h e pr evio u s chapt er w as written I have b eco me

acqu ainte d w ith Mr A Lan g s C usto m a n d My th quit e
. .

recently p u bli sh ed (L o ngman s Mr Lan g ha ving , .

,

ma de t h e d i sc o v e ry that i n w hat i s calle d t h e o rtho dox

'

school o f m y t hology t h e s chool o f Mr Ma x Miille r a n d

.

S ir G W C o x t h e di sti ng u i sh ed s cholars a nd myth o

logi st e u su ally d iffe r fro m e ach o t h e r a n d ma ni fes t ,

n o ne o f t h e b e a u tiful u n a ni m i ty o f o rth o d ox

y h as ,

wi sely so u ght to broa d en t h e ba si s o f mytholo gy In st ea d .

of e nde avo ur i n g to n d i t s d e r i vati o n i n etym o logy a ft er ,

t h e m ann e r o f t h e philologi cal school h e rath e r see ks i t ,

in folklore which I m ay ob se rve in pa ssin g w a s t h e ai m

, , , ,

a s i s i m pli e d i n t h e t itl e o f m
y book T r a di t i o n w i th , .

R eference t o My t hology prin te d i n 1 872 Mr Lang says

, . .

an 2 5)
O t r t
m e th o d h ou ghou w ill b e t o pl e t h e u s ge or my h,
ur ac a t
c t
w hi h i s un i n ellig i ble w h en fo un d m o ng i vili s ed a
e, b esi d e ac rac
r t c
t h e simil a my h w hi h i s i n elligi ble en ou gh w hen i t i s fo u nd
,
t
a a a c a t at at
K

mong s v ge s T h e oncl u si on w ill usu lly b e h

. . th e f c
c r
w hi h p uzzles u s by it s p esen e i n ci vili s io n i s reli c
su vi vi ng at a c r
r t
f om th e im e w h en t h e n ces o s o f a
i vilised e w e e in tr s ac
e rac r a tat
a a r
of s v ge y .
"

will b e n otic ed that Mr Lan g s vi e w n ec essarily

It .

su ppo se s a stat e o f pri mi ti ve barbari sm N o w if o n t he . ,

.

oth e r hand w e poin t to t h e an cient and co n trary b eli ef of

,

a large secti o n o f m a nkind that t h e rac e c omm e n c ed with

58

PL A T o s A T LA N T IS .

c i vi li satio n a n d w ith su rvival fr o m a D e lu ge ; an d if w e

furth e r co n t e n d that if t h i s b e l ie f i s acc e pt e d all th ese
, ,

m y th s a n d c u st o m s fall i n t o th ei r plac e a n d that th ei r ,

si m i lar ity o f fe at u r e d e m a n d s n o oth e r e xpla n at i o n tha n

c o m mu n ity o f or igin all I n ee d say i s that th i s b elie f or

, ,

th e ory or tra di tio n ca nnot b e di splac e d or overthro w n b y

, ,

a ny th e ory w h i ch a ssu m e s t h e s tat e o f pr i m e val barbar is m ,

a s th i s m e re l y b e g s t h e q uest io n at i ssue I fee l di s .

e n se d th e r e fo r e fro m fu rth e r a d v e rt e n c e to Mr : L a n g s

p , ,

th eo ry a nd m ay c o n n e m ysel f t o h i s fact s w h i ch br ing

, ,

str i kin g corro borat i v e e v id en c e .

Mr Lang s acco u nt o f t h e b ull roar er brin g s fresh

.
-

e v i d e n c e i n r e lat i o n to t h e Ma n d a n c e r e m o ny w e hav e

j u st been e xam in i n g pr o vin g if n ee d b e that Catl in s

, , ,

n arrati v e i s att est e d b y e xt e r n al t e s t i m o ny a n d fu rth e r ,

co nn e ct in g it with t h e di lu v1 an tra di ti o n .

T he bu ll roar er i n i t se l f n ee d alar m n o o n e an d an
-
,

i n t e r e st in g acco u n t o f th i s tra di t i o n al t oy w i ll b e fo un d i n
Mr Lan g s book at p 3 0 It s sign i ca n c e is in i t s rela
.

. .

t io n to t h e di l u vi an c e r em o n ie s It i s si m ply a pi ec e o f .

poi n t ed w oo d tie d to a str ing w hi ch w h en w h i rl ed ro u nd , , ,

pro d u c e s a roar in g n o i se A ssu m i ng t h e iden ti ty o f b ull

.

roar er s t ur bin es m um a n d 5611 48 0 1 t h e latt e r bei n g s o m e

, , ,

tim es i n t erpr et ed as a m agi c wh eel w e m ay a ssu me

,

al so th ei r ide nti ty with t h e rattles used in t h e Ma nd a n

c erem o n y (i nfr a p 67 ) , .

T he b u ll roare r l i ke t h e rattles
-

, i s a ssoci at ed ,

w i th m yst e r i e s an d i n i ti ati o n s I f t h e b elat e d trave ller

.

i n t h e plai n s of A u strali a h e ar s t h e b u ll roare r h e k n ow s -

,

that t h e black s are c e lebrati n g th ei r tr i bal m y st eries .

T h e roari n g n o i se i s m a d e to w ar n all wo m en to k eep

o u t o f t h e w ay
,
( co m par e sup p 4 1 ) j u st a s Pen th e u s
. _ .

w a s ki ll ed ( w i th t h e approval o f Th e ocr i t u s ) b e cau s e h e

pro fane d t h e r ites o f t h e wo m en wor sh i ppe r s of D i o ny su s -

( co mp a r e sup p . .
 59

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

Mr La n g a dd s (p 3 4)
. .

A m o ng t h e Ku rm ai i n A u st rali a t h e sacr ed my stery o f t h e

.
.

turnd n o b ll r arer i s p re erved by a legend w hi ch gi v a

u ,

r

u -
o ,

s es

s p rn atural san cti o n t o secre cy

u e W hen b oy g throu gh th e m y ti c . s o s

cerem oni es of i nit ia t io n they a e sho w n t h e b ll r ar rs nd made . r u -

o e , a

t o li sten t thei r hi d eo u s di n oT hey a e th n to ld that if ev er a . r e ,

w m an i s allo w e d t o se e a tu rn d u n t h e e arth w ill o p e n a n d w t

o , ,
a er
"
w i ll co ver t h e glo be .

He r e w e hav e t h e t u r n d un co nne cte d with th e tra di

ti o n o f t h e D e l u g e a n d p robably al so w i th t h e tradi t i o n o f
,

E ve I n t h e S ci en t i c Va lu e of T r a d i t io n pp 1 7 3 4 I
.
, .
-
,

n d that I hav e giv e n feu r i n s ta n c e s o f a v e ry sim i lar

traditi on i h C en tral Afri ca a n d am o n g t h e In di an ,

trib es o f G u i a n a ( Br e tt p 3 7 8 ) a nd i n Hayti T h e , . .

r st t w o are fr o m l e tt e r s w ritten by Mr H M Sta nley . . .

fro m U gigi w h e r e t h e o ri gi n o f Lak e Ta n ga n i ka w a s

,

th u s acco u nt ed for A m an a n d w o m an live d in po sse ssi o n

o f t h e se cr e t o f a fo u n ta i n wh i ch co n ta i ne d a n ab u n d a n c e
.

o f sh S h e b e traye d i t t o h er l o v e r
. w h o g az ed o n t h e ,

bri llia n t cre at ur e s w i th a d mi rati o n ; th e n sei ze d w i th a ,

d e si r e to ha n d l e o n e o f th em h e p ut h i s han d w i th in t h e ,

w at e r w h e n su dd en ly t h e w e ll b urs t f or t h t h e e arth ,

opene d h er w o m b and soo n an en or m o u s lake replac ed ,

t h e pla in .

Mr La n g co n tinu es.

T h e old m en p oin t p ear s at t h e b o y s ey e s sayi n g I f y ou

'
s , ,

tell thi s t o a ny w om an yo w ill di e y o w ill se t h e groun d bro ken , u u e

A s i n A then s in S y ri a n d am ong t h e

u p a n d li ke t h e
,
sea . . , ,
a

Man d an s t h e D el uge tradition of A u strali a i s conn ected w ith

"

t h e m y teri es I n Gi pp sl a nd th ere i s a tra diti o n of t h e D el ge

s .
u

S o me chil d ren o f t h e Ku ai i n playi n g ab o ut fo n d a t u rnd n ih , , u u ,

w hi ch th ey to o k h om e t o th e camp a n d sho w e d t h e w o m en I mm e ,
.

di at ely t h e earth cr m bl ed a w ay a nd i t w a s a ll wa t er a n d t h e
u , ,

Kur n ai w er e d ro w n ed .

T h e e vi d e n c e al so regard in g t h e i ni t i at i o n s is
s carc e ly l ess i m porta n t At le ast i t h a s an e qu ally d ir e ct .

b earing o n o u r arg um ent A s t h e wo m en wer e m o r e .


60 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

e xclu de d from t h e c er em o ni e s a m o n g t h e A u strali an s tha n

a m o n g t h e Ma n d a n s altho u gh i t w i ll b e r em e m b e r e d that
,

th eir E xcl u s io n w a s t h e l ea d i ng fe at u r e i n t h e op eni n g

s c en e s o f t h e Ma n d a n c e r e m o ny w e a re no t s urpr i sed
,

w h e n w e h e ar that t h e A u stral ia n w o m en w e r e m u ch

l ess i n str u ct e d in th eir th e olo gy tha n t h e m e n Still i n .
,

t h e fo llo w i n g e xtract fro m a co n v e r s at i o n w i t h o n e o f th ei r

w o m e n w e m ay see e v id en c e o f t h e co nn e ct i o n o f t h e

i n i t i at io n s w ith t h e c er em o ny o f w h i ch t h e n o i se o f
the
t u rn d u n fo rm e d part O n e w o m a n b e li e v e d sh e
.

h a d h e ar d Pu n dj a l t h e ch i ef su e r n at u ral b ei n g d e scen d
,
p
i n a m i ghty r u sh i n g n oi se that i s t h e so u n d o f t h e
,

t u r n d un wh en boy s we re b eing ma d e m en or in i t i at ed ,

( La n g p, .

Mr La n g al s o says ( p
. Mr W in w oo d R eade
.

.
,

S a va ge A fr i ca [C aptai n S m i th al so m e n t i o n s t h e cu s
t o m i n h i s w ork o n Virgi n i a pp 2 45 r ep ort s t h e
,
.

e v i d e n c e o f Mo n ilo m b a W h en i ni ti at e d Mo n gilo m b a
g .

w a s se v e r e ly ogg ed i n t h e fe t i ch h o u se ( a s t h e yo u n g

Spartan s we r e o gged b efor e t h e a ni m at e d im ag e o f

Arte m i s) a n d th en h e w a s pla st e r e d ove r w ith goa t
,

du n g ( c o m par e sup p . S im ilar d a ub i n gs w er e
.

p er fo r m e d at t h e m y st er ie s b y t h e Ma n d an s a s de s crib ed ,

b y Catl in .

O n t h e Co n go Mr Joh n s o n fo u n d pr e c i se ly t h e s a m e
.

r it u al in t h e in iti ati o n s ( La n g p ,
.

Catli n ( O kee p a pp 2 8 9) m enti o n s a ft e r t h e sc ene o f

- -
, .
-

tortu r e i n t h e i niti ati o n o f t h e yo u n g m en insta n c es o f t h e

vol u n tary s acr i c e o f se veral o f t h e li t tle n g e r s o f t h e

le ft han d or o f t h e for e n g e r a s a n o ffe ri ng to t h e
,

,

G r e a t Sp i r i t , w h i ch w a s str u ck o ff w i th a hat ch e t o n a
b uffalo s k u ll .

It app e ar s to m e that th is m ay su pply a l i n k to co n

n ec t a n oth e r c u r i o u s d e s cr i pt i o n o f a n A u stral i a n i n i t i at i o n
t h e e arl i e st on r e c or d w i th t h e tra d i t i o n .
62
'
PL A T O S A T L A N T IS .

bro ws e xc e pt ed an d alt oge th e r a fri gh t fu l obj e ct ( Collin s

, ,

p . Com par e thi s w i th t h e descri ptio n by Catli n o f

t h e p e r so n ag e t h e r st or o n l y m a n
,
w h o op e n ed t h e ,

Man d an c e re m o ny H e w a s i n app ea ra n c e a ve ry aged

.

w ith a rob e o f fo u r w hi t e wolve s ski n s

m an .
H is .

bo dy a nd fac e and hair w e re en tirely cove red w i th w hi t e

c lay a n d h e clo sely r ese m bl e d at a li t t l e di sta n c e a cen
, , ,

t en a r i a n w hi t e man (p .

T h e r st engravin g ( Collin s) re present s t h e yo u n g m en

u po n th ei r ha n d s an d fee t i mi tatin g t h e d ogs o f t h e

c o un try I n t h e Ma n da n c us to m
. o n t h e e n try o f t h e ,

whi te m an t h e r st or de r given i s t o m u zzle all t h e dogs
,
.

Can o n R awli n so n in h i s I llustra tio ns of t h e O ld

,

T es t a men t p 1 8, tell s u s that t h e Che rokee In dian s

, .

h ad a le g en d o f t h e d estr u cti o n of m a nkin d by a D e luge ,

an d o f t h e pr e servatio n o f a si ngl e fa m ily i n a boat to ,

t h e co n str u ctio n of which th e y h a d b een i nc it ed by a d og .

T h e se co nd engr avi n g ( Colli n s) repr e sen t s t h e yo un g

m en s e at ed o n t h e gro u n d fac ing a log o f woo d w hi ch ,

m ay have d o ne d u ty fo r t h e b ig ca n o e w hi ch Catli n

,

te lls u s w a s S hap ed li ke a hog sh ead
, In t h e en graving

.

a m an i s se e n car ryin g i n a ka ngaroo m ade o f gra ss

,

co n c er ning which pr esently an othe r carries a loa d o f br u sh ,

woo d T
. h e latt r
e

h ad o n e or t wo ow e ri n g sh ru b s in
h is n o stri l s .

It wi ll b e r ecollec t ed that t h e Ma n dan c er em o ny took

plac e w h en t h e willo w r st o w e red .

In t h e th i r d e n gravin g w e have a ka n garoo d an c e .

N o w i f t h e kan garoo w a s th e i r pri n c i pal fo o d i t wo u ld

, ,

n at u rally s u pply t h e plac e o f t h e b u ffa lo i n t h e Ma n d an

c u sto m I n t h e Mand a n c e re m o n y w e have a b u ffalo b u ll

-
.

d anc e to t h e stri ct ob servan c e of wh i ch th ey attri b u ted

,

t h e co m in g o f b u ffalo e s to su pply t h em with foo d

( C at
li n ). I n Colli ns t h e d an c e r s are r epre sent ed a d va nci n g

i n I n dia n le a phra se wh i ch Catli n u se s w i th r efe r
,

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 63

en ec to t h e Man d a n yo u n g m en j u st pre vio u sly to t h e b u ll

d a n c e w h i ch o cc u r s i n c o rr es p o n d in g se q ue n c e
, .

E n gravi n g s fo u r v e a n d s i x h ave o n ly s light r e se m

, ,

bla nc e s a nd a re m e r e ly preparato ry t o t h e tooth extract in g

,
-

o r i n i ti at i o n s c en e The r e i s o ne no tic eable fe at u r e h o w

.
,

e v e r that at o n e po in t t h e y ou th s u tte r e d a m o u r n fu l

,

di sm al so u n d l i k e ve ry di stan t th u n d e r su gge st i n g t h e ,

b u ll roar e r
-
. Thi s s c e ne i s calle d Boo roo m o o ro o ng - - -
,

a w or d w h i ch h as re sem bla n c e in so u n d t o bo u m a ra ng ,

w h i ch aga in h a s re se m b la n c e i n i t s m o d e o f u se t o t h e

b u ll roar e r
-
. I n t h e sixth th e r e i s a pre se n tati o n o f
sp e ar s r e call i n g in s o m e th i n g t h e pr e se n t in g t h e s p e ar s
,

to t h e boy s ey e s w hi ch Mr La ng m en ti o n s

. .

S even th sc e n e i s t h e e xtract i o n o f t h e fro n t t e eth a

ro u gh ope ratio n w i th a splint o f w o o d an d a p ie c e o f st o n e
o n showi n g i t to o u r m e d i cal m e n th ey all f

(yet ,

de clar e d th ey c o u l d n o t hav e b e en b e tt e r e xtract e d if t h e

prop e r in str u m en t s h a d b ee n T h e op erat io n w a s
p er for m e d wi th m i n u te attenti o n t o myst i c r i te s ; t h e
a ssi sta n t s all t h e tim e m a de a m o st hid eo u s n o i se i n
t h e e ar s o f t h e pat i e n t s cryi n g E w ah ew a h ! Ga ga

, , ,

g aga ( p . H a s n o t th i s c ry o f E w ah e w a h l a ,

re se m blan c e t o t h e E vo e evo e ! o f t h e Baccha nal s !

,

( R efe r back to p Th i s sc e ne o f i ni tiatio n i n i t s -

le ad i ng fe at u re s corr e spo nd s t o t h e Ma n dan tort u re s and

a mpu tati o n s .

I n t h e e i ghth s c en e t h e c u sto m clo se s l i ke t h e Ma n

d an i n a s at u r n al i a o f r i ot S u d denly o n a sign al

.
,

gi v e n ( th ey are n o w see n seat ed o n t h e lo g o f w o o d or

b i g ca n o e w h i ch pr e v i o u s to i ni ti at io n th ey h a d fac e d ,

sitt i n g o n t h e g r o u n d ) th ey all started u p a nd ru sh ed

,

i n to t h e to w n d ri vi n g t h e m e n a n d w o m e n b efor e th em
,
.

They w ere n o w r e c ei v ed in to t h e cla ss o f m en w ere pri ,

vilege d t o w i e l d t h e sp e ar a n d cl u b Th ey m ight n o w .

al so sei z e su ch fe m ales a s th ey cho se for wi ve s .
 '
64 PLA T O S A T L A N T IS .

C e rtain oth er fe at ur e s i n co m m o n m a y b e n oti c ed .

Pr ev io u s to t h e tort u r es t h e Man d a n y o u n g m e n

,
l ay
re cl i n in g ro u n d t h e m e di c i n e ( m y s t e r y) lo d g e a n d h a d ,

no w re ach ed t h e m i d dl e o f t h e fo u rth day w itho u t eat in g ,

d r i n ki n g or s l ee p i n g ; an d t h e A u stral i an s
,
w e r e se at ed

at t h e u pp e r e n d o f t h e yo o lah n g e ach holdin g d o w n h is -

,
-

h e a d h i s han d s cla sp e d a n d h i s l e g s cro s sed u n de r h im

, , .

I n th i s p o si ti o n a w kw ard an d pai n fu l a s i t m u st have

,

b e en we u n der stoo d th ey w e re t o r e m a in all night ; a n d

, ,

i n S hort u n t i l t h e c e r em o n y w a s co n cl u d e d th ey w er e
, ,

n ei th e r t o lo o k u p n o r tak e a ny r e fr e sh m e n t w hat s o e v e r

.

A m on g t h e Man d a n s o n t h e occa sion o f th e fe st i val

, ,

a n edg e d t o o l w a s exact e d fro m ev e ry W igw a m a s a

s acr i c e t o t h e w a t er A n d a m o n g t h e A u stral i a n s w h en
.
,

t h e fro n t t eeth escap ed t h e tri b u t e w e catch a gl im pse o f ,

t h e or i gi n al n o ti o n Collin s s ay s th ei r i nfo r m an t told

.

th e m h i s o w n tooth w a s b u rie d in t h e gro un d a n d that ,

oth e r s w er e thro w n i n t o t h e sea .

T h e t e eth w e r e appar en tly ( p 59 4) e xtract ed b y th ei r .

pri e st s or car rah d i s a s t h e n g e r s w e re Iopp e d o ff

,
- -
,

a m o n g t h e Man d an s by th ei r prie st s or m edi c in e (mys

t ery ) m en .

Capt ain J G Bo u rk e h a s re c en tly pr int ed a v a l uable

. .

a n d in t e r e s ti n g acco u n t o f t h e sn ake d a n c e a m on g t h e
"
-

Moqu i In di a n s b u t i t d o e s n o t appe ar to have occ u rr ed

t o h i m that th i s d an c e i f n o t id e n t i cal i s c o gn at e w ith
, ,

t h e Ma n d an a n d oth e r di l u vi a n tra di t i o n s Th i s app ear s .

m a n i fest t 0 m e fro m t h e si m i lar ity i n t h e sym bol s a n d

'

,
,

i n t h e g en e ral correspo n d en c e so to sp e ak i n t h e pro , ,

gra mm e o f t h e d a n c e an d t h e c o m m o n fun d am en tal n ot i o n

attachi ng t o it s ob serva n c e It m ay i ndee d b e that t h e .
, , .

Mo qu i Indi an s have no t r eta in e d t h e tra di t i o n i n t h e s a m e

T h e S n a ke D a nc e f
o t he Mo qu i s of A r i zo n a By C . a pta in J . G .

Bo urke , US . C a alv ry ( Lo n don

. S a mp son L o w 1 88 4 )
.

PL A T O S A T LA N T IS .
65

di r e ct form Ma nd an s A n d th er e is thi s fu rth er

as th e .

di ffe r en c e w hich m ay al so acco un t for t h e d i l u vi a n tra di

,

tio n b ein g in thei r ca se su b sid i ary .

I n trac in g t h e r ese m blan c e s b e t ween t h e Gr e c i a n

fe st i val s c e rtai n c o nn e cti o n s w er e n o t i c ed b e t ween t h e

festi val s i n ho n o u r o f C e res an d Bacchus Bu t t h e form e r .

probably h a d th ei r o rigin in t h e o fferin g o f rst fr u it s -

,
"

to whi ch Ar i stotle re fe r s ( vi d e sup r a p a n d bl en d e d , .

with t h e dilu v i an c o mm e m orat i ve c er em o ni al a t _lat er d ate .

T h e sn ake d a n c e o f t h e Moq ui s a s wi ll b e se en fro m

.
-

,
~

t h e e xtract s giv en h as m a ny fe at u r e s i n c o m m o n w i th t h e
,

w or sh i p o f C e r es a n d w a s h e l d to prop i ti at e i f no lo n g er
, ,

t h e D e i ty ye t so m e h i gh e r p o w e r t o se c u r e t h e gro w th o f
, ,

th eir cor n j u st as th e Mand an s attr ibu t ed t h e supply o f

,

b uffalo e s to t h e de lity w i th w h i ch th ey p erfor m e d th ei r

annu al c u sto m ; e g ( p Captai n Bo u rk e say s
. . .

T h e rst di vi si on i n t h e d an ce remain e d i n p lace w hile t h e ,

sec n d t w o b y t w o
o ,
m i n arm sl o w ly p ran ed r u n d t h e sa cr ed
, ar , c o

r ck going thr gh th e moti on of pl anting c orn t o t h e mu sic of t h e

o , ou s

m o n oto n ou s dirge chanted b y t h e rst di vi i n s o .

A nd p 1 23 .

O n e o f t h e old m en h eld u p a gou rd a t t le sho o k i t li fted hi s -

r , ,

M L g ( C t m d My t h p 3 6) gg t th t t h
r . an us o an my ti , . su es s a e

s cs

van nu s I s echi w as a m o d e of r ai sin g a s c e d w in d a nalogo u s t o . a r ,

that e mployed b y t h e w hirle s of th e t urn d un Mr L ang ho w ever r

. . , ,

g i ves t h e e xpl a n a t i o n o f S e rv iu s

t h e a nc i e n t co mm e n t a,t o r o n Vi r gil
,

w h o o ffer s o t her expl an ati o n s a mo n g t hem t hat t h e v nnus w as

,
a

a cra t e t o h ol d o fferin g s H e a l so gi ves t h e

m

p r i a t i a s fr u,g u m .

vi e w s o f Pre L a t au w h o w as grea t ly st uck wi t h t h e re sembla nce

,
r

b et ween Greek an d Iro quo i s o r C a ib in iti at ion s H e t a k e s S ervius s r .

o t he r e xpl an a t i o n o f t h e m y sti cs va nn u s a n o si er vessel cont ain in g

. ,

rural oerin gs of rs t fru i ts

'
T hi s exa ct ly a n sw er s sa y s L a t a u
-
. , ,

t o tha t C a ri b Ma t ou tou o n w hi ch t hey o ff r sa cre d ca ssava cakes

"
e .

T here i s a very w ell aut he nt i c a t e d t ra di t i o n o f t h e c on n e c t i on o f th e

-

c assav a t re e wi t h t h e d ilu vi an t ra di t i o n i n Mr E ve rar d F i m T hu rn e boo k

- . .

o n t h e I n d i a ns of Gu i a n a a n d a mo ng a C a ri b t ri b e b u t i t w o u ld r un thi s

, ,

n o t e t o t oo gr e at le ngt h .

It m u st b e b orn e i n mi nd t ha t I acchu s w as t h e so le mn n ame o f

Bacchu s i n t h e E l e u si ni a n myst eri es a nd t hat du ri n g t he ir c e lebra t io n ,

t h e i ni t i a t ed carri e d my sti c ba sket s .

 66
PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

h ands in a n attitud e of p ray er tow ard s th e sun b ent down hi s head , ,

m ov ed h i s li p s threw h i s han d s w i th n gers o p ened d ow nw ard s

.

to ward s th e earth grum bled t o rep resent thu nder a nd hi ssed in

, ,

i mitation of lightnin g at t h e sam e tim e makin g a si nuous lin e in

,
.

t h e a i r wi th t h e ri ght in d e x n ger a n d th en seei n g th at my atten

-
,

tion w a s xed up on him m a d e a sign a s if som ething w a s coming,

up ou t of th e gro u n d a n d sai d in S p ani s h Mu cho maiz (Pl en ty of

, ,

co rn ) , a nd i n hi s ow n ton gue , Pola m a i ( Goo d ) .

A nd p . 1 64
T he co m meal
a sacred si gni cance w hi ch i t m ight b e
-
h ad ,

w ell t o b ear i n min d in ord er th ro g hly to app reci ate t h e religio us o u

im port of this dr am a E very ti m e th e s qu a w s scatter ed i t their

. .
,

lip s Would b e d etecte d m o vi n g in p ray er .

It m ay p erhap s r end e r Capta in B o u rk e mor e plac able

, ,

( vi de pp 1 69 7 0 ) to ward s th e se b en ighted p eople if h e

.
-
,

r eali ses h i s o wn ev iden c e that t h e sn ake s m er ely r epr esen t

t h e light ni ng an d t h e s t o r m a n d t h at th e r e for e t h e , , ,

i n tro du ct io n o f t h e sn ak e i n to thei r cer e m o ni al m ay not

n ec essari ly su gg e st d e m o n i ac a s sociatio n s I n t h e pas .

sage j u st c it ed thi s i s e v id e n t ; b u t al s o at p 1 24 it i s sai d .

H ere also w as a gro n d altar T h e d esi gn h ow ev er w a s

u -
.
, ,

different and r ep resented a b an k of fou r lay er s o f y ell o w ; green r ed

, , ,

a n d w hite clou d s from w hi c h d ar ted fou r sn ak e s or str eak s of li h t

,
g
ni ng c olour ed w h ite re d green a n d y ell o w r esp ec ti vel S ee
, , y
, , .

Plat e 1 9 .

A nd it i s t o Capt ain Bou rk e that w e are i ndebted fo r t hi s

n ew ligh t I n ch xx h e gi ves qu otations fro m sev eral
'

. . .

au thor s who have wri tten wi th r efe r e n c e t o serp en t wor -

ship an d h i s j u s ti ed i n s ayi n g ( p 2 2 5 )
,
e
.

In quoting these au th o ri ties I d esir e t o m ake one comment

o nly . N o t o ne o f the m h as allu d e d t o t h e r ese m b la n ce b etw ee n t h e
u ndulato r m o ti on of th e serp en t a n d t h e sin o us m eand eri n

y g of u

lightning a resembl anc e p aten t t o e v e ry o n e a n d p ortrayed by th e

,

Mo quis on th e al tar gure d o n Pl ate 6 .

It m ay , p erhap s , b e s u gg e st ed that a su fci ent expla n

atio n wo u ld b e that l ight n in g i s fr e q u en tly followed by
r ai n , an d th at i n C entral A m e ri ca r ai n i s sp eci ally i nvoke d

P L A T O S A T LA N T IS . 67

fo r t h e gr o w th o f cor n If ho w e ver t h e l i ght n i ng i s t h e

.
, ,

co n co mi ta n t o f rai n it i s m or e gen e rally t h e c on c o m ita nt

,

o f th e w i n d t h e s t o r m t h e o o d a n d t h e d e l u e w h i ch
, g , , , ,

i f i n vo k e d w o u l d a s o fte n have br o u ght d e str u ct i o n a s

,

b e net t o t h e cr o p s W e m ight su pp o se ther e fo re t hat .

, ,

so m e th i n g i n m i l d e r si m i li t u d e m i ght have b e e n fo u n d fo r

t h e fe rti l i si n g i n ue n c e wh i ch d r o pp e th a s t h e g entl e

ra in fr o m h e ave n T h e p rese n t Moqu i I n d ia n s who d o

.
,

n o t appe ar t o have r e tai ne d th e i r tra d i t io n v e ry t e n a

ci o u sly m ay i n d ee d co nn e ct th eir c e re m o n y w i th t h e
, , ,

i n vocati o n fo r raw ; b u t that i t w a s n ot t h e o r igin al a n d

le adi n g id e a w i ll I th i n k b e appare n t w h e n I sh ow that

, ,

t h e s n ake a n d m o r e e sp e c i ally t h e rattl e snake t h e pro

, ,

m i n en t s n ak e I n t h e Mo q ui c e r e m o n i al i s co m m o n to t h e ,

Ma n d a n c u sto m w h er e t h e d i l u vi an tradit io n i s t h e pre

,

domi n a n t id e a .

C atl i n ( p 1 9 ) say s that a mo n g t h e sp e ctat o r s o f t h e

.

bu ll d a n c e th e re w e r e t wo m e n call ed i a t t lesna kes

-
,

th e i r b o d ies n ake d a n d curio u sly pain t ed re se m blin g that ,

r e pt i le e ach h o ld in g a ra ttle in o n e han d a n d a b u n ch o f

,

w i l d s ag e i n t h e oth er w h o at t h e cl o se o f t h e bu ll , ,

T h e rattle corr e spo n d s

*
d an c e ,s h o ok th ei r rattl e s

.

to t h e bull r o ar e r or t u r n d u n w h i ch a s Mr La ng
-
,

, .

t ell s u s by a n in de p en de n t lin e o f t esti m o ny i s connect ed

, ,

wi th t h e dil u via n tra di tio n .

Bu t c u ri o u sly w hat I m ay t e rm t h e co un te rpart evi

den c e m ay b e fo u n d in t h e n a m es o f t h e pri n c ipal sn ak es
se le ct e d fo r t h e m y s t er ie s F i ve a re m en ti o ne d b y Captain .

Bo u rk e thr ee o f w hi ch at a ny rat e b ear in th ei r n a m e s

, , ,

all usi o n s t o t h e Man d a n sym bol s

1 Ch un a ( r a t t ler) ; 2
.

L e lu ca n ga ( th i s h a s

.
- - -

y e llo w a n d black spot s a n d m ay b e t h e bu ll sn ak e ) ,

Pa c h u a ( a w a t er sn ake) (p

- - .

M L g (p 3 9) id t i t h
r . an b ll r r
.
w i t h t h e Gre i
en es e
"
u -
o a er
"
c an

Mi 3 whi h i
l/ 0 5, m t im s i t p t d
c s so m gi wh l
e e n er re e as a a c ee .


68 PL A T o S A T L A N T I S .

I have said that t h e general o u tline or progra m m e o f

t h e c e r e m o n ies c o rr e spo n d s In t h e Moq ui a s i n t h e . ,

Man d an t h e m edi c in e or my st e r y lo d ge is t h e p i vot o n

,

w h i ch t h e c e r e m o n y h i n g es a n d a s a n oth e r in sta n c e o f

t h e i n t erlin ki n g o f t h e evi d en c e I may m en ti o n that t h e ,

m yst e ry lo d ge i s cove r ed wi th a b u ffalo s ki n T h e pro -

.

m ine nce o t h f e b u ff al o i n t h e M a n d a n c e r e m o n
y th e
b u ffalo d an c e t h e b uffalo sku ll s will n ot have b een for
-
,

gott en ; an d h er e a m o n g t h e Moqu i s i n a c o u n t ry w h er e ,

t h e b u ffalo i s no t k n o w n a n d w h e r e i t m u s t have b e en ,

proc u red as i n fact Captain B o u rk e t ell s u s it w a s from

, ,

a gr e at dista n c e w e nd t h e b uffalo ski n e vid ently u se d

,
- .

tra di ti on ally a s a c en tral obj ect i n t h e sn ake d a n c e -

.

I n t h e Ma nd an lo d ge t h e mo st sig ni ca n t sy m bol w a s
t h e s ack or rath e r sack s o f w at e r w h i c h t h e Ma n d a n s

, , ,

pret en ded co n tain ed t h e Wat e r s o f t h e D e l ug e ; and a m o n g

t h e Moq u i s ( p 1 3 8 ) .

B efo re t h e altar th e I n di an s h a d n o w p l ed a n e ac arth nw are

e

b ow l . It w a s lled wi th w a t er , a n d on c ta
in ed hr ee l t arge sea
s h ell s . T he w ater h a d a as li n e ta t
s e , a n d ev i den tly contain ed
m e di in e c '

(mystery ) .

A nd 13 1 4 3.

O n e of tou ched th e string of oli vette sh ll on h is

th e old m en -
e s

w ri st th us i n di catin g a gr eat d i stan c e i n t h e w est

,
a n e x l an a
p ,

tion w hich I to ok t o si gni fy that th ese shells h a d b een bro ught

from a gr eat di stan c e fr m t h ea T h e oli v ette m a y n o t b e a o e s .

m arin e sh ell i t m ay b e u vi al Be th at a s i t m ay I ca nn ot di sp el
, .
,

fr o m m y mi n d a c on vi cti o n that t h e Mo qu i s b etray i n t h e sh ell s , ,

t h e salt w ater s and a l ab on e s, a n d oth er fe at ures o f th ei r da n c es a

-
, , ,

d eri v ati on fro m a p eo p le w h o O n c e kn ew a n d p erh ap s w o rshi pp ed , ,

t h e o c an e .

B efore c om parin g t h e d an c e it sel f I m ay agai n n oti c e ,

t h e rattl e s w h i ch a re as co n sp i c u o us h e r e a s in t h e
,

Ma n d a n c er e m o ny a n d for m a co nn e cti n g lin k w ith t h e ,

di l uv i a n c u sto m s e l se w h e r e thro u gh t h e b u ll roar er -

.

Mr La ng indeed m en ti o n s t h e e xi ste n c e o f t h e b u ll
.
, ,
70
'
PL A T O S A T LA N T I S .

corre spo n ds to t h e b u ll d a n c e a m o n g t h e Man d an s T h e - .

thi rd en d s a s i n t h e Ma n d a n an d A u strali a n wi th a
g en eral di spe r sal T h e I n di a ns th e n g ra sp e d t h e sn ake s
.

conv u l si ve ly i n gr e at ha n dfu l s an d ra n w i th m i ght a n d ,

m ai n to t h e e a st e r n crest o f t h e pr e c i pi c e a n d th e n d art ed
'

d o w n t h e trai l s le a din g to t h e foo t w h e r e th ey re l e a s ed ,

t h e r e pt i l es to t h e fo u r q u art e r s o f t h e glob e

T he .

o ld m a n ar m e d w i t h t he s li ng (w h i l st th ey w e r e r u n nin g )

t wi rli n g it vi goro u sly cau si n g it to e m i t t h e sa m e ,

p ec u l iar so u n d o f r a i n d ri ven by t he w in d w hi ch h a d

b ee n h e ar d o n th ei r approach .

Th e r e are t w o v ery stri ki n g in t e rl u de s in t h e co u r se

o f t h e d a n c e to w h i ch parti c u lar att en ti o n m u s t b e d ra w n
,
.

I n t h e r s t altho u gh t h e c irc u m sta n c e s an d s u rro u n d

,
'

i n g s are d iffe ren t yet i n i t s e ssen ti al i d e a w e see m to

,

d et e ct t h e po w e r an d vi ctory o f t h e w o m a n ove r t h e se rp en t
( Gen iii . o f w h i c h w e hav e se e n e v id e n c es in t h e Ma n d a n
. .

T h e r st divi si o n o f t h e Mo q u i s r em ai ne d align e d u po n
t h e s acr ed rock wi th t h e h e ad pri e st ; a n o th er se ction -

appro ach e d th ei r fac e s pain t ed blac k as w ith a m a sk o f

, ,

charcoal fro m brow to u pp er lip wh e r e t h e gha stly w hit e

, ,

o f kaol i n b e ga n t h e crown i n g po i n t b ei ng t h e d e a d ly

repti l e s bor n e i n t h e m o u t h a p i ct u r e w h i ch r e call s

r

t h e a d ven t o f t h e d e m o n i n t h e Ma n d a n c e r em o ny .

But th en t h e wo m en s catt e ri n g t h e cor n m e al n o w -

d e v e lope d th ei r l i ne m ore fu lly t h e m ai n b o dy ,

m a ssi n g b e t w e e n t h e sacr ed rock a n d sacre d lo dg e '

T he r d r k i t h M q i st d i th pl
sac e oc

nf th b ig e o u an s n e a ce o e

ca n oein t h M d r m y A lue t thi m y b di v red t

e an an ce e on . c o s a e sc o e a
p 1 2 6 i n C pt i n B rk wh d i bi g w h t h t rm th i i d l
. a a ou e, en e sc r n a e e s e r o s,
th esew w t e re fr gme t f an d t
a er - w o rn ; w t w a r k n s o s s on e a er -
or n oc s

r ghly h p d t m a r d g ti n A d if t h
ou s a e o so e s c e d r w il l con u a
r
o .

n e r ea e
'

t rn t Pl t 2 h will nd t h t t h e pr s tati n th r f t h
u o a e e rd a re e en o e e o e sa c e
r oc k x t ly r p d t thi d ipti n
e ac co r es on s o s escr o .

C a t li n t hus d e scrib es t h e Ma n d a n d e mo n (p 2 2)
1
"

H i s bo dy w a s .

t r
pain ed j et black wi th pul ve ise d cha co al a n d gr: a ss , w i t h r i ngs o f w hit e
-
r
r
c lay o v e hi s li mb s a nd b o dy I nd e nt a i o n s o f w hi e, lik e hug e e e t h ,
. t

t t
rr t
su ounded h is mou h , a n d whi e ing s su o u nde d h i s eye s t r rr .

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S . 71

(co m p Mand an sup r a p

. N e arly all carri ed t h e ,
.
-

be a u tiful cl o se w ov en at ba sket s in re d ye llo w a n d

,
-
, , , ,

b lack or n a m e n t e d w ith t h e b u t t e ry th u n d e r b i r d o r
, ,
-
,

d ee r fro m w h i ch w as s catt e r ed t h e n ely gr o u n d cor n -

ou r n o t a s pr e vi o u sly o n t h e gro u n d b u t in t h e ai r a n d
, , , , ,

up o n t h e r ep t i les as fa st a s thro w n d o w n T h e cor n m e al .

-

h a d a s acr ed si gn i ca n c e T h e u se o f t h e s acre d m e al .

clo se ly r e se m ble s t h e cri tho m a n cy o f t h e a n cie n t Greek s ,

bu t i s n o t i d en ti cal w i th At a lat er stage it i s said

th e mai d en s a n d m atro n s re do u bled thei r e n ergy ,

sprin kl in g m e al n ot o n ly u po n t h e se rpe nt s w r i gg ling at

the i r feet b u t t hr o w ing h a n dfu ls in to t h e fac e s of t he m en

,

ca r ry i ng t h em (p w h ich fo rc i bly r e mi n d s u s o f t h e
.

n al di sco m t u re o f t h e d em o n in t h e Mand a n m yste ry .

Taki n g th e se fact s i t w o uLd seem that t h e i n trod u ctio n ,

o f t h e s e r pen t i n to th e i r c e r e m o n i al w a s o n ly s e c o n d ary

a n d s u b sid i ary a nd no t se rp e nt w o r sh i p in t h e str i ct se n se

,
-

o f t h e wo rd I d o n o t r ecolle ct th at the re i s di re ct
.

ev id e n c e o f i t at all .

The r e i s an o th er ve ry c u r i o u s fact m en tion e d b y Captai n

Bo u rke that w h en t h e m e n an d bo y s o f t h e r st di vi si o n
,

sh o o k th ei r rattle s i n t h e d an c e t h e m e n o f t h e se c o n d ,

d i vi si o n w av ed th e i r e agl e fe ath e rs all si ngi n g a r e fra in , ,

O h ya h a w
-
o h y a h aw
-
,
chant ed w i th a slo w
- -
,

m e a su re a n d g rac e fu l ca de n c e C o m par e thi s w ith t h e .

co m ple te ly ind ep e n de n t t e sti mo ny a s ab o ve ( p 6 3 ) o f t h e .

Au strali an re frai n in thei r ce re m o ny o f E ma h e wa h , ,

&c a n d t h e e vi d e n c e (s up r a p 4 7 ) o f t wo o th e r sim i lar , .

i n voc at i o n s all havi n g a st ra n ge re se m b la n c e to t h e

,

A t p g 1 65 it i s s id
a e A ft r a s k h d b a p p rly p i nkl d
: e na e a een ro e s r e

it w as pi k d p g r lly b y
c e u ,
f th gl w
e ne a d b r b t v one o e ea e an -
e a er s , u n e er

by a w m o d r i d p t t h I di
an , a n ca r e f t h r t d ivi i
u wh r o e n an s o e s s on ,

e e

w as la soth h d pi t j t e th w m
ea -
i th M d
r es , rm y
us as e o en n e an an ce e on

a sse m ble d r ou n A s , ho w ever , t h e

d t h e my st i c m a n in t h e r st i n st a n ce .

r r r
se pe nt s w e e sp e ci al ly g u a d ed , a n d a ft e r w a d s s a fel y r e l e a se d , t h e r
r
sup er s t i t i o n m ay , p e h a p s , ha v e be en that t h e t o uch o f t h e w oman might
r
h ave been in j u io us or fa t a l t o t h e serpen t .

72 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

E vo e ,
vo e which St Clem en t of Ale xan d ria t ell s u s
e ,
.

w a s t h e cry of t h e Baccha n al s C om pare al so t h e E u ce .

Bacch e fremens o f Virgi l E n eid v ii 3 89 ed H eyne , , .

, . .

I hav e a l so co me o n u n su sp e ct e d t esti m o ny i n a m o st
u n e xc eptio n al q u a r t e r i n t h e pag e s o f Mr E v erar d F i m . .

Th u rn who i s e ve r watchfu lly o n h i s gu ar d ag ai n st t h e

,

a ct i o n o f m i s sio n ari es o n m yth s Co m pare th e following .

extr a c t s with t h e e vi de n c e alre a dy a dd u c ed Speakin g of .

t h e d an c e s am o n g t h e In di an s of Gu i a n a h e s ay s ( p 3 2 3 ) ,
.

Som e b e at time with h o llow bam boo s cove r ed at o n e en d ,

with skin like a d rum So m e h a d w hi r l sti ck s to
.
-
,

wh ich are ti e d b un ch es o f c e rtain seed s w hich w h e n str uc k ,

a g ai nst t h e gro u n d cla sh an d rattl e .

A ll form a p r ocessi o n an d marc h slo w ly round t h e Paiw arr

,

o r li qu or trough [com p sup r a pp 4 6

-
. dro ni n g ou t a ch ant keep
, , ,
,
i ng step an d w a vin g th eir i n stru m ent s in sl o w m e a sured tim e .

R oun d a n d r ound t h e trou gh t h e stran ge p roc ession wi nd s all fee t ,

stamp i n g i n ti me t h e mo n o to n ou s c h ant o f H i a h i a hi a S udd enly . .

t h e c h ant giv es p lac e t o l o u d di sco rd ant cri es and the p roc ession
'

b r e a k s up .

A s r ega rds t h e co nn e ct io n o f t h e i nitiatio n s with t h e se

feast s t h er e i s th s e v de c e :
,
i i n

I n o n e of t h ei r Paiwari
feast s t h er e i s a st ra n g e a n d pain ful d an c e
Th ey la sh .

e a ch o t h e r til l t h e bloo d o w s fr eely ( co m p sup

. . .

p . probably ori gi n ally d evi sed a s a m eans of t est i ng

en d u ra n c e

.

A nd Mr Th u r n say s ( p 3 1 9)
. .

T h e festiv als d an c es a n d games o ri gin ally p eculiar t o a ny

, ,

people often remain bu t li ttl e altered lo ng after most other matt ers
w hi c h d i stin gui shed th at p eo p le from t h e rest o f th e w o rl d hav e
di sa pp eared
"
.

T h e ini t ia t io n s d o not occ u py s o co nspic u o us a pl ac e

in t h e Moq ui fe stival a nd th ey a re in mi l de r for m
, T he .

boy rac e wh er e t h e boy s g u r e a s ant e lopes in t h e
,

Ma nd an seem s t o have t ak en t h e plac e o f t h e tort ur e s

, ,

and d ev elop e d i n t o a se v e r e tr i al o f sta mi n a a n d en d ur


PL A T o s A T L A N T I S . 73

an c e an te lope i s al so o ne o f t h e d evi c e s o n t h e
the
Moqu i w all s ) It tak e s plac e b e fo r e t h e d an c e
. E ve ry .

o n e o f t h e m en w a s s tr e a m in g w i th p e r sp i rat i o n and t h e ,

th u mpi n g of h e art s an d wh ee z ing of lu ng s co u ld b e plai n ly

h eard A fu rth e r fo r m o f i n i ti at io n app e ar s d u r in g t h e
.

d a n c e i n t h e ha n d li n g o f t h e se rpent s by t h e yo u th s .

A n i n fan t H e rc u le s sto u tly a n d brav e ly u ph el d a v e

foot m o n st e r .

Th e re i s ho we ver a r em arkabl e coi n ci d en c e

, , .

At p 1 3 3 Captain B ou rke t e lls u s that T o chi th eir

. , ,

g ui de told h i m tha t w h e n t h e rai n d id n o t co m e fr o m t h e

,

t h e Moqui s ca m e i n to th i s e s t u fa d a n c ed
sky , an d

fo r it that h e r e al s o ca m e t h e yo u n g m e n to b e baptise d
for m edi c i n e (m y st e ry) m en ba uti sta por c o ch in o s
.

T h e gu ide spok e i n bro k en Spa ni sh Captain Bo u rke .

ad d s
I m ad e T o chi rep at a ll h e h a d sai d n d th en a sk ed fo e n ,
a r a

e xpl an ati on H e ai d th at after a ll t h b i g danc es a s fo

. s x , e ,
r e

am ple aft r t h t of t o d ay t h e y o ng m en w h w er t o l arn ll

, e a -
u o e e a

th ecrets w o l d c m e t o o n
e s f t h e est fa a n d there ha ve thei r
u o e o u s,

h e d w a sh d w ith w ater b y t h old men A s h e aid thi h m ad

a s e e . s s, e e

t h e m oti o n f p o i ng a few d ro p o f w at er p n th e h ead o f so m e

o ur s u o

o n e kneeli n
g b en eath hi m .

Captai n Bo urke re m ain e d in d o u bt h ow far t his lu s

t ra t io n partook o f t h e n at u r e o f t h e sacra m e n t o f bapt i s m ,

a n d h o w far i t w as like ly to b e a re mini sc e n c e o f t h e

teach ing s o f t h e early m i ssion ar ie s N o w fo r t h e

c o in cide n c e If it w a s t h e r e m in i sc e n c e o f bapti sm rath e r
.

than o f t h e pregu reme nt o f bapti sm h o w are w e to ,

acc o u n t fo r t h e appar en tly i den tical i n iti ati o ns a m o ng th e

Mao r i s o f N ew Z e ala n d
I nd i n T h e N a tu r a l H i st ory of Ma n b y t h e R ev ,
.

J G W o o d M A ( R o u tl e d ge
. .
,
.p 1 77 .
, .

Yo th s un d ergo a lo n g

u ur f i n str cti o n b ef r th y n co se o u o e e ca

t ak e ran k am o ng t h e p i ests D r D i e en b h w a f rt n ate o gh

'

r . . ac s o u en u

t o w i tness a p rti o n of thi s in tr cti no I w a s p r esen t t n o f s u o . a o e

74

PL A T o S A T L A N T I S .

t h e l esso ns . p riest w a s si ttin g u n d er a tre e a n d at hi s feet

An old ,

w as a b oy h i s r el ati ve
, H e li st en e d a t t e n t i vely t o t h e rep eti tio n
.

o f c ertain w ord s w hi c h seem e d t o h a v e n o m e ani n g b u t w hi ch i t

'

'

.
,

mu st h a v e re qui re d a go od m emo ry t o retai n i n th ei r due o rd er A t .

t h e o ld T o h unga s sid e w a s p art o f a m an s s k u ll lled wi th w ater

b u t from tim e t o time h e dip p ed a green b ra nch w h ic h h e mo ved

o v er t h e b oy s h ead

.

T he r e se mblan c e i n t h e e xte r n al for m s of t h e i nitia t ion

will b e notic ed and b eyon d i t t h e sym bo l s o f t h e wat e r and
,

t h e green bra n ch es w h i ch a s li ght r efe r en c e to t h e pre

,

c edin g p ages will sho w to have b e e n in tim at ely associated

wi th t h e Mand an an d Moq ui r i tes .

O ne thi n g i s ob sc u r e : h o w i t h a s co m e abo u t tha t

t h e Moqu i s o f Arizo n a t h e S na ke In di a n s call th e mselves
O pii .

T h e Moq ui s call th e m se lv e s H o pii o r O pii a , ,

t er m not no w in t h e la n g u a ge o f e ve ry d ay life b u t r efer -

,

r i n g in so me w ay to t h e P ueblo c u sto m o f h anging t h e

h ai r at t h e l ev el of t h e eye bro w s ( Captai n B o urke ,

p . Thi s su r m i se h o w e ve r le ave s u nto uched thi s

, ,

di fc u lty tha t t h e n a m e O pii i s so s u g g est i ve o f ophiola t ry

,

a n d altho u gh as I hav e co n t en d e d t h e S n ake I n d ia n s are

, ,

n o t i n any strict s e n se s e rp e n t w or sh i pp e r s y et t h e
-
,

ni ty o f th eir n am e w i th t h e Gr eek 0 n i s to say t h e

.

af ,

le a st st riki ng an d su rpri sin g I d o n o t v entu re h o w

, .
,

e ve r to att e m pt t o so lve t h e difc u lty b ut m u st l eav e i t

, ,

as a cr ux t o t h e phi lologe r s .

Addi ti o n al evi de n c e will b e fo un d i n chap te r xi ( with .

App en dix) o f T r a di tion w i th R efer en c e t o Myt ho logy

( B urn s O at es 1 8 7 2 ) i n r esp e ct to t h e Mand a n D aho
, ,

m an Po ngol ( I ndia ) Pota ( I n di a ) p 2 47 a n d Patago ni an

, , , .
,

festiv al s .
 CH A PT E R V .

A L T E R N A T I VE T H E O BIE S .

TH E R E st ill r em a in pa s sag es i n Plat o s di sco u r se w h ich

have t o b e cl e ar e d u p be fo r e t h e gro u n d ca n b e said t o b e

e xha u st e d .Th e r e i s o n e stat emen t e sp e c i ally wh i ch t h e
E gypti a n pri e st s o f Sai s m a d e t o Solo n as C r it i a s i s ,

m a d e t o say w h ich m u st n o t b e forgott en fr o m Mr

, , .

Do nne lly s po i n t o f vie w I m e an t h e stat e m en t in T i ma ua

.
,

p 5 1 7 ( Jo w e tt ) ab o u t t h e gr e ate st act ion w h i ch t h e

'

.
,

Ath eni a n s e ve r di d a n d w h i ch o ught to b e m o st fam o u s

, ,

b u t w h i ch thro u gh lap se o f ti m e a n d t h e d estr u ct i o n o f

,

t h e actor s h a s n o t c o m e d o w n to u s
,
A nd p 5 2 1 : . .

Many g r eat a n d w o n der fu l d ee d s a re r e c o r de d o f yo u r

stat e ( Ath e n s ) in o u r h i stor i e s Bu t o n e o f th e m e xc ee d s
.

all t h e r e st i n gr e atne ss an d valo u r Fo r th ese h i sto r ie s.

te ll u s o f a m i ghty po w e r w hi ch w a s ag g re ssin g w a n t o n ly
agai n st t h e w hole o f E u r o p e a n d A si a a nd t o w hi ch ,

yo u r c i ty pu t a n e n d Th i s po wer ca me fo rth fr o m t h e
.

Atlan ti c O c e an
If Atla n t i s i s a ct i o n o f Plato s eve ry t ra di t i o n

,

i mport e d i n t o h i s di s c o u r se w i ll n at u rally b e locat ed i n

Atla n ti s A s r egard s t h e m ighty p o w e r wh i ch w as aggr ess
.

i ng a g ai n s t t h e w hol e o f E u ro p e t h e vie w w h i ch h a d
,

occ u rr e d to m e I nd accor d s w ith Profe ssor J o w et t s

w h i ch I w i ll gi v e acc o r din gl y ad di ng a fe w w o r d s in
,

fu rth e r e l u ci l at i on Pro fe ssor Jo we tt say s (ii 5 8 9 )

.
.

Th i s m yth ical c o n i ct i s proph e ti c o r sym boli cal o f t h e

str u g gl e o f Ath e n s an d Pe r si a an d p e rhap s i n so m e
, , ,

d e gree al so o f t h e w ar s o f t h e Gr eek s a n d Cartha gi n i a n s ,

i n t h e sa m e w ay that t h e Pe r sia n i s pre g ure d b y t h e


76 PL A T O S A T L A N T IS .

Troj an W ar t o t h e mi n d o f H ero dot u s or as t h e n arrat ive ,

o f t h e r st part o f t h e E n ei d for e sh ad ow s t h e war s o l

Carthag e a nd R o m e .

That what i s set do w n i n t h e sacr e d r egi st er o f t h e

E gyptia n pr iest s ( p 5 20 ) ca nn ot b e t ak en a s stri ctly
.

hi storical i s obvio u s fro m w hat Pro fessor Jowett poi nt s

o ut th at t h e stat em e n t that t h e war occ u rr ed ni ne

tho u sand ye ar s ago i s sli ghtly i n co n si st ent with t h e
s tat e m e n t whi ch gi ves t h e s a m e d at e for t h e fo un d ati o n
o f t h e city (p Pr o fe ssor Jo wet t s vi ew of A t la n t is
.

( p 5 8 9) i s that w e m a y safe ly con cl u d e th a t t h e en ti re

.

n ar r at i ve i s d u e t o t h e i m ag in ati o n of Plato I have in .

a pr e vio u s chapt e r hazar d ed t h e co nj e ct u r e th at it w as

fo u n d ed o n t h e n a rrati ve o f Ha nn o .

1 I wi ll n ow co n sid e r i n t h e r st plac e how far

.
, ,

t h e stat emen t s i n Plato s di s c o u r se that d o n o t corr e spo n d

to fact s i n t h e n arrative o f Hann o w er e i mport ed by Plato

hi m self and seco n d ly h o w far th ey m ay have b een t ran s
, ,

mit t e d t hro u gh Solo n .

If t h e stat emen t w e ar e n o w co n si derin g w a s a con

fu sed and e xagg erat ed tra d i ti on o f t h e Per sian W at it ,

m u st have b een i mport e d b y Plato ; an d I m ay su ggest

that t h e co nfusion an d e xagge ratio n m ay have come abou t
in th i s way a n d if so w i th o u t b e in g e n tir e ly d ue to t h e
,

im ag in ati o n o f Plato I f Plato w a s h i m se lf i n E gypt a s

.
,

Vale ri u s Maxi mus ( L ew e s s H i s t of Phi l C W C o lli u s s

. . . .
,

L if e of Pla to ) t ell s u s h e w a s or e ven d u ri n g h i s r esi ,

'

d enc e at S yr ac u se h e m i ght hav e h ear d t h e stat em ent s

, ,

s u ch a s w e r e n ot de riv e d fro m Ha nn o w hich h e attr i b u t e s ,

to Solo n N o w i f w e r e coll ect that Plato s visi t wo ul d

.
,

have taken plac e d urin g t h e Pe r si a n d o m in atio n i n E gypt }

T h e Persi an r le in E gypt m y b e br dly s id t o h ave ex t d ed
u a oa a en
fr m B 0 5 2 7 when C amby s v t hr w t h dynast y of S ai s till
o .
, se o er e e ,

332 T h e i nt erven ti o n
. of t h e X XI X . an dXX X D yna sti es woul d no t a e
. h v
a ffec te d t h e sen i m en t t at S ai s as a ga i nst t h e Per si an s T h e da e s ar e . t
r r
f o m B u gsch s E gyp t .
78
'
PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

m e an s re vi ving Ju st a s w e are told that t h e la w s o f

of .

Atlan ti s w er e inj un ctio n s o f Po seid on a n d ha n d ed d o wn

by t h e r s t m e n so w e n d t h e A m ph i ctyo n i c la w s a t t ri
,

b u t ed to t h e so n o f D e u cali o n a n d that t h e Io n i an fed er

,

a t io n h e l d th ei r a sse m bli e s at a s acr e d plac e o n Mo u nt

Myca le wher e th ey h a d d edicat e d i n co mm o n a t e m ple to
.

N e pt u n e . Plato tell s u s that t h e la w s w er e e n grave d o n a

c o l u mn o f or i chalc u m ; a n d it is r ecor de d that t h e t e r m s
o f t h e Lati n L e ag u e eu a n alogo u s co n fe d e rati o n w e r e

e n g rav e d o n a braz e n col u m n w h i ch w a s pr e se rv ed i n
,

t h e t i m e o f D i o ny si u s o f Hal i car n a s su s a fact w hi ch ,

m i ght n o t i m po s sibly hav e c o m e at e arl i e r d at e to t h e

k n o w lege o f Plato al so T h e Atla n t e a n s
. wer e to d e li ber
a t e t o g e th e r abo u t w a r an d oth e r m att e r s an d w e r e n o t to ,

tak e u p ar m s a gain st o n e ano th e r j u st a s accor di n g to , ,

th ei r oath r eferr e d to b y ZE skin es a s t h e a n c i en t oath o f

,

t h e A m ph i ctyo n s th ey w e r e b o u nd no t to de stroy e ach

other s c i t ies or d ebar th em fro m t h e u se o f th ei r fo un

tain s i n p eac e an d w ar Plato a dd s Th e r e wer e

.
,

m a ny s p e c i al law s w h i ch t h e se ve ral k in g s h a d i n s crib e d

abo u t t h e t e m ple Th i s is p e rhap s i n t en de d to cover
.
, ,

t h e i n tro d u ct i o n o f c e rta i n oth e r c u sto m s wh i ch m ay b e '

id e n t i e d wi th w hat h a s co m e d o w n to u s o f t h e m o d e o f
proc ee din g o f t h e Areo pag us Th er e w as a sp e c i al r e a so n
.

w h y th ey sho u l d b e i m port e d in to t h e n arr at i v e o n t h e

parti c u lar occa si on a s t h e i n sti tu ti o n o f t h e Ar eopag u s
,

w as b y s o m e attr i b u t e d to Solo n a n d by oth e r s to C e crop s ,

both in t h e li ne o f h i s r ep u t e d a n c e stor s .

T h e j udg e s o f t h e Ar eopag u s al w ays sa t i n t h e open

a i r b e cau se th ey took cog n i s a n c e o f m u r de r ; a n d b
, y th ei r
la w s it w a s n o t p er mit t ed fo r t h e mu r de re r a n d h i s acc u ser
to b e b o th un de r t h e sa m e roo f Th ey alway s h e ar d
.

c au ses an d pa ssed se nt en ce i n t h e n ight that th ey m i ght ,

n ot b e pr e po s se ss e d i n favo u r o f t h e pla i n ti ff or t h e d efe n d

y seeing th em

a nt b I n t h e co n fe d e racy of t h e A tla n t ea ns
.


PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .
-

79

th e j udici al proc ee di ngs a re al so describe d a s in t h e op e n

ai r ; a n d w h en d a r kn ess ca m e o n a n d t h e re ab o u t t h e
,

s acr i c e w a s c o o l all o f th e m p u t o n m o st b e a u t ifu l a zu re

,

rob e s a n d si t t in g o n t h e gro u n d at ni ght

, if a ny o n e ,

h a d a ny acc u sat i o n to bri n g aga i n st a n y on e ; a n d w h en

th ey h a d gi ve n j u d gm en t at d aybr eak th ey w r ot e d o wn
,

the i r sen t e n c e s o n a gol den tabl et an d de po si te d th e m a s

,

m e m o rial s w i th th ei r rob e s ( Plato s A t la n ti s J o w e t t ) I

.
,

sho u l d hav e m e n ti o n e d a n d i t sho u l d h e r e m ark e d al so in

t h e al m o st i n se parabl e c o nn e ct i o n o f t he o x o r t h e b u ll w i th
t h e di l u vi a n c o m m e m o rati ve c u sto m s t hat b efore t h e
Am ph i cty o n s pr o c ee d ed t o b u si n e ss th ey sacr i c e d a n 0 x ,

a n d cu t h i s e s h i n t o sm a ll p ieces, i n t i m at i n g that u n io n

and u n a n i m i ty pr e vai l e d ih t h e se ve ral c i t i e s th e

_ y re pre

sen t e d . Plat o say s w h en t h e A tla n t ean s g ath e re d t o geth e r ,

b e for e th ey pa sse d j u dgm en t th ey gave th eir ple dge s t o

o n e an oth e r i n th i s w i se : th e r e w e r e b u ll s w h o h a d t h e

ran ge o f t h e t e m ple o f Po seido n a n d t h e t e n w h o w e r e le ft

,

albn e i n t h e t e m pl e a ft er th ey h a d o ffe r e d praye r s t o t h e

,

go d s th at th ey m i ght tak e t h e s acr i c es w h i ch w e re acc e pt

a bl e to th e m h u n t ed t h e b ull s witho u t w e ap o n s b ut w i th
, ,

s tav e s a n d no o se s a n d t h e b u ll w h i ch th ey ca u g h t th ey
,

le d u p to t h e c o l u m n W h e n the r e fo re a fte r o eri n g

'

.
, ,

sacr i c e acc o r d i n g t o th ei r c u st o m s th ey h a d b u r n t t h e ,

li m b s o f t h e b u ll th ey mi ng led a cup a n d ca st i n a clot o f

,

bloo d fo r ea ch o f t h em Altho u gh it may b e o bj e cte d

.

that th ese e xtract s a re take n so m e what at ra ndo m fr o m

Plat o s n arrati v e ye t o n b e i ng p i ec ed to geth e r th ey w i ll

, , ,

b e fo u n d t o e xha u st all t h e di s cl o su r e s o f Plat o re sp e ct i n g

Atlan ti s .

W e w i ll n o w c o n sid e r ( it b ei n g co n c ed e d that t h e ba si s
o f Plat o s ct i o n w a s t h e Per ip lu s o f Ha nn o a n d that h e h a s

,
,

i m p o rte d m o r e re c e n t fact s as fo r in sta n c e t h e i n c id e n t s

, , ,

o f t h e P e r si a n W a r) w h e th e r so m e th i n g o f t h e or i gi n al

gm ent o f A tla ntis might no t have b een ha n ded do w n as ,

80

PL A T o s A T L A N T IS .

Plato s ay s i t w as in fa m ily tra di tio n fro m S olo n and

, ,

r eco nstr uc t ed or adapt e d b y Plat e .

T h e co n cep t ion o f Atla n t i s pr o bably origi nate d in so me

d evelop m ent o f t h e d il u vi a n tra di ti o n It is c urio u s h o w
.
,

ev er that it m i ght ha v e b e e n bro u ght pro mi nen tly t o t h e

,

n oti c e an d sp e c u lat i o n o f Solo n or t h e pri est s o f S ai s u n d e r

circ u m st anc es very sim i lar to tho se o f which we have evi

d e n c e i n t h e ca se o f Plato a s re gard s Ha nn o viz t hro u gh

.
,

t h e c irc umnavigat io n o f Afri ca d u ri n g t h e r eign of N e cho

or N ako N o re cor d howe ve r o f thi s e xplora
, ,

t io n h as su rvived .

E ven i f we a d opt th i s co nj e ct u re yet if Plato h a d no t ,

se en t h e ms : o f Solon My gr eat gran dfat h er D ropi das

-

h a d t h e original w ri ti n g w hi ch i s s till i n my po ssessio n

, ,

an d w a s car efu lly s t ud i e d b y m e w h en I was a chi ld

si n c e h e w as t en y e ar s o ld I w i ll t ell an old world story -

,

whi ch I he ar d fro m a n ag ed m an ; fo r C ri t ias was as h e ,

sai d at th at ti m e n e arly ni n e ty ye ar s o f age an d I was

, ,

abo u t t en year s h e m i ght n at u rally hav e ba sed or

reb ase d t h e ctio n on t h e narrati ve m or e r e c en tly withi n

h i s k nowl edge than t ha t w h i ch h a d fa d ed fro m hi s recol

le ctio n . H e uses su ch phra ses a s If I ca n r ecoll e ct and

r e cite e no u gh of what w a s said b y t h e pri e st s an d If I ,

h ave not forgot t en what I h e ard when I w as a child ,

y in vok e Mn em o syne

a n d I wo u l d sp e ciall which i mply ,

t h at if any su ch MS exi s ted h e w a s se p a r at e d fr o m it

, .
, ,

a nd h a d n o t seen it si n c e h e w a s a chil d .

W e know lit t le m ore o f t h e l ife o f Solo n t h an what

.

Pl utarch h as pr e se rv ed b u t t h e l ittl e t hat i s t ol d u s

,

descr ib es a sit uatio n i n w h i ch t h e pro d u c t io n of a c t io n

,

su ch as A t la n ti s i n cov e rt all u si o n wo u l d b e exc eedi ngly

n at u r a l . W e are t ol d that
T hec hich r t brou ght S ol on p romin ently forw ard
o ca si on w s

a s a n actor on t h e p oliti cal tage w a s t h e c on test b etw een A th en s

s

a nd Me ara resp ectin t h e p ossessi o n of S al ami s T h e ill su cc ess of

g g .
-

PL A T o s A T LA N T IS . 81

th e attempts h a d l ed t o t h e en actm ent of a l a w forb i d din g t h e

w iti n g o say i n g an yth i n g t o u rge t h e A th ni an s t o r en ew t h co n
r r e e

test S ol on i n di gnan t at th e di sh n ourable ren unciation of their

.
, o

clai m s a n d
, eei n g th at m any o f t h
s
y ou n ger a n d m ore i mp etuou s
e

ci ti en s w re nl y d t rred b y t h la w from p rop o si ng a fresh

z e o e e e

attem pt , hi t p o n t h e d evic e of feigni n g t o b e m a d a n d

u

c au in g a re p o rt o f h i s c on d iti on t o b e
s sp rea d o v er t h e city ;
wh r p on h e rushe d i nto t h e g m nted t h e h erald s sto n e
'
e eu a o ra , ou ,

a n d th er e re cited a sh rt el egi ac p o em o f o n e h n d r d li n es
o u e ,

calli ng up on t h A th ni an t o retrieve t heir di sgrace a nd recon quer

e e s

t h e lovely i sla nd .

Th i s le d to t h e r ep e al o f t h e en act m en t If in t h e .
,

i n t e rval e n c o u raged b y h i s su cc e ss h e h ad cov ertl y so u ght

, ,

to e xc ite th e i r e n th u si a sm in t h e ca use o f Sala m is t h e ,

love ly i slan d w o ul d no t an alle go ry i n t h e d isg u i se o f
,

A t la n ti s hav e a d mi rably su b se rved h i s p u rp o se In th i s

ca se t h e l eg e n d m u st have taken a d iffer en t shap e fro m

that i n w h i ch it w a s pr e sent ed by Plato T h e d e scripti on .
,

ho w ev er i n R a to w o u ld m u ch m ore e xactly b e t t h e
,

di m e n si o n s o f Sala m i s tha n tho se o f a l o s t c o n ti n e n t
.

as w e hav e alre a d y se en in t h e w ay i n w h i ch t h e d e scrip

ti on s w o ul d e qu ally t t h e acc o u n t given b y Ha nno o f t h e

i slan d s h e vi si t ed i n t h e co u r se o f h i s e xplo rat io n Solo n s

.

l o ve fo r S alam l s w o u ld appear t o have b een t h e ab idi n g

se n t i m en t o f h i s l ife ; b u t t h e se cr e t o f i t i s n o t so
apparen t .

It m ay po ssibly b e acc o un te d fo r in this w ay : Solo n

i s sa i d to have b een t h e d e s c en d a n t o f Co d r u s t h e la st ,

K in g o f Athen s a n d Co d r u s w a s t h e r ep u te d r epr e sen tat ive

,

o f C e crop s C e cr o p s h o w e v e r i s e n vel o pe d i n t h e m i st s
.
, ,

o f a m y th i cal a ge H e u n d o u bt e d ly r epr e se n t s a l o cal

.

abor igin al a n c esto r b u t at t h e sa m e t i m e w e n d h i m

,

in v e st e d w i th t h e fe at u r e s a n d _attr ib u t e s o f t h e pr im e val
pro ge nitor : l i ke O a nn e s an d Dago n h e i s half m a n half ,
-
,

sh ; l i ke Bacch u s a n d Sa t ur n h e i s t h e r st c u lt i vat o r , .

T h e d iffe r e nt myth i cal pe r so n a ge s o f th is n a m e i n Baao t i a

G
82

PL A T o S A T L A N T IS .

an d b ce a a re o n ly m u lti pl i cat i o n s o f t h e o ne o rigi n al

E u

h e ro ( S m i th , My t h D i et ) Dr S m i th s ay s, w ith r efe r
. . .

en c e to th e stat e m e n t that h e m i grat e d fr o m Sa i s i n

E gypt , Bu t th i s acco u n t i s n ot o n ly r ej e ct ed by so m e
of th e a n c ien t s th em se lve s b u t b y t h e able st critic s o f
,

( Mull er Th i r lw all )

m o d e r n ti m e s
'

.
,

Th e re i s a per so n ag e o f thi s myth ical age wh o m ay

po ssi bly b e r egar d e d a s i n o n e d egre e le ss m y th i cal than
C e cr o p s C enoh reu s or C ychr eus Kin g o f Sala mi s If ,
.

C ecr o p s i s re pr e se n t ed a s half m an hal f d rago n C ychr e us -

,
-
,

i s s a id t o hav e d e l i v e r e d Sala m i s fro m a d ra g o n H e is .

fabl ed to hav e b een t h e so n o f Sala m i s w h o gave h er n a m e ,

to t h e i sla nd b y Po se id on a n d Who se m oth e r s n am e w a s

,

A sopi s .C ychr eu s A sopi s m i ght pas s i n co n tract io n i nto

-

C ecrop s a n d a s Ki n g o f Salam i s m i ght have e xt en de d h i s

,

d o m i n i o n to t h e m a i n la n d If h e w a s t h e C e crop s w h o
.

fo u n d e d t h e Ath en i a n dyn a s ty a n d i f t h e d yn a sty w a s ,

th u s a sso ci at ed with Sala m i s i t w o u ld acco u n t for t h e ,

pre dile cti o n a n d lo ve o f h i s de sc e n d a nt Solo n for t h e

l o v e ly islan d T h e sen t i m e n t o f Solo n al m o st re n d e r s
.

su ch a n or ig in probabl e a n d th e r e i s a S l i ht co n r m at io n
, g
o f th i s co n n e ct i o n b e t w e e n A t h e n s a n d Salam i s i n t h e
'
'

lat er le ge nd t hat w h i le t h e battle o f Salam i s w as g o ing

,

o n a d ra go n app e ar e d i n o n e o f t h e Ath e n i a n sh i p s an d
, ,

that a n oracl e d eclar ed th i s d rago n to b e C ychr eu s (S m ith ,

Myt h D i e t )
. .

Th i s sp ec u lat io n co n c er n i n g Sol o n w o u ld se e m to re
qu ir e that h e sho u l d have travelle d i n E gypt i n e arly life ,

a n d Pl u tarch ( S m i th My t h D iet ) app ear s t o b e t h e

, . .

au thori ty fo r t h e stat emen t that in h i s yo u th h e so u ght

h i s fo rt u ne as a for ei gn tra d e r .

Plato says that S o lo n d eviv ed h i s i nfor m ati on fro m

t h e pri est s o f Sai s t h e c i ty fro m w h i ch A m a si s t h e

ki n g w a s spr u n g If th i s i s i n t e n d e d to m e a n that
.

h e vi si t e d Sai s w h en A m a si s ( A a h m es) w as ki n g h e m u st ,

PL A T o S A T L A N T I S . 83

have vi site d E gypt i n h i s latt e r ye ar s : Solo n eer ea

'

63 8 5 2 0 ( S m i th My t h D iet ) ; A ah m e s or A m a si s 5 7 2
-
, .
,

B C
. .
( Br u g sch ) 5 69 5 2 5 ( L e n o rm a nt )
-
If ho w eve r .
, ,

h i s dyin g i n str u cti o n s w e re that h i s a sh e s w e r e to b e

scatt e r e d o n t h e so i l o f Sala m i s a n d at a n
y rat e t h e , ,

tradi ti o n i s r e cor de d b y Ar ist o tle ( S mi th D i et ) h i s , .

sen ti m e n t r eg ar di n g t h e i s la n d w o u l d app e ar to have b ee n

as s tro n g i n h i s o ld a ge a s i n h i s yo u th a nd si mi lar ,

rea so n s fo r h i s covert allu si o n s to Salam i s m ight have

e xi st e d th e n .

Thi s e xha u st s t h e fe w fact s wh ich w e re available fo r

t h e i n q u i ry so fa r a s S o l o n i s c o n c e r ned I n ve n t u r in g .

th e th e ory a s to t h e Pe ripl u s o f Ha n no w e se e m e d to

to u ch m o r e ta n gi ble e vi de nc e a n d to sta n d o n r m e r ,

gro u n d . B ey o n d th i s p o in t w e ca n o nly o at in a m a re
di sar g a sso o f c o nj e ct u r e .

But h o w e v e r t h e e xi ge n c i e s o f h i stor i cal tr u th m ay

,

co m pe l u s to di scard t h e le ge nd o f Atlan ti s fro m t h e

gro u n d o f h i stor y fe w w o u l d w i sh to se e i t bani sh ed fro m
,

t h e r e gio n s o f po etry a n d i m ag i n at i o n a n d h er e w e m u s t

r e c u r to t h e p age s o f Mr D o nn e lly a n d expr e ss t h e hop e

.
,

that if t h e le gen d sh o ul d die o ut eve ryw h e r e e l se i t m ay ,

s u rvi v e in t h e char m i n g l i n e s w h i ch I app e n d

Mo ther ,
I
'

ve b een onr th e cli ffs o u t yon d e ,

S trai ni ng m y y s o er t h b r ea r r ke s f ee
'
e e e

T o t h e l o v ely sp t w her e t h e s n w a s setti n g

o u ,

S etti ng a n d si n kin g i nto t h e s ea .

T h e Sk y w a s full o f t h e f i es ol o u s ar tc r
r
Pin k a n d p u p le an d p aly g een , r '

t r at t a
W i h g e so f m sse s o f g y a n d mb e ra a r ,

A nd g e r at r t r t
b i gh i f s o f gold b e w een t .

Mr D onn elly s A
42 1 T h x
t la n t i s ,
es e e t apc t.s a re .
g iv e n

from a r
r
.
.

po em of Mi ss E le an or C D o nnelly of Phila delph ,

.
i a T h e S l ee p e

s S a i l ,

r
w he e t h e st a r vi n g b o y d ea ms o t e p
f h l ea r
sa n t a n d p l e n t i fu l l a n d
T he .

lin e s follow a s ab o ve .
84
PLA T O S A T L A N T IS .

A nd a llbird s that w ay w ere yin g

th e ,

H eron an d cu rle w o v erh ea d ,

W ith a m ighty eagle w estw ard oating ,

E very pl um e in their pi nio ns red .

A nd then I saw it th e fai ry city , ,

Far aw ay o er t h e w at rs d eep ;
'
e

T ow er an d castles an d ch ap els glow ing

s ,

L i k e b l essed dream s th at w e se e in sleep .

Wh at i s it s name ! Be still a cuahla

,

( T h y hai r i s w et wi th th e mi sts my b oy ) ; ,

T ho u ha st looked p e rch an ce o n th e T ir n a n oge

- -

L an d o f etern al y ou th a n d j oy !

O ut o f th e sea , w h en th e
i s se tin g su n t ,

r
I t i ses gold en an d f i t o vi ew
,
ar
No trac e o f m i n , or c h n ge of so ow ,a rr
N o sign o f age w he e all is n ew

r .

ta
T h e s rvin g chil d see s k to reach this blessed lan d
r
a n d i s d o w ne d .

H i gh o n th e cliffs, t h e li ghthou se ke ep er -

C au ght th e sound o f a p i ercing scre a m ;

L ow in h er b ut , th e lo n ely w i dow
Moan ed in th e m az e o f a troubled d ream .

A nd in h er sl eep a s eam an gh o stly ,

'

saw

W i th seaw eed s cli n gi n g in hi s h ai r ,

Int o h er room , all w et a n d d ri ppi ng ,

A d ro wn ed b oy o n h i s b osom b e ar .

Over D e ath S ea ona brid ge of sil v er

, ,

T h e c hil d t o hi s F ath er s arms h ad p a s sed ;

H ea v en w a s n earer th an T ir na n o ge

- -
,

A n d t h e golden ci ty wa s r eac h ed at la st .

86 PL A T o S A T LA N T IS .

c a m e to S o lo ci s a pro m on to ry o f L i bya a plac e th i ckly

, ,

cov e red w i th tr ee s w h er e w e e r e ct ed a t em ple to N ept u n e ;

,

a n d aga in proc e e d e d fo r t h e S pac e o f hal f a d ay t o w ar d s

t h e e a st u n ti l w e arr i ve d at a lak e lyi n g n o t fa r fro m t h e

,

s e a a n d ll e d Wi th ab un d a n c e o f larg e r ee d s H e r e e le .

h a n t s a n d a gr e at n u m b e r o f oth er w i l d b e a s t s w e r e
p
feed i n g .

Havin g pa ssed t h e lakeabo u t a d ay s sai l w e fo u n d e d
,

c iti e s n ear t h e se a call ed C ari co nt ico s an d Gytt e a n d Acra

a n d Me l i tta a n d A ra m b y s Th en c e w e ca m e to t h e gr eat
.

r i ve r L i xu s w hi ch o w s fro m L i bya O n it s ba n k s t h e
,
.

L ixit ae a sh e ph e r d tr i b e w e r e fee di n g ock s a m o n g st

, , ,

w ho m w e co n t i n u e d so m e t i m e o n fr i en d l y t e r m s B eyo nd .

t h e L i xi t w d w e lt t h e i n ho sp i tabl e E th i op i an s w h o pa st u r e ,

a w i ld co u n try i n t e r sect e d by large m o u ntain s fro m w h i ch ,

th ey say t h e ri ve r L i xu s o w s In th e nei ghbo u rhoo d o f

.

t h e mo u n tai n s li v ed t h e Tro gl o dy t es m e n o f var i o u s app e ar

,

a n ces w ho m t h e L i xit ae d e s cr i b e d a s s w ift e r i n r u n n i n g

,

than hor ses .

Havin g proc u re d i n t e rpr e ter s fro m th e m w e coa st ed ,

alo n g a de se rt co un try to w ar d s t h e s o u th t wo d ay s Th e n ce .

w e pr o c ee d ed towar d s t h e e a st t h e co u r s e o f a d a y H e re .

w e fo u n d i n a r e c e ss o f a c e rta i n b ay a sm all i sla n d c o n

taini n g a c ircl e o f v e sta di a w h er e w e settled a colo ny
,

an d call e d i t C er n e W e j u d g ed fro m o u r voyage that th i s

.

plac e lay i n a di r e ct l in e w ith Cartha g e fo r t h e len gth o f

o u r voy age fro m C arthag e t o th e P i llar s w a s e q u al to that

fro m t h e P illar s t o C e rn e .

W e th en ca m e to a lak e which w e r e ach ed b y sai lin g

,

up a larg e riv er calle d C h retes Thi s lak e h a d thr e e .

i sla n d s large r than C e rn e fro m w h i ch proc e ed i n g a d ay s

s ai l w e c am e to t h e e xtr e m i ty o f t h e lak e
, w h i ch w a s ,

overh u ng by large m o u n tai n s in hab it ed by savag e m e n

,

cloth ed in ski n s o f wi ld be a st s w h o d ro v e u s a w ay b y
,

t hro w in g sto ne s an d h i n d er e d us fr o m lan d i n g Sa i li ng .


PL A T o S A T L A N T I S . 87

th e n c e ,cam e to a n othe r ri ve r that w a s lar ge a n d broa d

we
a n d full o f croco d i l e s a n d r i v e r h o r s e s ; w h en c e r e t u r n i n g -
,

back w e ca m e agai n to C ern e .

The nc e w e saile d t o w ard s t h e so u th t w e lve d ays ,

coa sti ng t h e sh o r e t h e w hole o f w hi ch i s i n hab i te d b y

-
,

E th i o p i a n s w h o wo u ld n o t w a it o u r a ppr o ach b u t e d
, ,

fro m u s Th ei r lan gu age w a s n o t i n te lli gi bl e e v e n to t h e

.

L i xit ae w h o w e re w i th us

To w ar d s t h e last d a y w e
.

approache d so m e lar ge m o u ntai n s c o ver e d wi th tr ee s t h e ,

w oo d o f w h i ch w as s w e e t sc e n t e d a n d var ie gat e d
-
Havi ng .

s a i le d b y th e se m o u n ta i n s fo r t w o d a s w e ca m e to a n
y ,

im m e n se op en i n g o f t h e sea o n e ach S i d e o f w h i ch to , ,

w ar d s t h e c o n t i n e n t w as a pla i n fro m w h i ch w e sa w b
, y ,

n i g ht re ar i si n
g at i n t e rval s i n all d i r e cti o n s m ore o r ,

l es s
.

Havi ng tak en i n w a t e r th er e w e sai le d for w ar d v e ,

d ay s ne ar t h e la n d Un ti l w e cam e to a lar ge b ay w h i ch
, , ,

o u r i n t e rpr e t e r s i n for m e d u s w a s call e d W e st e r n H o r n , .

I n th i s w a s a large i sla n d a n d i n t h e i sla n d a s alt w at e r,

-

lake an d i n th i s a no th er i sla nd w h er e w h en w e la n d e d w e
'

, ,

co u l d d i sc o ve r n o t h in g i n t h e d ay ti m e exc ept tr ee s b u t
' -
,

i n t h e n i ght w e saw m a n y re s b u r n i n g a n d h e ar d t h e ,

so u n d o f p i p e s cy m bal s d r um s a nd c o n fu se d sho u t s
, , , .

W e w e r e th e n a fra i d a n d o u r d i vine r s o r d e re d u s t o
,

aban d o n t h e i slan d Sai li n g qu i ckly a w ay th e n c e w e

.
,

pa ssed a co u n try b u r n i n g w ith r e s a n d p e r fu m e s ; a n d

s tr e am s o f r e su ppli e d fro m i t fe ll in to t h e se a T he .

c o un try w a s im pa ssable o n acco u n t o f t h e he at W e

s a il e d q u i ckly t h e n c e b e i n g m u ch t e rr i e d ; a n d pa ssi n g
,

o n fo r fo u r d ay s w e d i sc o v e r e d a co un try fu ll o f r e
,
In .

t h e m i dd l e w a s a l o ft y re la rge r tha n t h e r e s t w h i ch , ,

seem e d t o t o u ch t h e s tar s W h e n day ca me w e di scov e r e d

.
,

i t to b e a large h i ll call e d t h e Chario t o f t h e G o d s

,
On .

t h e th i r d d ay a ft e r o u r d ep a rt u r e th e n c e hav i n g sa i l e d b y ,

tho se str ea m s o f re we arr ive d at a b ay called t h e So u th e rn

,
88
'
PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

Horn at t h e botto m o f whi ch lay an i sla nd li ke t h e for m e r

, ,

havin g a lake a n d in thi s lake a n oth e r i slan d fu ll o f

, ,

s avag e p e opl e ,
t h e gr eat e r part o f w ho m w e r e w o m en ,

who se bo die s w e re hai ry an d who m o u r in t erpr et er s called

,

Gori llas Tho u gh w e p u r sued t h e m en w e co u ld n o t

.
,

sei z e a n y o f th e m ; b u t all e d fro m u s e s cap i n g ov e r t h e

,

pr ec ip ic e s and defendi ng th em selve s with sto nes Thr ee .

w o m en w e r e ho w ev e r tak en ; b u t th ey attack e d t h ei r co n

, ,

d uct o rs W i th t h ei r t ee th a n d ha nd s a n d co u l d n o t b e pre
,

vailed u pon to acco m pany u s Havin g ki lled the m we

.
,

ayed th em and bro u ght th eir skins w ith u s to Carthage .

W e di d not sail furth e r o n our provi sio n s failing u s

,

.
 APPE N D IX B .

PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

[P r o fe ss o r B J o w et t
.
'

s P la t o , 11. pp . 6 0 2 6 1 2 ; C r i t ia s 1 1 3 1 1 9
- -

T H E tale wh i ch w a s o f gr e at le n gth b ega n a s follo w s

, ,

I have b efo r e r e m ark e d in sp e akin g o f t h e allot m e n t s o f

,

t h e go d s that t h ey di str i b u t e d t h e w hole e art h i n to po r

,

ti on s diffe ri n g i n e xten t a n d m a d e th e m se lve s t e m pl e s

,

a n d s acr i c e s A n d P o sei d o n r e c ei vi n g fo r h i s lot t h e

.
,

i slan d o f Atla n t i s b eg at ch i ld r en b y a m ortal w o m a n a n d

, ,

s e ttl e d th e m i n a part o f t h e i sla n d wh i ch I w i ll proc ee d

to de scr ib e O n t h e S ide t ow ar d t h e se a an d in t h e c entr e

.
,

o f t h e w h o l e i sla n d th e r e w a s a plai n w h i ch i s sa i d to
,

have b ee n t h e fai r e st o f all plai n s an d ver y fe rti le N e ar ,

.

t h e plai n a ga i n a n d al s o i n t h e c e n tr e o f t h e i sla n d at a
, ,

di sta n c e o f abo u t fty sta di a th ere w a s a m o u n tai n n ot , ,

v ery h i gh o n any sid e I n thi s m o u n tain th ere d w elt o n e

.

o f t h e e arth b o r n pr im e val m e n o f that c o u n try

-
w ho se ,

n a m e w a s E v en o r a n d h e h a d a w ife n a m e d L e u c i pp e
, ,

an d th e y h a d a n o n ly d a u ght e r w h o w a s n a m e d C le i t o ,
.

T h e m a id e n w a s growi n g u p to w o m a n ho o d w h e n h e r
fath e r a n d m oth er d ie d ; P o se id o n fe ll i n love w ith h e r ,

a n d h a d i n t e rco u r se w i th h er ; a n d br e ak i n g t h e gro u n d , ,

e n cl o se d t h e h i ll in wh i ch sh e d w e lt all r o u n d m aki n g ,

alt e r n at e z o n e s o f sea a nd lan d lar ge r an d s m aller en , ,

c ircling o n e a n o the r ; th e r e w e r e t w o o f lan d a n d three o f

w at e r w h i ch h e t u r n e d a s w i th a lath e o u t o f t h e c e n tr e
,

o f t h e i sla n d e q u idi sta n t e v e r y w a y s o that n o m a n c o u l d

, ,

e t t o t h e i sla n d fo r sh ip s a n d v o y ag e s w e r e n o t y e t h e ar d
g ,

of . H e h i m se l f a s h e w a s a go d fo u n d n o dif c u lty i n
, ,

m ak i n g s p e c i al arra n g e m e n t s fo r t h e c e n tre i sla n d br i n g ,

90

PL A T O S A T LA N T I S
'

i ng t w o tre a m s o f w at e r u n de r t h e earth w h i ch b e ca u se d
s ,

to a sc en d a s spr in gs o ne o f w arm Wat e r an d t h e oth e r o f

,

col d a n d m aki n g e ve ry var iety o f foo d to spr i n g u p abun

,

d a n t ly i n t h e e arth H e al so b e gat a n d br o u g h t u p v e
.

pai r s o f m a l e ch il dr en div i din g t h e i sla n d o f Atla n t i s i n to

,

t e n porti o n s : h e g ave to t h e r st bor n o f t h e e l d e s t pa i r -

h i s m oth e r s d w e lli n g a n d t h e su rro u n d i n g allot m e n t

w hi ch w a s t h e lar ge st a n d b e s t a n d m a d e h im k i n g ov e r
-

t h e r e st t h e o th e r s h e m a d e pri n c e s a n d gave th e m r u l e ,
-

o v e r m a n y m e n an d a larg e t e rr i t o ry A n d h e n a m ed .

th e m all t h e el de s t w h o w a s ki ng h e n a m ed Atla s and

, , ,

fro m h i m t h e w h o l e i sla n d an d t h e o c e a n re c ei v ed t h e
~

n a m e o f Atla n ti c To h i s tw in broth e r w h o w a s b o r n
.
-

a ft er h i m a n d o btai n e d a s h i s lot t h e e xtr emi ty o f t h e

,

i sla n d to w ar d s t h e P i llar s o f H e racl e s a s far a s t h e ,

co u n try w h ich i s st ill calle d t h e r egio n o f Ga d e s i n that

part o f t h e w orl d h e gave t h e n a m e w h i ch i n t h e H e lle ni c
,
-

la n gu a ge i s E u m e l u s i n t h e lan g u age o f t h e c o u n try

,

w h i ch i s n a m ed a ft e r h i m Ga d ei ru s O f t h e se c o n d pai r
, .

o f tw i n s h e c a ll e d o n e A m ph e r e s an d t h e o th e r E v mm on
, .

To t h e th i r d pa i r o f t w in s h e gave t h e n am e Mn ese u s t o
t h e e ld e r a n d A u tochth o n t o t h e o n e w h o fo ll o w e d h i m
, .

O f t h e fo u rth pa i r o f t w i n s h e call e d t h e e l d e r E la sipp u s ,

a n d t h e y o u n g e r Mestor A n d o f t h e fth pa i r h e gav e

.
,

to t h e e l d e r t h e n a m e o f A z ae s a n d to t h e yo u n ger D i a ,

prepe s . All th ese and th ei r de sc en d ant s w e r e t h e inh ab i

ta n t s a n d r u l er s o f d ive rs i sla n d s i n t h e o p en se a ; a nd ~

al so a s h a s b een alr ea dy said th ey h e l d s w ay in t h e

, ,

o t h e r d i r e c t i on o v e r t h e co u n tr
y w i th in t h e P i llar s a s far
a s E gy pt a n d T yr r h en i a N o w Atla s h a d a n u m e r o u s a n d
.

h o n o u rable fam ily a n d h is e l de st bran ch alw ays r etai ned

,

t h e k in g d o m w h i ch t h e e l d e st so n ha n d e d o n to h i s e l d e st
,

fo r m a n y g enerati o n s ; a n d th ey h ad su ch a n a m o u n t o f
w e alth a s w a s n ev er be fo r e po s se s sed b
y k i ng s a n d pote n
tate s an d i s n o t l i k ely e ve r to b e a g ai n and th ey wer e
, ,

PL A T O S A T L A N T I S . 91

fu rn ish e d w i th ve rythi ng w hi ch th ey co uld have b o th in

e ,

ci ty a n d co u n try Fo r b e ca u se o f t h e gr e at n e ss o f th e i r
.
,

em pir e m an , y th i n g s w e r e br o u ght t o th e m fr o m fo r eign

co u n tri es a n d t h e i sla n d i t sel f provi d e d m u ch o f w hat w a s
,

r e q ui r ed b y th e m fo r t h e u ses o f l ife I n t h e r st plac e .

,

th ey d u g o u t o f t h e e art h w hate ve r w as t o b e fo u n d th e r e ,

m i n e ral a s w e ll a s m e tal a n d that w h ich i s n o w o n ly a ,

n a m e a n d w a s th e n s o m e th in m or e t h a n a n a m e o ri
, g
chalou m w a s d u g o ut o f t h e e arth i n m an y part s o f t h e
i slan d a n d w i th t h e e xc e pt io n o f g o ld w as e s t ee m ed t h e
, , ,

m o st pr e c i o u s o f m et al s a m o n g t h e m e n o f t h o se d ays .

Ther e w a s a n ab un d an c e o f w o o d fo r carp en te r s w o rk a n d
,

su i ci e n t m a in t en a n c e fo r ta m e an d w i l d a n i m al s Mo r e .

o v e r th e r e w e r e a g r e at n u m b e r o f e l e pha nt s i n t h e i s la n d
, ,

a n d th e r e w a s pro v i si o n fo r a n i m al s o f e v e ry ki n d both ,

fo r tho se w h i ch l i ve i n lak es a n d m ar sh e s a n d r i v e r s an d ,

al so fo r tho se w h i c h li ve i n m o u n tai n s a n d on pla i n s a n d ,

th er e for e fo r t h e ani mal wh i ch i s t h e lar ge st an d m o st

vo rac i o u s o f th em Al so w hat eve r fra gra nt th i ngs th e r e
.
,

a re i n t h e e arth w h e th e r root s , or h e rbage o r w o o d s o r

, , ,

di st i ll i n g d rop s o f o w e r s or fr u i t s g re w an d thr i ve d i n ,

that la n d ; an d ag ain t h e c u lt ivate d fr ui t o f t h e eart h

, ,

b o th t h e d ry e di ble fr u it a n d oth e r S p e c i es o f fo o d w hi ch ,

w e call b y t h e gen eral n a m e o f l e g u m e s a n d t h e fr u i t s ,

ha v i n g a har d r i n d a ffo r di ng d r in k s a n d m e at s a n d o int

, , ,

m e n t s a n d g o o d s t o re o f c h e stn u t s a n d t h e l i ke w h i ch
, ,

m ay b e u se d t o pla y w i th a n d a r e fr u i t s w h i ch spo i l w i th
,

kee p in g a n d t h e plea san t ki n d s o f des se rt w hi ch c o n so le

us a t r
f e di n n e r w h e n
,
w e a r e fu ll a n d t i r e d o f e at i n g
all

th e se that s acre d i slan d lyi n g b e n e ath t h e su n bro ught

fo rth fa i r a n d w o n d ro u s i n i n n i t e a b u n d a n c e All th e se .

thi ng s th ey re c ei ve d fro m t h e e arth a n d th ey e m ploye d ,

th em se lv e s i n c o n str u ct in g th ei r t em pl e s a n d palac es , ,

a n d harb o u r s a n d d o ck s ; a n d th e y arra n ge d t h e w h o l e
,

c o un try i n t h e fo llo wing m an n er F ir st o f all they br idged

92

PL A T o S A T L A N T I S .

ov er t h e zo ne s o f se a w h i ch s u rro u n d e d t h e an c ie n t m etro
polis a n d m a d e a pa s sa ge i n t o an d o u t o f t h e royal palac e
'

a n d th e n th ey b e ga n to b u i l d t h e palac e i n t h e hab i tat i o n

o f t h e go d an d o f th e i r a n c e stor s Thi s th ey c o nt in u e d t o
.

or n a m en t in su cc e ssi ve ge n e rat i o n s eve ry kin g s u rpa ssin g ,

t h e o n e w h o ca m e b e for e h i m to t h e u t m o s t o f h i s po w e r ,

u n t i l th e y m a d e t h e b u i l di n g a m arve l t o b e hol d fo r s i ze

a n d fo r b e a ut y A n d b e g in n i n g fro m t h e sea th ey d u g
.

, ,

a ca n al thr e e h u nd r e d feet I n W i d th a n d o n e h u n d re d fe e t
i n d e pth a nd fty st a di a i n l e n gth w h i ch th ey carr i ed
, ,

thro u gh to t h e o u t e rm o st z o n e m aki n g a pa ssa ge fr o m ,

t h e se a u p to thi s w h i ch b eca m e a harb o u r a n d l e a v in g

, ,

a n op e n i n g s u fc i e n t to e n abl e t h e larg e s t v e s se l s to n d

i n g r e ss . Mor eover th ey divided t h e z o n e s o f lan d w h i ch

,

part ed t h e z o ne s o f sea co n str u ctin g br i dge s o f su ch a

,

w i d th a s w o u l d l e av e a pa s s a ge fo r a si ng l e tr i r e m e to pa ss
o u t o f o n e i n t o a n oth e r a n d r o o fe d th e m ov e r ; a n d th e r e
,

w a s a w ay u n d e r n e ath fo r t h e sh i p s fo r t h e ba n k s o f t h e ,

z o n e s w e r e rai sed co n sid erably abov e t h e w at e r N o w t h e .

larg e st o f t h e z o n e s in to w h ich a pa ss ag e w a s cu t fro m

t h e sea w a s thr ee sta di a i n br e a d th a n d t h e zo ne o f la nd ,

w h i ch ca m e n e xt o f e q u al br e a d t h ; b u t t h e n e xt t w o a s ,

we ll t h e zo n e o f w at e r as o f lan d w e re t w o sta di a a nd , ,

t h e o n e w h i ch su rr o u n d e d t h e c e n tral i sla n d w a s a sta di u m

o n ly i n w id th T h e i sla n d in w h i ch t h e palac e w as si t u
.

at e d h a d a d ia m et e r o f v e sta di a Th is a n d t h e z o n e s .
,

a n d t h e brid g e w h i ch w a s t h e s i xth part o f a s ta d i u m i n

,

w id th th ey s u rro u n d e d b y a st o n e w all o n e i th e r si d e

, ,

pla c in g to w e r s a n d gat e s on t h e brid ges wh e r e t h e se a

,

pa sse d i n T h e st o n e w h i ch w a s u sed i n t h e w ork th ey

"

q u arri ed fro m u n d er neath t h e c en tr e i slan d a n d fro m

u n d er n e ath t h e zo n e s o n t h e o u t e r a s w e ll a s t h e i nn e r
,

si d e
. O n e k i n d o f sto n e w a s w h i t e a n oth er black a n d a , ,

th i rd re d ; an d a s th ey q u arried th ey at t h e s a m e ti m e
, ,

hollo wed o ut d ock s d o u bl e w i th i n havin g roo fs for m e d o ut ,


94 PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

c i ty i t self an d t h e for ei gn c i t i e s ove r w h ich th ey h e ld sw ay .

Th e r e w as a n altar t o o w hi ch in si z e an d w ork m a n sh i p
, ,

corr e spo nd e d t o t h e re st o f t h e work a n d th e r e w e r e palac e s

,

i n l i k e m a nn e r w h i ch a n s we r ed to t h e gr e at n es s o f t h e
k in g d o m an d t h e glo ry o f t h e t e m ple .

I n t h e n e xt plac e th ey u sed fo u n tai n s both o f col d

,

a n d hot spr i n g s ; th ese w e r e v e r y ab u n d a n t a n d both ,

k in d s w o n der fu lly a dapted to u se b y re a so n o f t h e S ive et

n e s s an d e xc e ll en c e o f th e i r w at e r s Th ey c o n str u ct e d .

b u i ld in g s abo u t th em a n d plante d su itable tr ee s ; al so

,

c i st ern s so m e O p en to t h e h e aven oth er s w hi ch th ey

, ,

roo fe d ove r to b e u se d in w in t er a s w ar m bath s : ther e

,

wer e t h e k i n g s bath s a n d t h e bath s o f pr i vat e p e r s o n s

, ,

w h ich w e r e ke pt apart ; al so se parat e bath s fo r w o m en ,

a n d oth e r s again fo r h o r se s a n d cattl e a n d to th e m th ey ,

g av e a s m u ch a d or n m e n t a s w as su i tabl e fo r th e m T he .

w at e r w h i ch ra n o ff th ey carri e d so m e to t h e g rov e o f
,

Po seid o n w h ere w e r e growin g all m ann er o f tr e es o f w o n

,

d e r fu l h ei ght a n d b e au ty o w i n g to t h e e xc e lle n c e o f t h e
,

s o i l ; t h e r e m ai n d e r w a s co n vey e d b y aq ue d u ct s wh i ch

pa ssed ove r t h e bridge s to t h e o u t e r ci rcle s : a n d th ere

w e r e m an y t e m pl e s b u i lt a n d d edi cat ed t o m a n y go d s ;
al so gard ens an d plac e s o f e xe rci se so m e fo r m en an d , ,

som e se t a part fo r hor ses i n both o f t h e t w o i sla n d s for m e d

,

b y t h e zo ne s an d i n t h e c en tr e o f t h e larg e r o f t h e t w o
th e r e w as a rac e c o u r se o f a sta di u m i n w id th an d i n ,

len gth allo we d to ext e n d all ro u nd t h e isla n d for hor se s ,

to rac e i n Al so th ere We r e gu ar d ho use s at int e rval s fo r

.
-

t h e bo dy gu ar d t h e m or e tr u st e d o f w ho m h a d th ei r
-
,

d u tie s appo i nt ed to th e m i n t h e le sser zo n e whi ch w a s ,

n e ar e r t h e Acr o poli s ; w h i l e t h e m o st tr ust e d o f all h a d

ho u se s g ive n th e m w ithin t h e c itad el a nd abo u t t h e per ,

so n s o f t h e ki n g s T h e d ock s w e r e fu ll o f tri r em es a n d
.

n aval s tor e s a n d all th i n g s w e r e

, q u it e r e a dy fo r u se .

E n o u gh o f t h e pla n o f t h e royal palac e Cro ssin g t h e .


PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 95

o u te r harbo u r s w hich w e re thr e e i n num b er yo u w o u l d

, ,

co m e to a wall whi ch b e ga n at t h e sea and w en t all r o u n d

th i s w a s everywhe r e di sta n t ft y sta di a fro m th e large st

zo ne a n d harbo u r an d e n clo se d t h e w hol e m e e t in g at t h e

, ,

m o u th o f t h e chan ne l to wa rd t h e sea T h e e n t i re are a .

w a s de n s e ly crowd ed w i th hab i tati o n s ; a nd t h e ca n al a nd

t h e larg e s t o f t h e harbo u rs w er e fu ll o f v ess el s a n d m e r
chan t s co mi ng from all part s wh o fro m th ei r n u m b e r s
, ,

k e pt u p a m u ltitu din o u s so u n d o f h um an vo ic e s an d d in
o f all s ort s n ight a n d d a I hav e r epe at ed h is d e sc ri p
y .

tio n s o f t h e city and t h e part s abo u t t h e an ci e n t palac e

n e arly a s h e gave th e m an d no w I m u s t e n de avo u r to
'

d es cri be t h e n at u re an d arrange m e n t o f t h e re s t o f t h e
co u n try T h e w hole co u n try w a s describ ed as b ei n g ve ry
.

lofty an d precipito us o n t h e sid e o f t h e sea b u t t h e ,

c ou n try i m me di at ely abo u t a n d su rro undi n g t h e ci ty w a s

a l e ve l plai n i t sel f surr o u n de d by m o un tai n s w hi ch d e
,

sc en d e d to w ar d t h e sea ; i t w a s sm ooth a n d e v e n b ut o f ,

a n oblo n g shap e e xtendi n g i n o ne di re cti o n t hree th o u s a n d

,

sta di a a n d goi n g u p t h e co u n t ry fro m t h e se a thro u gh t h e

,

c e n tr e o f t h e i sla nd t wo tho u s an d st adia t h e w hole r egio n

o f t h e i slan d l i es to w ar d t h e so u th a n d i s sh e lt e re d fro m
,

t h e n o rth .T h e su rro un di n g m o u n tain s h e c e le brate d fo r

th ei r n u m b e r an d si z e a n d b e au ty i n whi ch th ey e xc ee de d
,

all that a re n o w to b e see n a nyw h e r e having i n th em al so

m a ny w e althyi n hab i t ed vi lla ge s a n d riv er s a n d lake s a n d
, ,

m e a d ow s su pplyi n g foo d e n o u gh for e ve ry a n i mal w i ld or ,

ta m e an d w oo d o f vari o u s sort s ab undan t for ev e ry k in d

, ,

o f work . I w ill no w d e scri be t h e plain wh i ch h a d b een ,

c u lti vate d d u rin g m a ny a ge s b y m any generat i on s o f ki n gs .

It w a s r e cta n gu lar and for t h e m o st part strai g ht a n d

,

oblon g ; an d what i t wan ted o f t h e strai ght lin e fo ll ow ed

t h e li n e o f t h e c i rc u lar d i tch T h e depth an d w i d th a n d
.

l en gth o f thi s d itch we re i n cr e dible a nd gave t h e i m pre s ,

si o n that su ch a work i n a ddi t i o n to so m an y oth e r w ork s

, ,
 96
PL A T o S A T L A N T I S .

co u l d har dly have b ee n w ro u ght b y t h e ha nd o f man But .

I m u st say w hat I have h e ar d It w as excavate d to t h e .

d ep t h of a h un d re d fe e t a n d i t s br e a d th wa s a st adi u m
,

ev e ry wh er e ; i t w a s carr ie d ro u n d t h e whole o f t h e plain ,

a n d w a s t e n tho u sa n d s ta di a in l e n g t h It re c eive d t h e .

s tream s w hi ch ca m e d o w n fro m t h e m o un tai n s a n d wi nd ,

i n g ro u n d t h e plai n a n d to u ch i n g t h e c i ty at va rio u s
,

poin t s w as the re let o ff in t o t h e sea Fro m above like

,
.
,

wi se strai ght can al s o f a h und re d feet in wi d th we re c ut

,

i n t h e plai n a n d again l et o ff i n
,
to t h e d itch to w ard t h e ,

sea ; th ese ca n al s w e r e at i n t e rval s o f a h un d r e d sta dia ,

a n d by th e m th e y bro u g ht d o w n t h e w oo d fro m t h e mo un

t ai ns to t h e c i ty an d co n vey e d t h e fru it s o f t h e e arth i n

,

ship s c uttin g tra n s ve r se pa ssages fro m on e can al i nto

,

a noth er and to t h e c i ty T wi c e in t h e year th ey gath ered

,
.

t h e fr uit s of t h e e arth in w in t er havi ng t h e b en e t o f t h e

rai n s a n d in su m m e r in tr o d u c in g t h e wate r o f t h e can al s
, .

A s to t h e pop u lat i o n e ach o f t h e l o t s in t h e plai n h ad an

,

appoi n t ed chi ef o f m en w h o we r e t fo r military servic e ,

a n d t h e siz e o f t h e lo t w as to b e a s q u ar e o f t e n s ta dia

e ach way a n d t h e total n u mb e r o f all t h e lot s w a s sixty

,

tho usa nd .

A n d of t h e i nhab i ta n t s o f t h e m o un tai n s a nd of t h e
r est of t h e co u n try th e re w a s al so a va st m u ltit ud e haying
l eade r s t o whom t h ey w e re a ssi g ned accor din g t o t h ei r
, .

d we lli ng s an d vi llag e s T h e le a d e r w a s re q ui red to furni sh

.

for t h e war t h e si xth porti o n o f a w ar ch ariot so a s to -

m ake u p a t o t al o f t e n tho usa n d chari o t s ; al so two hor se s

a nd r id e r s u n th e m a n d a l i g ht chariot wi tho ut a se at
_ po , ,

a cco mp anied by a ghti n g m an o n foo t carr i ng a sm all

y
sh ie ld a n d havi ng a chari ot ee r m o u nt e d t o g ui de t h e
,

hor ses ; a l so h e w as b o u n d t o furn i sh two h e avy ar med

,
-

m en two arch er s t w o s l in ge r s thr ee sto ne shoot er s a n d

, , ,
-

three j avelin m en w h o w er e sk ir m i sh e r s and fo ur sailor s

, ,
'

to m ake up a co mpl eme nt o f t we lve h u n d red ship s S uch .


98 PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

that th ey wo u ld j u d ge accordi n g to t h e laws o n t h e colu mn ,

a n d w o u l d p u n i sh a n y o n e who h a d p r e vi o usly tra n sgr e sse d ,

a n d that for t h e fu t u r e th ey w o u l d n o t i f th ey c o u l d h e lp
, ,

tran sgr ess any o f t h e i nscri pt i ons an d wo u l d n ot co mm an d

,

o r ob ey an y r u l e r w h o co m m a n d e d th e m to act oth e r wi se

tha n accor di n g to t h e laws o f th ei r fathe r Po seid o n Thi s .

w a s t h e praye r w h i ch e ach o f th em o ffe r ed u p fo r h i m se l f

an d fo r h i s fa m i ly at t h e sa me t i m e d r in ki n g a n d d e di
, ,

cati ng t h e vessel i n t h e t em ple o f t h e go d ; an d aft e r ,

sp e n d i ng so m e n e c essar y t i m e at su pp e r wh e n d ark n e s s ,

ca m e o n and t h e re abo u t t h e sacr ic e w a s cool all o f ,

th e m p ut o n m o st b eau tifu l az u r e ro b e s a n d sitti n g o n , ,

t h e gro un d at n i ght n e ar t h e em b e r s o f t h e sacr ic e s o n

whi ch they h a d s w or n a n d e xtin gui sh i n g all t h e re abo ut
,

t h e t em pl e th ey r e c e i ve d a n d g av e j u d g m en t if a ny o f
, ,

th em h ad a ny acc u sat i o n to br in g a g ai n st a ny o ne ; a n d ,

w h en th ey h a d gi v en j u dgm e n t at d a ybr e ak th ey w rot e

,

d o w n th ei r se n t e n c e s o n a go l d en tabl e t an d d e po si te d ,

th em as m em or i al s w i th th eir r o b e s Th e re w e re m a ny .

s p e c i al law s w h i ch t h e se v e ral k i n g s h a d i n scr ib e d ab o u t

t h e t e m pl e s b u t t h e m o s t i m porta n t w a s t h e fo llo w i n g
,

That th ey w e r e n o t to tak e up ar m s agai n st o ne an othe r ,

a n d th ey w e r e all to co m e to t h e r e s c u e if an
y o n e i n a ny
c i t y a t t em t e d t o ov e rthro w t h e royal ho u se L i ke th eir
p .

a n c estor s th ey w e re to deli b e rat e in co m m o n abo u t w ar

,

a n d oth e r m att e r s gi vi n g t h e su pr e m a c
, y to t h e fa m i ly o f
Atla s an d t h e ki n g w a s n o t to h ave t h e po w e r o f life a nd
d e ath ov e r a ny o f h i s ki n sm en u n less h e h a d t h e a ssen t
,

o f t h e m ajor i ty o f t h e t e n ki n g s .

S u ch w a s t h e va st po w e r which t h e go d settled in
t h e lo st i sla n d o f Atla n ti s and th i s h e a ft e r w ar d s d i r e ct ed
again st o ur lan d on t h e f o llo w ing pre te xt as t ra di ti o n
'

t e lls For m a ny g e ne rati o n s a s lo n g a s t h e di vi n e n at u r e

,

la st ed in th em th ey w e r e o be die n t to t h e la w s a n d we ll
, ,

a ffe ctio n ed to w ar d t h e go d s w h o w er e th eir kinsme n ; fo r

,

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS . 99

th ey po sse ssed tr ue and in eve ry w ay great spi ri t s pra c ,

t i si n g g e n tl en e ss a n d wi sd o m i n t h e var i o u s cha n c e s o f
i fe an d i n
l , th eir in t erc o u r se wi th o ne a no t h e r Th ey de .

spi se d e v e r thi n g b u t vi rtu e n o t ca ri n g for th ei r pr e se n t

y ,

stat e o f l ife an d th i n ki n g l i htl

, g y on t h e po ss essi o n o f ,

gold a n d oth e r prop erty w h i ch see med on ly a b u r d en to

,

the m ; n ei th er were th ey in to xicat ed by l u x ury ; n or did

w ealth d e pr i ve th em o f th ei r se lf co ntrol b u t th ey we re -

so b e r a n d sa w cl e arl
, y that all th ese goo d s are i n cr e a se d
b y vi rt u o u s fr ien d sh i p w i th o n e a n oth er an d that b y ex ,

c e ssi v e z e al fo r th e m a n d h o n o u r o f t h em t h e g o o d o f
, ,

the m i s lo st and fr ien d shi p p er ish es w ith the m

, .

By su ch r e e ct i o ns a n d b y t h e co n tin u an ce i n th e m
,

o f a di vi n e n at u r e all that w h i ch w e hav e des cr i b e d waxed

,

a n d i n cr e a se d i n th em ; b u t w h en th i s d i vi ne porti o n b e gan

t o fa d e a w ay i n th em an d b e ca m e dil u t ed too o ft en a nd
, ,

w i th t o o m u ch o f t h e m ortal a dmi xt u r e a n d t h e h u m a n ,

nat u r e go t t h e u pp er ha n d th e n th ey b eing u n abl e to b e ar

-
, ,

th ei r fort u n e be ca me u n se em ly an d to him w h o h a d an
, , ,

eye t o see th e , y b ega n to app e ar ba se a n d h a d l o s t t h e ,

fai re s t o f th eir pre ci o u s g ift s b u t to tho se w h o h a d no eye

to see t h e tr ue happiness th ey s ti ll appe ared glo r io u s a n d
,

ble ssed at t h e ver y t i m e w h en th ey w e re lled w i th n u

ri ght eo u s avari ce a nd po w e r Z eu s t h e god o f go d s wh o .
, ,

r ule s w i th law an d i s abl e to se e in to su ch th in gs p e r

, ,

ce ivin g that a n hon o u rabl e rac e w a s i n a m o st w r e tch e d

s tat e a n d w a n ti n g to i n i ct p u n i s h m en t on th e m that

, ,

th ey mi ght b e cha st e n ed a n d i m proved colle ct e d all t h e ,

g o d s i n t o h i s m o st holy habi tatio n whi ch bei n g plac e d i n , ,

t h e c e n tre of t h e world see s all th i n g s that partak e o f

,

ge ne rat i o n A n d w h en h e h ad called th em togethe r h e

.

spake a s follow s

[H ere Plato s story abrup tly end s ]

'
 APPE N DIX C .

TH E O RY AS T O T H E PR O MI N E NC E OF T H E BU L L IN

T R A D I T IO N .

IN a pa mphlet , r eply to a n i n ter est in g article in t h e

in
Mon t h b y t h e R ev H W L u ca s i n expo siti o n o f w hat
,
. . . ,

h e happ i ly t e r m ed t h e n at u r e m y th th eo ry I ven t u r e d ,

t o su g ge s t a co u n t e r th e ory fo r t h e pro m i n en c e o f t h e b u ll
i n c o nn e cti o n w i th t h e D i l u vi a n tra di ti o n ; an d a s I a m
n o t a w ar e that it h a s b e e n a d v a n c e d b e fo r e a n d as I have ,

r efe rr e d to i t i n t h e t ext I r epr in t i t h e r e ,

.

O ne o f th s w hi ch Mr L u ca s br in g s in i llu stra
th e m y .

tio n i s t h e m yth o f In d ra a n d a s h e i s a p e r so n a ge o f t h e
,

R i gve d a a n d h a s goo d cla i m s to b e r e g ar d e d as pr i m i t i ve

, ,

Mr L u ca s i s fu lly j u sti ed i n d o i n g so Mr L u ca s s ays

. . .
,

Th e re c an b e n o d o u bt that i n t h e Ved i c h ym n s In d ra
W i th Mr C o x h e i s t h e
i s t h e ra in gi v i n g rm a m e n t
-
. .

so lar go d ; t h e go d o f t h e br i ght h e av en on e of t he

po we r s w hi ch pro d u c e t h e sight s of t h e chan gi n g sky

,

a n d al s o t h e gi ve r o f ra in t h e ra i n b ri nger

an d ,
-

( Cox A ry a n My t h s i 3 3 6
,
Si g n or A n ge lo d e G u b e r
,
.

n at i s Z o o l My t h s i 8 say s s o m e w hat ob s c u r e ly
,
.
,
.
, L ike ,

t h e w i n d s h i s co m pa n i o n s t h e S un I n d ra t h e su n ( a n d
, , ,

t h e l u m i n o u s sky ) h i dd e n i n t h e d ark w h o str iv e s to ,

di s sipat e t h e sha d o w s t h e su n h idd e n i n t h e clo u d s ,

that th u n der s an d l ighte n s to d i s solve i t i n rai n i s repre ,

se n t e d a s a p ow er f u l ba ll a s t h e ba ll of ba lls i nv i n c i b le
, ,

s o n o f t h e c o w t h at b e llo w s l i k e t h e Ma r a t a s

, If t h e .

my tholo gi st s w ill forg ive m e I w ill e n d e av o u r t o take t h i s ,


1 02 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

Mr Cox (i 3 86) a dm i t s that t h e m y t h of In d ra may

. .

e m bo dy a r elig io us id e a that a moral or spirit u al e l e m ent

m ay b e di sce r ne d i n so m e o f t h e char a ct eri st i c s o f th i s

d e i ty 1 s b eyo n d q ue sti o n that t h e whole i de a o f t h e god
,

c a n b e t 1 ace d to t h e r e l i g i o u s i n sti nc t o f m a n ki n d t h e ,

b o ldest cham pio n will scarc e ly ve n tu re to a i rm N ei th e r .

i s i t n e c e s sary t o a i r m i t T h e a dmixtu r e o f t h e m y th i c
.

a n d h i storic al i s n o di f c u lty for u s b u t it i s fatal to Mr

,
.

Ma x Mull er s th eory u n le ss t h e r el i g io us or h i stori c al

,

ele m e n t c an b e prove d to b e s e co n d ary .

N o w t h e co u nt er t ra di t i o n al e xplanat ion w h i ch I shall

o ffe r m u st b e r egar ded a s prim ary an d fund am e n tal a s it ,

i s i n ti m at e ly co nn e ct ed w i th t h e D e l u g e a n d go es back ,

t o t h e se co n d co m m en c em e n t o f t h e h u m a n rac e The re .

i s a tra di tio n that N oah e n t e re d t h e ark wh en t h e su n w a s

i n t h e sig n o f t h e B u ll in t h e Zo di ac .

It w ill h ar d ly b e di sp u t ed that thi s w as a d ate w hich

wo u l d have i m pr essed it self u po n t h e r e collecti o n o f m an
k in d It w as t h e d at e w h en t h e u ni nt er mitt en t rai n
.

co mm en ce d and t h e si gn o f t h e B ull th erefore w o u l d

,

n at u rally h en c e fo rwar d ha v e b e e n associat e d i n m e n s

m in d s wi th rain an d w ate r wh e th e r i n fea r rem em b e re d

,

i n co n n e cti o n w ith havoc a n d d e s tr u cti o n or w h eth e r i n ,

pl e a san t a n tic ipati o n a s t h e cata stro ph e fa ded fro m re co l

le ctio n a n d in t h e In dian plain s d ro u ght cam e to b e t h e
,

g r e at e r e v il de pr e c at ed .

I n all t h e D i l u vi a n tra di t i o n s t h e a lt er n at io n s fro m

glo o m to rej oic in g t h e tra n si ti o n s fro m d estr u cti o n t o
,

su b se q u e n t r e n ovatio n t h e c o n tra st s o f d e ath a n d li fe

, ,

h av e b e e n a s m u ch r em arke d a n d are a s mu ch i n keep in g

,

wi th t h e n arr ative i n Ge n e si s as ar e t h e co n tra st s o f li ght

,

a n d d ark ness w i th t h e s olar m th s

y .

L et u s n o w li ste n to s o m e o f tho se Ved i c s o n g s an d ,

see i f th i s ke
y d o es n ot e q u ally u n lock t h e Mythology .

Mr L uca s s q uotatio n fro m t h e R igv eda shall hav e pre

.

, ,
 103

PL A T O S A T L A N T IS .

ce d e n ce Mont h p
I

(t h e
I d e clar e t h e former
, .

val o ro us de ed s o f In d ra [t h e B u ll] w hich t h e th u n de r e r

h a s ach i e ve d h e c love t h e clou d h e ea s t t h e w a t er s d ow n
, ,

h e broke ( a w ay ) fo r t h e torr e n t s o f t h e m o u n tai n s .

I n a smu ch I n d ra a s th o u ha st str u ck t h e r st
, , b o rn o f
t h e clo u d s [o r r st str u ck t h e cl o u d s po e t i cally w i th t h e
poi n t o f h is horn s co m m en c i n g t h e D ulu ge] tho u ha st
,

d estroyed t h e d elu si o n s of t h e d elu d er s a n d th u s e n g en d e r ,

ing t h e su n t h e d aw n a n d t h e rm am en t th o u ha st n o t
, , ,

l eft a n en e m y to oppo se the e E v e r yth i n g h e r e i s

.

i n ke e pi n g exc e pt t h e e n gen d e r in g t h e F i rm am en t Taki n g .

th ei r stat em en t i t w o u ld r e su lt how e v e r that t h e B u ll o r , ,

I n d ra c o u ld n ot b e ide n t ical w ith t h e rm am e nt a s i n ,

so m e se n se o f th ei r o w n h e w a s su ppo se d t o
p r eced e i t o r
engen d er it Bu t i f t h e r m a m e n t m e a n t w a s t h e n e w
.

rm am en t wh i ch ar o se aft e r t h e D e l u g e aft er forty d ay s

an d fort y n i g ht s rain t h e n ot i o n m ight b e c onn e ct ed

,

wi th rem i ni s c en c e s o f r en o vat io n aft er t h e D e l u g e w h en ,

I d ra a s t h e su n
n
, i n t h e se r en e h e ave n sho n e o ut
,

w h en t h e d e l u gi n g clo u d s h a d pa s se d a w ay ( C ox i p , . .

L et p u r su e t h e car e e r o f In d ra in t h e page s
us n o w ,

o f Mr C ox . alth o ugh h e h a s (p 3 3 9 ) b u t li ttl e

, .

o f a p u r e ly m oral or S p i ri t u al e l e m en t i n h i s charac

t er It i s tr u e that h e is so m etim e s i n vo ked a s

w i tn essi n g all t h e d eed s of m en a n d th u s a s tak in g cog n iz ,

a n ce of t h ei r si n s O f I n d ra at p 3 40 i t i s s aid
.
, .
, ,

Th o u th u n de r e r ha st S hatt e r ed wi th t h y b o lt t h e broa d
a n d m a s si ve cl o u d i n to fra g m e n t s a n d ha st se n t d o w n t h e ,

Mr . C ha rle s E : Gova t (J o u rn a l R oy A si a S o e , n e w S eri es ,

f
o t he . . .

v ol i
. .
p . 1,

t h e Po n g ol fe s t iva l i n S o u t he n
in h i s a c cou n t o f r

I n di a , s ay s , Kr i shn a i s alway s d e cl are d b y t h e Bra hmi n s t o b e t h e
r
Po n gol g o d ; b u t t h e t ra di t i o n i t self b e a s w i t ne ss t ha t t h e f eas t i s o l d er
t h a n t h e go d T h e t a l e i s t ha t w hen t h e gr ea t w a ve o f Kri shn a w o r shi p -
.

r
p assed ov e t h e p enin su l a , t h e people w ere so e nam O m ed o f h im ha t -
t
t r
h ey cea sed t o per fo m t h e Po n go l ri t e s t o I n d ra T hi s m a d e th e la t e . t r

d eit y so a ngr y t h a t h e p our e d d o w n a o o d up o n t h e ea r t h .

104 PL A T O S A T L A N T I S .

Wat e r s that w er e co n n ed i n it to ow a t w i ll ; ver i ly th o u

alo n e po sse ssest all p o w e r At t h e b irth o f th ee w h o
.

art r e splen d e n t w o u l d apply to a s tar or

co n st e llat io n an d b y i t s bi rth m i ght h e i n t en de d t h e n ew

,

e ra wh i ch w a s i n a u g u rate d b y i t s ap p e ara n c e or pr o m i
,

n en ce i n t h e h e av e n s at t h e co m m en c em e n t o f t h e D e l u ge ]

tr em ble d t h e e arth thro u gh fe ar of t h y w r a t h t h e m ighty ,

clo u ds w e re co n ne d th ey d estr oyed S pre a din g t h e wat e r s ,

ove r dry plac es Mr C o x in t erp o lat es th u s

.

. d e stroy ed
( t h e di stre ss o f d ro u ght ) b u t that i s o n ly a glo ss o f h i s
o w n an d t h e
,
d ry plac es

m ay si g n ify h i gh a n d d ry ,

plac e s ne ver r each e d b y t h e w ate r s b e for e A t p 3 42 w e . .

n d I n d ra e sp e c i ally d e scr i b e d a s t h e go d o f battl e s t h e ,

gi v e r o f vi ct o ry to h i s wor sh i pp e r s t h e d estr o ye r s o f t h e
,

ene m i es o f r e ligi o u s r i t es , th e subv er t er o f the ci t i es o f th e

A su ra s .

I n D e Gu b er n at i s ( i p 9 ) it i s said that t h e clo u d i n

. .

t h e R i gve d a i s o ft e n r e pr e se n t e d a s a n i m m e n s e gre at

b elli e d barr el ( Kab an dka s) w h i ch i s carri ed b y t h e di vi n e

,

B u ll . T h e t e rr i ble b u ll b ello w s an d sh o w s h i s stren gth
a n d sharp e n s hi s hor n s t h e spl e n d i d b u l l w i th s harp ene d
,

hor n s w h o i s a ble of hi mself t o over t hr o w a ll p eop les

, .

T h e b u ll I n d ra i s call e d t h e h u ll w i th t h e tho u sa n d
horn s w h o ri ses fro m t h e sea Bu t th e se ve r se s w e r e
.

co m po sed b y a pa storal p e ople w h o if t h e d e sc en d a n t s o f

, ,

J a ph et h ad probably al w ay s d we lt i n la n d si n c e t h e D e
,

lu ge At p 1 9 In d ra i s r eprese n t e d a s di sco m t in g t h e
. .
,

m o n st e r ( r ak sh o h an an ) who d estroy s b y r e t h e m o n s t er s

that l iv e in d arkn e ss Ano th er Ve dic h ym n in for m s u s
.

that t h e m on st e r Va la s h ad t h e shap e o f a co w an oth e r

h ym n r epr e se n t s t h e clo u d as t h e cow that form s t h e
wat e r s an d that h a s no w o ne foot n o w fo u r n o w eight
, , , ,

n o w n in e [m or e applicabl e to t h e co n st e llati o n tha n to t h e

rain g ivin g rm am ent a n d ll s t h e h igh est h e ave n s w i th

-
,

s o u n d s [co m m e n c e m e n t o f t h e D e l u ge
] sti ll a n oth er


10 6 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

that t h e pri mitive m o n th s co m men ced t he ir se r ie s al so

wi th Ari es t h e R am , .

T h e tra di t io n al charact e r o f t h e Z o d i ac h as o ft e n b ee n
r em arke d and thi s i s fully co n r m ed b y Mr G e o rg e .

S m ith s r ec ent A ssyri a n d i scov eri es I n h i s C ha ld aea n

.

A cco un t of Gen esis p 6 9 , .

In t h e fth tablet of th e C rea t ion l egend w e read

1 .

I t w as d elightful a ll that w a s x ed b y t h e gr eat go d s .

2 . S tars t h eir a pp earan c e [i n gu r es] of anim al s h e arra n ge d

,
.

3 T o x t h e y ear th ro u gh t h e ob ser vation o f t hei r c o ns t e lla

tion s
4 . T w el ve mon ths (or si gns) of s tars i n three row s b e arranged .

A n d at p 7 8 Mr G S m i th s ay s
.
, . .

W e then come t o th e t i on o f t h e he a ve n ly o rb s w h ic h a e
crea ,
r

d escrib e d i n t h e i n scrip ti o n s arra n ge d li ke a ni ma ls w h il e t h e a ,

Bibl e s ays th ey w ere s t s li ghts i n t h e r m a m en t of h ea v en e a

a n d j u st a s th e b o ok of Gen e i ay s they w ere set for si gn s a nd s s s

se a o n s for d a y s a n d y ears s
s , t h e i n scrip tion d escri b es that t h e ,
o

st ars w ere set i n c o u r ses t o p oi n t t t h e year T h e tw el v e c n ou . o

s t ll t i o n s or si n s o f t h e Z di ac
e a nd tw o th er b an d s o f c on st lla
g o a o e

ti n s a e men tion ed j u st a s t w o ets of tw elv e stars each a r m en

o r , s e

ti on ed b y t h e Gr eek s one n rt h a n d o n e s ou th of th e Z o di ac
,
o .

In table s Tau r u s or t h e b u ll i s t h e second sign

o ur , , ,

o f t h e Z o diac N o w G e n e si s (v ii 1 1 ) t e ll s u s that N o ah
. .

e n t e r e d t h e ark on t h e 1 7 t h o f t h e secon d m o n th Agai n .

,

I n d i n Mon F L eno rm an t s Fr a gmens C o smogon i qu es

. .

d c B rose 1 8 7 1 p 2 1 1 th at t h e s econ d A ssyr i a n m o n th

, , .
,

w a s n a m ed t h e B u ll al so t h e Acca d ia n se co nd m o n th

, ,

a n d al so t h e H ebr e w L e s no m de s m oi s j ui fs so n t le s
.

n o m s des m oi s C H A L D E o a ss r i e n s
y
-
.

I see furth e r tr ac e o f t h e tra ditio n in t h e follo win g

pa ssag e fro m Ca no n R awlin so n s I llu str a ti ons of t he

O ld T es ta men t p 1 8 b e arin g i n m i n d th at t h e Ved i c

, .
,

le gend s o f t h e d og ( c a n i s maj or ) a re co nne ct ed w ith t h e

le gen d s of Indra (D e Gub ern a t is ii T h e Ch e rok e e , .

In dian s h a d a lege nd o f t h e d e str u ctio n o f m a nki nd by a


PL A T o S A T L A N T I S . 107

d e l u ge , and o f pr eservati o n o f a sin gle fa mily i n a

th e
boat to , the con str u cti o n o f w h i ch th ey h a d been in ci t ed
by a d og .

Plu tarch i n h i s tr e at i se D e fa ci e i n or be L unce c 2 6

, ,
.

( vi d e S i r G C o rn e w a ll L e wi s s A s tr o no my of t h e A ncien ts

.
,

p . s ay s th at t h e p e opl e o f t h e i s la n d o f O x
ygi a ( co m
par e d e l u g e o f O xyge s* ) pay t h e prin c ipal hon o u r s to
Sat u r n an d aft e r h im to H e rc u le s W h en t h e pla n e t
, .

S a t ur n ( co m par e an al o gy b et w ee n Satu r n a n d N o ah T r a ,

d i t i o n & c p 2 1 1 ) i s i n t h e S i g n o f T a u ru s ( t h e b u ll ) a
, .
, .
,

coi n c id en c e w h i ch o cc u r s e very thi rty year s the y sen d o u t ,

a b o dy o f m en select e d b y lo t t o seek t hei r for tu n es a cro ss

, ,

the s a

Mr L u ca s s i n stin ct a s a m yth o lo gi st w i ll te ll
e . .

h i m that t ru e tra d iti o n m ay b e fo u n d em b o di e d i n fab u l o u s

n arrat io n an d h e w i ll no t p e r e m ptor ily rej e ct t h e e vi d e n c e
, ,

e v e n i f t h e g e ograph i cal lat it u d e o f O xygi a i s n o t pr e c i se ly

a sc e rtai n able .

Th e se in sta n c es a re take n m o r e o r le ss ca su ally a n d ,

t h e l i s t i s fa r fro m b e i n g e xha u st e d It i s ve ry probable .

that oth e r trac es m i ght b e fo u nd Ho w e ve r W i d e ly w e .

m ay d i ffe r w e a r e a greed a s to t h e i m p o rta n c e o f t h e

,

in q ui ry Th e r e are tho se w h o der i de t h e stu dy o f Myt h o

.

lo gy altho u gh w e m i ght tr u ly e xt en d t h e dict u m o f

,

Pro u d ho n t h at a n fon d de to u t e q u e sti o n o n tr o u v e

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1 08 PL A T o s A T L A N T I S .

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