The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has fascinated historians, explorers and dreamers for centuries. First described by the Greek philosopher Plato more than 2,000 years ago, Atlantis was said to be a powerful and advanced civilization which sank beneath the waves in a single day and night of terrible misfortune.
Since then, countless theories have emerged about where Atlantis was located. From the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to the coasts of South America and even just off the coast of mainland Spain have all been nominated as potential locations for the lost city of Atlantis. However, one of the most compelling possibilities lies much closer to Plato's one world - the Greek island of Santorini.
So, is Santorini the lost city of Atlantis or is all of this just another romantic myth woven into the island's volcanic landscape? In this post we analyse both sides of the argument, reviewing the historical evidence and the geological records, while also looking at how Santorini itself embraces its dual persona in the present day.
Plato's Atlantis - Myth or Memory?
To better understand whether Santorini is Atlantis, it is important to first revisit Plato''s original writings. In his dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written around 360 BCE, Plato describes Atlantis as being a powerful island civilization located "beyond the pillars of Hercules" (this is believed to have been the Strait of Gibraltar).
According to Plato, Atlantis was a wealthy and technologically advanced society that eventually fell out of favour with the Gods due to its "arrogance". Its destruction came suddenly when earthquakes and floods sank the island beneath the sea.
Many historians interpret this account as pure allegory - a moral tale designed to warn readers against hubris and the abuse of great power. Others however argue that Plato may have based his story on real world events, drawing from older records or oral traditions. This leaves open the possibility that Atlantis was not purely fiction, but rather an embellished memory of an actual civilisation destroyed by a natural disaster.
Is Santorini Atlantis?
Those who believe that Santorini could be the lost city of Atlantis point to one of the most dramatic natural events in human history: the eruption of the volcano on Santorini around the year 1600 BCE. This was one of the largest eruptions ever recorded and had a devastating impact on the island. It also caused a massive tsunami across the Aegean Sea which was so catastrophic that it is believed it may have contributed towards the decline of the Minoan civilisation on Crete which was located just 70 miles away.
The parallels between this catastrophe and Plato's account of the disaster which struck Atlantis are striking. The destruction of a flourishing civilisation by an earthquake, fire and floods mirrors Plato's description almost exactly. Subsequent archaeological excavations of Akrotiri, a well preserved Minoan settle which is now buried under volcanic ash, have revealed an advanced society which boasted multi storey buildings, sophisticated drainage systems and exquisite art - all of which are hallmarks of a highly developed culture which fits with Plato's portrayal of Atlantis.
Furthermore, while Plato placed Atlantis "beyond the pillars of Heracles", some scholars argue that this may have been a misinterpretation or later addition. Instead, they argue that Atlantis could have been located within the Aegean sea, drawing on real memories of the Theran eruption passed down through generations of storytellers.
Counterarguments of the Atlantis Santorini Theory
While there are very compelling similarities which support the argument that Plato thought of Santorini as Atlantis, a deeper dive into his account does result in some discrepancies. First and foremost, Plato provides very specific details about the size and location of Atlantis. He describes it as being larger than Libya and Asia combined! This is naturally much larger than either Santorini or its surrounding islands.
Secondly, Plato placed Atlantis firmly in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Mediterranean. While some suggest that his geographic reference may have been misunderstood, many scholars argue that moving Atlantis from the Atlantic to the Aegean Sea requires too much reinterpretation of the text to make it viable.
The third counter argument to the Atlantis Santorini theory is that Plato wrote his text about Atlantis more than 1,000 years after the eruption of Santorini. If his story was based on the Theran disaster, it would have had to survive centuries of storytelling without losing any of the essential details. Critics argue that this is unlikely, especially as Plato himself claimed that the story had come from Egyptian priests, not Greek historians.
Finally, many historians argue that the story of Atlantis was never meant to be taken literally at all. Instead they argue that it was a fiction invention by Plato who created a utopia designed to explore philosophical ideas about idealised societies, morality and justice. From his perspective, the search for a real Atlantis in Santorini or anywhere else in the world, may therefore be misguided.
The Lost Atlantis 9D Experience in Santorini
Regardless of whether Santorini is truly the lost city of Atlantis, the island has embraced the legend in many unique and engaging ways. A prime example of this is the Lost Atlantis 9D Experience, located in the village of Megalochori. This is the world's first museum completely dedicated to the myth of Atlantis.
This immersive visitor attraction uses cutting edge 9D technology involving holograms and interactive exhibits to bring the story of Atlantis to life. Visitors can explore Plato's original texts, witness a virtual recreation of the volcanic eruption and even experience what life could have been like in Atlantis before its destruction. The museum presents both the mythological and scientific arguments around the Santorini Atlantis theory, allowing tourists to come to their own conclusions.
If you are enjoying a holiday in Santorini, the Lost Atlantis Experience is a must visit attraction if you have even a passing interest in history and the theories regarding the lost city. Its continued popularity goes to show how the legend of Atlantis continues to inspire wonder, curiosity and debate in the very place many believe could have been its real world setting.
Balancing Myth and Reality
So, is Santorini the lost city of Atlantis? The evidence offers tantalising possibilities but no conclusive answers. On the one hand, the Theran eruption provides a real historical event which aligns closely with Plato's description of the sudden destruction of Atlantis.
The advanced civilisation uncovered at Akrotiri also demonstrates that Santorini was indeed home to a relatively advanced society who had achieved some remarkable things when viewed in the context of the wider world at this point in history.
One of the main counter arguments relates to the discrepancies in scale of Atlantis. However, Plato described Atlantis as being 3,000 by 2,000 stadia. This is an ancient unit of measurement used by the Greeks, with most historians believing that one stadia is equivalent to 600 feet. However, this is hotly debated with others arguing that a single stadia could be anything between 150 and 210 feet. If we assume that a single stadia is equivalent to one of these smaller measurements, this would bring Plato's Atlantis more in line with the size of Santorini.
A Fascinating Holiday Location
While scholars may never reach a consensus on the Atlantis Santorini theory, the prospect that Santorini could have such incredible historic significance is tantalising. You can gain a better perspective of both sides of the argument by visiting the Lost Atlantis Experience in Santorini.
Santorini is a holiday location which manages to combine enchanting history with incredible hospitality and coastal elegance. Get in touch with one of our luxury travel specialists to design your very own tailor made Santorini holiday itinerary today. Irrespective of the conclusion you come to, we are sure you will find that Santorini is a fantastic