The History of AtlantisThe romantic legend of the rise and fall of Atlantis has enchanted imaginations since Plato first told of a glorious island in the Atlantic that sank beneath the waves. Speculation has abounded ever since: Was there really a great ancient civilization on a vast continent, now many thousands of fathoms under the sea? Or is Atlantis rooted in the Great Flood stories found in cultures around the world? Scientists formerly dismissed the possibility of Atlantis' existence but were obliged to reconsider, partly because of the author of this book. Lewis Spence (1874–1955) wrote five books about Atlantis, and this one is considered his best. A distinguished scholar, Spence sifted through a tremendous body of fact and guesswork in fields ranging from mythology and comparative religion to geography, geology, and archeology. He brings a fresh and imaginative vision to the old stories, separating fact from fancy in regard to Atlantis' history, geography, animal life, government, and religion. This work stands as the most authoritative study ever published on Atlantis, and Spence represents the perfect guide to this strange and enthralling mystery of the ancient world. |
Contents
INTRODUCTORY | 1 |
CHAPTER II | 7 |
CHAPTER III | 24 |
CHAPTER IV | 39 |
CHAPTER V | 51 |
CHAPTER VI | 75 |
CHAPTER VII | 87 |
CAN BEST BE RECONSTRUCTED FROM THE LIFE OF | 93 |
THE TRADITIONS OF ATLANTIS | 145 |
CHAPTER XI | 160 |
CHAPTER XII | 175 |
RELIGION WITH ASTROLOGYASTROLOGY OF | 180 |
SIXYEARLY RITES ATTENDING DELIBERATIONS OF | 185 |
CHAPTER XIV | 200 |
CHAPTER XV | 207 |
CHAPTER XVI | 218 |
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Common terms and phrases
alluded ancient animal Antillia appears archæology associated Athens Atlantean Atlantean history Atlantic islands Atlantic Ocean Atlantis Atlas Aurignacian Avallach Azilian Azores believe bones Britain bull called Canary Islands cataclysm cave Celtic Celts Central America centuries civilisation classical coast connected continent Critias Crô-Magnon cult culture dead deity deluge Deucalion Diodorus discovered early earth Egypt Egyptian especially Europe European evidence existence fact France goddess gods Greek History of Atlantis human Iberian illustrations Indian inhabitants Ireland island-continent Isle King known land land-bridge later legend Lewis Spence Magdalenian Maya Mediterranean Mexican Mexico mountain mummy myth mythology orichalcum origin painted Palæolithic period Picts Plato Plato's account poem Poseidon priest probably Quetzalcoatl race regarded region religion resemblance sacred Sargasso Sea says seems Solon Spain Spence stone story submerged sunken symbols tattooed temple theory Timæus tion Titans tradition Welsh Welsh Triads West western worship writing