Santorini isn't in the Atlantic, but it is an Island surrounded by a concentric circle of islands like described, though only after it's settlements were destroyed by it erupting in one of the largest volcanic eruptions, believed to have had tidal waves, that region had ever seen. Always seemed like the kernel of truth.
Also seemed to have contact with the Egyptians the Greeks themselves claimed to have gotten the story from.
Different event. Santorini (Thera volcano) exploded on 8 Sep 1540 BC, given as unusual distant thundering on the birthday of Seth in the Rhind Math Papyrus (year also confirmed by Schonfeld). It had a higher volcanic index than Krakatoa, which was heard 1400 miles out, so it's natural to have been heard in Egypt. The next day (Isis's birthday) there was a noticeable unseasonable rainstorm. Seth was regarded as a powerful and majestic Semitic baal, lord of the Hyksos (who rapidly departed in the same season, probably spring 1539). Text: "Birthday of Seth: a sound of thunder was emitted by the Majesty of this god; birthday of Isis: the heavens rained." This also would agree with the date that the Lord's anger thundered against Moses in the desert, sending him to deliver Israel.
The natural upheavals due to Thera correspond easily to the Biblical ten plagues. The Tempest Stele of Ahmose describes a hailstorm and multiday darkness, in which every single clause describing the calamities has a parallel in Exodus 6-12. The probable natural pestilences like red algae, the plagues of the Hearst Medical Papyrus, the seal of Crown Prince Apophis who died before succeeding his father to the throne, and the very dust of Thera in Avaris (Ramses) that was mentioned by Moses as bringing plagues twice, and which we have identified and isolated by its radioactivity, all testify to a gross restructuring, consistent with the simultaneous fall of the 15th and 17th dynasties and the rise of the New Kingdom under Ahmose.
Anyway, the Atlantis legend has an original core that echoes other flood legends of hundreds of cultures worldwide, is dated at least several centuries earlier than Santorini, and probably can be solidly symbologically tied to the other legends with more research. For instance, the ruling family of Atlantis strongly resembles the Ogdoad (one of whom is our friend Kek). I'm still looking into this fascinating angle.
The oldest surviving writing about it is from 360BC, and references records from 230 years or so before that. Any time before then, and 1540 BC certainly is, is plausible enough. Especially given the Late Bronze Age Collapse lies between them.
Santorini isn't in the Atlantic, but it is an Island surrounded by a concentric circle of islands like described, though only after it's settlements were destroyed by it erupting in one of the largest volcanic eruptions, believed to have had tidal waves, that region had ever seen. Always seemed like the kernel of truth.
Also seemed to have contact with the Egyptians the Greeks themselves claimed to have gotten the story from.
No fancy tech, just an island that blew up.
Different event. Santorini (Thera volcano) exploded on 8 Sep 1540 BC, given as unusual distant thundering on the birthday of Seth in the Rhind Math Papyrus (year also confirmed by Schonfeld). It had a higher volcanic index than Krakatoa, which was heard 1400 miles out, so it's natural to have been heard in Egypt. The next day (Isis's birthday) there was a noticeable unseasonable rainstorm. Seth was regarded as a powerful and majestic Semitic baal, lord of the Hyksos (who rapidly departed in the same season, probably spring 1539). Text: "Birthday of Seth: a sound of thunder was emitted by the Majesty of this god; birthday of Isis: the heavens rained." This also would agree with the date that the Lord's anger thundered against Moses in the desert, sending him to deliver Israel.
The natural upheavals due to Thera correspond easily to the Biblical ten plagues. The Tempest Stele of Ahmose describes a hailstorm and multiday darkness, in which every single clause describing the calamities has a parallel in Exodus 6-12. The probable natural pestilences like red algae, the plagues of the Hearst Medical Papyrus, the seal of Crown Prince Apophis who died before succeeding his father to the throne, and the very dust of Thera in Avaris (Ramses) that was mentioned by Moses as bringing plagues twice, and which we have identified and isolated by its radioactivity, all testify to a gross restructuring, consistent with the simultaneous fall of the 15th and 17th dynasties and the rise of the New Kingdom under Ahmose.
Anyway, the Atlantis legend has an original core that echoes other flood legends of hundreds of cultures worldwide, is dated at least several centuries earlier than Santorini, and probably can be solidly symbologically tied to the other legends with more research. For instance, the ruling family of Atlantis strongly resembles the Ogdoad (one of whom is our friend Kek). I'm still looking into this fascinating angle.
The oldest surviving writing about it is from 360BC, and references records from 230 years or so before that. Any time before then, and 1540 BC certainly is, is plausible enough. Especially given the Late Bronze Age Collapse lies between them.