Ignatius Donnelly popularized the destruction of Atlantis during his time<\/strong><\/h2>\nIgnatius Donnelly was an American writer and politician who became famous in the late 19th century for his theories about the lost civilization of Atlantis. In his book “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World,” published in 1882, Donnelly popularized the idea that Atlantis had been a highly advanced civilization that existed tens of thousands of years ago, but was destroyed in a global cataclysm.<\/p>\n
Donnelly argued that the Atlanteans possessed the ability to harness electricity, control the weather, and build massive structures. He believed that the destruction of Atlantis was caused by a series of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and a massive flood. He treats the event more as a massive natural shift of the planet, rather than punishment by the Gods, such as Plato described.<\/p>\n
Donnelly believed that the natural disaster that caused Atlantis to sink was the same event described as the Great Flood in the Bible. He believed that this catastrophic event was a result of our planet nearly colliding with a comet. In “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World,” he writes:<\/p>\n
“The final catastrophe was brought about by a great subsidence of the land, sinking it beneath the ocean, and accompanied by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This process occupied many years, and the final disappearance of Atlantis was the result of a slow but irresistible force of Nature.”<\/em><\/p>\nDonnelly stated that the event which destroyed Atlantis was described in the Bible as the Great Flood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDonnelly points out that there are similar myths in the indigenous cultures of Central America, who possess memory of the destruction of Atlantis because they were colonies and descendants of Atlantis.<\/p>\n
“The end of Atlantis was the end of a world. It was a world of gigantic forces, of gigantic men, and of gigantic works. But it was a world that passed away. Its lesson is a solemn warning to us. It tells us that a civilization may reach a point of splendor and then fall. It tells us that a race may attain a great height of physical and intellectual perfection and then perish.”<\/em><\/p>\nDonnelly is considered a pioneer in research on Atlantis, and his writings continue to inspire fascination and curiosity about this ancient civilization. As he wrote in “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World”:<\/p>\n
“The story of Atlantis is one of the most marvelous tales that has ever been handed down to us from ancient times. It is a tale of the greatest civilization the world has ever known, a civilization that was destroyed in a single day and night of disaster. It is a tale that stirs the imagination and fires the heart, and it is a tale that will<\/em>never be forgotten as long as men and women continue to seek the truth about the past.”<\/em><\/p>\nGraham Hancock is the most popular current expert on the destruction of Atlantis<\/strong><\/h2>\nGraham Hancock is a contemporary British journalist and author, and one of the most well-known figures in the field of alternative history and ancient civilizations. His research has been inspired by the other people mentioned earlier as well as other myths and legends, and his own original research, based on geological and archaeological evidence, as he travels the world visiting locations in search of clues. In his book “Fingerprints of the Gods,” Hancock delves into the mystery of Atlantis, presenting a compelling case for the existence of this lost civilization and the catastrophic events that led to its destruction.<\/p>\n
Like the others, Hancock describes Atlantis as existing 12 000 years ago in the Atlantic Ocean. He describes the Atlanteans as a seafaring people who were well-versed in astronomy, mathematics, and engineering, and who possessed knowledge that was far beyond their time. However, despite their many achievements, the Atlanteans eventually fell into a state of moral decay and corruption, which led to their downfall.<\/p>\n
He argues that the destruction of Atlantis was the result of a catastrophic event, possibly a comet impact or a series of massive earthquakes and floods, which brought about a sudden end to this once-great civilization.<\/p>\n
In “Fingerprints of the Gods,” Hancock describes how the Atlanteans had developed a highly advanced civilization that was based on a system of “ley lines” or energy grids that crisscrossed the earth. He argues that the Atlanteans were able to harness the power of these ley lines, using them to power their advanced technologies and achieve feats that were previously thought impossible. However, he also states that the misuse of this technology was a major contributing factor to the destruction of Atlantis:<\/p>\n
“According to Plato, Atlantis had a mighty army and a navy of 1,200 ships. But all that did them no good when the gods decided to teach them a lesson. The ground shook, the sea boiled, and the island of Atlantis disappeared beneath the waves. It was a punishment for their sins, a divine retribution for their arrogance in challenging the gods.”<\/em><\/p>\nHancock also describes how the Atlanteans had become obsessed with power and material wealth, leading them to exploit their natural resources and ignore the needs of the earth. He argues that this imbalance led to the misuse of technology and the development of weapons that were capable of creating tremendous destruction:<\/p>\n
“The Atlanteans were using their advanced knowledge for selfish ends, for the acquisition of power and wealth. This imbalance created a dangerous situation, as the technology they possessed was far beyond their capacity to control.”<\/em><\/p>\nHancock has contributed original ideas to the mystery of Atlantis by comparing the myths of various cultures across the world. Specifically, he points out that many indigenous cultures from different continents have very similar descriptions of highly advanced beings visiting them in ancient times, which Hancock argues could be related to the Atlantis mystery.<\/p>\n
Hancock continues to spread interest in the subject of Atlantis, as a frequent guest on podcasts, as well as producing a Netflix series. In 1999 he produced a documentary series called Atlantis Reborn for BBC.<\/p>\n