Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-02
DESERET EVENING NEWS.
wednesday April 2. 1850.
LOST ATLANTIS.
PLATo's STORY OF THE ISLAND
SOME INTERESTING THEORIES.

An ancient AMI picturesque Greek
myth claimed the existence of a
celebrated island, Atlantis, sup
posed TO have existed at a very early
period in the Atlantic ocean, anu TO
have eventually been so thoroughly
destroyed by an earthquake that the
Atlantic rolled over the spot where
it once fiOurished.
Plato was the first 10 give COM
prehensive account OF the island,
rrediting what Information he gave
to the priests Of Egypt. His story
was substantially rs follOws:
In the Atlantic Ocean, not a great
distance from the Pillars Of Hercules
(Gibraltar) was an island OF greater
extent than all Asia and Africa
taken together, and in its vicinity
were other islands. from which was
a passage 10 n large continent lying
far beyond the farthest west. The
Mediterranean, compared with the
vast ocean in which these islands
were situated, resembles meIe har-
Dor with n narrow entrance. Nine
thousand years before this island Of
Atlantis was thickly settled aud
very powerful. Ii has conquered
all Africa, even as far as Egypt, and
its sway extended over Europe as
far rs the Tyrrhennian Sea, situated
between Corsica and Italy. The
further progress Of its conquests,
however, was checked by the Greek
states.
A short time after this n violent
earthquake, which continued for
nearly day and night, and was
accompanied by enormous waves
and iuu ndations Of the sea, caused
the island to sink, and for some cen
turtles subsequent to this the sea in
that quarter was impossible owing
to the reefs and the shoals.
Such was the history oft the land rs
Plato gave it. Other ancient
writers described the island as ex.
tremely productive, producing wine
aud grain and fruit in abundance.
There were extensive and rich
pasture grounds, rich mines Of
both the base and fine min
erals, vast and valuable forests,
hot and mineral springs. Commerce
was carried on on vast scale. The
land was rich and plentiful in every
way. There were ten kingdoms,
each governed by a king, who
claimed TO be descended from Nep-
tune, and white-winged peace
brOOded over all. There were nu-
mernus and splendid cities and
many pOpulOus towns. The harbOrs
sheltered vessels that carried the
products Of every country then
known, and Neptune was the prin-
cipal legislator and divinity OF the
people OF the lost land.
There have been many theories
advanced and many books written
on the subject. One theory, held in
ESPECIAL favor by many scholars, i
that America is the Atlantis Of
Plato, and many arguments are al
vanced in support Of this idea. For
instance, IL is easy TO connect the
legend Of the lost Atlantis with tine
remains Of a very remote civiliZa.
ton which are now found in
Mexico and Central America, where
there are ruins Of cities the style Of
whose architecture carries US hack
TO Peiasgic times; and one writer
states that the religious symbols and
ornaments connected with these re-
mains call strongly 90 mind the
mysteries Of early Greek antiquity.
These curious remains Of a grand
civilization are long anterior TO
Mexican times, and attention is
called 10 the curious information OF
the American continent along the
shores Of the Gulf Of Mexico, where
everything indicates n sinking ut
remote period Of a vast tract OF land.
the Site Of which, il j. said. Is now
occupied 10y the waters Of the gulf.
The mountain TOPS Of this sunken
land now appear As islands, forming
the group Of the West indies.
Other theories held are that At
lantis was actually situated in the
Atlantic ocean, and point TO the
Cananes, the Azores and the Ma
deira isles n having formed portions
OF il; and some writers have claimed
that il EXTENDED a. far as NcwfOund.
land.-Nclc York LedgeT.