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Something very real
Unique legends and folklore that seem to allude to the Atlantis myth were based on fact all along

By Robert Sarmast
December 4, 2003
The Iranian

From Discovery of Atlantis: The Startling Case for the Island of Cyprus by Robert Sarmast (Origin Press, 2003).

When Plato first presented the story of Atlantis in two of his most famous dialogues, he may have unwittingly launched one of the greatest mysteries of all time. His vivid story of the origins of civilization on the isle of Atlantis has maintained a grip on the human imagination ever since; indeed, its popularity seems to have increased over time.

Like a persistent echo from the deepest recesses of our collective unconscious, Atlantis continues to flash before our eyes and through our imagination, yet its physical reality has remained hidden in the depths -- that is, I believe, until now. Years of work have convinced me that Plato's description of Atlantis was not a figment of his imagination, not just a philosopher's allegory or literary ornament. Discovery of Atlantis shows that Plato's richly detailed story referenced something very real: a sunken landmass, a majestic city, a great people, and a civilization of extreme antiquity.

To actually discover the remains of this magnificent civilization -- all supposedly submerged under the waves of a prehistoric flood -- would deal a shattering blow to our present understanding of human history. If Plato's account was indeed in earnest, as I believe it was, then such a discovery may not be far from our reach. Our generation is the first to have the technological means to explore ocean bottoms worldwide in search of the location of this holy grail of underwater archeology -- and I have employed some of these scientific tools in my preliminary search. If you read this book and examine the many clues with me, you will easily see how I have been able, step by step, to closely match Plato's story with a specific underwater location.

My claim to have discovered the site of Atlantis, bold as it may be, is not based on casual speculation, nor does it involve awkward theories that trivialize established scientific facts. It is a reasonable, testable hypothesis based on evidence already at hand as well as new evidence especially produced for this work.  Writers and researchers in decades past, sincere people who have used Plato's words to pinpoint a favored location for Atlantis, have not had detailed scientific maps to back up their suppositions, nor have they offered theories that do justice to Plato's original account. My hypothesis offers a worthy theory reinforced by science.

The bathymetric maps and three-dimensional models presented in Discovery of Atlantis reveal that Atlantis has been sitting right in our midst all along, in the very heart of the ancient world, almost a mile below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea just off the island of Cyprus. In a near-perfect match with Plato's account of Atlantis, these maps hold out the promise and potential of bringing to view the plain of Atlantis, along with the Acropolis Hill, the same “holy mountain” that Plato says once stood at the center of Atlantis City. Present-day Cypriots will discover that their unique legends and folklore that seem to allude to the Atlantis myth were based on fact all along.

Additional evidence, exclusively presented in this book, also points to the likelihood that the legend of Atlantis and the myth of the Garden of Eden are one and the same. I examine this suggestion and offer intriguing evidence that this is indeed the case.

In coming to these conclusions, I closely followed Plato's clues to isolate the eastern Mediterranean as the likely location of Atlantis. I was fortunate to find new underwater data collected about a decade ago through scientific surveys of the eastern Mediterranean, in the area of the so-called Levantine Basin and the Cyprus Arc. The use of this data, in conjunction with specially adapted 3D modeling and animation software, permitted me and my collaborators to chart the area with a degree of topographic resolution far greater than was previously possible. The resulting bathymetric maps published in this book are being presented to the world for the first time. In essence, the application of sonar technology brought us to what we believe must be the location of the archeological remains of the lost civilization of Atlantis, sitting serenely on a sunken strip of land just off the south coast of Cyprus.

As a result of this work, I envision the authentic story of Atlantis moving to captivate the world, with all of its breathtaking beauty and profound implications. That we may be on the verge of a solution to the Atlantis enigma presents us with a potential Copernican revolution in our understanding of human history, myth, and cultural evolution. Humanity has long been mired in a state of mass amnesia about its origins, but through this discovery we will likely be awakened to a vision of a historical and perhaps cosmic reality, the key to which has been lying buried and dormant over the ages under the silt of the Mediterranean Sea. The vindication of Plato is at hand.

In this book I have attempted to clearly present the legend and legacy of Atlantis, acting as storyteller, researcher, sleuth, and explorer. The fields of mythology, history, and geology have all been tapped in order to fashion a vivid and comprehensive image. But in the end it is you, the reader, who must evaluate the research and draw your own conclusions.

Though this knowledge is still relatively new, momentum toward an expedition to the eastern Mediterranean has begun to build through a growing number of individuals who have become interested in its authentication based on the evidence I present in Discovery of Atlantis.  It is my hope that some who read this book will be drawn to the shores of Cyprus, as open-minded investigators and determined explorers, ready to board the first exploratory vessel, and thus be counted among the courageous and the curious, those working to achieve the discovery of Atlantis.

Author

Robert Sarmast gave up a promising career in architecture in order to pursue his lifelong passion for ancient history, world mythology, and the search for lost civilizations. Leaving behind more conventional pursuits--and sometimes working in odd jobs to support himself--the author read widely and traveled extensively for over a decade in search of facts, sources, and knowledge on a variety of ancient mysteries >>> Bio

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Discovery of Atlantis
The Startling Case for the Island of Cyprus
By Robert Sarmast

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