 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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Something very real