Mystery of Atlantis

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Summary: An Overview of the Atlantis Mystery
Review: Atlantis. It has inspired poets, explorers and many an excited arcaeologist, even if only for the questions they are left with. Was it real or just a myth? Was it an ancient superpower with high techology, or was it just a wealthy kingdom of seafarers? Was it really in the Atlantic, or was it at Crete or Tartessos? Do the flood legends and "Golden Age" stories from around the world relate to it's sinking? Were the Aztec and Incan gods descendants of Atlantis fleeing their sinking nation? Why do migrating birds circle aimlessly around the Atlantic Ocean before moving on? If the Atlanteans did exist, were they the ones who domesticated the banana? (Now there's a curly question!)

In "The Mystery of Atlantis", archeologist, language whiz and scuba enthusiast Charles Berlitz leads us through the theories, the stories, and the possible locations of the lost continent, as well as the impact this legend has had on the course of history.

Though I'm a big fan of speculative history books, the idea of Atlantis has never interested me that much. Often books on the subject get carried away in their excitement and enthusiasm, attributing Atlantis for every aspect of human development, often stretching their speculation a little further than their evidence will allow. I found one of Berlitz' earlier books "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds" to be really engaging, thoughtful and well written. I figured if any writer could keep me interested in the subject, he could. Though there is the occaisonal over-the-top moment here and there, this is probably the most enjoyable book on Atlantis I've read. The ideal blend of sensibility and open-mindedness, I thought.

Berlitz, unlike a lot of authors of speculative history, keeps a level head in his work. He provides both sides of the argument while keeping his own personal opinion intact (that Atlantis was a real civilization and a centre of prehistoric culture before it sunk). Being so passionate about the subject matter, that must be hard to do. He throughly considers the cases both for and against the existence of the continent, and the reasoning and the evidence behind each. He points out the faked and misinterpreted evidence that speculators have used, as well as the scoffed-at "myths" of the past that have turned out to be real locations (like the city of Troy). By the end of the book, you've got enough there to digest to make up your own mind about the issue.

One thing I found frustrating was that about half the information and "evidence" in "The Mystery of Atlantis" can be found in his earlier publication "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds". This, coupled with the fact that Berlitz often repeats points made in previous chapters to build his argument, made it quite a repetitve read for me in places. If you haven't read "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds", this shouldn't be so bad. The repeated information is very intriguing after all. If you have read "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds", the main reason for reading "Mystery of Atlantis" is the emphasis on the lost continent. Although Atlantis is mentioned in his previous book, it is examined in far more depth here. There are maps and charts suggesting where it might be. There are translations (courtesy of Berlitz) of various ancient tales mentioning Atlantis (including the passages from Plato's "Timaeus and Critaeus" that started it all). There are opinions and theories by the truckload too, from all sorts of thinkers and authorities from throughout the ages. People have been trying to crack this mystery for milennia, and it's fascinating to hear some of the conclusions they have reached.

If you are looking for a one-stop reference point for Atlantis theories, (believer or skeptic) I'd definitely recommend this book. If you want a broader look of Berlitz' outlook on prehistory, I'd recommend "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds" instead.

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Summary: Does Atlantis exist?
Review: I don't know. I believe in Atlantis. Whether it's beyond the Pillars of Hercules, or not, nobody knows for sure. It's probably the Minoan town of Akritiri on Santorini, an island in the Mediterranean near Crete. Crete itself could be Atlantis. Akritiri's still being excavated after sixty years. Whether Atlantis exists or not, I'll leave that debate to the scientists. The late Edgar Casey, known as the "Sleeping Prophet", says in his readings that Atlantis is in the Atlantic Ocean. We don't really know for sure. Atlantis has been written about in every book from Conan to Tom Swift And the City of Gold. But that's another story.