Atlantis first appears in two dialogues by the Greek philosopher Plato, written around 360 BCE. He describes a powerful island that sank in a single day. No archaeological trace of it has been found.
Truth label: Speculative. A fascinating idea without solid evidence yet.
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A lesson or a memory?
Many scholars read Atlantis as a moral tale about arrogance. Others think Plato was retelling a real event.
The Thera connection
A huge volcanic eruption on Santorini, around 3,600 years ago, devastated the Minoan world. Some see it as a seed of the legend.
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- The source. Everything starts with Plato's Timaeus and Critias. There are no earlier written mentions.
- The candidates. Santorini, the Atlantic, Antarctica and many more. Each has its fans, and none has convincing evidence.
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Who first wrote about Atlantis?
Plato. It appears in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias.
Sources
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