Atlantis is, at its core, a story invented by Plato — yet one so powerful that it sparked centuries of speculation, theories, and pseudo‑history.

Atlantis: The Origin of the Myth and the Main Theories

The Origin of the Myth: Plato (4th century BCE)

Atlantis appears only in two of Plato’s dialogues: Timaeus and Critias. In these texts, he describes a vast, wealthy, advanced island located “beyond the Pillars of Hercules” (the Strait of Gibraltar).

What Plato says about Atlantis:

• it was a prosperous, wealthy civilization with impressive architecture
• it had a strong army and ambitions of conquest
• it became corrupt and lost the favor of the gods
• it was destroyed “in a single day and night” by earthquakes and floods
• it sank into the ocean

What was Plato’s intention?

Most historians agree that Atlantis is an allegory, not a historical account. Plato used it to illustrate the danger of political arrogance and the contrast between a corrupt society (Atlantis) and the Athenian ideal.

How a Myth Became “Reality” in the Collective Imagination

Although Plato never presented Atlantis as historical fact, in the 19th century amateur writers began treating the story as something real.

In 1882, Ignatius Donnelly published Atlantis: The Antediluvian World, claiming that Atlantis was a real, advanced civilization that passed knowledge to the ancient world and sank into the Atlantic after a cataclysm.

This book became the true starting point for all modern theories about Atlantis.

• Ignatius Donnelly (1831–1901) was an American writer, politician, and author of proto‑scientific theories, best known for popularizing the idea that Atlantis was a real civilization.

Atlantis – Theories About Its Location

• The Mediterranean Theory (Santorini / the Minoans)

Many archaeologists believe the story may have been inspired by the eruption of the Thera volcano (Santorini), which destroyed the Minoan civilization around 1600 BCE. This catastrophe resembles Plato’s description.

• The Atlantic Theory (Plato’s indicated location)

Supporters of this theory believe Atlantis was a large island in the Atlantic and was destroyed by earthquakes or geological shifts. 

This idea was popularized by Donnelly.

• The Caribbean Theory (Bahamas / Cuba)

Some claim that underwater structures in the Bahamas are the ruins of Atlantis. There is no solid evidence — the formations are most likely natural.

• The Antarctica Theory

A fringe theory suggests that Antarctica was once temperate and hosted Atlantis before a sudden pole shift. There is no scientific evidence for this.

• Modern Alternative Theories

National Geographic notes that Atlantis has been placed, in various theories: in Spain, in the Mediterranean, in the Atlantic, under the ice of Antarctica.

All of these are speculative.

What Historians and Researchers Say

The academic consensus is clear:Atlantis did not exist as a real civilization.

It is a philosophical story, not a historical event. Classical scholars agree that Plato invented it to illustrate his political ideas.

Possible real inspirations: 

• the Santorini eruption
• the collapse of the Minoan civilization
• Egyptian myths about cataclysms
• stories of sunken cities in the Mediterranean

Why the Atlantis Myth Fascinates Us

Because it blends perfectly: mystery, catastrophe, an advanced civilization, political morality, the possibility of a lost world.

Atlantis is an archetype — the symbol of an ideal society that destroys itself.

Sources

Wikipedia; History.com; National Geographic; Britannica; The Archaeologist