Capitol Hill Blue Forums Life and Moral Issues Matters of culture Atlantis, the Great Flood, and Historical Bases of Mythology

Originally, I had planned to start a thread just on Atlantis, specifically focusing on the island of Santorini and the Minoan Eruption of (Thera), circa 1645 B.C., but then I saw a story on the Garden of Eden, and read an account of Bob Ballard's search for the source of Great Flood myths. I am personally of the opinion that they are one and the same. That is, I have come to the conclusion that the likely source of Noah's story from the Bible and the lost civilization of Atlantis is the same event - the eruption of Thera.

Here's my theory: Atlantis (or a civilization that was given this name by Plato) did exist, although not when and where it was described. The plagues of the Old Testament may have actually occurred (in some form), including the "Great Flood" - since a Tsunami from the Minoan eruption would have reached and flooded Israel, as well as Egypt and other civilizations along the Mediterranean Sea, as would the ash clouds and other geophysical effects of the eruption which is the most enormous in recorded history. How The Eruption of Thera Changed the World.

So, what do y'all think of trying to find the historical bases of mythical events, such as the sinking of Atlantis, Noah's Ark, or King Arthur?

Even China has a great flood story:

Chin's Great Flood Myth

I have no doubt that many of the phenomena described in religious texts occurred in some natural way. If you take out the mystical aspect, a lot of things could have happened and been given an aura of the fantastic.

For instance, some people think of Reagan like Jesus. We are already seeing what their "historical" record of the Reign of Reagan looks like...

The Chinese Flood and the Biblical accounts of the Great Flood could easily have been caused by the same catastrophic event, The eruption of There, about 3500 years ago.

Somewhat farther back in history, about 10.000 years, there was also widespread flooding "of Biblical Proportions" when the last ice age ended. The tale of Atlantis could also be something passed down verbally from this era.

Ancient Flood Myths May have a Basis is Geological History

Actually, you hit on a good point. A lot of these "stories" were passed down verbally through the generations. We all remember playing "telephone" as kids, right?
No telling how the account of the original occurrence will end up.

Git yer answers here! Tired a the corruption of science in unnerstanding how the Great Flood came to pass? We got yer answers here!!

Christian answers

Just by way of general reference (i.e., without citations), it is generally believed that written languages were developed around 4000BCE, but that actual written histories are a relatively modern invention, circa 400BCE. In between there were some "chronologies" and "stories" recorded, and therein lies the rub, because those writers often didn't distinguish between "source materials." The Bible is a good example, as the stories go back centuries before they were recorded, and many were written as "lessons" (Proverbs), rather than literal chronologies. Often in histories of the earliest eras individuals are credited with accomplishments of entire clans or even societies that occurred over centuries. Credit was often more important than accuracy (that hasn't changed much). That is why I personally take all religious writing skeptically, but it is usually the source for some really good investigation. That is how Troy, Herculaneum and Akritori were discovered. It is when you can combine written record with archaeological find that it gets fun (think Richard III).

I recently engaged in a weeks-long adventure tracing the route of the Columbia River from its terminus to its source. Along the way, I was directly faced with evidence of the massive floods when the last ice age ended. (Biblical-Type Floods Are Real, and They're Absolutely Enormous)
I would discount the connection between these events and the stories from the Bible, and other famous and not-so-famous sources - Except, that these stories exist. I would not have believed that such stories could have existed for 10,000 years... but that it seems that they have. How much species memory do we retain? Is there a vestigial "instinct" even in humanity that gives these stories life and believably (even when freighted with fantastical mythologies)?

I just found this one: The Most Destructive Wave in Earth’s (Known) History

The Missoula Floods are an interesting series of floods that helped shape much of Oregon and Washington. After the natural ice dams in what is now Montana broke and sent forth the rushing waters-- they helped to scour out the Columbia River channel. The rushing waters then crashed up the Willamette River depositing an amazing about of top soil into the Willamette Valley.

That’s why the top soil in the Willamette Valley is 15 feet deep in most places.

Fun stuff. And we just returned from traveling along the Columbia River and into the Wallowa’s (Wah-Lao-Uz) in NE Oregon. Twas chief Joseph and the Nez Perce’s country until he-and they- were similarly dismissed and run off by the US gummint. A sad chapter for the US-- but the Nez Perce’s former country is astonishingly beautiful:

Missouastonishinglyla Floods



.