ATLANTIS

This web page is about Heroic Fiction set in Atlantis, Lyonesse, and the like. It will be expanded as the fancy strikes me. It also includes other 'lost civilization' subjects.

  Vanished Islands

There is something appealing about the idea of the great island civilization sinking without trace beneath the sea. It is often due to their hubris and pride, having angered the gods or meddled in arcane science or magic, that they deserve this, but in retrospect they are regarded as 'golden age' people with great wisdom. The original Atlantis, which is mentioned by Plato, might have been the island Santorini in the Mediterranean, which blew up 'real good' in a massive volcanic explosion a few thousand years ago -- there could have been a Cretan presence there, perhaps an academy of soothsayers and philosophers, hence the legends.

Examples

Lyonesse was the Celtic equivalent of Atlantis, and may have been based on what happened (and is still happening) to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall. That was once one big island but it has gradually subsided into the sea, so the central lowland area is now a sea lake. Who knows what 'civilization' might have existed there 3000 years ago? There are stone circles and burial menhirs and signs of that sort.

Hy-Brasil is, of course, the Isle of the Blessed or whatever, where the elves, ancient races who have disappeared, and Celtic hero/gods went when there was no longer any place for them in the contemporary world.
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  Sideline: Here are some other imaginary islands

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