Many scholars think Plato invented the story of Atlantis as a way to present his philosophical theories. But Adams argues we need to play closer attention to his work.

“The story appears between The Republic, which is arguably the most influential work in Western civilization, and the Timaeus, which is Plato’s attempt to explain the universe and is one of the most influential books certainly in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,” he says. “In between those two works, you’ve got the story of Atlantis. Obviously it meant something to Plato. Exactly what it meant, I don’t think we can tell.”

He continues: “Why would Plato insert [the story] at the beginning of the Timaeus, which is a very, very important work for him? To me it doesn’t make any sense, and he also repeatedly says, ‘This is a true story, this is a true story, this is a true story.’ Whether he is saying that ironically, we can’t tell from this vantage point.”

Plato said the story of Atlantis had ancient roots — even for his time. It was an oral tradition passed down to him from his ancestors who had first acquired the tale from Egyptian hieroglyphics.

FK – We were born into a world of mysteries and will likely die in a multitude of universes of mysteries. We are not the first nor the last and there is nothing new under the sun.