ANCIENT MYSTERIES :.

MALTA'S ATLANTIS DEBATE

  Posted Jan 20.03

From ancient times, several scholars have written books about Atlantika, the mysterious island that according to Plato’s dialogues Timaeus and Critias was submerged in the span ‘of a single day and night’

During the last century, scientists and researchers tried hard to discover the exact location of Atlantika or Atlantis and many theories were created and shaped by their findings. Unfortunately, most of these theories pinpoint different sites as the possible location of Atlantis. These assumptions have confused many enthusiastic readers in this contentious subject.

To my surprise, most of these theories identify Atlantis with Central and South American countries such as Bolivia and Peru due to the ruins of some ancient temples, which to a certain extent bear undeniable resemblance to that of Atlantis. In Plato’s, Timaeus and Critias we find a clear description of what remained of Atlantika, “In comparison of what then was, there are remaining in small islands only the bones of the wasted body ... the mere skeleton of the country being left.”

Everyone agrees that when Plato, together with Krantor, visited the temple of Neith at Sais in Egypt and saw the story of Atlantika engraved on the temple columns, he located these remains in the western ocean – what is now referred to as the Mediterranean Sea. His visit to Egypt re-affirmed that Solon’s (Athenian statesman and lawgiver) manuscript Atlantikos written some 200 years before was historical fact and not myth.

It is proven that the Greeks were not a seafaring people. If there was any sort of conflict between the Athenians (East forces) and Atlanteans (West forces), which ultimately according to the Egyptian High priest Psonchis in Solon manuscript Atlantikos resulted in a military encounter between them on Atlantika soil and was eventually followed by a catastrophic disaster which submerged this island into the sea, then one can conclude that the island of Atlantis was not distant from Greece as presumed by many theories which identify it with the South American Continent.

In 1854, Giorgio Grongnet, the renowned Maltese architect once claimed that the Maltese Islands are the remnants of Atlantide. This assertion came after an intense research about this controversial subject. One should add that this theory rematerialised with the publication of two interesting books about Atlantis. Acknowledgment should be given to both Dr Anton Mifsud who, with co-authors Simon Mifsud, Chris Agius Sultana and Charles Savona Ventura, published Malta – Echoes of Plato’s Island and Frances Galea for his book Malta Fdal Atlantis.

Both authors have carried out intensive research on the subject and claim that their theory is based on factual evidence. Dr Anton Mifsud’s book Malta – Echoes of Plato’s Island is the product of thoughtful and profound research about the archeological sites and ancient remains related to Atlantis. Frances Galea’s Malta fdal Atlantis is the result of a lifelong research on several ancient studies and known theories on Atlantis, particularly that of Giorgio Grongnet.

Fortunately, the theory that the Maltese Islands in ancient times formed part of a larger island known as Atlantide is gaining acceptance among world renowned scholars and researchers on this subject. Today, we have two renowned Maltese authors and others who believe that there is a possible link between Malta and the Island of Atlantis, which submerged during the floods thousands of years ago. In these two books one can find evidence of factual remains which show that the Maltese Islands are actually the part of the mere skeleton of the country being left floating in the central Mediterranean to bear witness of Atlantis.

In recent weeks, PBS popular programmes Xarabank and Bondi + dealt with great success many controversial subjects. While local researchers are confident that only the Maltese Islands fit well with Plato’s description of Atlantis. May I suggest that this The Atlantis Debate will be chosen as one of the subjects to be featured during next year’s schedule.

There are those who think that if this theory is proved scientifically, then Malta can surely be referred to as the cradle of civilisation, but at the same time, it will be a great challenge to local historians to rewrite and update our prehistory.