Santorini and the Myth of Atlantis

Blue, alluring, eluding, breathtaking blue. My first thoughts as I steer my imagination towards the splendor that is Santorini. Alluring for its pristine white and blue waves; eluding for the shadows of Atlantis. Perhaps its beauty is closely followed by a certain mystery, the source of its magnetism to begin with.
The story of Atlantis and the Greek islands of Santorini is one such affair.

The tale begins with Plato’s dialogs which suggest the existence of Atlantis, an island the size of present day Lybia and Asia combined. It was a prosperous land with highly civilized citizens proficient in trade, economy and an evolved lifestyle. However, in time, power corrupted their minds and as a lesson to one and all, the Greek God Zeus destroyed the nation. Many believe that Plato related this as a lesson to his disciples about the virtues of goodness and honesty. Myth or reality, only a step or two back in time would tell.

As for Santorini, also known as Thera, the land basks in the glory of its success today, with Atlantis being a but a romantic muse for travel guides and old sea farers alike. The fact that centuries ago, the highly accomplished Minoan civilization based in Thera, where wiped out in an earthquake fuels this myth.

Perhaps Poseidon, the ruler of Atlantis and King of the Seas , still watches over his kingdom, or what’s left of it, a mere reflection of its past glory. However, the sheer mystery of it allures mankind and the throngs visiting Santorini only seem to increase by the year. Just like its fabled friend though, Santorini prone to seismic activity threatens to reiterate history or should we say reiterate the past mystery.

Another quest for Atlantis has taken researchers further south with a theory that Atlantis did not sink, it merely moved all the way to Antarctica and is still preserved under ice. This is yet another attempt to uncover reality; a debate between humanists and scientists.
A riddle, a romantic mystery and don’t we perhaps prefer it remain so?