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Authors: Peter Daughtrey
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parts of the Mediterranean or Aegean Seas, it was suggested that the ancient Greeks referred to several different locations as “The Pillars of Hercules.” The Straits of Gibraltar, at the entrance tothe Mediterranean, was but one of them, and Solon was confused about which location the Egyptian priest was referring to. I have already laid out comprehensive arguments against this in Chapter Three. Analysis of the other clues bequeathed to us by Plato clarifies beyond doubt that he was referring to the Straits of Gibraltar. ( SEE IMAGE 7 IN THE PHOTO INSERT AND 8 BELOW )
( IMAGE 8) Southwest Iberia and the Straits of Gibraltar .
In Timaeus , when talking about the invasion by the Atlanteans that was repulsed by the brave Hellenes, Plato wrote:
“This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean” (clue 2).
Unambiguous. Specific.
He also mentions a true sea (the Atlantic), that the Mediterranean was but “a little harbor” in comparison, and that there were islands in this sea, enabling the seafaring Atlanteans to “island-hop” to a vast continent on the other side. There is little doubt that the vast continent was America; it could be no other (clues 7, 8, and 9).
It was an astonishing statement for that era, suggesting that the Atlantis inhabitants knew the New World well, voyaged to it, and most likely had colonies there. Greeks of Plato’s era, as far as historic records show, were certainly not aware of the existence of America, so this incredible comment—unique in its time—lends credence to the rest of the philosopher’s accounts. He was not making it up, as others have suggested.
Andrew Collins, in Gateway to Atlantis , sets out to prove that the Phoenicians, from their Iberian port bases outside the Mediterranean—Cádiz, for example—had regular contact with America via the Atlantic islands, Cuba in particular. 31 His case is built around various archaeological finds and innumerable myths and legends, but little if anything from the Phoenicians themselves. As is usual with Collins, he has carried out exhaustive research. He cites odd items discovered in the New World, including Phoenician coins, amphorae, and stone carvings of heads with beards (indigenous South Americans cannot grow so much facial hair) and features that appear more Semitic than South American. These had already been brought to general attention by other authors but do back up the theory that contact had taken place. It was thought, however, that there was no evidence that this was part of any regular trade pattern by the Phoenicians or, later, the Carthaginians. It has been assumed more likely to have been the odd merchant or adventurer blown off course. Crucially, evidence has recently come to light showing that some of them probably made it back to Europe. Traces of tobacco and cocaine were found in recently examined Egyptian mummies, spawning a television documentary, The Cocaine Mummies . With the exception of a different wild strain of African tobacco, both were only available from South America.
This puzzling discovery could be explained if Collins is correct and the Phoenicians had known of America and the Atlantic islands, especially the western ones like Cuba and Hispaniola; but it would have been against their policy and instincts to divulge the knowledge to any other race—and theGreeks were the last people they would have gossiped to. Plato would certainly not have discovered anything from them. The Phoenicians were renowned for keeping maritime information secret in order to benefit from it, at the same time spreading the most outrageous and fearsome stories about what lay beyond Cape St. Vincent, at the southwesterly end of the Algarve. Anyone who passed on cartographic information to another race did so at the risk of death. Later, the Carthaginians were equally ruthless in this respect. Plato’s knowledge could only have come from an alternative source with earlier privileged access to it—and that was almost
( IMAGE 8) Southwest Iberia and the Straits of Gibraltar .
In Timaeus , when talking about the invasion by the Atlanteans that was repulsed by the brave Hellenes, Plato wrote:
“This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean” (clue 2).
Unambiguous. Specific.
He also mentions a true sea (the Atlantic), that the Mediterranean was but “a little harbor” in comparison, and that there were islands in this sea, enabling the seafaring Atlanteans to “island-hop” to a vast continent on the other side. There is little doubt that the vast continent was America; it could be no other (clues 7, 8, and 9).
It was an astonishing statement for that era, suggesting that the Atlantis inhabitants knew the New World well, voyaged to it, and most likely had colonies there. Greeks of Plato’s era, as far as historic records show, were certainly not aware of the existence of America, so this incredible comment—unique in its time—lends credence to the rest of the philosopher’s accounts. He was not making it up, as others have suggested.
Andrew Collins, in Gateway to Atlantis , sets out to prove that the Phoenicians, from their Iberian port bases outside the Mediterranean—Cádiz, for example—had regular contact with America via the Atlantic islands, Cuba in particular. 31 His case is built around various archaeological finds and innumerable myths and legends, but little if anything from the Phoenicians themselves. As is usual with Collins, he has carried out exhaustive research. He cites odd items discovered in the New World, including Phoenician coins, amphorae, and stone carvings of heads with beards (indigenous South Americans cannot grow so much facial hair) and features that appear more Semitic than South American. These had already been brought to general attention by other authors but do back up the theory that contact had taken place. It was thought, however, that there was no evidence that this was part of any regular trade pattern by the Phoenicians or, later, the Carthaginians. It has been assumed more likely to have been the odd merchant or adventurer blown off course. Crucially, evidence has recently come to light showing that some of them probably made it back to Europe. Traces of tobacco and cocaine were found in recently examined Egyptian mummies, spawning a television documentary, The Cocaine Mummies . With the exception of a different wild strain of African tobacco, both were only available from South America.
This puzzling discovery could be explained if Collins is correct and the Phoenicians had known of America and the Atlantic islands, especially the western ones like Cuba and Hispaniola; but it would have been against their policy and instincts to divulge the knowledge to any other race—and theGreeks were the last people they would have gossiped to. Plato would certainly not have discovered anything from them. The Phoenicians were renowned for keeping maritime information secret in order to benefit from it, at the same time spreading the most outrageous and fearsome stories about what lay beyond Cape St. Vincent, at the southwesterly end of the Algarve. Anyone who passed on cartographic information to another race did so at the risk of death. Later, the Carthaginians were equally ruthless in this respect. Plato’s knowledge could only have come from an alternative source with earlier privileged access to it—and that was almost
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