Beneath the waters of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, in the territory of the former Maya civilization, lie the submerged ruins of an extraordinary site that bears striking similarities to the legendary Atlantis. Known as Samabaj, this underwater city raises fascinating questions: what do we know about these sunken Maya ruins, and could they have any connection to Plato’s Atlantis?
The discovery of the Maya Atlantis in Guatemala
The site of Samabaj lies beneath Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán, located in the southwestern part of the country in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierre Madre mountain range. The lake itself sits within a large volcanic caldera, which scientists believe was formed around 80,000 years ago. On the western side of the lake stands a volcano known as Volcán San Pedro.
In the 1990s, a scuba diver named Roberto Samayoa was exploring the lake when he came across Maya artifacts. He eventually realized that these were not merely isolated items; rather, he had discovered an actual settlement. Samayoa observed clear evidence of substantial ruins.
Following this discovery, archaeologists began systematically exploring the site and gained a deeper understanding of it. In honor of Roberto Samayoa, the site was named Samabaj—a combination of his surname and the word “abaj,” meaning “stone” in the Mayan language of Quiché.
What do we know about this Maya Atlantis?
After years of exploration and study, archaeologists have uncovered fascinating details about this so-called Maya Atlantis. Evidence suggests that Samabaj was an important religious center that was originally an island within Lake Atitlán.
Traces of the ancient shoreline and at least three jetties confirm that the site was not connected to the mainland. People reached it by boat, and the presence of three jetties indicates that it was a popular destination. Many researchers believe pilgrims frequently visited the island to participate in Maya festivals and ceremonies.
Archaeological findings also make it clear that Samabaj was a dedicated religious site, featuring shrines, monuments, and evidence of human sacrifice.
How was Samabaj submerged?
All the evidence confirms that Samabaj was once above water. Archaeological findings indicate that it had been used as a religious site since at least the fifth century BC. Between 250 and 300 AD, however, it was abandoned and eventually submerged. But what caused this?
There is no universal consensus on how the site ended up underwater. Given the presence of a large volcano adjacent to the lake, many scholars speculate that volcanic activity may have contributed to Samabaj’s submergence.
One theory suggests that a volcanic eruption around 250 AD sent massive quantities of rock and debris into the lake’s outlet, blocking its natural drainage. With rainfall and streams continuing to feed the lake, the water level rose steadily, eventually submerging the island.
Unlike Plato’s legend of Atlantis, written in the fourth century BC, this submergence was almost certainly not sudden. Whereas Atlantis is described as sinking within a single day and night, Samabaj likely went underwater over the course of weeks or even months.
Evidence shows that the island’s most valuable portable items were removed beforehand, indicating that the inhabitants had time to evacuate. They were apparently not caught off guard.
Is there a connection between Atlantis and Guatemala?
There are some notable similarities between this Maya site in Guatemala and the Greek legend of Atlantis. Like Samabaj, Atlantis was said to have an important religious center at its core and to have been frequented by many people. Most strikingly, Atlantis reportedly sank into the sea—mirroring how this Maya religious site was eventually submerged by the lake.
Despite these parallels, it is clear that Plato was not describing Samabaj. For one, this Maya settlement was not submerged until many centuries after Plato wrote the story of Atlantis.
Could there be another kind of connection, however? Some have speculated that the Maya civilization might have included refugees from Atlantis, which could explain why the lake came to be known as Atitlán—perhaps a corruption of “Atlantis,” named in memory of a former home that suffered a similar fate.
While this idea is intriguing, there is no evidence to support this. Scholars understand that “Atitlán” is derived from two words in the Nahuatl language, meaning “water” and “between” (or “beside”). This offers a logical explanation for the lake’s name, eliminating the need to invoke the legendary Atlantis as its origin.
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