Titanic door frame sold for more than $70,000 at an auction. Credit: Heritage Auctions
A significant piece of history from the movie Titanic, the “door” that played an important role in the film, has been sold at auction. This particular piece of wood, which saved Kate Winslet’s character Rose but resulted in the demise of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack, has fetched $718,750.
The auction, hosted by Heritage Auctions as part of their Treasures from Planet Hollywood event, saw this item surpass other famous props like Indiana Jones’ bullwhip from Temple of Doom and Jack Nicholson’s ax from The Shining.
Although commonly referred to as a door, the auction noted that this item was actually a part of the ornate structure just above the ship’s first-class lounge entrance.
The door made of balsa wood with floral accents
The door is made of balsa wood and intricately crafted with beautiful floral designs and elegant curves, similar to the rococo architecture style. The design closely resembles the famous Louis XV-style panel displayed at the Maritime Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Director James Cameron drew inspiration from his visits to the museum while researching for the film. He wanted to recreate a similar piece of debris to depict the emotional final moments of Jack and Rose, according to Heritage Auctions.
The infamous floating door from 'Titanic' just sold for a whopping $718,750 USD at an auction 🤯
Experts believe the original oak panel represents the exact spot where the Titanic split in two during the tragic sinking in 1912. As the ship went down, it’s thought that this panel floated to the surface along with other wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The famous prop has sparked lively discussions among fans of the movie, with many debating whether the floating wood panel could have actually supported both Jack and Rose. Some argue Jack’s decision to stay in the icy water was unnecessary if they could have both fit on the panel.
To address these debates, James Cameron conducted a scientific study to demonstrate that the plot point was more than just a storytelling device.
The prop itself measures around 8 feet long and 41 inches wide at its widest point, with the back reinforced with hardwood for strength and stability, according to Heritage Auctions.
Most expensive item sold during the auction event
Among the Hollywood treasures up for grabs at the auction, including Tobey Maguire’s black suit from Spider-Man 3, which fetched $125,000, and Harrison Ford’s whip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, valued at $525,000, it was Rose’s door from Titanic that was valued the most.
Despite the stiff competition from other iconic memorabilia, Rose’s door emerged as the priciest item of the event, as reported by Collider.
Greece loses out on Euros after penalty defeat to Georgia. Credit: Emin Allahverdi. CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons/Emin Allahverdi
Greece lost to Georgia 4-2 on penalties in the final of the Euro 2024 play-off today, meaning the team will not progress to the competition despite a strong performance in the semi-finals against Kazakhstan.
In a fairly even match, Greece has missed out on a spot in the Euro 2024 competition after a defeat to Georgia on penalties. Georgia progress to the Euros for the first time in history.
Είναι αυτή η ομάδα που έφερε ισοπαλία με την Γαλλία . Είναι αυτή η ομάδα που σήμερα ήταν μπροστά σε όλο τον αγώνα . Κρίμα , άξιζε να περάσουμε ! Δε πειράζει ! Ευχαριστούμε για όλα 💙🇬🇷🤍
Georgia had never won against Greece and has never reached the finals of any major competition, while Greece had not made it to the finals of a major tournament since Brazil 2014.
Georgia beats Greece in penalty shoot out to reach Euros.
Greece had more possession than their opponents in an admittedly choppy first half, but Georgia looked more dangerous on the offensive, taking six shots to Greece’s one, though only one of those was on target.
Both teams fought to get ahead in the second half, but a lack of quality across the pitch saw very few chances created. The ninety minutes came to a close with sixteen shots between the two sides, but just one on target, and extra time was becoming more of a possibility.
Greece eventually found the target in the first half of extra time, with Anastasios Bakasetas drawing the save. Georgia raced into a 2-0 lead in the penalty shootout but was kept alert when Georges Mikautadze put Georgia’s third penalty wide.
The Georgian team kept their cool, though, and after Georgios Giakoumakis sent his penalty wide, Nika Knekveskiri sent Georgia to this summer’s tournament and made history.
Greece had thrashed Kazakhstan 5-0 in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final on March 21st, but failing to beat Georgia means Greece has failed to qualify for the Euros for twelve years and any other international competition for ten years.
Georgia defeat Greece on penalties to make the Euros for the first time!!!!
Greece’s performance in the Euro 2024 semifinal play-offs
Greece turned on a truly imposing performance against Kazakhstan in the semi-finals, coached by Gus Poyet, which led to an unexpectedly comfortable victory in the division’s semifinal. The Greeks opened the score in the first five minutes, as Dimitris Pelkas earned a penalty that the captain, Tasos Bakasetas, converted into the first goal.
The second came just eight minutes later, this time with Pelkas translating into a goal the delightful cross by Giorgos Massouras from the right. Massouras was also the provider for the third goal that Fotis Ioannidis scored on the 37th. This was three minutes before Dimitris Kourbelis headed home another cross from the right, this time by Kostas Tsimikas for 4-0 at half-time.
The Greeks dropped a gear in the second half, as victory was already assured, but a fifth goal arrived five minutes from the end by the Kazakhs themselves. Yerkin Tapalov scored an own goal from a corner kick Greece took, once again, from the right.
George Tsunis, US ambassador to Greece, tells how he lost 85 pounds (39 kilos) eating Greek food. Credit: GreekReporter Illustration, George J Tsunis / Twitter (X)
In a recent interview, George Tsunis, the US ambassador to Greece, revealed how he lost more than 85 pounds (39 kilos) over an 18-month time period by eating Greek food, along with sharing insight into his marriage.
Being interviewed by the Greek media, ALPHA TV, the US ambassador spoke about his Greek heritage, his weight loss journey with Greek food, and the secret to his marriage.
He said, “It was not only a lifelong dream of mine to serve my country, but it was also the happiest two years of my life living in Greece and among Greeks,” in reference to his position as the US ambassador to Greece from 2022.
Speaking about his childhood in Greece, he told the interviewer that, although his parents were born in the Mediterranean country, they emigrated to the US and were working class people. His father was a waiter and his mother a seamstress, and he said both taught him respect and honor.
“My parents taught me to respect everyone,” he told ALPHA TV, adding that his favorite memories are from his childhood visits to his village, Platanos. He said that his parents grew up in the mountain village of Nafpaktia and endured a lot of poverty in the mountains where there was no electricity or water.
“My dad talked to me about honor, honor and the way we should behave,” Tsunis remarked, “The first memory I have of my mother was her saying, ‘I don’t care if I have to clean toilets so I can send you to school.'”
Later in the interview, the US ambassador to Greece revealed the “secret” behind his weight loss. “I lost 39 kilograms on Greek food in a year and a half eating salads, soups and fish, and cutting out sugar and flour,” he said.
Tsunis also touched on the Greek origin of his wife, who has family in Lamia. He said the secret to their marriage is her “incredible patience.”
Great discussion yesterday with MPs Thanasis Lioutas, Katerina Papakosta, and Marina Kontotoli on how they are meeting the needs of their communities in the Greek Parliament. pic.twitter.com/Du1zH8ANSv
Great to welcome Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Cavoli to Athens. You have been a long-time friend of the 🇺🇸 🇬🇷 defense relationship, which I'm proud to say is at an all-time high. Together, we make NATO and the region stronger and more secure. @SHAPE_NATO@US_EUCOMpic.twitter.com/9NoqnWhVji
In 2022, when Tsunis became US ambassador to Greece, he posted his first message on Twitter in Greek from Athens, writing “Good morning from Athens.” He added that “As the proud son of Greek immigrants, it’s an honor of a lifetime to return to Greece and serve as the next US ambassador. I am very happy.”
Tsunis replaced Geoffrey Pyatt, who, after six years in Greece, was nominated by President Biden as Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources. Tsunis was officially confirmed by the United States Senate following a voice vote on March 10, 2022.
The current ambassador is a personal friend of President Biden. Tsunis was once recommended by former President Obama for the appointment of ambassador to Norway, and the businessman was said to be a personal choice of powerful democratic philhellene Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
In addressing his hearing in January 2022, Tsunis noted that as a first-generation American, he was “blessed to live the American dream,” stating that his parents had “heard Emma Lazarus calling” when they emigrated to the US from Greece.
Archaeologists have discovered colorful paintings depicting daily life in a tomb of ancient Egypt. Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Colorful paintings of everyday life in ancient Egypt have been discovered in a mastaba tomb dating back more than 4,300 years. These were identified in the pyramid necropolis of Dahshur around 25 miles south of Cairo during a recent Egyptian-German archaeological scheme.
Dahshur is the southernmost of the great pyramid necropolises of the Old Kingdom in the region of the ancient capital of Memphis. The central attractions of the vicinity are two large pyramids of King Sneferu, known as the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid.
Built out of unfired mud brick, the mastaba measures around 26 feet by 39 feet (8 meters by 12 meters) and comprises seven burial shafts, as well as another shaft for ceramic bowls and other objects used in burial rituals.
4,300-year-old Egyptian tomb with stunning wall paintings was burial place of priestess and royal official
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a 4,300-year-old tomb with remarkable wall paintings illustrating everyday life. The tomb is located at Dahshur, a site with royal… pic.twitter.com/4QHtrdPmkc
Per inscriptions etched into a huge limestone false door, the tomb of ancient Egypt belonged to Seneb-nebef, a man who served in the administration of the inhabitants of the palace district, as well as his wife, Idut.
The inscriptions, images, and ceramics found within the tomb, as well as its shape, suggest it dates back to the end of the 5th or beginning of the 6th dynasty. This would be roughly around 2,300 BC.
Ancient tomb at Dahshur, Egypt. Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
The expedition was led by Stephan Seidlmayer, the former director of the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin, who told CNN: “The corridor and the cult chamber were decorated with subtle paintings on mud plaster—a rarity in the necropolis of Dahshur. Despite extensive destruction, numerous images have been preserved. They show pictures of the tomb owner and his wife in front of the offering table, scenes from daily life—donkeys on the threshing floor, ships on the Nile, a market place—and servants who bring gifts for the mortuary cult.”
“In their elegant forms and perfect execution, the pictures offer valid evidence of the artistic milieu of the capital region of the developed Old Kingdom,” Seidlmayer concluded.
According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, inscriptions revealed that the owner of the ancient tomb “held several positions in the royal palace in the administration of tenants,” while his wife “held the titles of Priestess of Hathor and Lady of the Sycamore.”
The German Archaeological Institute Cairo has been excavating in Dahshur since 1976. The first stages centered on the pyramids of King Sneferu from the Old Kingdom and King Amenemhat III from the Middle Kingdom.
The more recent excavations have focused on the tombs of renowned statesmen, priests, and administrators from the same time period.
Seidlmayer and his archaeological team will keep excavating the site “in an attempt to search for more secrets of this area,” the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in its statement. It added that “cleaning and documentation work will be carried out on the tomb and its inscriptions during the coming period.”
The ancient Greek statue some conspiracy theorists think shows a laptop. Credit: Getty Villa / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
A recurring conspiracy theory which has gone viral claims that an ancient Greek statue supposedly depicting a woman “using a laptop” is “proof” of time travel. The statue once marked a grave and was created around 100 BC.
Many inventions beyond their time are associated with the ancient Greek civilization, but the laptop was certainly not one of them…until now.
Of course, historians have dismissed the theory as nonsense and provided more grounded explanations, suggesting that the object in the statue may be a box or wax tablet.
Does this ancient Greek statue depict a laptop?
The statue that spurred on the conspiracy theory is called the “Grave Naiskos Of An Enthroned Woman With An Attendant” and is on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California.
The ancient Greek statue portrays a seated woman with a slave standing in front of her, holding a slim folding container. The woman, who appears to be the mistress, touches the top of the container with her fingers while looking up towards the upper part of it with her stone eyes.
However, various conspiracy theorists believe that the container depicted is actually a laptop, complete with USB ports on the side of the device.
In one viral YouTube video, an uploader claims that the ancient Greek statue “depicts an astonishing object that bears a striking resemblance to a modern laptop or some handheld device”.
“When I look at the sculpture I can’t help but think about the Oracle of Delphi, which was supposed to allow the priests to connect with the gods to retrieve advanced information,” continued the video’s upload.
They dismissed more feasible explanations, arguing that the container’s base is too shallow to be a jewellry box.
This is not the first time the conspiracy theory has popped up. In 2016, the Daily Mail published an article questioning whether the funerary statue was indeed proof that a time traveler had brought back a laptop to ancient Greece.
Expert opinion
Back in 2016, archaeologist Kristina Killgrove wrote in Forbes debunking the theory that the ancient Greeks had somehow come across advanced computer technology.
“It’s a typical funeral marker, depicting the deceased individual in a vibrant way, often, in the case of women, in a household scene,” explained Killgrove. “These stelai were carved in relief, and were almost always painted, although the painting doesn’t survive in most cases.”
“In this stele, a woman reclines on a chair and reaches to touch the lid of an object that is held by a girl whose hairstyle and clothes indicate she is a slave. This is a rather typical trope in funeral stelai, the image of a wealthy adult woman reaching to a servant, and may have reflected her family’s desire for her to retain her status into the afterlife,” continued Killgrove.
Killgrove suggested a variety of more tangible explanations for what the object held by the woman in the statue may have been, including a wax tablet or some kind of jewellery box or other container.
Rather than being USB ports, the holes on the side of the container may have originally been used to hold wooden items that have long since rotted away.
It is also possible that the holes were made during efforts to rework or copy the sculpture. Other parts of the stele are missing, so this is certainly a plausible explanation.
The WikiLeaks founder has been battling for years against extradition to the US. Credit: Embassy of Ecuador in London, CC2/Flickr
The UK’s High Court gave reprieve to the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by ruling that the US must give assurances that he will not face the death penalty if extradited.
According to the ruling on Tuesday, US authorities have three weeks to provide this before judges will consider dismissing Assange’s appeal against extradition to the US. UK judges also want assurances over whether Assange will be able to rely on free speech rights.
In a written judgment, judges said the concerns that had real prospects of success at appeal but which “may be capable of being addressed by assurances” were “that the applicant [Assange] is permitted to rely on the first amendment, that the applicant is not prejudiced at trial, including sentence, by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same first amendment protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed.”
At a two-day hearing last month, which Assange was too unwell to attend, his lawyers argued that he faced a “flagrant denial of justice” if extradited to the US to face charges relating to the publication by Assange and WikiLeaks of thousands of classified and diplomatic documents they said had exposed torture, rendition, extrajudicial killings, and war crimes.
His wife, Stella Assange, expressed dismay at the judges’ decision. “What the courts have done has been to invite a political intervention from the United States…send a letter saying ‘its all OK,’” she said. “I find this astounding.”
“This case is a retribution,” she said. “It is a signal to all of you that if you expose the interests that are driving war they will come after you, [and] they will put you in prison and will try to kill you.
“The Biden administration should not issue assurances. They should drop this shameful case that should never have been brought.”
Julian Assange is left “in limbo”
The delay to the High Court’s ruling on Julian Assange’s extradition appeal leaves the WikiLeaks founder “in limbo,” says Amnesty International’s legal adviser.
Simon Crowther said that, instead of allowing this “protracted legal process to continue,” the US should drop all charges against Assange.
According to Crowther, “While the US has allegedly assured the UK that it will not violate Assange’s rights, we know from past cases that such ‘guarantees’ are deeply flawed—and the diplomatic assurances so far in the Assange case are riddled with loopholes.”
“In trying to imprison him, the US is sending an unambiguous warning to publishers and journalists everywhere that they too could be targeted and that it is not safe for them to receive and publish classified material—even if doing so is in the public interest,” Crowther added.
Assange, whose extradition proceedings have drawn international attention, faces prolonged solitary confinement and a potential prison term of up to 175 years if convicted.
The controversial figure behind WikiLeaks faces eighteen criminal counts in the US for his alleged role in unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified documents related to national defense, including evidence exposing alleged war crimes.
Scientists warn of an “elevated hazard potential” from the Santorini volcano. Credit: AMNA
An international team of scientists has discovered that a 726 AD eruption of the Santorini volcano was a lot bigger than initially estimated, suggesting explosive blasts can occur even in periods of relative quiet.
Published in the Nature Geoscience journal on Monday, the study’s findings change “the prevailing view that Kameni Volcano has been in a predominately effusive state since the Minoan eruption and implies that the Santorini volcanic system has been capable of producing highly explosive eruptions in its current early stage in the caldera cycle,” the paper says.
The team’s analysis, based on drilling carried out as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 398, found that the magnitude of the 726 AD eruption was greater than assumed and that pumice from the blast may have traveled all the way to the coast of Asia Minor.
“Historical accounts mention that, during the summer of 726 CE, the sea within the Santorini caldera began to boil until dense smoke rose and was accompanied by pyroclastic eruptions,” researchers wrote in the study.
According to the team, “Large pumice blocks were ejected in such quantity that they covered the sea over an immense area, reaching the coasts of Macedonia and Asia Minor more than 400 km [kilometers, or 250 miles] away.”
“Our results demonstrate that Kameni Volcano has been capable of producing a major VEI 5 explosive eruption in the recent past,” the paper argues. “This changes the prevailing view that Kameni Volcano has been in a predominately effusive state since the Minoan eruption and implies that the Santorini volcanic system has been capable of producing highly explosive eruptions in its current early stage in the caldera cycle.”
“A similar eruptive event today would have severe consequences not only for the inhabitants of Santorini and its neighboring islands but also for the broader eastern Mediterranean,” it was said.
“Eruption phenomena may include tsunamis generated by submarine explosions, extensive pumice rafts and large airborne ash plumes with significant impacts on coastal communities, aviation, maritime transportation and submarine cables,” it was added.
The underwater Santorini volcano eruption was one of the largest in the volcanic arc of the southern Aegean. An expedition carried out by the research vessel JOIDES Resolution Science Operator brought the eruption to light. The research program International Ocean Discovery Program maintains and runs the particular vessel.
The team identified a huge pumice, or volcanic rock, deposit. They drew samples from this at seven underwater locations around the island of Santorini.
The pumice layer, colloquially referred to as “ancient tophos,” points to a shallow underwater eruption of the prehistoric volcano of Santorini that took place around 520,000 years ago. This is with a possible deviation of 10,000 years.
Thin layers of volcanic pumice deposits that were fired from the eruption covered three islands in the area.
The pyroclastic flows discharged under the sea, carried water away and turned into currents of turbidity and mud that covered the seabed up to approximately 45 miles (around 70 km) from their source. This formed a submarine deposit with a volume of more than about 22 cubic miles (90 cubic km) and a thickness of up to 493 feet (150 meters).
This deposit is six times larger than the pyroclastic flow deposits of the great Minoan explosion that occurred during the Late Bronze Age (about 3,600 years ago) and contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization of Crete.
Centuries-old Aztec texts sharing the ancient history. Credit: SC / INAH / BNAH
According to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), a set of ancient books from Mexico have revealed a wealth of information on the Aztecs. These books are written in the Aztec language and tell us about how their capital was built, their victories, and how they were defeated by the Spanish.
Based on a report by the Spanish newspaper El País, the Mexican government just purchased three special books called codices. They are known as the Codices of San Andrés Tetepilco. These books are filled with drawings and have been kept by a family for many years.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Aztecs were in charge of a big part of Mexico. Their main city was Tenochtitlán, located where Mexico City stands today. Between 1519 and 1521, Spanish invaders took over the Aztec Empire, making it part of Spain’s territory.
Even after that, books written in the Aztec language, Nahuatl, and Spanish were still being made until the early 17th century, as reported by Live Science.
Tenochtitlán founded approximately in 1300
INAH representatives explained that there were recently talks on one of the codices, specifically about how Tenochtitlan was founded approximately in 1300. The leaders who governed it before the Spanish arrived were also a topic of discussion.
According to the codex, the Aztecs took over Tetepilco around 1440, and the ruler of Tetepilco pledged loyalty to the Aztecs. Furthermore, the codex also describes the Spanish arrival in 1519, their authority until 1611, and their maintaining control over Mexico until 1821.
A family in Mexico City, who preferred not to be named, owned the particular codices. Researchers at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City studied these and discovered that two of the pages were made of amate, a type of bark paper.
They also found that the inks used in the codices were made from plants, charcoal, and indigo, which resulted in colors such as red, yellow ochre, black, and blue.
Government bought all the codices for $570,000
Once the authenticity of the documents was confirmed, the government started negotiations with the family. Eventually, the government bought all three codices for 9.5 million pesos, which is about $570,000.
El País mentioned that the family also sold two other codices. One of them is about how Tetepilco was founded, while the other describes the belongings of a church there.
Now, all three codices are part of the National Library of Anthropology and History’s Collection of Mexican Codices (BNAH). Researchers are excited to look deeper into these texts to uncover more about Mexico’s past, as stated by INAH.
UNAM researchers clarified that the map of the founding of Tetepilco holds valuable historical and geographical data. It includes records that match real locations, such as Culhuacan, Tetepilco, Tepanohuayan, Cohuatlinchan, Xaltocan, and Azcapotzalco.
Earth hit by double x-class solar flare. Credit: NASA / SOHO
A super strong geomagnetic storm hit Earth recently, sparked by a rare “double” X-class flare from the sun. This storm, the strongest in over six years, lit up the skies worldwide with colorful auroras and other bright phenomena.
The event reveals the sun is probably at the peak of its eleven-year cycle of activity, known as solar maximum. This means Earth might face more of these powerful solar storms in the next few months, as reported by Live Science.
Last Saturday, March 23rd, the sun shot out a whopping 1.1 magnitude X-class solar flare. This type of explosion is the strongest the sun can possibly produce. The important thing is that this blast was a bit different.
It was actually two explosions happening at the same time. This is known as a sympathetic solar flare. These explosions stemmed from two separate sunspots, AR3614 and AR3615, which were far apart and hundreds of thousands of miles away from each other, according to Spaceweather.com.
The double explosion made the Earth’s protective layer weaker
The double explosion resulted in a huge cloud of plasma and radiation into space called a coronal mass ejection (CME). This cloud reached Earth’s magnetosphere on Sunday, March 24th.
When it collided with our planet’s protective shield, it sent shockwaves through it, making it temporarily weaker. Because of this, solar radiation could penetrate further into the atmosphere than usual.
As a result, auroras were seen in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, a phenomenon similar to auroras, called STEVE (also known as strong thermal emission velocity enhancement), appeared in Alaska, as reported by Spaceweather.com.
The geomagnetic storm hit its strongest point, reaching severe (G4) status, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center, managed by both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service.
The last time Earth faced a geomagnetic disturbance this strong was back in September 2017, as noted by Spaceweather.com. Geomagnetic storms are categorized based on intensity, ranging from minor (G1) to extreme (G5).
Sun might have entered the solar maximum phase a year ago
The rareness of this solar blast and the strength of the resulting geomagnetic storm strongly suggest the sun is approaching solar maximum.
Some scientists think the sun might have already entered this active phase, possibly about a year earlier than expected. However, we won’t have a precise confirmation of when this phase began until several months after the sun begins to settle down.
During solar maximum, X-class flares tend to happen more often. Thus far in 2024, the sun has already unleashed six X-class flares. This is half as many as what we saw in the entire year of 2023, according to SpaceWeatherLive.com.
With these big explosions happening more frequently, the chances of powerful geomagnetic storms happening increase.
Besides creating beautiful auroras, these storms can affect things on the ground such as infrastructure, cause satellites to fall back to Earth, and heat up the upper atmosphere, as reported by Live Science.
Plato’s story of Atlantis is famously set a very long time ago in the past. The figure “9000 years before Solon” is thrown around a lot in discussions of when Atlantis supposedly existed. However, did Plato really set his story of Atlantis so far in the past? According to all the information he provided, when did Atlantis exist?
The traditional date for Atlantis’ existence
Traditionally, Atlantis is believed to have existed around the year 9400 BCE. Where does this date come from, though? It comes from the information provided in Plato’s account of Atlantis as found in Critias. There, we find the narrative of Critias relating the story of Atlantis. Critias was almost certainly the poet and leader of Athens in the late-fifth century BCE.
In Plato’s account, Critias specifically says the following:
Let me begin by observing first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of years which had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place between those who dwelt outside the Pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt within them; this war I am going to describe.
The war he refers to here is the war between Atlantis and Athens. Thus, according to this, Atlantis is said to have existed at least 9,000 years before the time of Critias. This places it around 9400 BCE. This is where the traditional date for Atlantis comes from.
How reliable is that date likely to be?
A lot of independent researchers firmly stick to this date when investigating Atlantis. For this reason, some theories attempt to connect Atlantis to the proposed Younger Dryas impact, which supposedly occurred in about 10,600 BCE. Needless to say, mainstream academics reject such a proposal on the basis that there is no evidence of major civilizations in that era in addition to other reasons.
On the other hand, many mainstream academics also stick firmly to the timeframe provided in the Critias. But for them, this is a reason to reject the story as fictional, because no archaeological or geological evidence from that era matches the story of Atlantis. It also doesn’t make sense that a story could have been preserved for so long before being recorded by Plato.
Yet, both of these viewpoints are flawed. In reality, there are countless examples of ancient writers who exaggerate people and events. For instance, Herodotus placed the adoption of the Phoenician alphabetby the Greeks 1,600 years before his own time. In reality, this occurred just 400 years before Herodotus.
Another example is Menes, the legendary first king of Egypt. The Egyptian historian Manetho placed him some 6,000 or 7,000 years before his time, yet most scholars today believe that he actually lived less than 3,000 years before Manetho.
The Acropolis at Athens. Credit: Gary Bembridge/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-2.0
Evidence from Athens
Rather than taking a timeframe at face value, it is far more beneficial to examine other details in the account of Atlantis to see when it supposedly existed. As it so happens, Plato does provide some highly relevant evidence beyond just the figure of 9,000 years.
In his other account of Atlantis, found in Timaeus, an Egyptian priest explains to Solon that the city of Athens in Greece was founded 9,000 years ago. This is truly a remarkable statement that most researchers have entirely ignored. By looking at the evidence as a whole, we see that the war between Atlantis and Athens supposedly happened at approximately the same time as when Athens was founded.
Consider one important fact that this highlights. Plato’s account makes the city of Athens 9,000 years old, yet there is no archaeological evidence that it existed for so long ago. Despite this, no modern scholar would argue that this means that Athens was a fictional city. It is merely the case that Plato’s account is not wholly accurate.
Therefore, this refutes the logic that Plato’s statement about when Atlantis existed must mean that Atlantis was fictional. That is clearly not the case, as the example of Athens proves.
Furthermore, archaeology and other Ancient Greek records point to the founding of Athens as a city in approximately 1500 BCE.
How personal names show when Atlantis existed
There is more evidence in Plato’s account that points to c. 1500 BCE for the true era of Atlantis. As well as associating the era of Atlantis with the time in which Athens was founded, Plato’s account also connects the war between Athens and Atlantis with several personal names.
Plato specifically says that the Egyptian account of the war between Athens and Atlantis contained the names of several Greeks. These must have been prominent Greek participants in the war. Otherwise their names would not have been recorded. Presumably, they were military leaders or kings.
With this in mind, note that the names mentioned by Plato are: Cecrops, Erechtheus, Erichthonius, and Erysichthon. Why are these names so interesting? The very first name, Cecrops, was the legendary founder of Athens for instance. This virtually confirms that when Plato associated the Atlantean war with the era of Athens’ founding, he really was referring to the founding of Athens mentioned in other Greek records in which Cecrops was involved.
The other Greek records, such as the Parian Chronicle, place Cecrops in the 16th century BCE. Erysichthon was the son of Cecrops. Erechtheus and Erichthonius seem to be duplicates for the same king, who ruled in the 15th century BCE.
When Atlantis really existed
The sum of all this evidence is that Plato’s account points to approximately 1500 BCE as the era when Atlantis existed. While it is true that the explicit timeframe he provides places it in the distant past, it would be extremely inconsistent for a researcher of Greek legend to accept this at face value.
According to Plato, the founding of Athens also occurred 9,000 years before his time, yet other Greek records and archaeology point to c.1500 BCE as the approximate year of its true founding. Plato also mentions Cecrops in the account of the Atlantean war. Other Greek records speak of Cecrops as the founder of Athens who lived in the 16th century BCE. The other names mentioned also agree with this date.
This information is quite significant. If we can establish when Atlantis was really supposed to have existed, then we can potentially identify it with an actual civilization. As it happens, this date of c. 1500 BCE is a perfect match for the Minoan civilization. The Minoans really did go to war against the Greeks during that time period, and the Greeks really did win, just like in the legend of Atlantis. Various other pieces of evidence indeed support the identification of Atlantis with the Minoan civilization.
