So, where on earth to start? Since it begins with the letter “A”, let’s start with the “lost” city of Atlantis. Did you know that some researchers have in fact located Atlantis in or near the present-day city of Cadiz? There’s some quite impressive evidence used to support the theory.

12,000 years ago, according to the Greek philosopher and statesman Plato, Atlantis was situated to the west of the ‘Pillars of Hercules‘, nowadays known as the Straits of Gibraltar. The city of Atlantis enjoyed a wealth of natural resources and maintained a high level of prosperity – the state ruled over half of Europe and it also controlled North Africa. Within one day and one night, it sank by means of tremendous earthquakes and tidal waves because people had become corrupt and infamous.

This was the story of Atlantis told by the Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) in his dialogues “Timaeus“and “Critias“. Plato himself had taken the story from a still earlier Attic statesman and scholar Solon (639-559 BC). From 571 to 561 BC, Solon visited Egypt and neighbouring lands. In Saiis, former capital of Lower Egypt and cultural centre of the ancient world, the priest and temple recorder Sonchis told Solon about a story of the sunken empire and continent of Atlantis that was recorded there. In Athens, a select few were told by Solon of this secret knowledge from the temples of Egypt.

Plato’s Atlantis report, known as the “Timaeus-Critias Dialogue“, consists of two parts. The first part, the “Timaeus“, deals with the early history of Greece and a military conflict with Atlantis. The second part, the “Critias“, is concerned with a description of Atlantis. Originally, Plato intended to add a third part but he never did. The omission has left unanswered the exact location of the city of Atlantis, which has been variously placed in mid-Atlantic Ocean; on the Greek Island of Thera or Crete; at various sites in Asia and Asia Minor; and on the southwest coast of Spain.

The search for Atlantis in Spain focuses on the southern port city of Cadiz, which was called Gades in 300 BC and before that date was known as Gadeira. Such changes and modifications of place names are not at all unusual for the period and Gadeira was part of the powerful trading empire of the Phoenicians (present-day Lebanon, at the opposite end of the Mediterranean). The fact is that Gades was definitely mentioned in Plato’s Atlantis report:

“… To his twin brother, who was born after him, and obtained as his lot the extremity of the island towards the Pillars of Hercules, facing the country which is now called the region of Gades in that part of the world, he gave the name which in the Hellenic language is Eumelus, in the language of the country which is named after him, Gadeirus …“

The Pillars of Hercules (our present Straits of Gibraltar) play an important part in the naming of Atlantis, the Atlantic Ocean and the mythical Atlas Mountain.

When Hercules had to perform his “twelve labours”, one of them was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon in Spain and bring them to Eurystheus, on the island of Erytheia. This meant scaling and crossing the great mountain that was once Atlas. Instead of climbing the mountain, he decided to use his great strength to smash through the colossal mountain. Hercules split it in half using his indestructible mace or club. By doing so, he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Straits of Gibraltar. One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is Monte Hacho. These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules.

Another city which enters the reckoning as an ancient seaport and trading centre on the western south coast of Spain is the city of Tartessos. Although its site is lost to us today, Tartessos once enjoyed a flourishing trade with Greece and Egypt and is believed to have been located near to the city of Gadeira, under the name of Tarshish. The city receives a mention in the bible:

“… For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So, King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom….“

Herodotus (the Greek historian, also known as the Father of History, writing in the 5^th century BC) mentions a city called Tartessos, located beyond the Pillars of Hercules. He also points out that the Greek seafarers returning from this wealthy city made a bigger profit than any Greek before them.

There is archaeological evidence, too. In the south of Spain, 10,000-year-old precious metal mining stocks as well as several colossal buildings have been uncovered and linked to Tartessan culture. Some researchers think that Tartessos was actually Atlantis. This Atlantis stretched from the south of Spain to Morocco, i.e. the very region connected with the Tartessan culture. It is entirely possible that the last days of Tartessos need not necessarily have been the result of a catastrophe. Rather, it could have been destroyed by the powerful trading metropolis of the Carthaginians who violently fought their enemies.

It is possible that Tartessos was an Atlantean colony, unable to survive after Atlantis was lost. In other words, the existence of Tartessos as an Atlantean colony would still allow Atlantis to be located in the Atlantic Ocean – if it was ever located anywhere at all!