This document discusses theories about what happened to the legendary lost city of Atlantis. It suggests that Atlantis may have actually been the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, which was very advanced but then mysteriously disappeared. The Minoan civilization was centered on Crete until around 1500 BC, when the island of Thera, near Santorini, erupted violently. This volcanic eruption could have destroyed the Minoan state on Crete. According to Greek mythology, Zeus was angry at the prosperous civilization of Atlantis and destroyed it by drowning it in the sea as punishment. The document considers whether Atlantis was real or mythical and how it may have been destroyed.

1. Atlantis and the End of Crete By Joe and Charlie http://www.cartoonstock.com/animation/animation_play.asp?catref=wwev19

2. Introduction This is a summary of the theories of what happened to Atlantis. Atlantis was a legendary island that was first recorded by the philosopher Plato and most of our understandings of Atlantis comes from Plato. It was a peaceful place that had a very advanced society. It was in some way a civilization of its own. It even had its own language. According to Greek mythology, Zeus became angry with theAtlanteansso he began to destroy their home land. He swallowed their whole island with the sea. People continued to believe that it is still to this day an under water city. According to scientists Atlantis might actually have been Crete. No one really knows the truth behind Atlantis.

3. Could Atlantis be Crete? Some people speculate that the island of Crete was in fact Atlantis. Before 1500 BC Crete was the center or seat of the Minoan Empire. Some people say that the Minoan culture was one of the most sophisticated cultures of its time (just as people think that Atlantis was a very sophisticated culture.) Amazing architecture sprung up all around Crete and some amazing art pieces were created, but coincidentally the Minoan civilization vanished in a blink of an eye. Studies have shown that on a near island by Santorinas, a great disaster occurred that was very capable of toppling the Minoan state. In the twenty-first century Santorinas was a very lush paradise, but twenty-five hundred years ago it was a single large island with a volcano in the middle of it. The volcano blew it self up around 1500 BC. Coincidentally what is known about the Atlantis story is much of what we know today about Crete.

4. Did Zeus Destroy Atlantis? There are lots of myths as to what happened to Atlantis. Many people think it was up swallowed by the sea, some think it was a volcanic eruption and others think it was a big wave that took it down. The rest just think it was a myth and it never was real. Then there were some that thought it disappeared into the sea and now think it’s an under water palace. The real question is…was it real and if so, how was it destroyed? Here is what happened according to Greek mythology!According to Greek mythology, Atlantis was a beautiful place with happiness and lots of people, herbs and fruit. It also had many animals and other things. You could say it was a heaven on earth. The people and the economy on that island were very happy and successful and so the Gods got jealous, especially Zeus. In fact, the Greek culture says that Atlantis was destroyed because of Zeus. He wanted the island gone so he gathered the other gods and sent a punishment to Atlantis. After this, the punishment made Atlantis get swallowed up by the sea.

5. So What do you Think? Do you think Atlantis is a myth or real?

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