Tuesday, March 17, 2009

And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind, Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new. Hail Atlantis!

One of the most mysterious legends handed down by the ancient world is the tale of Atlantis. Tradition places Atlantis somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean 11,000 years in the past. In 360 B.C. Plato wrote the "Timaeus" and "Critias".

The Critias tells us that Poseidon, God Of The Sea, was granted the realm of Atlantis when the gods divided the earth amongst themselves. There he created a palace for his love, a mortal woman named Cleito. On the top of the hill in the center of the island a great temple was constructed to honor Poseidon.

Consisting of several land masses, the Atlantis Continent was located in the Atlantic, west of Gibraltar. It was said to have been a paradise, hosting a highly developed civilization. Civil prejudice, greed and power contributed to the downfall of the empire. Zeus called for a meeting of the gods to punish Atlantis.

Here the story ends. Whether the author chose to end the story here, or perhaps the last pages were lost to antiquity, we'll never know. It is presumed from the Timareus, the verdict of the gods caused the Atlantic Ocean to submerge the continent beneath it's surface.

Many people believe Atlantis to be complete fiction, others claim that Thera inspired a philosopher's imagination, and still others contend that the story is an accurate account of a long lost forgotten past.

There have been many books written about Atlantis of which the Oera Linda Book from Holland (Frysia) is said to be one of the oldest books ever found. It tells of the destruction of the large Atlantic island by earthquakes and tidal waves.

" During the whole summer, the sun hid itself behind the clouds, as if unwilling to shine upon the earth. In the middle of the quietude, the earth began to quake as if it was dying. The mountains opened up to vomit forth fire and flames. Some of them sunk under the earth while in other places mountains rose out of the plains... Atlantis disappeared, and the wild waves rose so high over the hills and dales that everything was buried under the seas. Many people were swallowed up by the earth, and others who had escaped the fire perished in the waters."
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In 1969, a young man from Glasgow who had recently burst upon the music scene, and who epitomized the era's message of peace, love and change, retold the story of that shining civilization for another generation. I believed it.
—Relax Max
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The continent of Atlantis was an island
which lay before the great flood
in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean.
So great an area of land, that from her western shores
those beautiful sailors journeyed
to the South and the North Americas with ease,
in their ships with painted sails.

To the East Africa was a neighbour, across a short strait of sea miles.
The great Egyptian age is but a remnant of The Atlantian culture.
The antediluvian kings colonised the world
All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas
In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis.
Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth.
On board were the Twelve:
The poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist,
The magician and the other so-called Gods of our legends.
Though Gods they were -
And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind
Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new
Hail Atlantis!



Writing credit to Josef Haselberger
and Relax Max
Music by Donovan

12 comments:

Debbie said...

Atlantis, the beginning of so many "realities" for me. Loved this post and the music.

It's almost as if you knew what I needed today.

Thanks!

A. said...

Ah yes, I remember it well! :) Singing and dancing and ringing in the new. Still hoping for the new. The young firebrands of the time (in the UK) have turned into the very same politicians as they ever were, surrounded by varying degrees of scandal. Not a sunshine superman among them.

Peace and love ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ :)

Janet said...

I have always enjoyed Donovan, and all mythologies intrigue me no end. Thank you for relaying this.

Lidian said...

I have a Donovan anecdote totally unrelated to Atlantis: Some kids that came to one of our kids' birthday parties a VERY long time ago sang us a festive song, the burden of which went "I love my shirt, I love my shirt" (etc etc) - and since we made a birthday tape this was preserved forever. We always thought that they made this up. It just seemed like a made-up kids' song, you know.

I recently found out, while muddling around on YouTube, that this is a real, genuine Donovan song. Called (wait for it) "I Love My Shirt." It is not one of his more profound offerings. I was laughing so hard I could hardly hear it.

This Atlantis song is good, though! As is your post. So, merci.

Anonymous said...

I would love it if Atlantis really existed and is found someday miles beneath the ocean

Unknown said...

In the Artemis Fowl book I'm reading now, all the demons live on Atlantis. They took it out of time so that humans can't see it.

It's hard to explain. Read the book.

I left something for you on my blog today. :-)

Unknown said...

I have always been fascinated by the mystery of Atlantis. I would love to see it discovered one day. Very nice post. No that was not supposed to mean, great blog I love it. Oh never mind.

Relax Max said...

Darling Debbie: Thank you so much. You don't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need. —Sir Michael Philip Jagger
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Adorable A.: So true. Disappointing scum, the lot of them. A very bad trip.
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Joyfully Janet: Peace. Love. Joy. Saffron. You like mythology? Then you are going to LOVE my upcoming odd little post on Pythias, unchained. (Hint, don't piss off Zeus.) - Just as soon as I get out from under this terrible series on electricity I've become bogged down in. :)
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Lovely Lidian: I really enjoyed your comment on:
Donovan and the song "I Love My shirt".
I found it very interesting.
:)
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Frabjous Frostygirl: Me too. Together we will play in the Octopus's Garden* in the shade (in my Yellow Submarine*.) If you will. :)

*Words and music of both songs by Richard Starkey, MBE.

Reporter: "Is Ringo Starr the best drummer in the word, then?"

John Lennon: "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles."
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Angelic Angelika: I think we've already agreed there are no such things as Artimis Fowl books. Demons, maybe. Perhaps I shall - just to keep you honest. And thank you again. :)
_________

Enchanting Ettarose: Fascinated by Atlantis? You are fascinated by the sight of the spoon in your cereal. What are you trying to say? What is your hidden message this time? Never mind. I'm just glad you showed up. :)

Relax Max said...

@Janet - not even a rise out of my "Pythias Unchained"? Tough crowd. I thought it was funny. Souby must not be around or he would have jumped on me with both feet. Probably out flogging the mule.

Prometheus Unchained.

Sigh.

Janet said...

It WAS funny, I just now got here!!! The internet wouldn't let me play yesterday.
I spent weeks on Prometheus my junior year of college.
My life more resembles Sisyphus these days (laundry anyone?). But we like the Norse gods as well. A couple of weeks ago the kids and I watched all 4 acts of Wagner's "Liebelungenlied." I'll have to look up dates to see if Wagner stole liberally from Tolkein or vice versa.

Anonymous said...

Nice blog. Goodnight! :)

Relax Max said...

@Janet - Thank you. And sorry it is so long I have not responded to your comment. But you know by know how easily distracted I am. :)

I had forgotten about poor Prometheus and his reappearing liver. But he DOES deserve a post, if I can ever find a way to end this electricity thing, so I will write it down. If I can find a pen.

@Anon - Goodnight Eh.

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