ATLANTIS. In Greek legend, Atlantis was a large island beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar). Its name derives from its supposed position, facing Mount Atlas. The kings of Atlantis, supported by Poseidon, controlled southwest Europe and northwest Africa. In an attempt to conquer more territory they waged war against the prehistoric Athenians, but were soundly defeated. The inhabitants of Atlantis then became savage and impious; the gods punished them by destroying the island in one day, causing it to sink into the ocean.
     A very popular theme in literature since Plato’s account, Atlantis is often seen as a lost paradise. Its existence has also become a favorite subject of para-scientific theory, with events surrounding it placed at c.9500 bce. Some scholars speculate that the cataclysmic eruption of the volcanic island Thera (Santorini), in the Aegean Sea, inspired the myth.