Table of Contents
Source: Rudolf Steiner – Atlantis and Lumeria
Physical and Mental Characteristics
Atlanteans: Described as a race that differed significantly from modern humans, both physically and mentally. They possessed a highly developed memory but lacked logical reasoning and the ability to perform systematic calculations, such as those used in modern science and mathematics. Instead of thinking in abstract concepts, they thought in vivid images and relied heavily on memory to recall and compare past experiences.
Education and Society
Education: Focused on developing the memory through vivid, comprehensive images rather than intellectual reasoning. The aim was to prepare individuals to recall and apply past experiences to new situations, leading to a strong uniformity in life and a slow pace of progress.
Authority and Leadership: Respected based on the extent of experience rather than acquired knowledge. Confidence and leadership were granted to those who could draw on a long life of experiences.
Social and Technological Aspects
Social Structure: The Atlanteans lived communally, and their settlements resembled gardens, with houses formed naturally through interwoven trees. They felt closely connected to nature, influencing their social instincts and sense of communal property.
Technological Development: Atlanteans were adept at harnessing the life-force from plants for technical purposes. For example, they used this force to propel airships that hovered close to the ground, and they utilized water, which was then more fluid, in ways not possible today. The airships could rise above mountains and were steered through the manipulation of plant life forces.
Physical Abilities: Atlanteans could use water and other natural elements in ways that modern humans cannot due to changes in the environment over time. Their physical strength and endurance were also enhanced by these capabilities.
Geographical and Temporal Context
Atlantis
Location: Atlantis was a continent located between America and Europe, now submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Plato’s accounts of Atlantis mention the island of Poseidonis as a remaining part before the final submersion.
Timeline: The Atlantean civilization existed for about 1,000,000 years and came to an end around 10,000 B.C., following the submersion of the continent. The submergence marked the transition from the Atlantean era to the Âryan race, which is considered the root of modern humanity.
Evolutionary Transition
From Lemurians to Atlanteans
Ancestry: The Atlanteans evolved from the Lemurians, who lived on a continent south of present-day Asia. As the Lemurian civilization declined, a segment of their population capable of further evolution became the Atlanteans.
From Atlanteans to Âryans
Transition: As the Atlantean race began to decline, a small group capable of developing logical thought emerged. This group eventually formed the nucleus of the Âryan race, responsible for cultivating thought-power and laying the foundation for modern civilization.
Sub-races of the Atlanteans
Steiner describes the Atlantean civilization as consisting of several sub-races, each with unique characteristics and contributions to human development:
- Rmoahals: The first sub-race, characterized by their strong memory and vivid sense impressions. They developed the first rudimentary forms of speech and had a strong connection to nature’s forces, which influenced their spiritual and religious beliefs.
- Tlavatli: The second sub-race, known for developing a sense of personal value and ambition. They began forming communities based on collective memories of shared experiences, leading to the emergence of leadership roles and ancestor worship.
- Toltecs: The third sub-race, responsible for founding the earliest forms of statecraft and governance. They passed leadership roles through hereditary lines and cultivated the ability to transfer skills and abilities from one generation to the next through education based on personal experience.
- Turanians: The fourth sub-race, marked by the misuse of natural forces for personal gain. They exhibited a strong desire for power, leading to internal conflict and destruction.
- Original Semites: The fifth sub-race, which began developing logical thought and internal reflection, laying the groundwork for the Âryan race. They replaced blind desire with prudence and started to follow an inner voice of reason.
- Akkadians: The sixth sub-race, distinguished by their advanced thought-power and love of novelty and change. They initiated commerce and colonization, creating new social structures based on law and legislation.
- Mongolians: The seventh sub-race, which combined thought-power with a strong sense of tradition and memory. They retained belief in the mystical power of words and nature, emphasizing a connection with spiritual forces.
Decline and Legacy
Decline of the Atlanteans: The misuse of life-forces by the fourth sub-race led to the eventual decline and submersion of Atlantis. The Âryan race emerged from the remnants of the Atlanteans, focusing on the development of thought and reason.
Spiritual and Cultural Influence: Atlantean spiritual practices, technologies, and cultural developments influenced later civilizations across Asia, Africa, Europe, and America, contributing to the diverse cultural landscapes that followed.
This chapter illustrates Steiner’s belief in the spiritual evolution of humanity through distinct epochs, each contributing to the unfolding of human consciousness and capabilities.
