Critias, the story of Atlantis
Below is the original Greek text from Critias 108d-109a, along with a literal English translation.
The world before the Great Flood
When combining myths from various ancient traditions, such as Sumerian, Biblical, and Greek, the world before the great flood emerges as a time of extraordinary events, larger-than-life beings, and a close connection between gods and humans.
Similarly, Greek mythology speaks of the Titans, colossal beings who ruled before the Olympian gods.
The Greek gods, too, were known for their direct involvement in human activities, often coming down from Mount Olympus.
Similarly, Greek myths talk about the decline from the Golden Age to the Iron Age, where human behavior deteriorated.
The Greek gods, too, punished humanity for various transgressions, leading to disasters like the flood in the story of Deucalion.
Was there a tower in Babylon?
There are no known Greek stories that specifically refer to the Etemenanki by name or describe a structure called the "Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth." However, the ancient Greeks were aware of Babylon and its monumental architecture, and some Greek writers and historians mention Babylon and its impressive buildings, including what might be interpreted as the ziggurat.
Herodotus, the Greek historian from the 5th century BCE, provides one of the most detailed Greek descriptions of Babylon in his Histories.
Another Greek historian, Ctesias, who served as a physician in the Persian court, also wrote about Babylon, though his works survive only in fragments.
Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian from the 1st century BCE, also refers to Babylon in his Geography.
While the Greeks were aware of Babylon and its impressive architecture, there is no direct reference in surviving Greek literature to the Etemenanki as the "Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth." The concept of a towering structure or ziggurat, however, might have influenced Greek perceptions of foreign wonders, contributing to the broader Hellenistic understanding of the world.
Moreover, later Greek and Roman writers might have conflated or mythologized their accounts of Babylon, but these are not directly linked to a story about the specific foundation of heaven and earth, as found in Mesopotamian tradition.
The Greek knowledge of Babylon mostly reflects admiration for its scale and significance rather than an in-depth understanding of its religious or architectural symbolism.
Yes, Greek and Roman sources did mention the destruction of Babylon, though their accounts varied and often focused on different aspects of the city's decline.
Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian from the 1st century BCE, provides a more detailed narrative about the decline and destruction of Babylon.
What is the original Hebrew word for Tower of Babel?
Βαβυλών (Babylṓn) is used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and other Greek texts to refer to the ancient city of Babylon.
This term is directly transliterated from the Hebrew בָּבֶל (Bavel), maintaining the name's phonetic qualities while adapting it to the Greek language.
In Greek literature, Babylṓn is commonly used in references to the city, its empire, and its cultural and historical significance, just as in Hebrew texts.
In Latin, Babylon is a direct transliteration of the Greek Βαβυλών (Babylṓn) and refers to the ancient city of Babylon.
The name Babylon in Latin retained the same reference to the city in Mesopotamia, just as in Hebrew and Greek.
Destruction of Babylon
Greek (Βαβυλών - Babylōn): As the name Bavel/Bāb-ili was adopted into Greek, it became Babylōn (Βαβυλών).
The Greeks often transliterated foreign names to fit their own phonetic and writing systems.
Latin (Babylon): The Greek Babylōn was then adopted into Latin, retaining the form Babylon.
The Phoenician history
“For,” he says, “they considered him, the lord of heaven, to be the only god and called him Beelsamen, which is ‘Lord of Heaven’ in Phoenician, Zeus in Greek.”
After these remarks, he berates the error of the Greeks and says:
“For it is not without reason that we have defined these things in many ways, but because of the later erroneous transmissions of the names related to these matters, which names the Greeks, out of ignorance, received in an improper sense, misled by the ambiguity of translation.”
He is the one whom the Egyptians called Thouth, the Alexandrians Thoth, and the Greeks Hermes.
Such are the things told about Kronos; and such are the solemn tales about the life of the contemporaries of Kronos as that is celebrated by the Greeks.
“The Greeks, who surpass all men in their natural cleverness, first appropriated most of these tales.
The Deluge of the Chaldeans
The one most anciently known, and also the shorter, is that which Berosus took from the sacred books of Babylon, and introduced into the history that he wrote for the use of the Greeks.
The fact that the scene of the Deluge is located on the Euphrates proves nothing, for we will see hereafter that almost every nation had its especial mountain on which, according to its traditions, the ark rested; just as every Greek tribe had its own particular mountain of Olympos.
Islands mentioned in the Bible
The biblical references to islands and coastlands that could be connected to Greek mythology and the legends of Atlantis are primarily those that mention distant and possibly mythical lands.
Connection: This verse mentions Greece and "distant islands," which could be interpreted as referencing far-off, possibly mythical lands in the Greek imagination.
Connection: Rhodes is a significant location in Greek mythology, often associated with Helios, the sun god.
While not directly connected to Atlantis, Rhodes was considered one of the prominent islands of the ancient Greek world and could symbolize the far-reaching influence of ancient maritime powers, similar to the legendary Atlantis.
The sea is a significant element in the Bible
He references his ongoing series of videos exploring the presence of Yahweh's cult in Sardinia and the Greek islands' mystery cults.
Mines
Source: Hephaestus' forge is referenced in Homer's Iliad (Book 18, lines 369-376) where the god works beneath the earth, and in Theoi Greek Mythology: "Hephaistos, the divine blacksmith, is said to work his forge beneath Mount Etna, where the fire and smoke from the mountain's vents were believed to be evidence of his labor" (Theoi Greek Mythology).
The wealth from these mines played a significant role in the rise of Macedonia, which is echoed in Greek legends.
Significance: Tartarus, the deep abyss in Greek mythology, was sometimes depicted as a place where precious metals were mined by the souls of the damned.
Mount Tmolus
In Greek mythology, Mount Tmolus is personified as the god Tmolus, a mountain god and the son of Ares, the god of war, and Theogone.
Mount Tmolus was also associated with the worship of Cybele, the Phrygian mother goddess who was later assimilated into Greek and Roman mythology.
Mount Othrys
Mount Othrys holds a crucial place in Greek mythology as the stronghold of the Titans during the Titanomachy, the epic battle between the Titans and the Olympian gods.
This battle was a defining moment in Greek mythology, marking the overthrow of the old gods and the rise of the Olympians.
Mount Taygetus
Mount Taygetus is named after the nymph Taygete, one of the Pleiades in Greek mythology.
Mount Lycaeus
Mount Lycaeus holds a prominent place in Greek mythology as one of the claimed birthplaces of Zeus, the king of the gods.
Mount Arachnaeus
Mount Arachnaeus holds a significant place in Greek mythology, primarily due to its association with the god Zeus.
Mount Athos
In Greek mythology, Mount Athos is associated with the Gigantomachy, the epic battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants.
While Mount Athos is primarily known for its Christian significance, it also held a place in ancient Greek religion.
Though specific deities were not primarily associated with Mount Athos in ancient Greek religion, its grandeur and isolation made it a place of natural power.
Autolycus, son of Hermes
Autolycus, a figure in Greek mythology, is renowned as the son of Hermes, the god of trade, thieves, and travelers, and Chione, a mortal woman.
Mount Cyllene
Mount Cyllene is most famous in Greek mythology as the birthplace of Hermes, the messenger god and the god of trade, thieves, and travelers.
The mountain, therefore, holds a special place in Greek mythology as the origin of one of the most important Olympian gods.
Mount Cithaeron
Cithaeron is known for its rugged terrain, dense forests, and its role as a setting in numerous Greek myths.
Mount Cithaeron is famously associated with the myth of Oedipus, one of the most tragic figures in Greek mythology.
The battle was a decisive Greek victory against the Persians and marked the end of the Persian invasion of Greece.
The slopes of Cithaeron played a strategic role in the battle, providing a defensive position for the Greek forces and contributing to their success.
The mountain’s association with this important historical event adds to its prominence in Greek history.
Mount Etna
In Greek mythology, Mount Etna was believed to be the forge of Hephaestus (known as Vulcan in Roman mythology), the god of fire and blacksmithing.
The Greek historian Thucydides and the philosopher Aristotle both wrote about Etna’s eruptions, noting their impact on the surrounding regions.
Mount Ossa
Mount Ossa is best known in Greek mythology for its role in the Gigantomachy, the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants.
The Argonauts and Mount Pelion
The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous Greek legends, intertwining elements of adventure, betrayal, divine intervention, and heroism.
The heroes who joined Jason became known as the Argonauts, and they included some of the most famous figures in Greek mythology: Hercules, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, Atalanta, and many others.
However, the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, with its roots in the nurturing environment of Mount Pelion, remains one of the most enduring tales of heroism and adventure in Greek mythology.
Mount Pelion
Mount Pelion is most famous in Greek mythology as the home of the centaurs, mythical creatures who were half-man, half-horse.
Unlike other centaurs, who were often depicted as wild and unruly, Chiron was a mentor to many Greek heroes, including Achilles, Jason, and Asclepius.
The mountain’s association with Chiron and the centaurs underscores its role as a place of both wildness and knowledge in Greek mythology.
The wedding of Peleus and Thetis on Mount Pelion is a key event in Greek mythology, symbolizing the union of mortal and divine and setting the stage for the epic events that would follow.
It was from the nearby city of Iolcus that Jason and his crew set sail on the Argo, embarking on one of the most legendary journeys in Greek mythology.
Mount Erymanthos
Mount Erymanthos is most famous in Greek mythology as the setting for one of the Twelve Labors of Heracles (Hercules).
Poseidon and Erymanthos
In Greek mythology, gods were deeply concerned with the honors and sacrifices offered by mortals.
Mount Helicon
In Greek mythology, the Muses were believed to reside on Helicon, where they inspired poets, artists, and scholars.
Mount Helicon's connection to the Muses and the arts influenced Greek literature, with many ancient poets and writers referencing the mountain in their works.
Hesiod, one of the earliest Greek poets, claimed that he was inspired by the Muses on Mount Helicon to write his epic poem "Theogony," which recounts the origins of the gods.
Mount Parnassus
Mount Parnassus holds a central place in Greek mythology as the home of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts, literature, and sciences.
Mount Parnassus was historically significant due to its proximity to Delphi, one of the most important religious and cultural centers in the ancient Greek world.
The Oracle of Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, played a crucial role in Greek history.
Mount Ida (Troad)
Mount Ida plays a significant role in Greek mythology, particularly in the stories surrounding the Trojan War.
The decision that Paris made on Mount Ida eventually led to the abduction of Helen by Paris, which triggered the war between the Greeks and the Trojans.
In some versions of Greek mythology, Mount Ida is also considered the birthplace of the goddess Cybele, the Phrygian mother goddess who was later assimilated into Greek and Roman mythology as the Great Mother or Magna Mater.
In historical times, the worship of Cybele, the mother goddess associated with Mount Ida, spread from the Troad region to the wider Greek and Roman worlds.
The mountain, therefore, became symbolically important not only in Greek mythology but also in Roman religious practices.
Mount Ida (Troad) stands as one of the most significant mountains in Greek mythology and ancient history.
Mount Ida
Birthplace of ZeusMount Ida is perhaps most famous in Greek mythology as the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the gods.
This cave became an important religious site in ancient Crete, where rituals and offerings were made to honor the chief god of the Greek pantheon.
This story of Zeus’s early life highlights Mount Ida’s significance as a sacred site in Greek mythology, symbolizing protection, nurturing, and the eventual rise of the most powerful of the Greek gods.
The reverence for Mount Ida continued into later periods of Greek history, as the mountain retained its mythological and religious importance.
Role in Greek and Roman TimesDuring the classical and Hellenistic periods, Mount Ida continued to be revered, particularly in relation to the worship of Zeus.
The Idaean Cave remained an active religious site, attracting pilgrims and devotees from across the Greek world.
The mountain and its associated myths also became part of the broader Greek cultural heritage, influencing literature, art, and religious practices.
In Roman times, the worship of Zeus on Mount Ida persisted, with the Romans adopting and adapting many Greek religious traditions.
Mythical and Religious InfluenceMount Ida’s association with the birth and upbringing of Zeus has made it a central symbol in Greek mythology and religious practice.
As the legendary birthplace of Zeus, it holds a central place in Greek mythology, symbolizing divine power, protection, and the connection between the gods and the natural world.
The mountain’s influence extends beyond the myths, impacting the cultural, religious, and historical life of Crete and the broader Greek world.