“Plato describes Atlantis as having subjected the parts of Libya within the columns of Heracles as far as Egypt, and of Europe as far as Tyrrhenia.’
Under Queen Myrina, the Amazons, a nation of warrior women from western Libya, based on an island in the ancient marsh of Lake Tritonis — invaded the territory of the Atlantioi.
*Plato describes Atlantis as an island larger than ancient Libya and Asia (referring to Asia Minor) combined.
Based on historical estimates, ancient Libya encompassed much of North Africa west of Egypt, with an area of approximately 1,759,000 km² (similar to modern Libya).
"This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean, for in those days the Atlantic was navigable; and there was an island situated in front of the straits which are by you called the Pillars of Heracles; the island was larger than Libya and Asia put together, and was the way to other islands, and from these you might pass to the whole of the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean; for this sea which is within the Straits of Heracles is only a harbour, having a narrow entrance, but that other is a real sea, and the surrounding land may be most truly called a boundless continent."
The priests might have meant a broader “western boundary” (e.g., Libya or Morocco), mistranslated by Plato or later scribes into a familiar Greek landmark.
Exaggeration?: The “great island” larger than “Libya and Asia together” (Timaeus 24e) strains credulity—possibly a rhetorical flourish, as Greek maps (e.g., Hecataeus, 500 BCE) lacked such scale.
This power had landed on the Atlantic coast, for in those days the Atlantic was navigable froman island situated to the west of the straits which you call Pillars of Hercules: the island waslarger than Libya and Asia fAsia meaning the Middle East] put together, and from it could bereached other islands, and from the islands you might pass through to the opposite continent,which surrounded the true ocean; for this sea which is within the columns of Hercules is only aharbour, having a narrow entrance, but that other is a real sea, and the surrounding land may bemost truly called a continent.
Now, the island was called Atlantis and was the heart of a greatand wonderful empire, which had rule over the whole island and several others, as well as overparts of the continent; and besides these, they subjected the parts of Libya as far as Egypt and ofEurope as far as Tyrrhenia fan ancient kingdom centered in the Alps above Italy].
“Plato describes Atlantis as having‘subjected the parts of Libya within the columns of Heracles as far as Egypt, and of Europe as far asTyrrhenia.’ The Minoan kings never conquered neither Europe nor North Africa.
The figure of Libya in Greek mythology is somewhat enigmatic but holds significant cultural importance.
Libya is often portrayed as a mythical personification of the region of North Africa that bears her name, representing the lands west of the Nile.
Libya is usually described as the daughter of Epaphus, the king of Egypt, and Memphis, or as a descendant of Poseidon.
Epaphus was a son of Zeus and Io, which made Libya part of a family that was key in linking Greek myths with Egyptian culture.
Libya was notably linked to Poseidon, the god of the sea, and was said to be either his lover or a significant figure within the divine narratives involving Poseidon.
Belus: Becoming king of Egypt and fathering important descendants, including Danaus and Aegyptus, connecting Libya with Egyptian mythological traditions.
The personification of Libya as a region and as a mythological figure established a cultural connection between Greece and the mysterious lands of North Africa.
Libya's sons also played roles that linked Greek and non-Greek cultures, emphasizing the ancient Greeks' awareness of, and fascination with, other civilizations.
The ancient Greeks viewed Libya as a key part of the world, rich with resources and full of exotic peoples and animals.
Libya, as a character, therefore embodies these elements, representing both a divine connection and a link to the broader world beyond the more familiar territories of the Greek mainland and the Aegean Sea.
As a female figure in Greek mythology, Libya's relationships with major gods and her role as the mother of important sons situates her within the broader narrative of expanding Greek influence and mythology beyond the Greek heartlands.
Thus, Libya is an intriguing character who represents both a mythological person and a personification of the geographical region.
The basket was initially a gift from Poseidon, the god of the sea, who presented it to Libya, who was either his lover or an essential figure in the divine family tree.
Libya, in some accounts, was also the daughter of Epaphus, a figure connected with the land named after her.
Libya then passed the golden basket down to Telephassa, linking it to her family and establishing a sense of divine favor and connection.
Hephaestus gives it to Libya on the day Poseidon takes Libya to his bed.
Libya then gives it to Telephassa as blood kin.
Now Europa’s basket was of gold, an admirable thing, a great marvel and a great work of Hephaestus, given of him unto Libya the day the Earth-Shaker took her to his bed, and given of Libya unto the fair beauteous Telephassa because she was one of her own blood; and so the virgin Europa came to possess the renownèd gift, being Telephassa was her mother.
The Poseidon–Libya union is the occasion of the gift.
How I use the basket beat: as a Moschus-sourced maternal heritage line from Libya through Telephassa to Europa, before any diffusion reading.
In Moschus she ties a Libya–Poseidon bloodline gift to Europa’s Crete crossing.
Golden basket crafted by Hephaestus: Moschus gift trail from Libya through Telephassa to Europa.
Plato, four hundred years before our Saviour’s time, gives a particular account of the great island of Atlantis, "an island that was larger than Libya (Africa) and Asia." Strabo and Pliny both mention a like mysterious island.
Atlantis was described as being ruled by a confederation of kings, with its influence extending over Libya to Egypt and Europe as far as Tuscany.
xviii.), states that Theopompus (400 b.c.) recorded an interview between the King of Phrygia and Silenus, in which the latter referred to the existence of a great continent beyond the Atlantic, larger than Asia, Europe and Libya together.[13]
But this island was greater than both Libya and all Asia together, and afforded an easy passage to other neighbouring islands, as it was likewise easy to pass from those islands to all the continents which border on this Atlantic sea."
Amazones (Amazons): A race of warlike women from western Libya, ruled by women who practiced warfare and maintained virginity during military service.
Amazones’ Rule in Libya: In western Libya near the edge of the inhabited world, a women-led race practiced warfare and lived on an island called Hespera in the marsh Tritonis, near Okeanos and Mount Atlas.
Aithiopia here refers broadly to Africa, including Libya and the Atlas region.
"We are told, namely, that there was once in the western parts of Libya, on the bounds of the inhabited world, a race which was ruled by women and followed a manner of life unlike that which prevails among us.
For protective devices they used the skins of large snakes, since Libya contains such animals of incredible size, and for offensive weapons, swords and lances; they also used bows and arrows, with which they struck not only when facing the enemy but also when in flight, by shooting backwards at their pursuers with good effect.
"[Diodorus briefly discusses sources for the ancient Greek histories of Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa, Libya and the Atlas region--the last three are all referred to as Aithiopia (Ethiopia) :] Concerning the historians, we must distinguish among them, to the effect that many have composed works on both Aigyptos (Egypt) and Aithiopia (Ethiopia), of whom some have given credence to false report and others have invented many tales out of their own minds for the delectation of their readers, and so may justly be distrusted." [N.B.
Atlantis’ Rise: Atlantis, a vast island larger than Libya and Asia combined, emerged in the Atlantic Ocean beyond the Pillars of Herakles.
It ruled numerous islands and parts of the continent, subjugating Libya up to Aigyptos (Egypt) and Europe to Tyrrhenia (Italy).
the Strait of Gibraltar]; the island was larger than Libya and Asia put together, and was the way to other islands, and from these you might pass to the whole of the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean; for this sea which is within the Straits of Herakles is only a harbour, having a narrow entrance, but that other is a real sea, and the surrounding land may be most truly called a boundless continent.
Now in this island of Atlantis there was a great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent, and, furthermore, the men of Atlantis had subjected the parts of Libya [Africa] within the columns of Herakles as far as Aigyptos (Egypt), and of Europe as far as Tyrrhenia [in Italy].
It was stated that this city of ours [Athens] was in command of the one side and fought through the whole of the war, and in command of the other side were the kings of the island of Atlantis, which we said was an island larger than Libya and Asia once upon a time, but now lies sunk by earthquakes and has created a barrier of impassable mud which prevents those who are sailing out from here to the ocean beyond from proceeding further.
He explains that the island was larger than Libya and Asia combined and was located beyond the Pillars of Heracles (modern-day Strait of Gibraltar).
They established an empire that extended beyond their island, controlling parts of Libya, Egypt, and Europe.
The history transmits the account that he ruled as king, as I mentioned previously, over Libya and Sicily and the western regions, and that he founded a city, as Charax says, which was once called Kronia, but now Sacred City.
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya, Cyrene, strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians heard them speak in their tongues.
"He compelled his subjects to labor for him, some to drag stones from the quarries in the Arabian mountain to the Nile, and others to receive them and transport them to the mountain of Libya."
Phut is generally linked to the region of Libya.
A venom-spewing dragon, residing in a pond near Silene in Libya, plagued the region by poisoning the countryside.