Plato’s tale of Atlantis is in Timaeus and Critias. It describes a powerful island kingdom beyond the Pillars of Hercules, which is the modern Strait of Gibraltar. It sank “in a single day and night of misfortune.” While Plato gave no map, his text offers enough geographic and architectural clues that inspired centuries of imaginative cartography. Let’s explore the major artistic and speculative maps depicting Atlantis. We will compare them to Plato’s description. We will analyze how these visions show evolving interpretations of the myth.
1. Athanasius Kircher’s Mundus Subterraneus (c. 1664–69)
This map is one of the earliest visualizations. It comes from Kircher’s encyclopedic work. The map positions Atlantis squarely in the central Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and the Americas. Notably, he orients the map with south at the top—a reversal of modern convention.
Kircher’s aim wasn’t mythologizing but bolstering his belief in a planet shaped like a living being. He saw mountain ranges as skeletal structures, so placing Atlantis in the Atlantic reinforced his geologic worldview .
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Atlantis beyond the Pillars, island geography.
- Mismatch: No circular city rings; exaggerated orientation and size.
2. Ignatius Donnelly’s 1882 Map (Atlantis: The Antediluvian World)
In the late 19th century, amateur archaeologist Ignatius Donnelly created a map. He placed Atlantis atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It was near the Azores. His visuals included underwater ridges representing Atlantis’s remains, and extended Atlantean influence globally.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Central Atlantic placement and island idea.
- Mismatch: Overstated reach—global colony network far beyond Plato’s modest power.
3. Oronce Fine (1531) & Buache (1737)
These French cartographers created early maps showing mythical Atlantic islands:
- Oronce Fine (1531) depicts Atlantis as a large island west of Gibraltar. It includes mountains and rivers. He labels it as destroyed by flood.
- Philippe Buache (1737) builds upon this, placing several large islands in the Atlantic, insinuating possible prehistoric civilizations.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Location plausible per Plato’s coordinates.
- Mismatch: Exaggerated island shapes and multiple landmasses not in original dialogue.
4. Zeno Map (alleged early 14th-century origin)
The Zeno Map, created by the Venetian Zeno brothers, is not widely accepted as authentic. Despite this, it shows the mythical “Frisland” island in the North Atlantic. Some enthusiasts equate it to Atlantis.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Inclusion of Atlantic island.
- Mismatch: Frisland is medieval fiction, disconnected from Plato’s empire structure.
5. Vasilis Paschos / Guerrilla Cartography (1979–2019)
These modern speculative maps reinterpret Atlantis’s location and features:
- Paschos (1979) suggests Atlantis spanned the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with cross-like plateau geometry.
- Guerrilla Cartography (2019) created a visually compelling, aesthetically driven map—primarily an artistic project echoing Plato’s imagery and topography.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Geographic alignment with sub-Atlantic mountain ridges.
- Mismatch: Highly stylized, lacking precise ancient measurements and city plan.
6. Theosophical & Esoteric Cartography
Later theosophists and occultists produced maps of mythical supercontinents:
- Theosophical visuals show Atlantis in various phases—prime, decline, Poseidonis.
- William Scott-Elliot (1896) provided a series of colored maps tracing Atlantis from vast landmass to submerged island.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: General decay and loss motifs echoing downfall theme.
- Mismatch: Timelines, shapes, and mystical overlays diverge dramatically from Plato’s rational narrative.
7. Modern Geological & Seafloor Speculation
Though not “maps” in the traditional sense, modern sonar and satellite imagery have intermittently reignited interest in Atlantis:
- NOAA/Google Ocean artifact (2009): Grid-shaped sonar noise near Canary Islands—it fueled rumors before being debunked.
- Underwater mountain chains off Lanzarote: Named “Mount Los Atlantes,” dating 34–56 Ma, but lacking human presence.
- GQ’s Morocco hypothesis (2014): Geologist Michael Hübner proposed fragments of Atlantis in southern Morocco—satellite depressions matched Plato’s elliptical terrain description.
Comparison to Plato:
- Match: Echoes of submerged topography and possible inland depressions.
- Mismatch: No evidence of wells, royal canals, or ring-city remains as in textual blueprint.
Comparing These Maps with Plato’s Account
Plato’s Key Points from Critias and Timaeus:
- Geography: Island larger than Libya (North Africa) and Asia Minor; beyond the Pillars; mountain-ringed with central plain.
- Climate & Topography: Northern franchises; rivers, woods, hills, canal-connected lagoon.
- Design: Circular city rings around central acropolis; harbors cut through outer walls.
- Timeline & Downfall: Flourished ~9600 BC, sunk catastrophically.
- Empire Scope: Naval reach across Europe and Africa—not global tyranny.
How Cartographic Visions Compare:
| Map Type | Alignment with Plato | Divergences |
|---|---|---|
| Kircher | Central Atlantic, island shape | Up/down orientation reversed, lacks circular city |
| Donnelly | Mid-Atlantic placement | Overextended global colonies |
| Fine/Buache | Flood myth imagery, Atlantic location | Composite islands not fitting text |
| Zeno | Atlantic island inclusion | Fictional Frisland |
| Paschos/Modern Art | Ridge inclusion, visual homage | Stylized beyond textual scale |
| Theosophical | Phases of decline show mythic rise/fall | Mystical pseudo‑timelines |
| Geological speculations | Submerged formations, satellite features | No canal city or imperial reach |
Why So Many Maps?
- Absence of Original Map: Plato’s text offered descriptions but no diagrams—opening creative license.
- Cultural Reinterpretation: Each era reimagined Atlantis to show prevailing beliefs—pseudoscience, utopianism, lost civilizations.
- Myth as Motivation: Whether mapping led to myth, or vice versa, these artifacts kept the legend alive.
- Artistic Expression: Some maps, like Guerrilla Cartography’s, are meant to inspire, not assert factual accuracy.
Concluding Thoughts
None of these artistic or speculative maps fully align with Plato’s detailed account. Each offers a fascinating snapshot of human imagination and ambition. Jesuit scholars use it to illustrate earth’s “skeleton.” Occult geographers chart mystical epochs. Modern amateurs overlay satellite depressions with narratives of tsunamis and lost kingdoms.
These maps speak more to our need for wonder than they do to historical truth. Today, we know the Atlantic is seafloor, not sunken palaces. Yet, the continuing allure of Atlantis reminds us of the power of legends. Even without maps, legends can chart our collective fantasies far beyond the Pillars of Hercules.
Further Reading & Insight
- Kircher’s Mundus Subterraneus: early scientific-cartographic fusion.
- Donnelly’s classic 1882 revival of Atlantid theory.
- Buache and Fine: Renaissance-era atlases with mythic amendments.
- Modern sonar/Google Ocean myths and geological misfires.
- Morocco’s proposed archaeology vs. Plato’s design.
- Symbolic/cultural cartography via theosophy and art.
Despite all the cartographic creativity, Plato’s Atlantis remains mapless, ethereal, and eloquently described only in words. The maps serve less as navigation aids. They act more as mirrors reflecting each generation’s dreams and speculations. These maps capture interpretive reaches toward an island that may have never been. Yet, it will continue to be found in the maps of our imagination.