did the ancients know america?

DID THE ANCIENTS KNOW AMERICA? PETROS ROVITHIS1, ELENI ROVITHIS-LIVANIOU2 AND MAGDA STAVINSCHI3 1

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Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, P.O. Box 20048, 118 10 Athens, Greece Dept. of Astrophysics-Astronomy & Mechanics, Faculty of Physics, Athens University, Panepistimiopolis, Zografos 157 84, Athens, Greece E-mail: [email protected] 3 Institute of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest Observatory, Romania

Abstract. In this communication the most important arguments, being either against or in favour of the subject of America, i.e. if the ancients knew and had travelled to it are referred. Especially those reported by Notaras in his Book «Introduction to the Spherical and Geographical», published at Paris in 1716, will be referred and discussed. Key words: The lost Atlantis island – ancient Greeks – myths – big travels.

1. INTRODUCTION

America, or the «New World», discovered by Christoforos Columbus in 1491, and was given the name of Amerigo Vespucci by the German cartographer and geographer Martin Waldseemüller in his famous work «Introduction to Geography», appeared in 1507. This is what one finds in a book of geography. Although it is now believed that some people of the «old world» had reached the new one, without knowing that this was a new continent. (Even Columbus in his first trip when moored to Antilles, thinking that had reached to India from west, named it West India). The subject if the ancients knew America is very old and a lot has referred about. Being impossible to be referred to all these here we are restricted mainly to those written by Chysanthos Notaras* in his book «Introduction to the Spherical and Geographical» published at Paris in 1716. Notaras had studied mathematics, astronomy and geography in Italy and in France. He had taken a very good education and he published the forgoing mentioned book, with the financial support of Skarlatos Mavrokordatos*. As Notaras belonged to those who identified America with the lost island Atlantis, we start with the arguments being in favour of this idea. Then, the opposite arguments are given. We continue with Notaras’ ideas and believe, which are not taken only from the ancient sources, but from the Bible, too. And finish with a general discussion.

Rom. Astron. J., Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 131–138, Bucharest, 1999

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2. ATLANTIS: THE LOST ISLAND 2.1 ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF ATLANTIS’ EXISTENCE

The most significant arguments of these who believe that the myth about the lost island of Atlantis is true are the follows: 1) Plato*, Πλάτων, in his two dialogues title «Timaios», Τίμαιος, and «Kritias», Κριτίας, respectively, mentioned a huge lost island Atlantis, Ατλαντίς, (see Appendix 1 A & B). 2) Similarly, in the book «About the World» to Alexander the Great –which others believe is a work of Aristotle*, Αριστοτέλης, and others of his student Theofrastos*, Θεόφραστος– Atlantis is mentioned; because, it is referred that, except Europe, Asia and Africa there are other big islands, too. 3) Diodoros* the Sicilian, Διόδωρος ο Σικελιώτης, who in his first book reports: «In the very early times, the Phoenix while traveled outside the Hercules Columns round Africa, and suffered because of very huge waves due to very bad weather, and as their impetuous wind pushed them far away the coast, finally reached in a very big island, to the westerners, opposite Africa. It has rich vegetation, good production, and is irrigated by rivers, in which boats can travel, and built with luxurious buildings». 4) Philip Kluwer, describing America –in his sixth book, Chapter 11– writes that the ancients had traveled to other places, too, except to the «old world». And refers both to Plato and Diodoros, and what is written there about Atlantis. 2.2 ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE IDEA

On the other hand, the most important arguments of those who believe that what is referred about the lost island of Atlantis is not true, and Atlantis did not exist, are: 1) Τhe two excellent geographers Ptolemy, Πτολεμαίος, and Stravon*, Στράβων, did not mention anything about. On the contrary, they refer that: «…except from Spain and Africa not any other continent exists». (Actually, according to the against the idea people, the reason for which Ptolemy had put the first Meridian at the Makaroi* islands, i.e. Canary islands, was that he considered them as being the far West point). 2) Ιf the Greeks who exaggerated and made such a huge legend the trip of Argonauts to Κολχίς (Kolhis), as a big and excellent achievement, they would say much more about a trip to Atlantis. Because it is by far bigger/longer and much more marvelous than that (of the Argonauts) and, consequently, they would leave to their descendants, a clearest reference and not these dark and doubtful Plato’s histories. 3) As concerns Diodoros’s testimony, it is said that his first six books are all mythology. And even if that referred in his book «About Cosmos» were considered true, how it is concluded that it is about America and not for the Makaroi or the

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Azores islands? 3. NOTARAS ARGUMENTS

First of all, Notaras thinks that all against arguments are said without the right judgment. And as geographer answers that the Geographer’ duty is to refer the known parts of the world and not the unknown. So, Notaras starts saying that both Ptolemy and Stravon not refer anything about Atlantis did wisely as geographers. Then, he gives a lot of other arguments and explanations to defend his opinion. And although in his book, the arguments are given in the text one after the other, here we number them for convenience; thus: 1) Notaras thinks that it is better not to mention something, if you don’t know it. Although the latter does not mean that this does not really exist, because you don’t tell about it, or you are not referring to it. 2) He thinks that lie these who maintain that neither Ptolemy nor Stravon refer nothing about Atlantis. Since Stravon agrees somehow for its existence. Because, in the second book of his «Geographics», he writes: «And as Plato refers, it is possible that what is said for the island Atlantis not to be fantastic». Moreover, Stravon did not consider impossible to exist another inhabited place, too, except the known ones in his epoch. 3) When some say that if there is something real in Plato & his colleagues’ words, then it is about the Makaroi or the Azores islands and not about America, Notaras answers: "it concerns America, because Atlantis (i.e. America) is referred to be bigger than Africa and Asia together while the Makaroi and Azores islands are not". 5) He thinks that if Aristotle considered Plato’s story unreal and fictitious, he had to say too much against him, as he did with others. Because Aristotle is opposed to everybody, and much more his followers, the Aristotelians, would be against Plato; but this is not so. 6) Moreover, he concludes that Aristotle «many other islands knew except the known to us world, and much more greater than this, America and Maggelanic and probably some others unknown to us yet located under the North or the South Pole». 7) As concerns Diodoros's story, (about the overseas trip of the Phoenix), Notaras answers that they said and wrote only what they really knew about, and not for unknown things. (It seems to him that the ancient Greeks knew about Atlantis only by Solon’s narration, and they had not travelled there. On the contrary, the Argonauts had travelled to Kolhis; and this was the reason that they wrote about their travel, as they knew what to write about). 8) Moreover, Notaras thinks that it is not true that the six first books of Diodoros are mythology, because most of what is written in them is real. 9) Kritias, in Plato’s dialogue Timaios, says: «Listen Socrates a very strange story, but which is real indeed». So, Kritias, himself, consider the story odd enough; but as he refers real and concrete persons, place, and time, Notaras thinks the story has to be

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real. (Indeed in this dialogue, Kritias refers real and concrete persons, i.e. his grandgrandfather Dropidis, Solon, etc., place i.e. the Egyptian city called Saes, Σαΐς, and time, i.e. the third and last day of the celebration of Apatouria*). 10) It was not possible the priests of Egypt, or Solon, or Diodoros to have dreamed all these, which afterwards proven to be real. 11) The Deukalion’s, cataclysm does not refute the bigger cataclysm. 12) As regards all these said or written by the ancients about Atlantis and not suit to America, Notaras thinks this is due to the fact that the story contains some lies, as well. Because it is referred that Atlantis was a huge island outside the Hercules Columns, which destroyed by strong earthquakes and cataclysms and finally sink. On the other hand, America is not an island, it is huge as its size is as big as the old world together, and it is far away the Hercules Columns. 13) According to Notaras, it seems that Seneca, in his work Media, talks about this continent, although some others think that is nothing but poetic enthusiasm. 14) The Karchidonian Imilkos, the only one who undertook a trip beyond the Hercules Columns refers that he was travelling for four months. And he also refers the calm, the silence and the small depth of the sea at that position. And he mentions other things, too, which others and with the same way, referred by those who became travellers and investigators of America during the last years. 15) In the book of The Omitted (in the Bible) it is referred (Chapter 9, §21) that: «Because the King (Solomon) had ships that travel to Tharsis, with his servants Hiram. And the ships came every three years from Tharsis full of gold, silver, elephants and monkeys». And in the same book, it is referred (Chapter 3, §6) that: «And he (the King Solomon) decorated the House of God with valuable stones and with pure gold coming from Farouim». And Notaras continues: The word Faruim, pronounced Parvagim, in the Judi’s language, or Paruem, according to the Seventy’s. Thus: Because of the three years duration of the trip, and for the similarity of the word Paruem with the district of the South America Peruvia, many think that America was known during Solomon’s time.

4. DISCUSSION

Although our subject is if the ancients knew America, it turned to be mainly about the lost island Atlantis. This was so, because we restricted to Notaras ideas, developed in the Chapter ΙΘ', Part Four of his book, pp. 149-153. And, as it was mentioned in the beginning, and shown in the aformated arguments, he belonged to those who identify America with Atlantis. This comes especially from his arguments no. 3 & no.12. This is really very strange, especially as it is referred that Atlantis was sink. Not to mention the difference in its size, and in position, about which Notaras was aware, too. And certainly it is different to believe the existence of a place, and another thing its

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position. This does not mean that his book was not good. On the contrary, it is a very interesting book, it was used as textbook, and offered a lot to many generations. A lot have been said and written about the lost island Atlantis. As regards its existence, it was clearly proven from all foregoing mentioned that Notaras believed that it was really existed. For this reason all of his arguments were against those who did not believe it. Moreover, he re-arranged the accusations of those who criticise Plato's story and somehow erroneously wrote: «If we follow the same syllogism, we have to admit that all these referred in History are all myths. And they have allegorical meaning like Europe, Asia, Atlantic Ocean, Egypt, etc. It is obvious that Solon's story is mixed with some lies, too; but this does not refute the event, itself, but only its incidents». Except Atlantis existence, too many have been written for its position, too. There are, for example, some that think Atlantis was at the island of Santorini, Σαντορίνη, (or Thera, Θήρα), because as is known a big part of it was sink, during an earthquake made approximately in the 15th century BC. These, add another argument, too: that it is impossible the Athenians to be in war with the inhabitants of an island too far away, if Atlantis was really located outside the Hercules Columns. This opinion seems to be not correct, even after the last years’ discoveries at the island of Thera, because of the following main reasons: a) Because of Atlantis position, according to Plato, i.e. outside the Hercules Columns; (The recently discovered megalithic monuments across the Atlantic Ocean West Europe, and Africa, which are older than the Pyramids in Egypt are in favour of this as well); b) Because of Atlantis huge size: bigger than Libya and Asia together. (And although Asia means Asia the Minor, Libya, on the other hand, means the whole northern part of Africa. So, it is impossible to be an island in the Mediterranean Sea, and much more in the Aegean Sea); c) There were not the old Athenians who started the war, which would be strange enough because of the big distance. The habitants of Atlantis wanted to enslave the whole known at their time world. So, the old Athenians simply resister to them, (Appendix 1, B). Going on, as the subject is if the ancients knew America, we agree with most of Notaras’ arguments, but not with all, and in particular with these in which he identified the lost island of Atlantis with America, as was already mentioned. Actually, we think that it is clearly said in Timaios that the island of Atlantis, although huge, as it is referred to be bigger than Libya and Asia together, is different than the opposite continent. Recalling the old text, from Timaios, (translated to modern Greek): «… Διότι τότε το εκεί πέλαγος ήταν πλεύσιμο, καθώς μπροστά στην είσοδο αυτού που εσείς καλείτε Στήλες του Ηρακλή υπήρχε νήσος. Η δε νήσος ήταν μεγαλύτερη

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από τη Λιβύη και την Ασία μαζί. Ήταν δε δυνατό να πάει κανείς και στα άλλα τριγύρω νησιά, και από τα νησιά στην αντικρινή ήπειρο που βρίσκεται στον πραγματικό εκείνο ωκεανό. Γιατί τα μέρη εκείνα που είναι από την εδώ πλευρά του στομίου που αναφέραμε, φαίνονται σαν λιμάνι με στενή είσοδο. Εκείνα όμως που είναι από την άλλη πλευρά του στομίου είναι πραγματικός ωκεανός και η ξηρά που το περικλείει πολύ σωστά λέγεται ήπειρος…». That is: « … Because this sea was at those times sailing, as there was an island, in the entrance of the place which you call Hercules Columns. This island was bigger than Libya and Asia together. And it was possible to travel to the near by islands, too; and from the islands to go to the opposite continent which lies in the real ocean. Because, the places lay in the internal part of the previous mentioned entrance, looks like a harbour with a narrow entry. Those, which are in the other part of the entrance it is real ocean and the land enclosing it, is correctly called continent… ». Of course, it is different to know about America and to have travelled there. So, it seems that the ancients knew about this continent existence, which is clearly given in the aformated part of Timaios. As regards if they had travelled there, this is not clear. Some believed that it was so, as is written that from the islands you could go to the opposite continent. Moreover, some believed that during the King Solomon times his ships travel there, (see Notaras argument no. 15). But although Notaras gives the references to the Bible, he does not mention that he approves or agrees with them. Finally, in favour of this idea are the Olmecs' culture ruins, found in many regions of centre America. Their origin is not known and remains a mystery. So, many correlate it with the myth of the lost island of Atlantis, considering the Olmecs' culture as the continuation of that of Atlantis. These think the Egyptian culture to have been affected by Atlantis culture, too. (Both Olmecs and Egyptian cultures are deeply religious). Concluding we think that although restricted to Notaras book, we got an idea on this really huge subject; a subject for which too many things have been written. A subject that is still open, and for which we have to have great expectations.

REFERENCES Plato, Dialogues: 1975, Volume 2, Timaios, Papyros Graphical Techn., translated by A. Papatheodorou. Plato, Dialogues: 1975, Volume 3, Kritias, Papyros Graphical Techn., translated by A. Papatheodorou. Notaras, Chr.: 1716, in «Introduction in the Spherical and Geographical», Chapter ΙΘ΄, pp.149-153, Paris. Spandagos V., Spandagou R., Travlou D.: 1995, «The Astronomers of the Ancient Greece», Athens. YDRIA (encyclopedia): 1978, Hellenic Publ. Co., Athens.

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APPENDIX 1

The myth of the lost huge island Atlantis survived and referred in two dialogues of Plato: Timaios and Kritias. In both of these dialogues, according to Kritias, when the wise man Solon was in Egypt, he visited the city of Saes, Σαΐς, from where the faro Amassis, Άμασης, comes from. There, at the holly place of the goddess Neigh, Νηίθ, Solon had a discussion with the priests about history, culture, and civilization. And they disclosed to him the secret of the lost island Atlantis, and the connection between it and the old Athens. This story was written by Solon, who simultaneously translated the names in the Greek language according to their meaning, and not to their pronunciation. So according to Solon, the goddess Neigh, for example, was the goddess Athena. In the following we give shortly some information about these two dialogues, to help the readers to understand better the subject. A. Plato dialogue title «Timaios», Τίμαιος

This is the About Nature dialogue among Socrates, Timaios, Kritias and Ermokrates. It is considered as continuation of the previous day’s talk developed by Socrates; and which was about the «ideal country» for which Plato has written in his famous work «State», «Πολιτεία». The subject of the dialogue «Timaios» is about the nature and the creation of the Universe, i.e. cosmogony. It is considered as a short review of Plato teaching and believes, and was developed by Timaios. In the beginning of the dialogue, and before the development of the main subject, Kritias –following Ermokrates suggestion– talks about the myth of the island Atlantis. It is thus written that: This island was huge, bigger than Libya and Asia together, and was outside the Hercules Columns. Kritias had learned about by his grandfather, who had heard all these by Solon. The latter had heard all these by an Egyptian priest during his trip (and tour) to Egypt. The island was very rich in both animals and greenfinch, and its inhabitants were very happy, and kept the rules, until the time their kings decided to enslave all other known countries of Europe, Asia, and Libya. The only ones who opposed them were the habitants of the old Athens, who managed to win them and free those who where enslaved. Unfortunately, soon after very strong earthquakes happened resulting to Athens’ destroy and Atlantis’ sink. This is actually the reason for which the new Athenians did not know anything about, as the Egyptian priest explained; and for this he characterised them as «eternally young in soul», meaning that «there is no any knowledge left concerning the old tradition». And as an example the priest referred the one cataclysm known to the Greeks (the Deukalion’s one), while many others had also

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happened. B. Plato dialogue title «Kritias», Κριτίας

This is the Atlantic or Moral dialogue. It is an unfinished dialogue, continuation of «Timaios», made among the same persons. In it Kritias develops the organization of the huge island Atlantis. Kritias explained that he knows all these about, by the original Solon’s writings. These had given by Solon to his grand-grandfather, Dropidis. And Kritias use to read and study them when he was a child. Kritias, starts with the story of Atlantis’ inhabitants, who were the 10 sons of the god Poseidon, born by the mortal Kleto, Κλειτώ or Κλητώ, in five births of twins. (This happened because during the earth’s division among the gods, the island draws lots to Poseidon. Atlas was the first and older child of the god Poseidon. His twin brother was Eumelos, Εύμηλος, who in the local language is called Gadeiros; Gadeira was named after him). Kritias continuous with a detail description of the island, its magnificent buildings, roads, trenches, hippodromes, fountains of cold and hot water etc. Kritias goes on with the rules of the island. Finally, after many generations, as the divine element blotted out and the human character surpassed, they did not have the strength to be satisfied with their happiness, but started to behave badly. And the dialogue stops when Jupiter calls all other gods to discuss how to face this situation.

APPENDIX 2

Apatouria, Απατούρια: Celebration of the ancient Attica region. It lasted for 3 days and it was dedicated to family relations between sons and fathers. Aristotle, Αριστοτέλης: (384–332) BC. He was possibly the greatest philosopher and founder of almost all scientific subjects. He was Plato’s student and teacher of Alexander the Great. Kritias, Κριτίας: (460–404) BC. He was Athenian politician, public speaker and poet maker. He was one of the Athens’ 30 tyrants. He was Socrates’ student. Makaroi islands, Νησιά των Μακάρων: Makaroi islands named by the ancient Greeks the today Canary islands. Plinios called them «fortunate insulae». Their name comes from the Greek word μάκαρ, i.e. eternity happy. So, it coincides with the Paradise. It was a place for the heroes, and other distinguished persons, who according to the myth did not die but lived there very happy, as in this place the weather conditions were perfect, and the islands were full of goods. Ptolemy considered the meridian passing

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through four of these islands as the first one, because he regarded them the western part of the known world. Mavrokordatos Skarlatos, Σκαρλάτος Μαυροκορδάτος: He was son of the prince Nicolaos Mavrokordatos. He died very young at his 21 years in 1721, (Memorie del Cardinale Bentivoglio, Venetia 1668). Notaras Chysanthos, Χρύσανθος Νοταράς: 1655? - 1731. He was archiepiskope of Jerusal since 1707 till his death. He was from the historical Byzantine Notaras family, and he came from the small town Trikala of Peloponese. He educated at Patavio (Padua) and in France, where he studied mainly astronomy and geography. He published the first universal chart in the Greek language at Patabio in 1700. Notaras book title: «Introductio ad geographian et sphaeram», i.e. «Introduction to the geographical and sphaerical», was published at Paris in 1716, and was used as textbook for many years. Notaras was interested to spread astronomy and geography in all Orthodox Christians of our eastern countries. For this reason except his book he constructed or bought astronomical instruments, which he sent to various places. Plato, Πλάτων: (429–327) BC. He is considered as one of the greater philosophers of the ancient Greece, and probably all epochs. His father was Ariston and his mother Periktione; there is a possibility the latter to be identified to the Pythagorean philosopher with the same name. His official name was Aristocle, Αριστοκλής, and he belonged to a distinguished aristocratic Athenian family. The philosopher Kritias was Plato grandfather from his mother’s side. Plato was well educated, and was initiated to philosophy while being very young. He was very much influenced by Socrates ideas, and was related very closely with him. As he travelled a lot, he was aware and influenced by the various philosophical ideas of his epoch. And when he came back to Athens, he established the philosophical School, known as «Academia», which is considered as the second University of the world, (the first one being that of the Pythagorean School). Although Plato was mainly a philosopher, his works are full with references to Maths and Astronomy. And in the Academy there were not accepted those who did not know geometry, astronomy and music. Plato, in his dialogues «State» and «Timaios», describes his astronomical system, which is the geocentric one. Although it seems that the heliocentric system was known to Academia, since he bought and studied Filolaos works. This is also shown from the problems discussed among his colleagues. Pytheas the Massaliotis, Πυθέας ο Μασσαλιώτης: 4rth century BC. He was Greek who came from Marseille, from which he got his name. He was geographer, mathematician and great explorer. He investigated the west coasts of Europe, England and went till the Shetlands islands, and Island. His trips were made between 332 and 310 BC, during

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Alexander the Great expedition. The latter had very probably ordered him and was financially supported his trips. Pytheas wrote the notes of his travels in books. Many of the ancient writers considered his stories as myths, among them Stravon and Poluvios. On the other hand, many others regarded them as real; among them were Eratosthenes, Hipparchos, Plinios, Ploutarchos etc. The latter consider him as daring navigator, great astronomer and mathematician. According to Plinios, he made known to the Greeks the Baltic Sea and the island Thule, which he called: «the northerner of the Britannics». Pytheas mentioned that its inhabitants showed him «the Sun’s bed», because the winter’s nights seem to be unfinished there. He introduced the geographical latitude, and studied the relation between tides and the Moon phases. Solon, Σόλων: (630–580) BC. Athenian politician and poet maker he was one of the seven Wiseman. He made laws and established democracy in ancient Athens. Theofrastos, Θεόφραστος: (427–347) BC. He was friend, student and successor of Aristotle in the Lyceum management. He has written many works and he was naturalist and psychologist, too. Timaios, Τίμαιος: 5th century BC. He was come from Lokrus, Λοκρούς, which was an ancient city of the south Italy. He was philosopher, mathematician and astronomer. He established a Pythagorean School at the city of Lokrus, when the School at Kroton was dissolved. He was Plato teacher when the latter visited the south Italy. He wrote the works title: «About the Nature», «About Pythagoras Life», and an astronomical one; both the content and the title of which are unknown. Stravon, Στράβων: 63 BC–20AC. He was great geographer, traveller and mathematician, who came from Amassea at the Euxine Pontus. In 17 books he wrote his «Geographical», which include many meteorological and climates notes, as well as measurements’ results. In his books the works made by Hipparchos, Eratoshenes, Poseidonios and others well known ancient scientists are referred.