Atlantis was a legendary continent that many people believe sank into the Atlantic Ocean thousands of years ago. The first mention of Atlantis appeared during the 300’s B.C. in Critias and Timaeus, two works by the Greek philosopher Plato. According to Plato, a brilliant civilization once existed on Atlantis. But its people became corrupt and greedy, and so the gods punished them. During one day and night, great explosions shook Atlantis, and the continent sank into the sea. 
Plato’s tale of Atlantis fascinated many people of later times. They developed various theories about the location of the continent and how it disappeared. Many scholars and amateurs have tried to discover the remains of Atlantis. Some people have claimed that Atlantis was the basis of all later civilizations.
Today, many scholars believe Atlantis was actually the island of Thira in the Aegean Sea, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of the larger island of Crete. Volcanic eruptions destroyed most of Thira about 1470 B.C. and largely wiped out the Minoan civilization, which had flourished on both Thira and Crete. Scholars think this civilization and its collapse inspired Plato’s description of Atlantis.
See also Aegean civilization.
