HEARTIFACT IS OUT on NOVEMBER 24TH!
Happy Thanksgiving! Join me in welcoming Ash to my blog today with his newest novella, Heartifact!
Net proceeds benefit the The Trevor Project in the US,
le Refuge in France, and Arcigay in Italy
Heartifact is available from
Amazon, Amazon UK, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
THE MYTH OF ATLANTIS
A very special thank you to Lisa for hosting me today. It’s great to be here!
The myth of Atlantis (Greek, Atlas) stems from two Dialogues written by Plato in 360 BC, Timaeus and Critias. The dialogues speak of an island utopian society destroyed by a cataclysm of some sort. It is correct that these Dialogues represent the written record of the myth of Atlantis, but it is incorrect that they are the source of the myth. Egyptians told the story of Atlantis to Solon, one of the seven sages of ancient Greece, during one of his pilgrimages to Egypt. The Egyptians showed him several records of antiquity speaking to the incomparable power and prestige of the utopian empire which dominated the world 9,000 years before; and further pointed out that the Greeks had been wiped off the face of the earth alongside the people of Atlantis, with whom they were at war. Few survived, and the Egyptians purported that this is why Greeks had no memory of Atlantis. Solon passed the story on to Socrates. Socrates was Plato’s mentor, and one night at a dinner party when Plato was a youngster, he snuck in to listen to the tale told by Socrates. He recounts Socrates’ retelling of the myth in these Dialogues. It is important to note that the hieroglyphs of Egypt represent some of the most accurate historical records in existence today (and the story of Atlas does not mention the Atlantic Ocean).
In 1453, the Turks invaded the Holy Land cutting off Spain’s land-faring trade routes with the Far East. Along came Christopher Columbus who had a secret desire to find Atlantis. Under the auspices of finding seafaring trade routes for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, he sought to find Atlantis and, instead, bumped into the Americas. But his belief that Atlantis was in the Atlantic Ocean lingers in the myth today.
In 1665, Don Carlos de Sigüenza, set out to demonstrate that his Mexican ancestors had formed a civilization to rival Rome by proving that the pyramids of Teotijuacan were like those of ancient Egypt. To make a long story short, he ultimately believed he’d found Atlantis because the wipeout of the Teotijuacan civilization corresponds to the biblical prophecy that people disbursed around the globe after the flood, the flood purporting to correspond to the destruction of Atlantis. (No mention of Noah’s animals.) But his belief that Atlantis was destroyed by a flood lingers in the myth today.
In the 17th century, a dude named Sir Francis Bacon writes a fable entitled The New Atlantis. This is the first reworking of Plato’s Dialogues and sparks renewed interest in the search for Atlantis. In this fable, he ascribes advanced technology to the people of Atlantis. From this point forward, people believed Atlantians were extremely advanced, so much so as to exceed the advancements of today.
Along comes John Dee, a magician and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth who, through crystal gazing and a series of horrifying occult experiments, claims he can communicate with the spirits of Atlantis. From this point forward, people believed the Atlantians were to have had all sorts of special abilities such as mindreading, prescience, etc.
In 1870, a French guy by the name of Jules Verne writes a fabulous tale, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and credits the story to the myth of Atlantis. At that time in history, most people didn’t know how to swim, hadn’t been in the ocean, but somehow knew sea monsters existed that may eat ships and most certainly ate people. Verne paints a picture of a utopian society beneath the sea (no sea monsters included). From this point forward, people believed Atlantians lived beneath the sea.
Around the same time, German businessman, Heinrich Schliemann, discovers the ruins of Troy by reading a literal translation of Homer. Homer’s works are fiction, but Schliemann’s discovery confirms the fact that all fiction is based in some truth. From that point forward, people deemed Plato’s Dialogues to be a reliable source to locate Atlantis.
In 1880, loser politician, Ignatius Donnelly, finds himself with time on his hands and, galvanized by Schliemann’s find, becomes obsessed with finding Atlantis. He performs all manner of armchair exploration and learns a mountain range stretches from Iceland to South America deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean, the highest peaks of which are the Azores and Canary Islands. Thereafter, people believed one could walk from Egypt to South America at one time and this explained how like pyramids, cultures, hieroglyphs, etc. ended up on opposite sides of the globe. He writes a pseudoscientific book, Atlantis, the Antediluvian World, and has now added fodder to the idea that Atlantis was once above the sea, but sank into the depths during a flood.
Around the same time (1873), Helena Blavatzky, a penniless Russian grandmother, self-proclaimed occult guru, and confirmed nutcase, alleges that only Arian Hindu’s retain Atlantean racial superiority and are the oldest people in the world. It is her attribution of a fair complexion and blue eyes to the people of Atlantis that survives in the myth today. The Third Reich later seizes upon this idea. You know that story, so I’ll move on.
In 1899, archeologist Arthur Evans unearths the remains of a hidden civilization on the island of Crete. These mysterious sea-trading people worshipped the bull, built labyrinthine buildings, and painted incredible frescos. Having nothing to do with Atlantis, this civilization was named Minoa (after Greek mythological figure King Minos, who happened to be the father of the minotaur). What is unique about this civilization is that it demonstrated highly advanced water technology thus lending to Sir Francis Bacon’s theory of Atlantians having advanced technology. Minoans are the single greatest mystery in all of classical history. We don’t know where they came from or what happened to them.
Thirty-five years later while excavating on the island of Santorini, Greek archeologist, Spyradon Marinatos, uncovers a mysterious civilization buried beneath thirty feet of volcanic rock lending to the idea that the destruction of Atlantis occurred as a result of a massive volcano eruption and not a flood. He excavates the village in 1967 and headlines around the world read “Atlantis Found!” This civilization was not that of Atlantis and was named Akrotiri. Yet, anyone who lives on Santorini will tell you that the beloved island is Atlantis. js.
Along comes another clairvoyant who claims Atlantis will rise from the Caribbean island of Bimini in 1968 or so. Expeditions occur only to learn that many Spanish Galleons wrecked on the coral reefs and dumped giant Corinthian stones used for ballast, thus creating what is now known as the undersea Bimini Road, and not a long lost road of Atlantis. This story adds more fodder to Atlantis having sunk into the Atlantic sea.
What is important to note from the above is that each event involving Atlantis has added something to Plato’s original description of nothing more than an island utopia destroyed by a cataclysm.
All fiction is, in part, based in truth, and everyone reads the accomplishments and reasons for destruction of Atlantis differently. As people, we tend to project the things we most admire (highest aspirations), and at the same time, the things we’re most afraid of (dangerous fantasies of perfection). All said, we can’t resist the notion that somewhere in the gloomy deep, Atlantis exists.
Thanks for having me on your blog, Lisa! Go read Heartifact! It’s a great book. Besides, you can enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card and two signed books from me!
Check out this EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
“Welcome to the team,” Areleous said in perfect, but accented, English.
“Thank you. It’s an honor to be here, sir,” Harper responded.
After further polite chatter, they shared a wonderful meal of lamb, vegetables, feta cheese, and olives, and Areleous proceeded to explain the expedition. “Do you know the story of Calypso and Odysseus?”
Harper nodded. “Sure. Odysseus’ ship wrecked at Ogygia and the nymph Calypso, daughter of Atlas, held him captive in a cave for seven years intending to marry him. She eventually freed Odysseus at Zeus’ request. Some think Ogygia is the island of Gavdos, the southernmost island of Greece. Others believe Ogygia is the island of Gozo, the northern island of Malta.”
Raptis nodded appreciatively. “You know Homer and Greek archaeological history well, Dr. Kidd.”
“Thank you.”
Areleous continued. “From various discoveries, we know the island of Gavdos was inhabited by Minoans more than five thousand years ago. Lavrakas is full of Minoan caves and tombs.”
Harper began to worry. He didn’t know whether he’d explode or excuse himself politely and abruptly fly back to the US if Areleous brought up Atlantis. The mere mention of Atlantis was the death knell of any archaeologist’s career. Not to mention, those who speculated that the Minoan and Atlantean cultures were one and the same were summarily dismissed with disdain. Atlantis was purported to have existed in 9500 BC and the Minoans inhabited the Greek islands between 5000 and 1450 BC. Nonetheless, Harper tried to keep an open mind and nodded politely.
Areleous took a sip of wine before continuing. “At the beginning of the Byzantine era, the island had approximately eight thousand inhabitants, and the economy was supported by the Egyptians who imported cedar oil and salt from Gavdos to mummify their kings. By the end of the Venetian era, the population abandoned the island and it became a pirate stronghold. Barbarossa used it in 1539.”
Good old Red Beard the pirate. Now we’re getting somewhere, Harper thought hopefully.
Metaxas took over for Areleous and continued the history lesson. “Gavdos served other purposes. It served as a trading post for Egyptians and Phoenicians, second only to Pavlopetri, during the fourth century BC. More importantly, it was an outpost for damaged tetriris.”
Harper searched his memory for the meaning of tetriris and came up blank.
“I believe you use the Latin word trireme.”
Harper now recalled the reference. “Carthaginian warships?”
Raptis smiled. “First used by Alexander the Great in the siege on Tyre.”
“What do Calypso, Minoans, pirates, and Alexander’s warships have in common?”
Metaxas ignored Harper’s question and took another sip of wine before continuing. “During Alexander’s conquests and for a few years after his death, the privateer Glauketas roamed the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Under the guise of privateer, he pirated the spoils of war from Alexander’s ships. The Athenian Navy eventually captured him on the island of Kythnos, but never recovered the plunder. It is said he buried it in Calypso’s lair off Liviko Pelagos.”
Harper knew Liviko Pelagos was the Libyan Sea and he brightened. “We’re going on a treasure hunt?”
“With complications,” Areleous interjected.
About the Book
Harper Kidd is a highly respected marine archaeologist. Yet, with the economy in a slump, he’s trapped working in an oil company’s exploration division. Now, at the ripe age of thirty, Harp is disgusted with his employer’s damage to the undersea world he loves, tired of his ATM-card-filching ex, and tormented by beautiful dreams of an undersea lover. It’s time for a change and when his best friend, Stick, pleads with him to assist on a deep-sea dig in the Mediterranean, he jumps at the chance.
Harper’s spirits are high when they discover the ruins of an ancient civilization, and soar to the heavens when they discover a statue of an ancient pelora, a mysterious hybrid creature said to mediate between the worlds of reality and fantasy—and the very lover who holds the starring role in his dreams.
When the crew discovers the site is teeming with unexploded ordnance from the conflicts in the Middle East, and the excavation turns deadly, Harper must choose between saving his best friend and saving the pelora he’s fallen in love with.
Heartifact is available from Men Over the Rainbow, Amazon, Amazon UK, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords || Read an excerpt on Love Bytes Reviews! en français
About the Author
Ash is an author who lives, most of the time, on the West Coast of the United States. Ash writes mystery thrillers, fantasy, science fiction, romance, and fiction for gay young adults as C. Kennedy.
Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Ash doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Ash contemplates such weighty questions as If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Ash can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much-maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary. Ash does respond to emails because, after all, it is all about you, the reader.
Find Ash on blog, Twitter @AislingMancy, Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, Booklikes, Dreamspinner Press Author Page, and Amazon!
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Thank you for the interesting post (I really find the myth of Atlantis fascinating) and the excerpt. The book sounds really good!
susanaperez7140(at)Gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the post =)