Eye Of Africa: Is it Really Atlantis?

Atlantis is an enigma since ancient times. Even to this day, the mystery of the sunken utopian city still raises questions about its location and supposed existence. In recent years, the Richat Structure of the Eye of Africa became a subject to speculations because of its structure that matched Plato's description of the sunken continent. Theories about Atlantis' remnants often point to the sea as the final resting place of the fallen advanced civilization. But recent speculations and theories often put the Richat Structure into question. The place strangely parallels the description of Atlantis made by the Greek Philosopher Plato through a discussion between his characters named Critias and Timaeus.

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The concentric islands with moats and walls as described by Timaeus, one of Plato's characters in his works has parallels on the appearance of the Eye of Africa as seen from space. This structure is just like the Nazca Line; it s best-viewed overhead but in the case of the Eye of Africa, its full glory can be seen from space. 

Theorists also find it interesting that the location of the Eye of Sahara face the Atlantic coastline because this structure is located at Mauritania. The Atlantic Ocean is one of the probable places according to many theories that the remnants of the former Atlantis. There are also speculations that contrary to the popular belief, the city of Atlantis once thrived in the Saharan region when it was still lush green and full of vegetation.

All these speculations regarding the true nature of The Richat Structure or Eye of Africa as scientists widely discredit the true Atlantis are mainstream sources; it turned out that the Richat Structure was formed 100 million years ago and the shape of this eye is merely a product of the psychological phenomenon called pareidolia. 

Image: Design by XL

So what is pareidolia? According to Pamela Ferdinand, it is the scientific explanation for some people is pareidolia, or the human ability to see shapes or make pictures out of randomness. Think of the Rorschach inkblot test. Artistic depictions of how Plato described Atlantis also helped to perpetuate this recent belief of the supposed true origins of the Eye of Africa. 

To answer this question: The Eye of Africa, is it really the Atlantis? The answer is probably no. Patterns of the continental drift may have contributed to the concentric shape of the Richat Structure. And Plato's account of Atlantis is a mix of fiction, allegory, and history.

Want to know more about Atlantis? Here are the suggested readings or books about the mythical place. The Timeus and Critias by Plato(Penguin Classic Translation), Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization by Graham Hancock, Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings: Evidence of Advanced Civilization in the Ice Age by Charles H. Hapgood, The Atlantis Blueprint: Unlocking the Ancient Mysteries of a Long-lost Civilization by Rand Flem-Ath, Ancient Egypt 39,000 BCE: The History, Technology, and Philosophy of Civilization X by Edward F. Malkowski and Aristotle and Atlantis - What did the philosopher really think about Plato's island empire? by  Thorwald C. Franke