This episode of National Geographic’s Naked Science revolves around the fabled lost city of Atlantis, believed to have been destroyed by a natural disaster some 11,000 years ago. Filmmakers explore ancient ruins at four locations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to confirm or disprove theories about where Atlantis might be and if it existed.
Author Ignatius Donnelly first sparked public interest in exploring Atlantis in the 19th century, and the quest is still going strong today. First introduced by the writings of Plato, Atlantis is said to have been an advanced, complex civilization rich in art and culture. It is widely believed that the tsunami brought Atlantis to an end, and its remains are widely believed to lie underwater. The filmmakers cited certain details in Plato’s descriptions of the doomed metropolis, such as the city’s layout and ritual customs such as animal sacrifices, as a benchmark to determine whether any of the sites they visited were actually possible It is the remains of this legendary city.
The filmmakers travel to Malta, the Bahamas, Greece and Cuba to assess ancient structures above and below the sea, while we learn some of the historical reasons behind the selection of these locations. For example, the leaders of the NSDAP focused first on Malta. The SS had a vested interest in the location of Atlantis, as they believed their “super race” might have originated there, and evidence of this would prove to their advantage. In the 1940s, a self-proclaimed psychic named Edgar Cayce predicted that Atlantis would rise again near Bimini, Bahamas. In 1968, the discovery of an underwater rock formation known today as the Bimini Road led some to speculate that these large, flat structures were remnants of Atlantis.
Interviews with guides, researchers, and general Atlantean enthusiasts paint a more complete picture of a mythical society and those who seek it, and weigh its existence against the arguments for doubt and wonder. Naked Science: Atlantis is a fun and unique travelogue that takes viewers on a fun and whimsical transatlantic journey that sparks imagination and curiosity.
