The Sinking of Atlantis...
Atlantis was a land of powerful wealth and natural resources, surrounded by water and protected by several rings of levies. This was the domain of Poseidon, god of the sea, whose temple and golden statue stood upon the highest hill.
For generations the people of Atlantis lived simple, honest and virtuous lives. Slowly, the people began to forget their principles. Greed and power started to corrupt them. Men of wealth began to worship their possessions rather than the gods. The poor would envy the rich, and evil was committed simply for the sake of experience.
The once pristine Atlantis had degraded into two districts. One occupied by the vast majority of the destitute and the other by those that exploited them. The rich lived a lavish lifestyle and felt no guilt in enjoying the luxuries of life while their fellow Atlantean suffered from abject poverty. The prosperous lived in palaces beside the temple. They were adorned with more gold and decorations than all the temples in the land. The needy were gathered a score to a hovel in the lowest plains of the land.
The penniless were powerless to help their position and yet the affluent criticized them saying that if they wanted a different lifestyle they were free to acquire it, for after all Atlantis was a Republic where man has rights and freedom. The opulent would utter this point while being guilty of oppressing the masses and prohibiting the actions needed to allow the poor to progress.
When Zeus saw the immorality of the Atlanteans he gathered the other gods to determine a suitable punishment. Given that this land was the former tribute of Poseidon, it was found fitting to allow the awesome power of the sea to extinguish the sins of Atlantis. Prometheus, argued that the poor were the victims of the rich and that they would further become victims of the gods. Apollo defended the action by saying that the numbers of the poor could defeat those that oppress, so they were guilty of idleness. Prometheus pleaded with Zeus to at least warn those of Atlantis so that the pure could be spared.
Zeus conceded to the warning and Poseidon followed with a sending the Kraken to create a devastating tidal wave to collide with Troy. The people of Troy overcame this destruction and made honorable and valiant efforts to rescue the city and its citizens from the scourge of the sea. Troy overcame the tragety and became strong from it. Word spread throughout the land of the valor and courage the Trojans displayed.
The stories reached Atlantis and the rich decided to hold a party to celebrate the victory of the Trojans over nature. The demagogues used this time to strengthen their hold over the masses. They warned that only through complete submission to the will of authority could Atlantis survive such tragedies. The rulers then claimed authority over the seas, air and land. And the gullible beggardly submitted with fear and obedience.
Now all the gods were in agreement. Atlantis had ignored their warning and had disrespected the gods. Poseidon was summoned to strike at will. Joining the Kraken, Poseidon with his mighty trident, stirred the seas and produced a mighty storm and sent it on course to Atlantis. The city learned of the oncoming swell. The poor trusted that their rulers would protect them. The rulers trusted that their extravagant estates beset upon the highest hills would save them.
Soon, in one violent surge the city was gone. Even the lavish mansions neighboring the temple to Poseidon upon the highest hill were destroyed. Neither rich nor poor escaped the sea's fury. The island of Atlantis, its people, and its memory were swallowed by the sea.
[ until katrina ]
For generations the people of Atlantis lived simple, honest and virtuous lives. Slowly, the people began to forget their principles. Greed and power started to corrupt them. Men of wealth began to worship their possessions rather than the gods. The poor would envy the rich, and evil was committed simply for the sake of experience.
The once pristine Atlantis had degraded into two districts. One occupied by the vast majority of the destitute and the other by those that exploited them. The rich lived a lavish lifestyle and felt no guilt in enjoying the luxuries of life while their fellow Atlantean suffered from abject poverty. The prosperous lived in palaces beside the temple. They were adorned with more gold and decorations than all the temples in the land. The needy were gathered a score to a hovel in the lowest plains of the land.
The penniless were powerless to help their position and yet the affluent criticized them saying that if they wanted a different lifestyle they were free to acquire it, for after all Atlantis was a Republic where man has rights and freedom. The opulent would utter this point while being guilty of oppressing the masses and prohibiting the actions needed to allow the poor to progress.
When Zeus saw the immorality of the Atlanteans he gathered the other gods to determine a suitable punishment. Given that this land was the former tribute of Poseidon, it was found fitting to allow the awesome power of the sea to extinguish the sins of Atlantis. Prometheus, argued that the poor were the victims of the rich and that they would further become victims of the gods. Apollo defended the action by saying that the numbers of the poor could defeat those that oppress, so they were guilty of idleness. Prometheus pleaded with Zeus to at least warn those of Atlantis so that the pure could be spared.
Zeus conceded to the warning and Poseidon followed with a sending the Kraken to create a devastating tidal wave to collide with Troy. The people of Troy overcame this destruction and made honorable and valiant efforts to rescue the city and its citizens from the scourge of the sea. Troy overcame the tragety and became strong from it. Word spread throughout the land of the valor and courage the Trojans displayed.
The stories reached Atlantis and the rich decided to hold a party to celebrate the victory of the Trojans over nature. The demagogues used this time to strengthen their hold over the masses. They warned that only through complete submission to the will of authority could Atlantis survive such tragedies. The rulers then claimed authority over the seas, air and land. And the gullible beggardly submitted with fear and obedience.
Now all the gods were in agreement. Atlantis had ignored their warning and had disrespected the gods. Poseidon was summoned to strike at will. Joining the Kraken, Poseidon with his mighty trident, stirred the seas and produced a mighty storm and sent it on course to Atlantis. The city learned of the oncoming swell. The poor trusted that their rulers would protect them. The rulers trusted that their extravagant estates beset upon the highest hills would save them.
Soon, in one violent surge the city was gone. Even the lavish mansions neighboring the temple to Poseidon upon the highest hill were destroyed. Neither rich nor poor escaped the sea's fury. The island of Atlantis, its people, and its memory were swallowed by the sea.
[ until katrina ]
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