Helen Blavatsky, a Russian mystic and founder of the Theosophical Society, was amongst those who were directly influenced by Donnelly’s work. Whereas Plato believed that the Atlanteans were purely a military entity, Blavatsky believed that they were actually a more culturally rich and sophisticated civilization.
In fact, she even believed that her own race was deeply rooted in the Atlanteans, or what she called the “Root Race”. However, the Atlanteans contributed to their own downfall, engaging in one too many internal battles influenced by supernatural powers.
Pillars Of Hercules
Though Donnelly’s findings were predominantly speculative, his theory was largely directed by the belief that the Atlantic Ocean was just a couple hundred feet deep.
He thought that a continent had been flooded by colliding ocean waters in the location once written by Plato – just by the “Pillars of Hercules,” which are nowadays known as the two rocks at the entry of the Straits of Gibraltar. But is Donnelly’s theory still considered reliable after over a century of scientific developments?
Dated Theory?
Donnelly’s theory shares the same location with Plato’s description of the area of Atlantis, it still remains popular among a number of today’s theorists. Unfortunately, due to better understanding and knowledge of how plate tectonics work, this theory has since been debunked by modern oceanographers.
The whole idea of the waters shifting leading to the sinking of Atlantis ultimately seemed ridiculous at this point. However, this didn’t stop theorists from expanding Donnelly’s work.
Dark Chapter
Blavatsky would have never imagined that her theories would create the kind of damaging repercussions they have today. After writing down her own beliefs in her book entitled The Secret Doctrine, it actually became an article of inspiration for the German Nazis. Mentioning the myths of Hyperborea, or a land that was home to a godlike race, Blavatsky contributed to the whole ideology of Nazism.
Though this was a dark turn in the pseudo-history of Atlantis, there were actually more impartial theorists that came along.
Next Generation
The next group of theorists actually started to contribute their own ideas of where they thought the city of Atlantis may have been located. Charles Berlitz, one of the most notable of those theorists, actually wrote several books about paranormal activity, eventually branching into the fantasy of Atlantis.
Unfortunately, his theory relied on information we could probably never have the means to clarify.