Ancient Atlantis is a legendary island civilization first mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato around 360 BCE in his works Timaeus and Critias. According to his account:

• Atlantis was a highly advanced and powerful society, flourishing thousands of years before his time.

• It was said to be located beyond the Pillars of Hercules (likely the Strait of Gibraltar), placing it somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

• The civilization boasted abundant natural resources, an elaborate city built in concentric rings, and remarkable architecture and technology.

• Over time, the people of Atlantis grew corrupt and arrogant, leading to their downfall.

• The island was ultimately destroyed by massive floods and earthquakes, sinking into the sea in a single day and night.

Plato may have intended the tale as a philosophical warning about the dangers of pride and moral decay. Still, the story has sparked centuries of speculation—some treat it as pure myth, while others believe it might be based on a real lost civilization.