Atlantis in the Book of Revelation © Nicholas Costa 2024
(Volcano lightning. Credit: Native Redcloud 3)
Saint John the Apostle was said to be the author of the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament. Its title is derived from the first word of its Greek text: apokalypsis, meaning ‘revelation’. The word apocalypse now signifies any universal or widespread catastrophe or disaster. The Book of Revelation deals with a future cataclysm which will engulf all mankind and culminate in the Second Coming of Christ. It is written in a typically Biblical manner whereby it appears to predict the future but in reality is drawing upon records of real cataclysmic events from the past. The technique known as vaticinium ex eventu was commonly used in antiquity. (See for example J. J. O’Hara, Death and the Optimistic Prophecy in Vergil’s Aeneid (2014) pp. 128-9.) Nobody hitherto has questioned as to why the early church fathers focused their attention upon Ephesus rather than elsewhere.
John is reputed to have written the work on the volcanic island of Patmos which is located in the Aegean some 96 km (60 miles) south west of Ephesus. He is said to have received his visions in the Cave of the Apocalypse. Let us note the parallel story originating from a cave on Lindos in Rhodes relating to the birth of Athene c1796 BC. Both would have perhaps been relatively safe vantage points from which to witness and survive any volcanic eruptions centred upon the Cos-Nisyros volcanic arc. They are surprisingly equidistant: Patmos-Nisyros: 99.17 km (61.62 miles); Lindos to Nisyros 99.23 km (61.66 miles).) Mythology states that the island of Patmos was dedicated to Artemis and was originally known as Letois (Leto’s island) and that it was once submerged (Inscriptiones Graecac ineditae Athenis 1842 ii. 72—74 no. 190 ) but thanks to the intervention of Selene, Artemis, and Apollo it emerged once more from the sea and was repopulated by inhabitants from nearby Mount Latmus.
John wrote:
“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” (The Book of Revelation 8: 10-11)
Artemis the “butcher”
The word translated as wormwood in English is the Greek word apsinthos which literally means bitter and it is a direct reference to a plant otherwise known as Artemisia, which is directly connected to the “butcher” goddess Artemis (???????, artamos, i.e. “butcher”). Whilst it has many medicinal uses, when taken orally, the plant can cause seizures, kidney failure, vomiting, and other serious side effects. The volatile oil induces a state of euphoria. If a lot is eaten it can induce drunkenness, thirst, restlessness, dizziness, trembling or paralyzed limbs, delirium and possibly death. If applied directly to the skin it can lead to burning and pain, and can cause a miscarriage. It is evident therefore that the author is using it as metaphor for the aftermath of a major natural disaster. (https://www.ahpa.org/herbs_in_history_wormwood; Artemisia; Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Industrial Profiles), Colin W. Wright, 2019)
Zeus throws thunderbolt at Typhon- a metaphor for an active volcano
Christianity arose essentially on the back of a universal belief in catastrophic cycles, hence John’s focus in this instance upon the disaster of 1327 BC. The Hittite text describes the event as follows:
“when I arrived at Mt. Lawasa, then the mighty Stormgod, my lord, displayed (his) divine might. He hurled a thunderbolt. And my troops saw the thunderbolt and the country of Arzawa saw the thunderbolt. The thunderbolt went and struck the country of Arzawa and it struck Apasa, Uhhaziti’s city.” (Annals of Muršiliš II)
For further information see the author’s works: Adam to Apophis, Asteroids, Millenarianism, and Climate Change 2013, and Atlantis, the Amazons, and the Birth of Athene 2023
Deity throwing his weapon. Note the celestial object top left, depicted as bulls horns (orthostat from Arslantepe c1200 BC)