Atlantis has been a legend that has piqued interest for thousands of years. Did the lost continent truly exist? We do not know, but the discovery of statues in Spain could shed light on the ancient mysterious society.
Statues Could Have Originated from Atlantis
A discovery could bring us closer to Atlantis, as Spanish archaeologists have indicated after unearthing statues dating back 2,500 years. It is believed these faces represent inhabitants of the ancient civilization.
In total, five stone busts dating to the 5th century BC were found in Casas de Turuñuelo, a place that marked a historical milestone in the municipality of Guareña, in southern Spain. This site was established by the Tartessians, the first civilization in the West, according to the Greeks.
This civilization was settled in the southern Iberian Peninsula some 3,000 years ago. However, they disappeared in an inexplicable manner, leading to much speculation about their appearance over a long period.
Additionally, this civilization is associated with Atlantis due to historical similarities. Now, specialists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have confirmed that the busts are the first human representations of Tartessos.
Initially, the history of the Tartessians and the Atlanteans is quite similar. Both were wealthy and prosperous peoples. The 4th-century historian, Euhemerus, describes them as “a very prosperous market, with much tin transported by river, as well as gold and copper from Celtic lands.” They have even been cited as the source of the legend of Atlantis. Consequently, they are currently known for their great wealth and prosperity resulting from metallurgy.
Revelation about the Tartessians
Sebastián Celestino, a researcher from the Institute of Archaeology in Mérida, stated to the newspaper El PaÃs:
“This breaks the paradigm that the Tartessian culture was aniconic, meaning it had no figurative or anthropomorphic representation”.
He also emphasized that, regardless of whether it was a craftsman from another place or someone born in Tartessos, it is clear that these were sculpted in Casas del Turuñuelo.
“This tells us a lot about the level of sophistication of those who commissioned something like this”.
It’s worth noting that in the archaeological site, a massive animal sacrifice has already been documented. Additionally, a new photograph of two of the busts shows they are nearly complete and correspond to female figures.
Both are adorned with large and elaborate earrings, which could be typical pieces of Tartessian jewelry. In fact, Esther RodrÃguez, the site’s co-director, mentioned that similar earrings have been found at other sites from the same period and region. Thanks to this new discovery, they understood how they were worn: the chain was used to fasten them to the ear.
It is believed that the busts represent two goddesses, while a third bust represents a warrior. The other two are not well preserved but could also depict some form of deities or, alternatively, characters from Tartessos.
Furthermore, it is likely that all the busts were part of the same structure that represented a story or narrative. This discovery also signifies a shift in the interpretation of this mythical city. In fact, Casas de Turuñuelo was burnt to its foundations in the past, possibly by the Tartessians themselves.
Atlantis and Tartessos
How and why they disappeared remains a mystery. This has led many to relate it to Atlantis, even concluding that they are the same city.
Generally, the story of Atlantis is believed to have been first told 2,300 years ago, thanks to Plato. Some historians argue that this city truly existed, leading to numerous theories.
One of the most controversial hypotheses suggests it was “swallowed” by the Bermuda Triangle. Another theory proposes it was destroyed by a massive natural disaster, such as an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
It has even been theorized that both cities coexisted, engaging in trade between them. If they were two distinct cities, then where is Atlantis?
For years, this question has been attempted to be answered, without success. Though different locations have been mentioned, some notable ones include:
- The Black Sea
- The Greek islands
- Mainland
- Greece
- Cyprus
- The Azores
- The Faroe Islands
- Malta
- Sardinia
- Antarctica
- The Bahamas
- The North Pole
- The Canary Islands
- Madeira
- Ireland
The history and popular fascination continue as vivid as the day the stories of Atlantis and Tartessos were first mentioned. Could these busts shed light on the mystery? We do not know, but they demonstrate that ancient history is not as clear as we might believe.
