Lost civilizations

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

uhuh, Super-advanced technology... somehow I serverly doubt it. Heres a question; if there WAS one, and they WERE around, do you REALLY think they'd let US screw up their planet?
and heres another q; if they DID die out; what makes you think they'd leave any trace of themselves behind? I mean if they DID have superior technology, if another "lesser" race got hold of it; it could shift the balance if this planet. IF they existed and IF they were responsible; they wouldnt leave anything behind...providing of course they knew they were coming to an end.
heh, NEXT you're gonna say they built spacecraft, and left this planet...

[The Hierophant]

Heh heh. Hate to burst any bubbles but the possibilty of any 'lost civilizations' existing as you portray them (with super technology and ancient, secluded wisdom) are virtually nil. Additionally, if large-scale settlements ever did exist in the central Mediterranean (and befell a cataclysmic fate, sunk beneath the waves, whatever) then you can rest assured there is no chance that they survive to this day.
The stories of Atlantis and such are tied in very much with the concepts of Greek mythological tales. Plato was the primary writer on the myth of Atlantis, and his writings are speculative at best. He mainly portrays Atlantis in a fairytale-like manner by which to muse and mince moral and social conundrums present in his contempory citystate (namely, 5th century BC Athens). In other words, he invents Atlantis as a backdrop by which to portray his philosophical ideas.
The stories of advanced, ancient civilizations are essentially the result of a curious and fantastic muse within the human consciousness-- the search for 'something better'. Unfortunately, in reality there never really tends to be 'something better', there's all we've got in the here and now [img]smile.gif[/img]

But, a little fantasy is healthy for the human mind. Think, create, imagine. It's a lot of fun, but don't get swept away by your dreams...but then hell, don't let me tell you what to do.

Originally posted by The Hierophant: Additionally, if large-scale settlements ever did exist in the central Mediterranean (and befell a cataclysmic fate, sunk beneath the waves, whatever) then you can rest assured there is no chance that they survive to this day.

True but Sodom and Gomorrah would have been encased in Salt and entierly possible to survive to this day! It takes something about 1 week to be encased in salt in the red sea if left!! That's why people have been trying to find a way to dive to the depths of the Red Sea. Also there is far too much evidence to state otherwise.

[Donut]

Originally posted by K T Ong: Don't think the inhabitants of these two cities would be alive anymore, would they? Sure makes you wonder what actually happened to the two cities -- if indeed there were those two cities as the Bible mentioned, that is...

If they had gills they might!

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by Deathbringer: quote: Originally posted by The Hierophant: Additionally, if large-scale settlements ever did exist in the central Mediterranean (and befell a cataclysmic fate, sunk beneath the waves, whatever) then you can rest assured there is no chance that they survive to this day.

True but Sodom and Gomorrah would have been encased in Salt and entierly possible to survive to this day! It takes something about 1 week to be encased in salt in the red sea if left!! That's why people have been trying to find a way to dive to the depths of the Red Sea. Also there is far too much evidence to state otherwise.[/QUOTE]Definately. I meant no chance of the *people* surviving, as I think K T Ong may have been hoping [img]smile.gif[/img] Most of the 'better' archaeological breakthrough digsites (such as Pompeii and Mycenae) come from areas largely encased in non-biodegrading minerals, so i think if there were settlements there and they were encased in salt there'd be a near 100% chance of finding at least some remnant of them...IF someone were able to actually get digging equipment down there [img]smile.gif[/img]

That's the problem, the bottom of the Red Sea is the lowest part on Earth! so the pressure is immense plus the fact that the red sea has 3 times the amount of salt than other oceans so the presure is again 3 times worse. I just think it is strange that there are two large land-masses under the red sea on the photo from space. Plus they are in the exact locations of Sodom and Gomorrah described in the bible. It's interesting ins't it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

edit: added smiley lol

[ 08-23-2002, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: Deathbringer ]

[K T Ong]

Originally posted by Calaethis Dragonsbane: uhuh, Super-advanced technology... somehow I serverly doubt it. Heres a question; if there WAS one, and they WERE around, do you REALLY think they'd let US screw up their planet?

Perhaps they could elect to live somewhere on the planet that's far away from us and just too hard to reach, and leave us to screw up the rest of the planet all we want while they live in their little oasis.

and heres another q; if they DID die out; what makes you think they'd leave any trace of themselves behind? I mean if they DID have superior technology, if another "lesser" race got hold of it; it could shift the balance if this planet.

Why couldn't they leave traces of themselves behind if they died out? Their remains couldn't just fade into thin air, right? Maybe their remains could have been very well-preserved by virtue of the favorable environments they happened to thrive in. And I don't quite see how the factor of 'lesser' races comes in...

IF they existed and IF they were responsible; they wouldnt leave anything behind...providing of course they knew they were coming to an end.

Which might not have been the case. [img]smile.gif[/img]

heh, NEXT you're gonna say they built spacecraft, and left this planet...

Who knows? Maybe that's what happened.

[ 08-23-2002, 09:22 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Think about it in human terms for a moment; when you have "superior" technology; you tend to believe your "better" then those who dont; ie "Lesser races"; its happened thoughout history... the Romands belived they were better then the "Savage Barbain" tribes of the North; etc.

What happens when someone gets their hands on powerful technology but doesnt know how it works? they experiment right? and more then likely find ways to use it as a weapon...

THATs what I mean by "lesser" races getting their hands on the Advanced Culture's stuff.

[K T Ong]

Originally posted by Calaethis Dragonsbane: What happens when someone gets their hands on powerful technology but doesnt know how it works? they experiment right? and more then likely find ways to use it as a weapon...

I doubt they're likely to go far in using this advanced technology unless they understand it enough to be able to reproduce it themselves.

If a savage manages to get a laser pistol from an advanced civilization, sure, he can experiment with it, find all sorts of ways to use it, but what happens when the battery inside runs out, or when the pistol breaks? He's back to square one -- unless he's so smart he can even figure out how to make his own batteries and pistols based on this particular one he got, or unless members of the advanced civilization taught him.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

yes; but we're not cavedwellers. and we're not discusing the level of technology; whats to say that they not SOOO advanced that WE couldnt understand it? and what would happen say; it Russia, or China, or America got their hands on it? it would give them an advantage over the rest of the world.