Diodorus Siculus and Atlantis?

 

Pillars of Heracles (public domain)

I've found a passage in Diodorus Siculus' Library of History that describes a large land mass beyond the Pillars of Heracles that could be ancient Atlantis or America.  Here is what he said:

For there lies out in the deep off Libya an island of considerable size, and situated as it is in the ocean it is distant form Libya a voyage of a number of days to the west.  Its land is fruitful, much of it being mountainous and not a little being a level plain of suprassing beauty. Through it flow navigable rivers which are used for irrigation, and the island contains many parks planted with trees of every variety and gardens in great multitudes which are traversd by streams of sweet water; on it also are private villas of costly construction, and throughout the gardens banqueting houses have been construcred in a setting of flowers, and in them the inhabitants pass their time during the summer season, since the land supplies in abundance everything which contributes to enjoyment and luxury.

And, speaking generally, the climate of this island is so altogether mild that it produces in abundance the fruits of the trees and the other seasonal fruits for the larger part of the year, so that it would appear that the island, because of its exceptional felicity, were a dwelling-place of a race of gods and not of men. 

I don't believe this describe ancient America.  I believe it describes an ancient memory of Atlantis.


by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com and www.hiddenhumanstory.com)


Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Hercules