What does the name of Atlantis signify?
The first thing to keep in mind is that mythical terms have a number of different etymologies, and are often interpretable in different tongues, into which they were adapted when the myths were introduced locally. For instance, Atlas means, in Greek, “the one who could not (a-) withstand (tla) [the skies].” Atlas was deemed the “Pillar of Heaven”, that is, its support. When Atlas became overburdened, the skies fell down, burying Atlantis. The names of Atlas and Atlantis originally came from the Sanskrit (the Holy Language of India) name of their Hell called Atala. This word means “Deprived of its Pillar” (a-tala) or, conversely “Bottomless” or, rather, “Sunken to the Bottom”. Many further derivations are yet possible. Atlas is the personification of the Holy Mountain that is the support of heaven. He is the god that the Hindus equate with Shiva, also called Sthanu, an epithet meaning “Pillar of Heaven” in Sanskrit.
