Very well argued, the Greeks couldn’t imagine the past the way we do, but nevertheless there was a continuitiy of tradition.
Concerning Atlantis, it is always interesting to see what 19th century authors think that Plato allegedly had written about Atlantis. Allegedly, Plato "spake weirdly and dreamfully" of Atlantis. Well, this is not my reading. "Atlantis, and it contained four great kingdoms, with principalities and palaces innumerable." No word about this in Plato's text. It is a sign how far away these theories already were from the original.
The idea that white immigrants became bronzed is interesting. In fact, the immigrants coming over the Behring strait were white. (Or yellow, to stay in the traditional colour scheme.) And thus, he does not deny that the Mound builders were indeed the Indians, or better: Their ancestors. Which is not so wrong, even quite right. How did racists judge this idea in the 19th century? They were not happy with it, I can imagine. From a 19th century point of view, this idea is quite anti-racist.
Very well argued, the Greeks couldn’t imagine the past the way we do, but nevertheless there was a continuitiy of tradition.
Concerning Atlantis, it is always interesting to see what 19th century authors think that Plato allegedly had written about Atlantis. Allegedly, Plato "spake weirdly and dreamfully" of Atlantis. Well, this is not my reading. "Atlantis, and it contained four great kingdoms, with principalities and palaces innumerable." No word about this in Plato's text. It is a sign how far away these theories already were from the original.
The idea that white immigrants became bronzed is interesting. In fact, the immigrants coming over the Behring strait were white. (Or yellow, to stay in the traditional colour scheme.) And thus, he does not deny that the Mound builders were indeed the Indians, or better: Their ancestors. Which is not so wrong, even quite right. How did racists judge this idea in the 19th century? They were not happy with it, I can imagine. From a 19th century point of view, this idea is quite anti-racist.