N: Naacals to Nyoe 201
was the emblem of an Atlantean mystery school, which initiated male youth into
personal spiritual development through intimate rapport with dolphins, what today
would be understood as a kind of inter-species communication with a strong
religious emphasis. Like their avatar, the dolphin, the Nereides were notable for
their devoted protection of shipwrecked humans. They were also said to be oracular,
a suggestion of their cultic function.
Some Nereide names are overtly Atlantean: Arethusa, after the mother of
the Hyade Atlantises; Calypso, an Atlantis; Leukothe, after Leukippe, the first
woman of Atlantis; Plexaura and Pasithea, after the Atlantean Hyades, Plexarus
and Pasitheo, respectively; and so on. In Greek myth, the Nereides are given as
50, but in Kritias they number twice as many attendants of the sea-god, Poseidon,
as consistent with Plato’s (or possibly Solon’s) error in translating numerical values
from the original Egyptian account of Atlantis into Greek. As such, it represents
contributing internal evidence for the overstated size and age of Atlantis in the
Dialogues.
(See Plato, Solon)Neshanu
Creator-god of the North American Pawnee Indians, he was so disgusted by
man’s cruelty and disrespect, he commanded a worldwide deluge to destroy all
but a few individuals. These he changed into seeds. After the flood, Neshanu
harvested an ear and molded it into Mother Corn. She went about the Earth,
finding the hidden grains, released the survivors, then taught them the arts,
ceremonies, and agriculture. Her work done, Neshanu transformed her once more
into a cedar. Ever since, the tree has been venerated as a sacred, living memorial
to the Great Flood and the reeducation, that is to say, cultivation of its chosen
survivors, their ancestors.
The Pawnee version shares a major theme—the corruption of mankind—
with Plato’s Atlantis account, and explains the universal North American reverence
for cedar as a holy wood. Pacific Northwest Coast tribes carve their so-called
“totem poles,” which sometimes symbolize the Great Flood, from cedar.Netamaki
The Delaware Indians tell how their virtuous ancestors were subverted by
Powako, a high priest, who instituted Intake, or self-indulgent serpent-worship.
To chastise them, a terrible cataclysm drowned their luxuriant homeland. “All
this happened very long ago,” states the Delaware Hymn of the Flood, “at the first
land, Netamaki, beyond the great ocean, Kitahikan (the Atlantic).” Obviously,
Netamaki is a Delaware cultural inflection of Plato’s Atlantis.