Atlantida (ancient city)

Atlantida is the traditional name of an ancient city in the Amazon River valley believed to have been founded by Phoenician explorers more than 4,000 years ago. The finds were made by Dr. Barbosa who was travelling with General Candido Rondon in late 1929. They discovered inscriptions carved on rocks rendered in hieroglyphics. Aside from rock formations the explorers recovered pottery inscribed with hieroglyphics along the Cumina River, in the state of Para, Brazil. Their work indicated the Phoenicians may have traversed the Amazon River and established a city in South America. ["Phoenician Inscriptions In Amazon Valley Revive Belief That They Discovered America", New York Times, January 5, 1930, pg. E2.]

History credits Portuguese explorers with the founding of Belem, Para's capitol city, in 1616. One theory is that if the Phoenicians came there, they were dissuaded from staying because of the oppressive climate near the equator. The region became a great producer of rubber in the early 19th century, following the introduction of the Mackintosh rubber coat. ["From Alba Longa And Tetuan To Madeira And The Gila", New York Times, January 12, 1930, pg. 128.]

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