“In the wanderings of the heroes returning from Troy, Aristoricus makes Menelaus circumnavigate Africa more than 500 years before Neco sailed from Gadeira to India.” ("Cosmos,” vol. ii., p. 144.)

“In the tomb of Rameses the Great is a representation of a naval combat between the Egyptians and some other people, supposed to be the Phoenicians, whose huge ships are propelled by sails.” (Goodrich’s “Columbus,” p. 29.)

The proportions of the fastest sailing-vessels of the present day are about 300 feet long to 50 wide and 30 high; these were precisely the proportions of Noah’s ark—­300 cubits long, 50 broad, and 30 high.

“Hiero of Syracuse built, under the superintendence of Archimedes, a vessel which consumed in its construction the material for fifty galleys; it contained galleries, gardens, stables, fish-ponds, mills, baths, a temple of Venus, and an engine to throw stones three hundred pounds in weight, and arrows thirty-six feet long.  The floors of this monstrous vessel were inlaid with scenes from Homer’s ‘Iliad.’” (Ibid., p. 30.)

The fleet of Sesostris consisted of four hundred ships; and when Semiramis invaded India she was opposed by four thousand vessels.

It is probable that in the earliest times the vessels were sheeted with metal.  A Roman ship of the time of Trajan has been recovered from Lake Ricciole after 1300 years.  The outside was covered with sheets of lead fastened with small copper nails.  Even the use of iron chains in place of ropes for the anchors was known at an early period.  Julius Caesar tells us that the galleys of the Veneti were thus equipped. (Goodrich’s “Columbus,” p. 31.)

Gunpowder.—­It is not impossible that even the invention of gunpowder may date back to Atlantis.  It was certainly known in Europe long before the time of the German monk, Berthold Schwarz, who is commonly credited with the invention of it.  It was employed in 1257 at the siege of Niebla, in Spain.  It was described in an Arab treatise of the thirteenth century.  In A.D. 811 the Emperor Leo employed fire-arms.  “Greek-fire” is supposed to have been gunpowder mixed with resin or petroleum, and thrown in the form of fuses and explosive shells.  It was introduced from Egypt A.D. 668.  In A.D. 690 the Arabs used fire-arms against Mecca, bringing the knowledge of them from India.  In A.D. 80 the Chinese obtained from India a knowledge of gunpowder.  There is reason to believe that the Carthaginian (Phoenician) general, Hannibal, used gunpowder in breaking a way for his army over the Alps.  The Romans, who were ignorant of its use, said that Hannibal made his way by making fires against the rocks, and pouring vinegar and water over the ashes.  It is evident that fire and vinegar would have no effect on masses of the Alps great enough to arrest the march of an army.  Dr. William Maginn has suggested that the wood was probably burnt by Hannibal to obtain charcoal; and the word which has been translated “vinegar”