King Atlas

During the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt experienced one of the most complex and least understood phases of its history. It is within this context that the epic of King Atlas unfolds—a conquest destined to reshape the Nile Delta.

 Following the invasion of Egypt, Atlas established himself at Avaris, transforming it into the political and strategic center of a new power and founding the 15th Dynasty of the Hyksos kings. A foreign dynasty, yet one deeply integrated into Egyptian society, capable of ruling, administering, and leaving a lasting legacy.

The book Atletenu reconstructs this historical process through an updated archaeological and historical study, critically reexamining Egyptian sources, material evidence, and modern interpretations.
Who were the Hyksos really? Where did they come from? What were their customs, their traditions, and their role in Egyptian history?

Atletenu offers a new and well-documented synthesis, expanding and updating current knowledge of the Hyksos and their enigmatic ruler, restoring historical depth to a dynasty too often reduced to simplification or stereotype.

Book available on Amazon The atletenu of Avaris

A Curious Encounter with Plato at the Vatican Museums

 I’ve just returned from a trip to Rome and wanted to share a curious anecdote—one that might prove especially intriguing for those, like me, who have studied and reread Plato’s Timaeus and Critias, the two dialogues in which the story of Atlantis is recounted.

As some of you know, in my book The Atletenu of Avaris, I’ve proposed a historical identification between Atlantis and the ancient city of Avaris, capital of the Hyksos in Egypt. With that background in mind, imagine my surprise and delight as I was strolling through the Vatican Museums and admiring the marble masterpieces of classical sculpture, when I suddenly found myself face to face with a bust of Plato himself. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a photo beside him—there was a real sense of satisfaction in the moment!

 I took it as a sign of sorts.

Later, as I continued through the galleries, I entered the famous Raphael Rooms, commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. There, in the celebrated fresco The School of Athens, I once again encountered Plato—this time at the center of the composition, depicted in conversation with Aristotle. What caught my eye was the book he was holding: it could only be the Timaeus.

Given how much time I’ve spent studying the sections of that dialogue that describe Atlantis, seeing Raphael’s visual tribute to Plato in such a magnificent setting was deeply moving. The Timaeus is not only one of the foundational texts of Western cosmology and philosophy, but also the only surviving source that details the geography and fate of Atlantis. For me, it was as if the fresco was silently reaffirming the importance of that text—and perhaps even of my own research into it.

For anyone who visits the Vatican Museums, I highly recommend pausing in front of The School of Athens. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, it is a profound reflection on knowledge, philosophy, and the dialogue between ideas across time.

Exploring Cyprus and making connections to Avaris

 I spent few days in Cyprus, great opportunity to visit some amazing archaeological sites, among them all I loved Χοιροκοιτία (Choirokoitia). A must see for those who love Mediterranean prehistory.

 

Visiting various Museums I could see a great deal of White Painted pottery like the beautiful jug below  dated Late Cypriotic Bronze Age I 1650-1550 and synchronized with the Second Intermediate Period in Avaris, a subject discussed in Chapter 6 of my book The Atletenu of Avaris in case the links between Bronze Age Cyprus and Avaris are of your interest.

 

 

 

The Atletenu of Avaris video

A new promotional video for 'The Atletenu of Avaris' has just been released for a social media campaign ...it should get the public's attention to the theory that Atlantis was the capital of the Hyksos Kingdom, the city of Avaris in the Nile Delta.