Lemuria - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Lemuria, a hypothetical lost continent bridging the Indian and Pacific Oceans, exists primarily within the realms of speculative geography and comparative mythology. More than a mere landmass, it represents a yearning for a primordial paradise, a lost cradle of civilization. Though often conflated with Atlantis or Mu, Lemuria is a distinct concept with its own unique history and resonance.
The name "Lemuria" first surfaced in the late 19th century, coined by zoologist Philip Sclater in an 1864 article "The Mammals of Madagascar," in The Quarterly Journal of Science. Puzzled by the presence of lemur fossils in both Madagascar and India but not in Africa, Sclater proposed a land bridge, "Lemuria," to explain the biogeographical anomaly. The era was ripe with scientific exploration and burgeoning evolutionary theories, igniting the public imagination with notions of lost worlds and ancient connections.
As scientific consensus shifted towards plate tectonics, diminishing the need for land bridges, Lemuria migrated from scientific theory into the domains of the occult and esotericism. Helena Blavatsky, a founder of the Theosophical Society, adopted Lemuria as the home of one of the "Root Races" of humanity, imbuing it with spiritual significance. Her writings, infused with Eastern mysticism and a rejection of conventional Western thought, painted Lemuria as a continent of advanced beings possessing psychic powers. The concept further evolved in the writings of authors like W. Scott-Elliot and James Churchward who detailed increasingly elaborate histories of Lemurian civilization, further blurring the lines between mythology and historical possibility.
Today, despite its lack of geological validation, Lemuria continues to capture the imagination. It appears in literature, film, and video games, often representing a utopian society lost to cataclysm. It serves as a potent symbol for ecological harmony, spiritual enlightenment, and the enduring human quest for origins and meaning. Has the enduring appeal of Lemuria become more important than its geographical reality?