The First Mandala
The story for where the first mandala might have come from can be found in a myth coming the earliest
beginnings of human civilization. It surrounds a lost island in what was once the Mediterranean Desert?

It’s largely recognized that one of the oldest recorded civilizations is Egypt, and that the ancient
Egyptian high priests were some of the greatest keepers of history known.  As told by the Egyptians,
long before recorded history, and before the recognized ancient civilization of Egypt, there existed an
island recognized to be under the control of the water god Poseidon.  The Egyptians gave the name of
this island, Keftiu.  There is another name, which will be relayed to you soon, but be aware, we don’t
know the actual true name of this island, we only know the Greek translated name, which you will
recognize.  This is because the original name was destroyed along with the island, the people who
inhabited the island, and the first mandala.  The translation comes from the Egyptian language and then
translated into Greek, then into English.  With so many translations, some things get lost. Information
about this island comes to us through the Egyptians as recited to Solon, the great, great, great
grandfather of Plato.  The earliest recording of this island comes from the text Timaeus and Critias by
the Greek philosopher Plato.  He found this information from writings that come from Solon.  You can
check out the translated versions of these stories in the book Plato Unmasked: The Dialogue Made
New, translated by Keith Quincy and published by Eastern Washington University Press.

If you are not familiar with Solon, you should be, because a caricature of him exists, on display in the
chamber of the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Solon is recognized as bringing forth the first set of laws to be used for governing a human society and
the Egyptian name Keftiu can be translated into modern English to mean Capitol.  

But that is just information that always good to know.  It only sets the framework for the reason I am
telling you this story.  

I’m telling you this story because on this island and “looking toward the sea, but in the center of the
whole island, there was a plain which is said to have been the fairest of all plains and very fertile."  
Near the middle of this plain, and also in the center of the island there was a mountain not very high on
any side. In this mountain there dwelt one of the Earth born primeval men of that country, whose name
may have been Evenor, he had a wife whose name could have been Leucippe, and they had an only
daughter who might have been named Cleito.  The maiden caught the eye of Poseidon who fell in love
with her after her parents had died.  Around this mountain where she called home, Poseidon built his
monument to her and for her protection.  

It is within this monument where we find the first mandala design comes into play.  Poseidon enclosed
the hill where Cleito lived, making alternate zones of sea and land smaller in the middle turning the hill
into a 3 mile diameter island with larger rings of land and sea growing from the center, encircling one
another; outside of the island were two more concentric circles of land and three circles of water, each
having a circumference equidistant in every way from the center, the reason for this design being for its
impenetrableness.  Surrounding each land mass was a wall coated with a different metal for signifying a
different island ring.  Metals used were tin, copper and brass, all of which were plentiful on this island.  
Cutting through the lands, one in each direction was a water throughway, with a bridge connecting all
lands in the direction to the East. Forming a cross within the circle.  Surrounding all this at a distance of
14 miles circumference from the center island is one final wall enclosing this entire capitol city.  Since at
this time in history when sailing ships had not been invented, there was a fear of being conquered by
land, for this island wasn't really an island, it was an extension of a larger land mass.  

The layout from this ancient city, in some circles, has become know as the first mandala.  And it has
since become a model for the typical layout for many major modern cities.  As well, many sacred spots
today, including St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope preaches to the masses from the Vatican, and the
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.  Both are modeled after a two dimensional mandala.  Just look at a
picture of both from above.  As well, just about every Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic temple on Earth
today, has been modeled after a two dimensional mandala.  Finally many Christian Cathedrals
incorporate the use of the mandala into some aspect of their design, more notably are the rose windows
seen in many cathedrals. The Labyrinth is considered a mandala and carries with it the same
representation of a spiritual journey one takes while meditating.

Throughout human history the mandala has become known as the sacred spot both internally, within us
all, and externally, as layout for our cities and sacred spots.  Nearly every culture throughout history
incorporates the use of two-dimensional mandalas recognized as being a blue print in the search for
hidden meaning.  Some say the reason for the use of the mandala in such important places is a way to
honor the first mandala.

You may be asking, what is this island? Where is this island? This island the Egyptians called Keftiu?  
And the truth is, right now, we don’t know.  Right now this island and the first mandala only resides in
mythical form. We don’t even know if it ever really existed.  We’ve been searching for remnants of this
island ever since it was first heard of, and some say, with the help of modern technology, we may be
getting closer to finding it, just read the book Discovery of Atlantis. by Robert Sarmast.  This island has
been translated by the Greeks from the Egyptians to mean Atlantis, and Sarmast makes a fairly good
argument in his book for the possibility of Atlantis being located near where the island of Cyprus
currently resides in the Mediterranean Sea and that Atlantis was part of a large land mass just East of
Cyprus that is now under water and connected Cyprus to the Middle East area of Jordan, Syria and
Israel.

But don’t take my word for this, because when you step away from this website you will hear many
different possibilities for where Atlantis may have been if it even really existed.  As well, with the
Mandala you will see many different possibilities and paths for which you can take on your journey
through life.  Everyone will see something different in the mandala; there are as many different
interpretations as there are individuals. And that is what I love about the mandala.

Back to our story…
It is said that Poseidon had a problem with the residents of this island becoming more and more
human, being over consumed by greed, and going out and conquering all other civilizations in
existence.  So Poseidon ordered up an Earthquake and flood that swallowed up the island and the
residents occupying the island, killing millions and destroying the first mandala.  

While the island is no longer is existence, or is buried under large depths of water.  It provides a rich
history of aspects from today’s society, including what may be the First Mandala design.
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