Atlantis



Atlantis is the realm of the god Poseidon, ruler of the Seven Seas. According to the legend, the kingdom once was a continent situated above water, but after a Holy War between Athena and Poseidon it was submerged and became a lost continent.

The Kingdom of Poseidon covers two thirds of the world. It is idyllic and quiet, full of rocky waterfalls, coral reefs, staircases, columns and paved stone paths. Seven giant pillars support the dome that holds the bottom of the oceans above. There is also a central eighth pillar, the Main Breadwinner, also known as the Mainstay, located beyond Poseidon's temple in the Mediterranean Sea. It is impossible to open even a crack in the central pillar, the undersea realm's vital spot, before the other seven pillars have fallen. These pillars, along with Poseidon's cosmo, keep the undersea realm from flooding.

Just as Athena, the protector of the land, has an army of Saints, Poseidon is the god of the seas and is protected by warriors called Mariners. At the top of the Mariner hierarchy are seven Generals, who wear golden armors called Scales, whose mission it is to guard the pillars of the seven seas: North Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean. Each General represents the sea that they are assigned to and is named after a mythological sea creature: Sea Horse, Scylla, Chrysaor, Lyumnades, Sea Dragon, Kraken and Siren.

The Seven Ocean Pillars
The seven ocean pillars are each protected by a Mariner General, the strongest warriors in Poseidon's army. The pillars hold the oceans above the undersea temple and provide protection to the Main Breadwinner, the central pillar of the kingdom. They are scattered about the planet. The paths leading to them all depart from a central point, at Poseidon's temple. These pillars are extraordinarily resistant, virtually indestructible. Only the weapons of the Libra Cloth were able to damage them.

The Temple of Poseidon
The central point of Atlantis, the Temple of Poseidon is also the most important building. The temple is located under Cape Sounion, in Greece. It is a multi-storey building surrounded by stairs, featuring classical Greek architecture and ornamentation. The temple is symmetrical, with its entrance located at the center. On either side, two ships that stretch to the corners and in them two smaller ships rather advanced. There are several rows of columns with decorated friezes at the top and the entrance gable roof and sculptures on the pediment. It also has 4 winged sculptures at the entrance which represent sea creatures like sea horses and mermaids. Inside, the temple includes private apartments, long stairways and relaxing walks surrounded by water. The hall of the Scales is a large chamber in which the armors of the God and his Generals are displayed on golden pedestals, arrayed around a central urn, which is the container where Athena sealed Poseidon's soul in a previous Holy War. Poseidon's Throne Room is located opposite the entrance of the temple, against the back wall. It can be reached by climbing a long stairway outside, crossing double doors decorated with a relief of Poseidon's trident and climbing a second steep staircase. The interior is vast and spartan, as Poseidon's throne seems to be the only piece of furniture present. The wall behind the throne can rise, providing direct access to the paved road leading to the central pillar. A staircase descends to a level below the throne room, to a large open hall flanked by two aisles with columns. The nave of the rear facade of the temple is ahead of the rest of the building.

The Mainstay of the Kingdom of the Seas
The Mainstay is the central pillar of Atlantis. It is guarded by Poseidon himself and can only be accessed by crossing the Temple of Poseidon. Its existence ensures the safety of his empire, which would otherwise be swallowed by the waters. This pillar remains indestructible as long as the seven pillars of the oceans stand. Even after these were demolished, the Mainstay was able to withstand several assaults by the weapons of the Libra Gold Cloth without suffering a scratch. Despite its strength, it is hollow. It has a door and a window that lead to an inner chamber with four water taps in the shape of lion heads. It was in this chamber that Poseidon enclosed Athena for her to receive the water meant to flood the earth, intending to turn the goddess into a human sacrifice to strengthen the pillar. The Mainstay is the backbone of the Undersea Shrine and the largest structure in the kingdom of Poseidon. It is visible from anywhere in Atlantis and can hold the waters of the globe by itself.

In Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
In Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas, Atlantis is depicted as a deserted city with houses and streets, besides the Temples and the Pillars, laying dormant until Poseidon's awakening.

Gateways
In the original Saint Seiya manga, Sea Dragon Kanon found a gateway to Atlantis while he was a prisoner at Cape Sounion Prison. After removing Poseidon's Trident from a rock, he was transported to Poseidon's Temple in Atlantis where he found himself in the throne room. Later, the Bronze Saints travelled to Atlantis by jumping into the waterfall in the Lushan, in China. In the anime adaptation, this gateway was located instead in a whirlpool in Asgard, in the frozen sea near the North Pole.

In The Lost Canvas, there is a gateway to Atlantis in the library of Bluegrad, behind a door marked with Poseidon's Trident. This door was sealed by Athena in the previous Holy War. When the seal was removed, Dégel, Cardia and Unity were transported to Atlantis.

Appearances

 * Saint Seiya (debut)
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas