My OP postulates that the Menorah represents or equals to a symbol of Atlantis.
Right. At no point have I been confused about that. We're 100% on the same page on this one.
Now, this theory does NOT require 'Atlantis' to be aware of, or have ever used this symbol,
And this is where we may have a miscommunication. I want to be really clear, so please let me know if this is correct:
You are saying that the symbol you have been referring to might not have meant anything about Atlantis to actual Atlanteans. But, and please correct me if I'm wrong, it would still have to have been a reference to Atlantis by whoever actually made the symbols. Right? Are you suggesting those people, the ones that made the symbols, had ANY connection to Atlantis or did they just hear the story from Plato?
or for any Jewish person to have ever personally seen or heard of 'Atlantis'.
Okay, but they would have needed to see these symbols. Right? It wouldn't count if they saw a totally different (but visually identical) set of circles or semicircles that someone else drew as a reference to, say, raindrops on a lake? I mean, you are specifically saying that they saw some symbols that (whether they knew it or not) were made as a reference to Atlantis.
Again, and really this is the last time, this case for a connection between the destroyed Atlantis and the menorah having a shared symbolism is not strong, direct, or clear to ANY skeptic here.
Well, you say "this case" but so far all you've done is state what you believe. You haven't presented any evidence for that connection. This is what you're trying to prove:
1. There's some connection between the symbols and Atlantis.
2. There's some connection between the symbols and the menorah.
What you've spent this whole time talking about instead is this:
1. Atlantis was real, but was totally different in size, shape, location, etc. to what Plato described.
2. The menorah was adapted from some other symbol.
But even if I accept both of those things, it doesn't prove the connections you're asserting. I can say that Atlantis was real and in Spain, and that the menorah was adopted from something else, and I can simultaneously say that those symbols on the rocks weren't made as a reference to Atlantis and that the Jewish people never even saw them anyway.
Do you understand that? None of what you've said so far is evidence for those two key points. To repeat myself, these are the things you need to show actual evidence for:
1. There's some connection between the symbols and Atlantis.
2. There's some connection between the symbols and the menorah.
Stop repeating that line about how the Old Testament says they copied a pattern. That's fine. Whatever. It doesn't provide evidence that the pattern they copied was the one you say it is. Stop talking about Plato and ruins on the coast of Spain. Those things don't show any link between the symbols and the Jewish people.
But it is the case I present, believe in, and suggest it is the best possible explanation for the origin of the menorah.
Based on what, though? Since you don't have any evidence connecting the two, why do you think this is the best?
If you have a better one, please produce it.
It's a lamp. This explanation is objectively better:
1. It's plausible, because the Jewish people flat-out tell us it's a lamp.
2. It fits with available evidence, that being everything that refers to it as a lamp.
3. The passage in the Old Testament doesn't refer to modeling it after anything else. It refers to following the instructions that God is giving Moses. Essentially it's "Here on the mountain I'm giving you instructions, make them like in the instructions." It's not saying there was a literal pattern carved into the mountain. And if it was (it's not) then that pattern must have also included all the other furniture as well, not just the lamp.
4. It doesn't require the Jewish people to be in Spain.
5. It theory doesn't require the lost city of Atlantis to be real.
6. The timeline matches up, unlike yours.
So there you go. Like I said, it's objectively better. And because I know you're going to make a big fuss over my 3rd point, here's the text for everyone to read:
Exodus 25 said:
9*According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it.
10*And they shall make an ark of acacia-wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
11*And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
12*And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four feet thereof; and two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
13*And thou shalt make staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold.
14*And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, wherewith to bear the ark.
15*The staves shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.
16*And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
17*And thou shalt make an ark-cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18*And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the ark-cover.
19*And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the ark-cover shall ye make the cherubim of the two ends thereof.
20*And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover shall the faces of the cherubim be.
21*And thou shalt put the ark-cover above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22*And there I will meet with thee, and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
23*And thou shalt make a table of acacia-wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24*And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25*And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26*And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27*Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves to bear the table.
28*And thou shalt make the staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29*And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the pans thereof, and the jars thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out; of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30*And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before Me alway.
31*And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.
32*And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof;
33*three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the candlestick.
34*And in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof.
35*And a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick.
36*Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37*And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven; and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it.
38*And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39*Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels.
40*And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount.