Atlanteans are the native race that inhabit the content of Atlantis. Not to be confused with the similarly aquatic race, merpeople, the modern Atlanteans are descended from both ancient Homo sapiens and Homo magi ancestors who sank below the ocean along with the fabled continent and evolved to survive their new environment.
They're divided into numerous sub-groups. Atlantean is the term generally applied to the collective groups of citizens who reside in the undersea continent known as Atlantis. Smaller, more distinctive subspecies such as the Tuatha De Danann refer to themselves simply by their tribe name, and do not typically refer to themselves as Atlanteans.
History
New Earth
Circa 143,000 BCE, two powerful Atlantean mystics named Calculha (a follower of the White Magic) and Majistra (a follower of the Dark Arts) became the most powerful sorcerers in the world. Through their influence, Atlantis flourished and grew into an advanced community unlike any other on the planet. Although magic was the dominant means of power throughout the continent, some intellectuals began to recognize the wisdom of science. While the rest of the world had yet to benefit from inventions such as the wheel, the Atlanteans were already developing highly advanced technological wonders.
Some legend says that the Atlanteans managed to combine science and sorcery to create the world's first spacecraft. This vessel is thought to have left the planet Earth some 50,000 years ago, and some have speculated that the crew of this craft may have populated the nearby human worlds of Rann, Thanagar and Krypton.[citation needed]
During the reign of King Orin I circa 9500 BCE, a massive earthquake ripped across the Atlantean continent killing untold millions of people. However, many of the Atlantean scientists had predicted this catastrophe and warned the King. So, Orin constructed large force shields, which protected several major cities from the devastation including Tritonis and Poseidonis. However, nothing could prevent Atlantis from sinking permanently into the sea. At some point, the scientists are able to develop a serum that allows the Atlanteans to breathe underwater and survive the oceanic pressure.
Prime Earth
Pre-Cataclysm
After the fall of Nan Madol millions of years ago, ancient Atlanteans known as Homo Magi founded Atlantis and brought magic taught to them at the Rock of Eternity. The kingdom eventually became a magical focal point and was at its strongest in power, and after the death of king Arion, Atlantis quickly fell into disarray over the coming centuries and fractured into seven kingdoms.[1][2][3][4]
Earth-16
Atlanteans were originally regular humans, meta-humans and homo magi that lived in a small village called "Atlantis" approximately 11,000 years ago. However, the village was sunk by the Chaos Lord Klarion, but his appetite grew until the entire continent and all its treasures sank beneath the waves. Some of the Atlanteans survived underwater and their meta-genes were activated, leading to the formation of homo mermanus, the modern Atlantean civilization which controls three-fourths of the globe.[5]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Atlantean Physiology: The physiological make-up of the average Atlantean is dramatically different from that of a normal human being. Although a splinter species of baseline humanity, Atlanteans have evolved over the centuries and have adapted physical characteristics that make them more suited for life beneath the sea. This grants them them:
- Amphibious Nature: Atlanteans are capable of breathing while submerge underwater, possessing a set of gills on their body.[6]
- Superhuman Strength: Because they live in some of the deepest parts of the ocean, Atlantean bodies are capable of moving with ease even with 1086 (approximately over half a ton) pounds of pressure applied to them.[7] They possess muscle density ten times that of a human being.[6]
- Superhuman Durability: Atlanteans can withstand the pressure of the ocean with ease[7], their skin is considered nearly bullet-proof[6], and they are naturally resistant against heat and energy.[8]
- Enhanced Senses: Atlanteans possess natural senses attuned for living in the ocean, granting them a natural advantage on land.[9]
- Enhanced Hearing: Atlantean's hearing is more acute than a ordinary human.
- Enhanced Vision: Their vision allows them to see in the dark depths of the ocean.
- Enhanced Sense of Smell: Atlantan possess a more keen sense of smell compared to ordinary humans.
- Superhuman Speed: They are capable of moving, reacting, running and swimming at superhuman speeds.[9]
- Superhuman Agility: Atlanteans perfect balance, bodily coordination, and/or perfect equilibrium to a point far in excess to that of a normal human being on Earth, their bodies being able to coordinate easily while under the pressure of the ocean.[9]
- Superhuman Stamina: Atlanteans have the ability to maintain continuous physical actions for an undefined period longer than an ordinary human.
Abilities
Weaknesses
- Accelerated Dehydration: Atlanteans dehydrate at a accelerated rate compared to human. Though Atlanteans possess lungs enabling them to breathe air, Atlanteans not acclimated to dry land become exhausted after a limited amount of time, requiring a level of training to breathe air at a rate comparable to humans.[13]
- Vulnerability to Sensory Overlord: With their enhanced senses, an Atlantean can be overtaxed to from external stimuli. Sunlight is noted to be difficult for Atlanteans to get use to, sometimes requiring them to wear thick goggles.[13] Hypersonics are also capable of disorienting their senses.[14]
Miscellaneous
Type of Government:
Parliamentary republic, formerly monarchy
Level of Technology:
Advanced
Cultural Traits:
- Atlantean traditional colors include orange/green.[15]
Representatives:
- Atlan
- Atlanna
- Rodunn
- Tula
- Murk
- Vulko
- Nuada Silverhand
- Pomoxis
- Ronal
- Stamar
- Storm
- Garth
- Corum Rath
- Urcell
- Ocean Master
- Cetea
- Ondine
- Corumr Rath
- Kordax
- Sea Changed Atlanteans
- Part-Atlantean hybrids
- Racial/Ancestal groups
Trivia
- On New Earth, blonde hair is believed to carry the Curse of Kordax.
- It has been stated on separate occasions that Atlanteans do[9] and do not have lungs.[17]
- In some realities, Atlanteans are known as "Lemurians".[18][19]
See Also
Links and References
- ↑ Justice League Dark #26
- ↑ Justice League Dark (Volume 2) #11
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 3) #16
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 7) #43
- ↑ Young Justice: "Nomed Esir!"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Aquaman (Volume 7) #14
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mariana Trench
- ↑ DC Comics Encyclopedia: All-New Edition
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Titans Hunt #1
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #24
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 7) #39
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #25
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Aquaman (Volume 7) #31
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 3) #24
- ↑ DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide New Edition
- ↑ Monkey Prince #6
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 7) #15
- ↑ Justice League Infinity #5
- ↑ Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1