Book excerpt: At the dawn of civilization, the innocent AIYANA awaits the return of the Akrotirian prince, SAMA. Three years previous she was néos, the chief's daughter who amused the prince; now, in the first flower of womanhood, her romantic longing is brightened by anticipation of the festival, the prince, the mystery.Sama, "Samalon", son of Apollon, son of Atalon for whom Atlantis is named. Seven hundred years after the volcano that destroyed the kingdom of Atalon (Atlantis) the island was refounded by Theras, son of Austesion, descendent of the hero Cadmus; it is from Theras that the island receives its name, Thera. Our story occurs before the age of heroes during the age of demigods, Apollon being the human manifestation of the divine Apollo. Archeological evidence suggests trade between the Doric-Ionian cultures (the Seafarers, as named by the Egyptians) of the Aegean Sea and the Americas; D.N.A. gives evidence that several American Indian societies have a Mediterranean ancestry. It is likely that the towns of Akrotiri and Knossos share a common culture. The jealous eruption of Kaptara scatters the Atlantians and civilizes the Western world. Our