Timaeus | Page 8

Plato
again, knowing nothing of the world before the flood. But in Egypt the
traditions of our own and other lands are by us registered for ever in our temples. The
genealogies which you have recited to us out of your own annals, Solon, are a mere
children's story. For in the first place, you remember one deluge only, and there were
many of them, and you know nothing of that fairest and noblest race of which you are a
seed or remnant. The memory of them was lost, because there was no written voice
among you. For in the times before the great flood Athens was the greatest and best of
cities and did the noblest deeds and had the best constitution of any under the face of
heaven.' Solon marvelled, and desired to be informed of the particulars. 'You are
welcome to hear them,' said the priest, 'both for your own sake and for that of the city,
and above all for the sake of the goddess who is the common foundress of both our cities.
Nine thousand years have elapsed since she founded yours, and eight thousand since she
founded ours, as our annals record. Many laws exist among us which are the counterpart
of yours as they were in the olden time. I will briefly describe them to you, and you shall
read the account of them at your leisure in the sacred registers. In the first place, there
was a caste of priests among the ancient Athenians, and another of artisans; also castes of
shepherds, hunters, and husbandmen, and lastly of warriors, who, like the warriors of
Egypt, were separated from the rest, and carried shields and spears, a custom which the
goddess first taught you, and then the Asiatics, and we among Asiatics first received from
her. Observe again, what care the law took in the pursuit of wisdom, searching out the
deep things of the world, and applying them to the use of man. The spot of earth which
the goddess chose had the best of climates, and produced the wisest men; in no other was
she herself, the philosopher and warrior goddess, so likely to have votaries. And there

you dwelt as became the children of the gods, excelling all men in virtue, and many
famous actions are recorded of you. The most famous of them all was the overthrow of
the island of Atlantis. This great island lay over against the Pillars of Heracles, in extent
greater than Libya and Asia put together, and was the passage to other islands and to a
great ocean of which the Mediterranean sea was only the harbour; and within the Pillars
the empire of Atlantis reached in Europe to Tyrrhenia and in Libya to Egypt. This mighty
power was arrayed against Egypt and Hellas and all the countries bordering on the
Mediterranean. Then your city did bravely, and won renown over the whole earth. For at
the peril of her own existence, and when the other Hellenes had deserted her, she repelled
the invader, and of her own accord gave liberty to all the nations within the Pillars. A
little while afterwards there were great earthquakes and floods, and your warrior race all
sank into the earth; and the great island of Atlantis also disappeared in the sea. This is the
explanation of the shallows which are found in that part of the Atlantic ocean.'
Such was the tale, Socrates, which Critias heard from Solon; and I noticed when listening
to you yesterday, how close the resemblance was between your city and citizens and the
ancient Athenian State. But I would not speak at the time, because I wanted to refresh my
memory. I had heard the old man when I was a child, and though I could not remember
the whole of our yesterday's discourse, I was able to recall every word of this, which is
branded into my mind; and I am prepared, Socrates, to rehearse to you the entire narrative.
The imaginary State which you were describing may be identified with the reality of
Solon, and our antediluvian ancestors may be your citizens. 'That is excellent, Critias, and
very appropriate to a Panathenaic festival; the truth of the story is a great advantage.'
Then now let me explain to you the order of our entertainment; first, Timaeus, who is a
natural philosopher, will speak of the origin of the world, going down to the creation of
man, and then I shall receive the men whom he has created, and some of whom will have
been educated by you, and introduce them to you as the lost Athenian citizens of whom
the Egyptian record spoke. As the law of Solon prescribes, we will bring them into court
and acknowledge their claims to citizenship. 'I
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