{"id":556,"date":"2025-12-21T10:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T10:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platoproject.gr\/?p=556"},"modified":"2025-12-21T10:30:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T10:30:02","slug":"critias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platoproject.gr\/el\/critias\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIAS"},"content":{"rendered":"

SECTION 4 <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CRITIAS<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Prologue<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Plato reveals the Continent of Atlantis, the Island of Atlantis and the Sacred Isle (Poseidonia). Intriguingly, through combined presentation of other \u2018myths\u2019 and historical reports, several other issues are revealed also. The myths which refer to the creation of Athens and the Greek race, \u2018tie in\u2019 perfectly with the information given by the Egyptian Priest. Dates thus far unknown are defined, such as, for example, the reigns of Kekrops and Erechtheas as well as the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens. The origins of the Atlantian and Athenian tribes are traced through the cross referencing of information in regard to the identity of Erechtheas, an entity who was always integral to Athenian faith and to whom the Athenians had dedicated a temple on their Acropolis. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, as in the case of the Island of Atlantis, it is liquefaction as a consequence of earthquakes and cataclysms which is shown to have been the cause for the reshaping of the olden Athenian topography. Moreover, it appears that two wars, within a thousand years of each other, took place between the Atlantians and the Greeks; the first ending with the defeat of the instigating Athenians whereas the second with that of the instigating Atlantians. It becomes clear that the goddess Athena assumed the benefaction of Athens at the start of the first war, during the reign of king Kekrops, while later, at the start of the second war, she assumed that of Egypt. This is how the city known as Kekropia come to be renamed Athens. In addition, strong evidence is derived which suggests that certain verses by Homer and the Orphic poets are in relation to Atlantis. It seems that all these ancient poets adopted a very olden chronicle and with poetic license adapted it to their literary work. In this way the poems and epics became not only educational but also the vehicle by which many important truths and a wealth of factual information and important details were to be preserved. Accordingly, one is led to a number of very intriguing conclusions which clarify any or fill in the gaps one may have after finishing the reading of <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey <\/span><\/span><\/span>or of <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Iliad <\/span><\/span><\/span>or of the Saga of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Argonauts<\/span><\/span><\/span>. However, as has been pointed out, each reader will draw their own conclusions when all is said and done. Besides, this is one of Plato\u2019s central appeals; the encouragement of logical thought to compel his reader to arrive at knowledge through the process of reasoning.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Following \u201cTimaeus\u201d oration, the following day\u2019s conversation sees Critias expanding in detail on Atlantis. Interestingly, Plato from the outset and at length presents Critias in an \u2018apologetic\u2019 mode as he is about to elaborate on his philosophical point. Indeed, he hesitates even as he is about to start the narrative. To prepare his fellow conversationalists for what is to follow, he asks adamantly for their open-mindedness and is practically imploring for their leniency and tolerance on what he is about to convey to them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The description of Atlantis is indeed intrinsically complex. To facilitate the reader to easier understanding, an effort has been made for the presentation to be as straightforwardly comprehensible as it can be. Plato, without the use of maps, diagrams or illustrations but with exceptional detail, portrays the Athens of that time and also of an earlier one; just as he does for Atlantis, albeit in somewhat \u2018disguised\u2019 form. Eventually and for the first time after a very long expectancy, there is resolution to the myth of Atlantis; 2.600 years after Solon first learned of its being and approximately 2.350 years after Plato made its story public knowledge. And more that this, for the first time, 11.550 years later, Atlantis is revealed as it is today.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Plato gives a deliberately difficult portrayal of Atlantis. He is not at all accommodating. He does not withhold information but he offers it little by little, dotted throughout his manuscripts. His descriptions are comprehensive but concealed. To facilitate understanding, Image 49 shows the final hypothetical depiction of the Continent, the Island and the central Sacred Isle <\/span><\/span><\/span>in the centre of the concentric town plan of the metropolis of Atlantis. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Also depicted are the relative seas. With the accurate translation of the ancient text in hand and its associated elucidations and after working out the geometric forms given by Plato, the shapes and designs were transferred to paper and lo, step by step, all were illustrated. Of course, Plato deliberately does not give the clues to the \u2018map\u2019 in regular progression. Therefore, once again to facilitate the reader\u2019s comprehension, the present author presents certain items of information \u2026in advance relative to their mention in the ancient text, so that they make better sense in relation to subsequent Information. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once the \u2018blueprint\u2019 was drawn up, it was juxtaposed with the natural (or not) land formations identified in Africa. Also elucidated, is how Plato connects all this information to that in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Therefore, to now proceed, the reader should free imagination, sharpen memory and heighten perception so as to enjoy a superlative Plato. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Image 49: The white border marks the hypothetical depiction of Atlantis after the LGM, as well as the various associated regions, Pelagos and\/or Pontos seas and ocean. Even though the seas depicted appear impressively large, they are nevertheless based on historical reports. There were probably large or small lakes, wetlands, rivers or islands which constituted a whole. Understandably, these have not been delineated because of the inability to substantiate the actual dimensions that they may have had at the time predicted to have been the dawn of a bygone civilization (23-18.000 BP) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

H: Pillars of Heracles \/ AP: Atlantic Pelagos \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span>P1: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Atlantic Pontos \/ C: Lake Chad-Euthymanean Pontos C: Continent of Atlantis \/ L: Libya \/ ET: Ethiopia \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span>V1, 2: Volcanic Fields \/ I: Island of Atlantis which contains the metropolis and is contained by the Continent. The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere pelagos\u201d, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>barely discernible at the Island (I) and linked via a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> (<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u03c0) <\/span><\/span><\/span>to the Atlantic Pontos (P1) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Guide to Reading the Translation of the Ancient Text.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Wherever the word \u2018island\u2019 appears in the translation of the ancient text, its <\/span><\/span><\/span>definition will be given in parentheses so as to point out when Plato is referring to the continent and when to the island of Atlantis; because here in the book of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> their definition is reversed in relation to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. In other words, these definitions are valid only in <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> because Plato no longer describes the Island and Sacred Isle (Poseidonia) from afar as when he was mentioning \u201cthere\u201d; he is now \u2018on location\u2019. He is \u201cthere\u201d. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Terms and concepts that differ and must be noted are: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

a) The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> is the continent. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> is the island inhabited by the descendants of Poseidon and was in the interior and middle of the continent. It is technically considered as an island by dint of water encircling it in a huge moat (1.900 km long, as will be duly seen). This word is qualified as \u2018inhabited island\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) The center of the Atlantis <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpolis\u201d is in the center of <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the wheel formation, the metropolis and realm of Atlas. In Plato\u2019s time, a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpolis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> was the city-state, which was usually a fortified citadel (acropolis) with adjacent urban conglomeration and surrounding rural areas. This word is transliterated and used as is in the translation. There were another nine <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpolis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>However, exceptionally, in two cases Plato uses the word <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpolis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in reference to the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> (Notes &79 & &84 which will be duly elucidated). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201csacred isle\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(or Poseidonia, named thus by the present author in tribute to the founding entity Poseidon) is the comparatively tiny island, hub of the wheel formation. It contained the citadel and was the administrative, religious and cultural centre of Atlantis. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

d) Some <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cwheels\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>of land, are islands encircled by <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cwheels\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>of water. Plato sometimes refers to them as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201ccircles\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. There are two plains or flatlands. When Plato refers to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cplain\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, it is in reference to a relatively small plain that was subsequently reshaped by Poseidon into the formation of concentric and alternating wheels of land and sea. It had a circular shape and a point on it was the \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>centre of all\u201d, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>which is to say, that there was a place on it, which was in the middle of the length and breadth of both the Continent and the Island. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When the term <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-plain\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>is used, it is in reference to a vast flatland that contains the Island as well as the \u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>which Plato now, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias, <\/span><\/span><\/span>refers to as <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Most of this plain lay in the interior of the continent except for a coastal edge on the side of the Pontos! It is that same plain of the Continent of Atlantis, from whose earth was produced the clay that blocked the waterway (<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>) between the Atlantic Pontos and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>in <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u03a4\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. The <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> referred to in <\/span><\/span><\/span>TIMAEUS<\/span><\/span><\/span> is the far away (there) sea that is completely (<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-telos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>) enclosed by the land of the Continent which is the vast <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-plain\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This sea is renamed as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>. It is the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> or <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthat\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> or <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthereat pelagos<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201d referred to in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus,<\/span><\/span><\/span> when Plato was describing it from \u2018<\/span><\/span><\/span>afar\u2019 (i.e. from Athens, where Critias and his fellow conversationalists were). It is the s<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>ea which is contiguous to the Island of Atlantis and the small plain that Poseidon had formed into the concentric wheels of land and sea. This <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> was connected via a narrow waterway which exited at a place at the Atlantic Pontos (<\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>), that was somewhat like a harbour and from where could be \u2018seen\u2019 the islands from which one could navigate outwards to the edge of the continent where was the region of Gadeiriki. After Gadeiriki and by navigating the Atlantic Pelagos, one would pass through the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cmouth\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> at the Pillars of Heracles and beyond, <\/span><\/span><\/span>outside<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the Mediterranean Sea. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. All the important words or terms that differ from most other translations will also be herein written in parentheses. Plato intentionally gives the information on Athens comprehensibly and straightforwardly whereas he does the exact opposite with the information relating to Atlantis. Of course, as mentioned elsewhere, he does not withhold any data, but to decipher his wording and extract the correct information, is a veritable challenge of perception and test of knowledge. Plato\u2019s method of providing information may seem excessively complicated, to the point of bewilderment, but he had his reasons. In the end, the reader will, amongst other things, be impressed by the amount of detailed information that is imparted in a few lines of script. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. The reader will come to recognize the various clever contrivances given at regular intervals by the ingenious Plato and will eventually be satisfied that there is nothing ambiguous in his writings. But Plato is not immediately forthcoming with resolution to issues that arise and left hanging in the course of the narrative as to whether they are in one or another way. He provides answers at predetermined points which are not easy to isolate. Plato does this intentionally, to test the awareness and perception of his reader. However, not wanting to exhaust his reader, he intersperses the intricate sections with some straightforward and easily understood accounts, much in the way of intermissions for \u2018brain rest\u2019! Also and most importantly, he provides confirmation to any reservations or uncertainties his reader may still have, by referring twice to the ambiguous issue, albeit in a different ways. Besides whichever convolutions in his telling, Plato also gives some descriptions \u2026in reverse, beginning his recounts from the end to the beginning. At other times, he provides information patchily albeit fully. Such are the particularities and peculiarities of Plato. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6. Finally, as will be duly analyzed, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Plato is describing Atlantis as if he is on location, whereas in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> he is writing about Atlantis from home base, presumably Athens. It is important for the reader to keep this in mind so as to makes sense of the spatial perspectives such as \u2018here\u2019 vs. \u2018there\u2019, \u2018inside\u2019 vs. \u2018outside\u2019, \u2018from\u2019 vs. \u2018to\u2019, etc. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. CRITIAS – Translation of the Ancient Text from the Current Greek. <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Translators note:<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> At risk of being repetitive, the reader is once again reminded that the English translation which follows is of the author\u2019s Current Greek translation of the Ancient Greek text. The translation from the Ancient to the Current Greek was accomplished by analyzing each key word in context, the grammar and the syntax, particularly of sections that are defining. Likewise, the English rendition follows the fundamental principle of an as faithful as possible translation of the Current Greek with few minor and necessary deviations in parts where the syntax would have become too difficult to follow or the prose vague and \u2018wooden\u2019. In general, the English text has not been \u2018modified\u2019 or \u2018adjusted\u2019 for readability or literary effect. This is especially true for the contentious sections and the ones with data. As a result, the rendition that follows makes for challenging, albeit rewarding, reading and therefore, inevitably once again, an increased level of concentration is required of the reader. Besides, it must be pointed out that through the centuries, translators with a less than perfect awareness of the ancient language or lacking the scientific knowledge by which to make sense of the ancient writings would touch them up for agreeable reading. These arbitrary interventions and modifications of what is, in any case, an intentionally bewildering text by Plato, led to the meaning being lost in translation. The English rendition that follows may not be \u2018beautiful\u2019 or flowing but it is undoubtedly faithful.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Translation<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

TIMAEUS: how pleased I am, o Socrates, as if I am rested after a long walk, thus now with satisfaction I am relieved from the presentation of speech. But now I pray to the god, whose existence has on the one hand indeed been verified by acts from the past, while on the other it has just at this moment been acknowledged in words, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(I pray)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>to<\/span><\/span><\/span> grant us wellbeing for whatever has been spoken of to have been said well, but also to punish us with the apt punishment, should we have we said something despite our will. Proper indeed punishment is to bring back to order him who erred; for us to therefore speak correctly in future in relevance to the birth of the gods, we wish that he grants us the most good and perfect of the remedies,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> knowledge, so having thus indeed invoked <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the god)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, as we had agreed, we give the word to Critias.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CRITIAS: Timaeus, indeed I accept, whilst that which you too had asked for at the commencement of <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(your)<\/span><\/span><\/span> speech, requesting pardon because you were about to speak on important issues, that same also do I now demand, and even more do I demand from you <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(all)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to show greater leniency on what are about to be said in due course by me. I know of course that my request is rude and more uncivil than it should because I intend to demand, but I must say so. Because which logical <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(person)<\/span><\/span><\/span> would attempt to say that possibly all that have been said by you are not correct? But I will try somehow to prove this, namely that these things which are to be said are in need of greater leniency, because they are more difficult <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(intricate)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Because, o Timaeus, when someone makes reference to something relevant to the Gods and addresses himself to humans, it is easier for one to seem as if speaking to us correctly rather than when <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(speaking)<\/span><\/span><\/span> about mortals. The lack of experience certainly and the complete lack of knowledge of the listeners, as to whether things are so, would offer great leeway to him who is about to speak on these; indeed with regard to the Gods, we know how things are. And to further clarify this of which I say, pay me your attention at this point. It is required of course that what has been spoken of by all of us to be an imitation and facsimile of something; from the artists we see that as to the depiction of divine and human bodies it is done easily and difficultly <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(respectively)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, so that they who behold <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(their works)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to be of the impression that they are of sufficient resemblance and we will notice that basically we are content, should someone succeed in portraying even a little the earth, the mountains and the rivers and the celestial dome and all which are located and rotate around it, so that they are in resemblance to each other, and besides these, because we know almost nothing with exactitude about them, we neither examine, nor check what have been scribed, but bring into play for them a vague and misleading sketch; whereas each time someone attempts to depict our own bodies, because we exactly comprehend that which is missing from us, for the reason that we are well familiar with it due to daily contact, we become stern critics of the one who did not render as he ought to all the likenesses. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The same thing therefore we must see happens also with discourses; that is to say that <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>we are accommodating as to the celestial and the divine, even if what is being said<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> little resembles reality, while the mortal and the human we examine at depth. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But because I am about to speak forthwith without suitable preparation, if I do not manage <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>to portray things, correctly, you must excuse me. But you must bear in mind that to portray mortal <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(matters)<\/span><\/span><\/span> in their actual dimension is not an easy, but a difficult matter. I have said all these, Socrates, so as to remind you<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (all)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of them in request of your indulgence not a little but sufficiently on what I am about to say. So indeed if I look to you as if I am justifiably asking for this benefaction, then give it willingly <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(1)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

SOCRATES: why should we not give it to you Critias? And even unto him Hermocrates let us give it, the third one of us <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(due to speak)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Of course it is obvious that a short while later, when he is required to speak, he will request exactly the same as you. So that he can therefore think of some other introduction and not be obliged to begin again in the same manner, let him speak in such a way as if he has from now our indulgence. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But I tell you beforehand, friend Critias, the thoughts of your listeners, because he who spoke before you succeeded in doing so to a satisfactory degree, so you will need extra indulgence from us, if you are to consummate these satisfactorily. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

HERMOKRATES: the same exactly, o Socrates, you urge upon me, exactly as unto him here. Of course, o Critias, men without daring have never set up a trophy to victory yet. You must therefore proceed boldly with your speech, and by citing Peon and the Muses to proclaim and extol the olden fellow citizens who had been superb. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CRITIAS: O friend Hermokrates, because you have been set to speak tomorrow and because there precedes somebody else before you, that is why you still have courage. But what exactly this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(courage)<\/span><\/span><\/span> is, perhaps you will come to feel; so we must therefore comply with you who consoles us and gives us courage and furthermore we must ask the Gods to draw near to us, they whom you mentioned and all the rest and above all Mnemosyne <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Memory)<\/span><\/span><\/span>; because the greater part of our discourse depends on this goddess. Because, if I recall enough so as to speak on those <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(matters)<\/span><\/span><\/span> which were once spoken of by the priests and were brought here by Solon, I am certain, that we will appear to this here audience that of what we had to <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(speak of)<\/span><\/span><\/span> we have analyzed them adequately well. Now, therefore, right away this is what we have to do and we must delay no more. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To start off let us remember that in total nine thousand years have elapsed <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(2)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>from the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> time when in actual fact was declared war unto those who live outside the Pillars of Heracles, and unto all of those who were within <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(3) (4)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>;<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>of this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(war) <\/span><\/span><\/span>therefore I must narrate. And of them whom this here <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(city-state)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> did lead and the entire war continued and concluded, as well as of them <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(who were led) <\/span><\/span><\/span>by the kings of the island of Atlantis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(5)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> which was once as we have said an <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Continent),<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>larger<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> than Libya and Asia together<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(6)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup>but now after earthquakes <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(7)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, having been covered <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the Island)<\/span><\/span><\/span> lacks a poros <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(narrow navigable waterway joining two seas)<\/span><\/span><\/span> because of clay <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(8)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> <\/i>for those (<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>on this side)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> who want to navigate outwards towards the pan-pelagos <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(9)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, forming an obstruction so that they cannot <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(navigate outwards) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(10)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Indeed many of their nations that were barbaric and whichever were races of the Hellenes <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Greeks)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of that time <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(11)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> of each individually will be made known from the narration I have undertaken; both of the Athenians of that time and their adversaries, whom they battled to the end it is requisite for me to narrate of first, namely of the strength of the army and of their polity. Of these I would prefer to begin with the following. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The gods did at sometime divide all the earth of that time by sortition <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(drawing or casting of lots)<\/span><\/span><\/span> – without contention; for it would not be proper for gods not to know of what is analogous to each one, nor again, while knowing that something belongs more to others to attempt by contention to obtain it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(12)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> \u2013 fairly done by therefore by the lot which befell unto them they populated the lands and having established inhabitants, as <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

shepherds with their flocks, they nourished us as if we were their possessions and property but without them exercising physical violence on the bodies, as do the shepherds who drive their animals to graze by beating them, indeed to the contrary because it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(humankind)<\/span><\/span><\/span> is an intelligent animal, just as we govern a ship by the rudder from the stern, similarly by way of persuasion influencing on the psyche in accordance with their disposition, they governed the whole genus of mortal humans. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed the other of the gods <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(13)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> to whom were allotted other places did administer them well, while to Hephaestos and Athena who were of the same descent, since they were indeed siblings by the same father, and who at the same time engaged themselves with the same, namely with philosophy and the fine arts, befell by sortition to both of them this here land which is by nature dear and appropriate to their virtue and prudence, thus having formed the indigenous men goodly, they inspired in them the way in which their polity would be in order; as for the names of them they have been saved, whereas their works by the degeneration of their descendents and because of the passing of the years did vanish.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Because the generation that survived every time, as was previously mentioned, remained forsaken on the mountains and illiterate, having heard only the names of the leaders of the land and little of their deeds. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So it was these names that they would usually give to their descendants because they cherished them, while the virtues and the laws of the olden people <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(ancestors)<\/span><\/span><\/span> because they were ignorant of them<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (would not make use of), <\/span><\/span><\/span>apart from some faint hearsay as to each one; and in deprivation of the essentials both they and their children had for many generations their attention turned as to their needs, and preoccupied with these, would neglect all that had gone before of the bygone and olden events. Because the meticulous search of the mythology and the past reemerged in the cities, after the people had ensured the necessities of life, and not before.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So it is in this way therefore that have been saved the names of the olden ones without their deeds. Indeed I say these things by drawing a conclusion since Kekrops and Erechtheus and Erichthonius and Erysichthon and most of the others whoever are older than Theseus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(14)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> are recalled by each single name by the higher priests who recounted of that war, as was said by Solon, and as for the names of women the same applies as before. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact both the form and the statue of the goddess <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Athena)<\/span><\/span><\/span> demonstrate that common were the pursuits of women and men as regards to war, so in accordance with that law the armed goddess was dedicated to them of those times, and proof of this is that all the female animals and the males of the same species, are by nature <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(designed)<\/span><\/span><\/span> for each genus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(species)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of animal to exercise in common all the ability together with the appropriate asset <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(15)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i><\/p>\n

In this land therefore lived all the other nations of citizens, who occupied themselves with the arts and the victuals from the earth, whereas the combatant force of divine men from the very beginning, having been set apart, both of food and edification had the essentials, without any one of them having anything in their possession, but considering everything as common to them all and without having the claim to take more food than the other citizens and having the benefit of all the good things we referred to yesterday, namely with whatever was said that the guards occupied themselves with. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And furthermore the following very probable and true was said about our country, firstly that its borders at that time were delineated by the Isthmus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of Corinth)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and on the other side of the mainland up to the limits of Cithaeron and Parnis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(known mountains around Attica, province of Athens)<\/span><\/span><\/span> while the boundaries came down having Oropos <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(river)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to the right whereas the boundaries to the left towards the sea were delimited by Asopos<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (river)<\/span><\/span><\/span>; and this here land surpassed in fertility every other of the ones here, and that is why it was able at that time to provision many armies of the land that came from the neighboring areas. Indeed the greatest evidence of this fertility is that today\u2019s remaining relic of this land is as equally fertile both as to the abundance of fruits as well as to the many good pastures for every type of animal. At that time indeed besides its beauty it also had an abundance of such animals. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So in what way will this be confirmed, and why rightly could it be said to be a remnant of that age? All <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(our land)<\/span><\/span><\/span> protrudes far from the rest of the continent into the pelagos <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(sea) <\/span><\/span><\/span>so as to form a promontory; while the sea that has the shape of an urn happens to be of great depth.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently because of many occurrences and great cataclysms over the course of nine thousand years, for that is how many years have passed from today to those years<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(16)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(soil) <\/span><\/span><\/span>of the land during these years, also due to the deposition because of the runoff from the high places no soil was left as in other places as completing its cycle disappears by flowing into the deep; it has remained, therefore, exactly as on the small islands, in comparison to that time, like bones of the skeleton of an ailing body, since the covering earth which was thick and soft departed, while indeed there remained only a thin layer of earth. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So because it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(our land) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>was intact and its mountains and the surrounding high hills<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the plains which today we call fellees <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(stony place)<\/span><\/span><\/span> were full of fertile soil at that time, and on the mountains there were many forests, of which even now there is evidence; because the mountains that exist today have food only for bees, whereas not much time has gone by when of these trees were used as roofs in large buildings like those which crumbled into ruin, and which still exist.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There were indeed many other tall fruit trees that posed difficulties in the grazing lands for the flocks. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Even the water from Zeus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(rain) <\/span><\/span><\/span>that fell upon it they would exploit, not like now where it is lost flowing from the bare earth and ends up in the sea, to the contrary as it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>had much soil and would absorb it as it fell on it, like the earth that is roofed by<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> ceramic tiles, it would store it, while the water that fell from on high and was absorbed in hollow places flowed to all places and supplied plenty of spring water and drinking fountains and rivers, as even now in the olden springs that used to be, there are vestiges of sacred signs, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(showing)<\/span><\/span><\/span> that they are true these things which are now been said concerning this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(land) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(17)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These therefore as to the rest of the land were thus as to their nature, and as was natural it was tended by true farmers who did exactly that, who were indeed discerning and ingenious, while having indeed the best land and utmost abundance of water and very good climate with the hours of the earth properly allocated <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(18)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; as for the city it had been inhabited at that time as follows. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Firstly the area of the Acropolis was not then as it is now. Because an extreme nightly rain dissolved its soil and washing it away laid it bare even until today, with simultaneous earthquakes and before the catastrophe of Deucalion for the third time there fell an excess of water <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(19)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; while earlier in other periods, its <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the Acropolis\u2019)<\/span><\/span><\/span> size was from the Iridanos and Ilisos <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(rivers)<\/span><\/span><\/span> coming down as far and including the Pnyx and the hill of Lycabettus which it had opposite to the Pnyx, while it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the Acropolis) <\/span><\/span><\/span>was entirely of soil and apart from a few places it was level on top. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And its exterior parts, that is to say under its sides, were inhabited, by the artisans and the farmers who cultivated the nearby areas; whereas the top part <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(was inhabited)<\/span><\/span><\/span> solely by the genus of warriors, around the temple of Athena and Hephaestus, encircled by a wall such as the wall that surrounds the garden of a house. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed to the north of it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the Acropolis)<\/span><\/span><\/span> they resided in communal dwellings and partook in winter messes, and had built all that are necessary for the communal living of the warriors and the priests without owning gold and silver -because of these nothing would they ever use, while pursuing the moderate level of pride and independence <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>they would build fine houses, in which they and their descendents lived until deep<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> old age and they would hand them over always on to others of their ilk – whereas to the south they had gardens and gymnasiums and eating areas which they would abandon in summer. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed there used to be a drinking fountain there where the Acropolis is now, which having diminished because of the earthquakes <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(20)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, there remain the present perimetrical small brooks, while at that time it supplied to everyone a plentiful amount of water of even temperature both in summer and in winter. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus in this arrangement did reside the guardians of the citizens and leaders of the other Hellenes who sought after them <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(for protection)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while they would maintain for there to be as much as possible always a regular number of men and women, and be fit for combat, approximately twenty thousand <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(strong)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, also then as now. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These therefore were they and in this manner they would always govern judiciously both their land and Hellas, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(even as)<\/span><\/span><\/span> in all of Europe and Asia as to the beauty of the physique and all the virtues of the soul they were admired and more renowned above all others of that time; what was therefore the circumstance of their enemies and how it came about in the beginning, if we are not deprived the memory of what we heard, when we were still children, now in the middle of our age I will make them known also unto you my friends. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But I must briefly explain to you, before I tell the story, so you do not wonder when you hear Hellenic names for barbarian peoples; the reason for these you will be informed of now. Specifically Solon, because he thought of using this story in his poetry on asking to be informed of the meanings of the names, found that the Egyptians of that time who were the first to write this narrative, had translated them into their own language, subsequently he in turn, after learning the meaning of each name would translate it and write it in our language; and even these now which were written for my grandfather <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(by the great grandfather)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and which I possess have been studied by me in depth from when I was a child, so if you hear names the same as the ones here let it not seem remarkable to you , for you now know the reason for them <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(21)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At that time the beginning of this long story was somewhat like this. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As was also said previously with regard to the sortition of the gods, namely that they<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> shared out the whole earth, where there were elsewhere indeed bigger <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(lots) <\/span><\/span><\/span>whereas elsewhere also smaller <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(22)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, building temples for sacrifices there, so too did the Island of Atlantis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(continent)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(23) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>bechance unto Poseidon and he populated it with his descendants, who were born of mortal woman at some place on the island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(24) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>as follows. Indeed neighboring the sea <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(25)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> <\/i>and in the direction of the centre of all <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Island & Continent) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(26)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> there was an level plain, which is said to have been the best of all in capability and fertility <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(27)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, whereas besides the rest <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(neighboring the sea)<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the plain once again, at the middle <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(28)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> <\/i>at a distance of approximately fifty stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(9,5 km from the centre of all)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, there was a small mountain afar from everywhere <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(equidistant) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(29)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. Indeed <\/span><\/span><\/span>thereon resided one of the first men born on earth <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(30)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, named Euvinor, who cohabited with a woman named Leukippi; where they gave birth to an only daughter Kleito <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(31)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So when the daughter had reached man time <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(time to be married)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> her mother and father die, whereas because Poseidon desired to come and eventually couple with her,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> the small hill,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>where she dwelled, so as to fortify it well he enclosed it within a circle, by constructing wheels of sea and land alternately smaller <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of sea) <\/span><\/span><\/span>and larger <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of land) <\/span><\/span><\/span>perimetrically between them, of which two of earth, whereas three of sea, so that starting in rotation from the centre of the island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(32)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, from everywhere for it to be of same distance <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(concentric) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(33)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, so as to be inaccessible to humans; because ships and sea voyages were not yet made at that time <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(34)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. Indeed he as a god that he was richly provisioned the centre of the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(sacred)<\/span><\/span><\/span> island, since he brought from under the earth two kinds of water gushing onto the surface, whereby the one hot, whereas the other cold flowing from a fountain<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(35)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> and providing the capability to be produced from the earth every variety and sufficiency of food. So after birthing male children by five twin births, he raised them, and the island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(inhabited island) (and) <\/span><\/span><\/span>Atlantis all<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (Island & Continent)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(36)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, having <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>divided it up into ten parts he offered it, of the eldest <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (twins)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to the first who was born and also the maternal residence did he bequeath up to the end of the circle where was the most and premium land <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(37)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> and appointed him indeed the king of the others, while to the other archons, to each one independently he gave power over many people and much land. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed he gave names to all, while to the eldest and king he gave the one after whom also Atlantis<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> entire island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Continent & Island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(38)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> as well as the pelagos <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(sea)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(39)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> was named being called Atlantic, because Atlas was the name of the foremost sovereign. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidon)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to the twin who was born after him <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Atlas)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and unto who <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(second twin)<\/span><\/span><\/span> had bechanced <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>the end of<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the island in the direction of the Pillars of Heracles <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(40) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>toward <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the end)<\/span><\/span><\/span> that is to say of<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the present land of Gadeiriki which <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>was<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> named <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the same as that place <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of the Island)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, whereas in Greek <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(would name)<\/span><\/span><\/span> Eumilos<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(41)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> , while in accordance with the prevalent practice <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(would name)<\/span><\/span><\/span> Gadeiros, which would precisely in this way give a name as an eponym<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (to that place of the Island)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(42)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While of those ones second<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> born the one Amphiris, the other Euaimon did he name<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(43)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; while the third Mnyseas the first born, whereas the one after him, Autochthon; as to the fourth Elassipos the first, whereas Mistor the next; as to the fifth, while to the first he designated the name Azaes, whereas to the next Diaprepes. All they therefore both them and their descendents dwelled there for many generations as kings indeed over many others and also of <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>the islands<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which were in the direction of the pelagos, while even, as was also previously said, up to Egypt and Tyrrhenia <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(lands)<\/span><\/span><\/span> inside our parts did they dominate <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(44)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From Atlas is born indeed a most grand and just genus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(lineage)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while king became always the eldest, who in turn bestowed authority to the eldest of his descendents and in this way they would perpetuate the monarchy over many generations, while having amassed wealth, which multiplied so much, as had never before ever to any other king of the dynasties, nor ever in the future was it easy to come about, while it was by them that all were built, whatever in the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(city-state)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and whatever in whichever other land had ever been constructed. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Because due to their power, many <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(goods)<\/span><\/span><\/span> indeed came from abroad, while most were provided by that island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(45)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> for the buildings which were required in life, indeed first it would give birth to whatever can be extracted from the mines as solids and whatever can be made by smelting <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(46)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, as well as of the one now known of only in name -for at that time there was much more of the sort of earth from which orichalcum was mined at many parts of the island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(47)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> which with the exception of gold was the most precious for them of that time- and timber as much as they needed for the manufactures of the artisans, all did it supply abundantly, moreover it nourished several tame <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(domesticated)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and wild animals. While in addition there were a large number of elephants there <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(at the island)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(48)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; for there was food there for other animals also, whichever <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(live) <\/span><\/span><\/span>in marshes, in lakes and in rivers, as well as for whichever in the mountains and for whichever graze in the plains, for all of these there was provided aplenty, even for that animal which is by nature the largest and the biggest eater <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(49)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. Aside from these it produced and supported an abundance of aromatics <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(flowers & herbs)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, whatever thing the earth produces now, root vegetables or greens or timber or essences either of flowers or fruits; moreover even the tame <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(cultivated)<\/span><\/span><\/span> fruit which is dry, which we use as food, as well as whatever we use instead of wheat -indeed we call all these varieties legumes <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(50)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>– as well as from the fruit off trees, from which come beverages <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(51)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, also foods and fats and those things that are prized for the delight of children, the fruit that has a hard shell like oak <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(walnut)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, moreover whatever we offer after the meal to patients for their digestion and they take them gladly, all these good and marvelous and in infinite quantities did it avail of, that then sacred isle <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidonia) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(52)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, that was once under the sun <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(53)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All these therefore acquiring from their land, they constructed their temples and the royal buildings, and the harbours and the ports and all the rest of the land they provisioned in the following way. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u03a4<\/i><\/span><\/span>he wheels of sea, which were around the ancient metropolis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidonia)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, firstly they bridged by constructing a road outwards and towards the palaces <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(54)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While the palaces they built promptly from the start at that place which was the first residence of the god and their ancestors<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (the ten kings) <\/span><\/span><\/span>who succeeding one another, adorning the already adorned would surpass the splendour of his predecessor, until they completed them to an amazing degree for one to observe as to their size and beauty. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Namely a<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> diorycha <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(canal) from the sea commencing <\/span><\/span><\/span>(55)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> with a width of three plethra<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (100m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and with a depth of a hundred feet<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (33m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while with a length of fifty stadiums<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (9.5 km)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, on the outermost wheel they did open with a concave shape <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(56)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and accomplished the re-navigation <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(return journey<\/span><\/span><\/span>) from the sea towards that <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(diorycha<\/span><\/span><\/span>) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(57)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> towards that <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(wheel) <\/span><\/span><\/span>which was akin to a harbour <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(58)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and after having pierced a mouth so that they could navigate inwards with the largest of the ships <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(59)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> And furthermore, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>as regards the wheels of land, which separated those of sea, they cross sectioned them and formed bridges so as to allow the transit of a trireme between them and covered them on top, so as to be possible to be navigated under; because the lips <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(rims)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of the wheels were of sufficient height protruding from the sea <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(60)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>It was that indeed the maximal of the wheels, at which the sea synetetrito <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span><\/span>flowed constricted through a narrow opening between two diametrically<\/span><\/span><\/span> opposed and closely facing each other bays<\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, of three stadiums in width <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(570 m) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(61)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, while the next earthen <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(wheel)<\/span><\/span><\/span> equally as wide as that one <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(62)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; while of those ones second <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (63)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> indeed that wet one<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (seaward facing) <\/span><\/span><\/span>was two stadiums<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (380 m) wide,<\/span><\/span><\/span> whereas the other dry one<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (landward facing) <\/span><\/span><\/span>was equal again to the previous<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> wet one <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (64)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>while that<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (wheel) <\/span><\/span><\/span>which surrounded that particular island in the centre <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidonia)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(was)<\/span><\/span><\/span> one stadium wide <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(190 m) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(65)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> indeed that island, on which were the palaces, had a diameter of five stadiums<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (950 m). <\/span><\/span><\/span>While that<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>they surrounded circularly with stone walls the thickness of one plethro<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (33 m)<\/span><\/span><\/span> as well as the wheels and the bridge, which was on both the one and the other side <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of the wheels)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and constructed towers and gates on the bridges over the passages of the sea at each point; as for the stone they cut it perimetrically from the island which was in the centre, as well as from the wheels of land externally <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(from the edges) <\/span><\/span><\/span>and internally <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(inland)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, indeed of the white, of the black, of the truly crimson <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(respectively from the sacred isle of Poseidonia, the exterior and the interior parts of the wheels of land)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, cutting and simultaneously constructing double ship sheds <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>concave <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>internally, covered by the same stone <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the white <\/span><\/span><\/span>(66)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>And of the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> buildings some were plain, whereas others, by mixing a variety of stones for the sake of youthfulness, outwardly demonstrating their innate hedonism <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(belief that whatever pleasurable is good)<\/span><\/span><\/span>; and the wall of the outermost wheel they covered over its entire surface with copper, using that in place of colour<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>while the internal<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (wall) <\/span><\/span><\/span>they <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>poured<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in tin, whereas the one around that acropolis in orichalcum, which sparkled like fire<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (67)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The palaces inside the acropolis had been built as follows; in the centre was a temple sacred to Kleito and Poseidon, forbidden to enter, surrounded by a golden wall, that was where for the first time they came together erotically and gave birth to the genus of the ten kings; and where also each year from all of the ten lots they would come to that place to make offerings to each of them to whom were dedicated their temples. Indeed to Poseidon himself there was a temple the length of one stadium <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(190 m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while the width was three plethra <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(~100m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while the height was such that, when one looks at it to appear symmetrical, while it had something barbaric about it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(68)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. Indeed everything on the exterior of the temple they covered in silver, except for the cornerstones which they covered in gold; while in the interior of the temple one could see the roof as comprised of ivory and all decorated with gold and orichalcum, while all the other walls and columns and floor they covered in orichalcum. Indeed golden statues they erected, of the god on a chariot as the charioteer steering the six <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>horses <\/span><\/span><\/span>(69)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> and because of its size to touch the top of the roof, one hundred Nereids <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(water nymphs)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> on dolphins in a circle -because that was how many they of that time believed them to be- indeed many other statues there were from oblations made by private citizens.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While perimetrically outside the temple there had been erected golden icons of all the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>women <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(wives)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to wit of them, whoever had become kings <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(descended) <\/span><\/span><\/span>from the ten and many other large offerings made both by kings and by civilians of the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(city-state)<\/span><\/span><\/span> itself as well as from outsiders as many as there <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>were. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There was also an altar in analogy to the size and<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> style of this construction, and correspondingly the royal palaces were analogous to the degree of the power in accordance with to the appropriateness relevant to sacred events. Whereas at its fountains, of cold and hot spring water, of which there were many, and which had aplenty <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of water)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, pleasurable as to the use of each one, and exceptional by nature as to its amazing qualities <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(70)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> and after they had constructed buildings and planted trees that require irrigation, they built reservoirs and these in the countryside for this purpose <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of watering)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, of which the winter ones with hot baths were roofed, while separate being the royal ones, whereas separate the public ones, while yet others for the women and others for the horses and for the other yoke animals <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(beasts of burden),<\/span><\/span><\/span> decorating each one of these accordingly. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While the excess <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(cold water) <\/span><\/span><\/span>they would direct to the grove of Poseidon, which had trees of every variety and exceptional beauty and tallness owing to the fertile earth, whereas the other <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(hot water) <\/span><\/span><\/span>they drained by means of drainpipes, to the outer circles <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(wheels)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to the bridges <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(71)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed there were many temples and of many gods at that place, there were handmade <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(ornamental)<\/span><\/span><\/span> gardens and gymnasiums, of which those for the men, while those for the horses separately on each one of the islands which were formed by the wheels, while besides the others at the centre of the largest of the islands <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(wheels) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(72)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> it had a separate hippodrome <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(horse racetrack)<\/span><\/span><\/span> on it, with a width of one stadium <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(190m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while as to the length the whole circle was intended for the competition of horses <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(73)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> . <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed perimetrically around this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(hippodrome)<\/span><\/span><\/span> on the one and on the other sides there were houses for the numerous attendants; to the most trustworthy had been ordered the guarding of the smallest wheel and in front of the acropolis, even as to those who were exceptional as to their dependability had been given houses inside the acropolis, around the palaces. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While the shipyards were packed with triremes and equipment such as befit triremes, everything positioned well. Thus indeed in this way had been built what concerned the residence of the kings; as one would traverse the external three harbours <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>74)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, starting from the sea came a perimeter wall, which was of the maximal wheel and <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(maximal)<\/span><\/span><\/span> harbour <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(and)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>at a distance from everywhere of fifty stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(9 \u00bd km) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(75)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> and being open <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(76)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> at the same position <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(as the opening)<\/span><\/span><\/span> as towards the mouth of the diorycha<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(canal)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(77)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> with direction towards the sea <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(78)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While all of this was cohabited by many and dense habitations, while the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>return<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> route <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>and the maximal port were full of ships and merchants who would came from everywhere, and where because of the crowd there was produced much shouting and noise and there was created hubbub during the course of the day and the night. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So indeed all that have to do with <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>the city <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(urban area)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and about its ancient<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> buildings almost as then told of <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(by grandfather Critias) <\/span><\/span><\/span>I have now quoted from memory; as for the rest of the land as to how was its nature and the various species which constituted it, I must attempt to recall. Firstly therefore it was indeed said that all the place was very <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>precipitous<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>abrupt<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> from the sea, while the pan-plain <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>a<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>round the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(inhabited island)<\/span><\/span><\/span> did<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> enclose it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(79)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>while that <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(pan-plain<\/span><\/span><\/span>) <\/span><\/span><\/span>was enclosed within a circle by mountains that reached as far as the sea,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(whereas)<\/span><\/span><\/span> it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>was flat<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and even<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>while <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>elongated was it all, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>whereas<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> both the two <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span><\/span>non-elongated<\/span><\/span><\/span> sides<\/span><\/span><\/span> were<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/span> three thousand stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(570 km)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>while<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>at the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>middle<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(<\/span><\/span><\/span>of <\/span><\/span><\/span>the elongated side<\/span><\/span><\/span> along the entire <\/span><\/span><\/span>expanse <\/span><\/span><\/span>from top to bottom) <\/span><\/span><\/span>from<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (the <\/span><\/span><\/span>side<\/span><\/span><\/span> adjacent to)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> sea<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span><\/span>the pan-<\/span><\/span><\/span>plain was)<\/span><\/span><\/span> more than two thousand stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(380 km)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>place of the entire island was turned due south,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>leeward of the arctic bears <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(winds blowing from 0\u02da north).<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>As for the mountains around this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(place)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, there was<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the great fame that as to the plethora and size and beauty they were superior to all the present ones <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(81)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, and they contained many and wealthy neighboring towns, and rivers and lakes and meadows for pasture, for fodder that was able to nourish all both the tame <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(domesticated) <\/span><\/span><\/span>and the wild <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(animals), <\/span><\/span><\/span>while having timber in great quantity and diversity for all constructions and for each one individually aplenty. That therefore was the nature of the plain and many kings and for long periods of time had made the most of it. Indeed it was a <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>tetragon from the beginning<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> generally rectangular and elongated <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(82)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, while wherever something was spare, they would direct it in a straight line to a moat which they would dig perimetrically in a circle <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(around the pan-plain)<\/span><\/span><\/span>; while the depth and width and length of this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(moat) <\/span><\/span><\/span>as was told is unbelievable, that it is handmade work, which when compared to all the others is so enormous, but it must be told that which we did hear; thus indeed the depth had been excavated to one plethro <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(33 m), <\/span><\/span><\/span>while in width everywhere it was one stadium <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(190 m)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while the entire <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(moat), <\/span><\/span><\/span>which had been excavated perimetrically around the plain, happened to have a length of ten thousand stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(1.900 km) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(83)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> While the rivers that flowed down from the mountains it <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the moat)<\/span><\/span><\/span> did receive and in this manner encircling the plain, reaching from the one and the other side to the polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(inhabited island) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(84)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, would release them <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(85)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, so that they would flow out to the sea <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(86)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. While on this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(plain)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, there were <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(excavated) <\/span><\/span><\/span>dioryches <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(canals)<\/span><\/span><\/span> in straight lines of at least 100 feet <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(33m) <\/span><\/span><\/span>wide,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> intersecting vertically as to the direction of the plain and again did reach the moat towards the sea, while each <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(diorycha) <\/span><\/span><\/span>was at a distance of 100 stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(19 km)<\/span><\/span><\/span> from the other; by means of this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(moat)<\/span><\/span><\/span> they would bring down logging from the mountains to the city <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(urban area)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and the other goods would arrive downwards on ships <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(87)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, while the crossing from<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the dioryches towards the others <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(was made) <\/span><\/span><\/span>by intersecting those diagonally <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>and <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span><\/span>n the direction of the polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(inhabited island)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. From this land they would reap crops two times a year, whereby in the winter by utilizing waters from Zeus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(rain)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while in summer by what was offered by the earth, that is to say the spring waters which would come up, via the diorychae <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(pl: <\/span><\/span><\/span>diorycha <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>= canals) <\/span><\/span><\/span>(88)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. For the numerous useful <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(able bodied)<\/span><\/span><\/span> men for war <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(who lived)<\/span><\/span><\/span> in the plain he <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidon)<\/span><\/span><\/span> had arranged to provide a lot to each male leader, of which the size of each lot was one hundred stadiums <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(19 km)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, while all together there were sixty thousand lots <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(89)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>; while the number of people from the mountains and the rest of the land, it was said to be innumerable, thus all these lots had been apportioned unto the leaders <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of the inhabitants)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of those areas and towns. So the leader who had been appointed as to warfare <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(as the chief commander in the event of war)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, was required to provide by random selection, one sixth of the soldiers for each chariot of countless chariots, while two horses plus riders, and in addition a chariot of two horses without the double seat, a soldier for landing carrying a small shield and the passenger <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(charioteer) <\/span><\/span><\/span>who held the reins of both horses, even as two hoplites and two archers and for each <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(hoplite and archer) <\/span><\/span><\/span>two slingers <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(and) <\/span><\/span><\/span>lapidators lightly armed and spearmen three unto each <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(hoplite and archer)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. While four seamen as crew for each of one thousand two hundred vessels <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(90)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. That is how was arranged the military organization of the royal polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(city-state)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, whereas of the other nine <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(royal city-states)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, in another, about which I could speak at length.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The ranks and honorific distinctions had from the outset been determined in the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> following manner. Each one individually of the ten kings ruled over the men in his land and of his polis and lay down most of the laws, punishing and putting to death whomever he wished; the exercise of power however and the relationships between them were in keeping with the edicts of Poseidon, as the law stipulated unto them and the letters <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(of the law)<\/span><\/span><\/span> were engraved by the first <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(kings)<\/span><\/span><\/span> on an orichalcum stele, which was inside the temple of Poseidon in the centre of the island <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(91)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, so they <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the kings) <\/span><\/span><\/span>would assemble every five or six years alternately, since they honored equally both the odd and the even numbers <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(92)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, convening and deciding on matters of common interest and would examine if someone had violated some law and would judge him. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While when they were about to sit in judgment, they would first take vows of loyalty between them as follows. After letting bulls free inside the temple of Poseidon, left on their own being ten, after praying to the god to decide on the sacred slaughter which would be agreeable to him, would pursue them without irons,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> but with sticks and nooses, while whichever of the bulls they captured, after leading him to the stele, would slaughter him, there where the letters were engraved at its top; while on the stele, near to the laws, there was an oath with terrible curses unto them who would not comply <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(with the laws)<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So after they had made the sacrifice in accordance with the laws and had sanctified all the parts of the bull, they would pour and mix wine with blood in a krater each in turn <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(93)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>, while the rest <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(body parts) <\/span><\/span><\/span>they would throw into the fire, and clean off the stele; while after that by drawing off <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the mixture)<\/span><\/span><\/span> with golden vials from the krater they would perform libations by pouring into the fire and would take an oath that they will dispense justice according to the laws on the stele, and that they will apply punishment, if someone had previously violated any <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(law)<\/span><\/span><\/span> and furthermore they would take <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(an oath)<\/span><\/span><\/span> that they will not violate any written law volitionally nor would they override nor would they conform to the archon<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>(king of the Atlas lineage) <\/span><\/span><\/span>except if he governed in accordance with the laws of the father <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Poseidon)<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These pledges, each of them having made, both for himself and on behalf of his genus, having drunk and offered the vial <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(jug)<\/span><\/span><\/span> to the temple of the god, and after making arrangements as to the dinner and all the necessities, as soon as night fell and the fire around the slaughter began to go out, all wearing the most beautiful cyan uniform, sitting on the floor by the warmth of the slaughters and the libations, throughout the night and after extinguishing every flame that burned around the temple of the god, both judged and were judged, if one of them had accused another of having made some violation; and after adjudicating the issued verdict , at day break, they would write it on a golden tablet, and offer it to the god along with their uniforms as testimony. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There were many other specific laws as to the office of each of the kings, of which the most important, that they would never declare war among themselves and they would all help among themselves, if one of them by some means attempted to dethrone the royal genus <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(lineage)<\/span><\/span><\/span> of any polis <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(city-state)<\/span><\/span><\/span>,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> while deciding in common, exactly as had their ancestors, as to the correct options as regards war, and on other matters, conceding the leadership to the lineage of Atlas. While furthermore the king did not have the right to put to death any of the relatives, if this did not seem right to more than half of the ten kings <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(94)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But this so great and of such manner of power that there was then at those areas the god after amassing it did lead it against these lands, under the following, as the narration says, alleged reason. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For indeed many generations, as long as there was still the influence of the god upon them, they were obedient to the laws and honored their divine kinship; because their thoughts were pure and they had accomplished gracious acts and were gentle and with prudence on every occasion and in their interrelationships, and thus contemning everything, except for virtue, they would regard things of the present as inconsequential and with great ease considered as burdensome the amount of gold and remaining possessions, but neither did they err intoxicated by indulgence thereby losing self-restraint on account of wealth, to the contrary composedly, they saw plainly that these too all increase thanks to the common amity with virtue, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>whereas these same possessions are destroyed due to the constant pursuance and overvaluation of them, while that <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(value) <\/span><\/span><\/span>too is lost together with them.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>Due to this way of thinking therefore, and the divine nature that lingered <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(in them)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, everything of theirs developed, all that we referred to previously. But when the divine element was eradicated because it mixed a great deal and many times with the mortal and the human element prevailed, they subsequently began to offend <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(behave with impropriety)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, because they were unable to bear the weight of their belongings, and to him who had the ability to judge, they seemed disgraceful, because they had lost the very best of their most precious assets, but they who were incapable of discerning the true and felicitous life, appeared as if eminently blessed, even though they had been consumed literally by greed for inequity and power. Therefore Zeus the god of gods, who reigns in accordance with the laws, because he can discern such things, on realizing that the chosen race was behaving despicably, wishing to punish them so as to become judicious, after coming to their senses, called to council all the gods in their most honorable abode, which is in the centre of the whole cosmos and who observes and considers all things, whichever have taken place, and on having assembled them, said\u2026 <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(95)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026 in continuation and ending, there follows an addendum by the present author which demonstrates that Plato did in fact conclude <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias <\/span><\/span><\/span>and moreover, did so flawlessly. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This ancient excerpt is not placed here arbitrarily by the author. Justification for it follows in the analysis of para.96.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, at the start of Homer\u2019s <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Zeus speaks to <\/span><\/span><\/span>the assembled<\/span><\/span><\/span> gods and says\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO alas, how mortals put the blame on the gods. They declare that from us stem their misfortunes, while it is often they themselves who with their bad deeds fall into grief beyond the written\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (96)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Analyses of the Translation. <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Translators Preamble:<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> All the reference books that the author has used in support of his theories are listed in the Greek version of this book, which also contains the ancient text. Self evidently, it is ineffectual to attempt to reproduce here, in the English version, the grammatical, syntactical and contextual studies conducted on the ancient text. Even so, it is necessary to justify the commentaries that follow so as to put to rest any misgivings as to arbitrariness. Thus, wherever feasible, analyses which can be explained relevantly in English have been presented in maximum scope and detail. Fortunately, the instances which do not lend themselves to such analysis are few. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

No discount is made as to the number of notes to be analyzed (a total of 96 in both the Greek and this, the English language version). It goes without saying, seeing it\u2019s been said elsewhere, the process of translation was meticulous, comprehensive, cross referenced, cross checked and collaborative. As also previously stated, the rendition into English follows a principle of faithfulness without lapsing into incomprehensibleness. To this end and to avoid tiring the English reader with extensive transliterations from Greek, only a few but essential key words have been retained from the ancient Greek. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In view of the above, the author as well as the translator, wish to reassure the reader, once again, that the notes which now follow in explication with the accompanying remarks, interpretations and conclusions, are well founded, having been researched according to scientific methodology and by the test of proof or proven by testing, each according to case. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Notes<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. After his talk in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Critias expands on his description of Atlantis in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>. The two narrations are interconnected and the reader can move uninterruptedly between the two as if they are one continuous narrative. Critias \u2018apologizes\u2019 in advance about the paradoxical nature of the subject he is about to present and starts off with a long introduction on how humans perceive the artistic portrayal of gods and mortals in his attempts to prepare his audience about the description he is about to make as to the divine and extant. Clearly, it shows his anxiety at the prospect of being faced with the incredulity of his listeners and for this reason, he forewarns them of the complexity and <\/span><\/span><\/span>singularness <\/span><\/span>of the topic on which he is about to speak. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Critias began his description of Atlantis as from 8.000 years before his time whereas in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> the time perspective changes. He carries on with his description from further in the past, 9.000 years before his time or 1.000 years earlier than from in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. This gives rise to the deduction of a war that preceded that at the time of the catastrophe, around 9.600 BC. The reader is reminded that in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus <\/span><\/span><\/span>it was reported that a great war took place between Athens and Atlantis in 8.600 BC which ended with the destruction of all in 8.585 BC.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Plato states that war <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cin actual fact\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> began<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>in 9.600 BC. Therefore, this war took place before the one in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. It therefore signifies that not one but two wars took place, within 1.000 years of each other. The deities Athena and Hephaestos took charge of the Athenians at the start of the first war, to nurture and advance their civilization. At the outbreak of the second war in 8.600 BC, they also took charge of Egypt. This is derived from the words of the Egyptian priest, who stated that the goddess Athena went to Egypt 1.000 years after Athens and that his people learned and began to keep written records 8.000 years before he spoke with Solon. As will be shown, Poseidon had undertaken to develop Atlantis much, much earlier. As for who instigated the first war, Plato, in purposely intricate syntactical manner, that is analyzed in the Greek version of this book, clarifies that it was started by those who were outside the Pillars of Heracles in relation to the Atlantians, that is, by the peoples of the Mediterranean and specifically by the Athenians and their allies. As for the second war, he states plainly that it was started by the Atlantians. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. It is important to note that before the first war, the forces of the Atlantians and the Athenians were each on their respective side of the Pillars of Heracles. Thus, the Atlantians were \u2018inside\u2019 whereas the Athenians, \u2018outside\u2019. Therefore, if the Atlantians were in Tyrrhenia at the start of the second war in 8.600 BC, then clearly they must have been victorious in the first war! In which case, this proves the assertion of having been two wars and also explains how the Atlantians came to be in Tyrrhenia and as far as the border of Egypt.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. The term <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> is one of the many demonstrations of Plato\u2019s reverse thinking. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, wherever he writes the word <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> on its own, it is in reference to the Continent and wherever \u2018island of Atlantis\u2019, he means the Island of the 10 city-states , in other words, the inhabited island. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>, he reverses it in that where he writes <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> he refers to the Continent and where <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> on its own, it is in reference to the Island. This occurs several times in the text. Furthermore, the analysis of the syntax of the next sentence confirms that the Continent too, is considered to be an island.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

6. As per above; in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>, when Plato writes <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> he means the Continent. This reversal of meaning will be seen again further on. Thus, it is once more confirmed that there is an island that is also a continent. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7. It is unequivocally stated that earthquakes were the main cause due which an island was covered (which island, will be clarified in due course) and a <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (narrow navigable waterway) was blocked. It is the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> referred to in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus,<\/span><\/span><\/span> where Plato stated that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which led to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> was blocked by a small quantity of clay. In other words, Plato indirectly indicates that it is the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in both cases. This is a key item of information because it associates the sea termed <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i>with the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> (&9). There is no mention made of a volcanic eruption or some other disruptive natural occurrence. Of course, it is not impossible that the earthquakes were triggered by an especially violent volcanic eruption at some faraway place but there is no reference to sounds of explosions or observations of volcanic clouds or unusual precipitation. Therefore it is taken as given that an extremely violent earthquake with a series of powerful aftershocks over the course of 24 hours occurred. There followed the catastrophic events of liquefaction and of the flood because of the blockage of the drainage system, as Plato explains in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus <\/span><\/span><\/span>and makes clear in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

8. a) It is evident from the text that because of the continual shaking, clay was produced which blocked the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (narrow waterway). In which case, the most plausible of all hypotheses is that of widespread liquefaction and\/or a colossal land or mudslide, which impacted on both land and sea. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) With regard to the word <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, the same interpretation is given here as in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. The word <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporon\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> with the negative prefix <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201ca-\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> before the noun, defines it as an \u2018ex-poros\u2019 or \u2018non-poros\u2019 or as an absent <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>It is the same navigable waterway referred to in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> (&10). Not a breach or other type of waterway. Plato here points out that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> became a \u2018non-poros\u2019 because of the clay that was produced (he gives the chronological sequence of events) after the island was covered by sea and essentially at the moment when the Continent (the land of the Continent) was settling, as is reported in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Thus is confirmed that the sea referred to as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, ceased to be linked to the sea referred to as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pontos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Furthermore, it is obvious that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporon\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>waterway that was blocked in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> is the same blocked <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporon\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>waterway in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias <\/span><\/span><\/span>and this, because Plato uses the same characteristic word in both his books. Also important is that in both cases, it is clay that is reported as being the cause of the blockage. What is more, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, by writing <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(i.e. unnavigable waterway) Plato has already established that it is the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>narrow navigable entrance<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>\" <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>mentioned later in the same book<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> Thus, the waterway characterized as <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> is identified as being the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporon\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> waterway in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias <\/span><\/span><\/span>as well as with the \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>narrow navigable entrance<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>\" <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>mentioned in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Thus, confirmation that the waterways mentioned are actually the same single waterway is that it was clay which blocked it, in so doing rendering it nonexistent as a waterway and thereby unnavigable. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

9. a) In other translations, the term <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> is usually rendered as \u2018entire sea\u2019 or<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u2018sea\u2019 or with words to that effect. It is interesting and defining to understand why Plato refers to this sea as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Once again, the philosopher displays a remarkable contrivance of logic in words. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, he reports that the Atlantian military force would set off from the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which was before a narrow navigable waterway which was shown to be a <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>which subsequently became <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Now, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias,<\/span><\/span><\/span> he reports that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> is no longer accessible <\/span><\/span><\/span>(he describes the route in the opposite direction than when in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/span> because it is <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporon\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> i.e. this sea lacks a navigable waterway via which to get to it. He thereby indicates and confirms that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> is the same as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> by dint of the fact that they had the same <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>which became <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>or a \u2018non-poros\u2019! Consequently by deduction, the waterway, which ceased to be, connected two different seas, namely, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pontos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This will be reaffirmed further on. Thus is reached the very useful and significant conclusion that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> which became <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, is the same as <\/span><\/span><\/span>the \u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> which was <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>aporon\u201d. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>To make it more understandable, in plain English, the inland sea in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> whose exit to the outer sea was blocked by clay and was therefore landlocked, is that same inland sea in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> which had been closed off and was no longer accessible by boat from the outer sea.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) When Plato describes the continent in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, he does so from afar, from the Pillars of Heracles at least. Consequently, he refers to the sea there as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>because it is at a distance from where he is. In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias <\/span><\/span><\/span>however, Plato is now \u2018there\u2019 and so his description of Atlantis takes place from \u2018there\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Consequently, his spatial perspective changes and <\/span><\/span><\/span>he employs a different term by which to define this sea: the prefix <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

10. Here it is again apparent that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> used to be behind the blocked <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> because they who were <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span><\/span>on this side\u2019 (as translates the relevant word in the ancient Greek text and which indicates the side on which there are Athens, the Pillars of Heracles, the Atlantic Pelagos and Pontos, or in a direction from \u2018here\u2019 to \u2018there\u2019) could not navigate outwards from \u2018here\u2019 to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which was \u2018there\u2019. In other words, it was not possible to navigate from the outside places and the Pontos sea which, as analyzed in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus, <\/span><\/span><\/span>were all before the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>and so, by this route, go to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Thus is derived a most important conclusion (by combining information found in both <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias),<\/span><\/span><\/span> that the sea route to Atlantis was:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pillars of Heracles \u2192 Gadeiriki \u2192 other islands in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pontos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> \u2192 a place somewhat like a harbour in the middle of the Pontos \u2192 through a narrow entrance and a <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (which had not yet become <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201caporos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> and enabled <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthose on this side\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> to go to the \u2018there\u2019 side) \u2192 the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> or <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> sea \u2192 Island of Atlantis \u2192 Kingdom of Atlas and the wheel arrangement. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Further on in the text, there is additional substantiation that the sea via which the wheel system would be reached, was the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>since they would go through a <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cdiorycha\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (i.e. the opening to a narrow waterway) which was a pierced mouth and in this way arrive to the interior of the Island of Atlantis where the wheel arrangement was. Thus are confirmed the positions of the Pontos, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cporos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>and of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthere-pelagos\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>or <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. In due course it will be shown that a <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-plain\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> encompassed the both the Island of Atlantis and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cpan-pelagos\u201d.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

11. Plato defines that the Atlantians were comprised of many nations while the Greeks of diverse races. In order to dispel any doubt as to the analyses of the previous sentences, by the syntactically examining the meaning of the previous sentence (which refers to the immediately previous paragraph), it is clear that the first <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cnavigate outwards\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> refers to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cnations that were barbaric\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the Atlantians whereas the second (which is not written but is clearly inferred by the syntax), relates to the Greeks who would want to <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cnavigate outwards\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> to there!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

12. At this point, Plato makes an interesting comment that has never received due attention. He states that <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cThe gods did at sometime divide all the earth of that time by sortition <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(drawing or casting of lots)<\/span><\/span><\/span> – without contention;\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>This took place during a time when humankind was completely undeveloped. However, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> he states that in 9.600 BC, the deities Athena and Hephaestus drew the lots by which they obtained Greece and Egypt, while Athens is not referred to as being undeveloped at the time under the leadership of Kekrops. Also, in relation to the draw, it is interesting to observe that <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026it would not be proper for gods not to know of what is analogous to each one, nor again, while knowing that something belongs more to others to attempt by contention to obtain it \u2026\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>This signifies that there were already some gods who had shares to which others were laying claim. This becomes clearer in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> where it is stated that at the time when Poseidon united with Kleito, whose father was one of the first humans of that land (i.e. the continent), ships did not exist. However, the first war which, as has been shown, broke out in 9.600 BC, presupposes the existence of sea going vessels. As a result, it is proven that Poseidon had preceded and obtained his share before Athena took over in Athens. At that time (9.600 BC) the Athenians were not in communion, so to speak, with the gods, whereas the Atlantians had Poseidon as their guardian. In which case, the draw that is mentioned here is some sort of follow-up lottery or competition <\/span><\/span><\/span>in order to settle who was in charge over what lands.<\/span><\/span><\/span> The implication is that Athena and Hephaestus, who were \u2018younger\u2019 than the known gods, took part in a subsequent draw or competition by which they claimed and took possession of their domains, namely, of Athens (and the Greece of that time, as per the description) and of Egypt! Thus it is relatively safe to assume that the draw, this second time around, was the competition between Athena and Poseidon <\/span><\/span><\/span>for the patronage of Athens. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Also, the phrase <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthe then known earth\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>implies that it was recognized that there were massive geological occurrences which had transformed the face of the earth and will transform it again in the future such as, for example, the rise and fall in sea levels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

13. This analogy of humans being guided by persuasion with a boat being steered from the stern is also found in the Orphic poems: <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hymn to Law.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor only this <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the law)<\/span><\/span><\/span> controls the rudder of animals <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(sentient beings)<\/span><\/span><\/span>, because it has upright maxims, is resolute, ogygian, wise, cohabiting soundly with the just, but begets grave detriment unto the unjust.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note: the term \u2018Ogygian law\u2019 should be kept in mind.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

14. Kekropas or Cecrops, according to Greek mythology was a well disposed daemon, half man, half serpent. He was the first ruler of olden Athens, when it was known as Kekropia. Certainly, the known mythology is not revealing enough so as to identify the time of his reign. Plato provides this information for the first time, via Solon and the reports of the Egyptian priest, to have been 11.550 BP or 9.600 BC. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cecrops\u2019 wife was <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aglaurus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> and E<\/span><\/span><\/span>rysichthon<\/span><\/span><\/span> was his son. According to folklore, in view of an impending war with the Karres and Boeotians, he founded a dodeca-polis (twelve-in-one city state) in Attica (the province of Athens). He organized the first population census, lay down legislation, established monogamy and burial of the dead and taught the first alphabet. It was during his reign when the competition between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of the city to be duly called Athens, took place. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The much later Athenians honoured Kekropas at the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Erechtheum<\/span><\/span><\/span> of the Acropolis and his grave was at its northwestern edge. This part was connected to the Caryatids via a small stoa which in the official inscriptions of 409 BC is named Prostasis (Pre-station<\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/span> or Unto Kekropas (in dedication to Kekropas)<\/span><\/span><\/span>. This space <\/span><\/span><\/span>was identified by Wilhelm Doerpfeld (Barmen 1853 \u2013 Lefkas 1940), from the inscription on a large 4.6 m long stone tablet found at the northwestern internal room of the Erechtheum. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As for Erechtheas, he was the next king of the Athenians succeeding Kekropas (who, according to Isocrates, was childless). He was the son of Hephaestus and Gaia. He was claimed to be the founder of the Eleusinian mysteries, the Pan Athenian celebrations and the inventor of the four-horse drawn chariot. However, according to other traditions, these institutions were established by Erichthonius who is considered to have been the father of Erechtheas. Erechtheas and his family lineage were annihilated by the enraged Poseidon (!) because of the killing of Eumolpus, king of the defeated Eleusinians, by Erechtheas. In his memory was erected the previously mentioned Erechtheum at the Acropolis (Encyclopedias Domi and Helios).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In short, Plato informs that the story of Kekrops is much older than it is thus far believed to have been. Even today, these names are chronologically placed by certain researchers at various dates ranging from 3.000 to 1.600 BC. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zeus was the first of the gods who together with his siblings, Poseidon and Pluto, emerged victorious from the Titanomachy. Therefore, Poseidon had the patronage of the Atlantians and perhaps also of the Greeks, long before the goddess Athena arrived on the scene. In which case and in view of the above, Athena seems to have laid her claim somewhat belatedly. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The sortition referred to here, indicates that the war of 9.600 BC was led by Kekropas and possibly also by his son Erysichthon. Athena had not participated in the first lottery. Subsequently, at the outbreak of the first war, Athena took over the benefaction of Athens. Then, 1.000 years later, the second and last war took place. Erechtheas and those after him, possibly including at least one synonymous descendent named Kekropas, were the new kings of Athens. In 9.600 BC, the name of the city was changed to Athens. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is the well known myth that recounts how Athena, after prevailing over Poseidon in a contest judged by the Athenian citizens, undertook the patronage of Athens. So as to appease the loser, the Athenians constructed the famous temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, on the southernmost tip of the province of Attica, now mostly in ruins but with part of it still standing. The west pediment of the Parthenon (as much as survived the wrath of the early Christian years, the vandalism of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Venetians<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> under <\/span><\/span><\/span>Francesco Morosini<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> and the desecrating fervor of the Scot, Lord Elgin) <\/span><\/span><\/span>portrays in exquisite sculpture<\/span><\/span><\/span> the famed duel of the deities. However, here in Plato\u2019s narrative, the prehistoric mythology carried over from Egypt, attributes the patronage of Athens to the luck of the draw. Amongst other things, even though Plato is clear as to the jurisdiction of Athena<\/span><\/span><\/span> over her prize,<\/span><\/span><\/span> he also states that Hephaestus and Gaia gave of their sperm; namely, their offspring Erechtheas. Indeed, this is also corroborated by mythology, in that Erechtheas was the divine sperm that was passed on to the inhabitants of Athens. As from that time, Kekropia was renamed Athens<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, one is unavoidably led to thinking of a further association. Throughout Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is in constant competition with her uncle Poseidon; and twice against the Atlantians (in both wars) as well as in the Odyssey! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

15. a) Even today, Greeks will customarily name their children after their grandparents although in recent decades there has been a noticeable shift away from this tradition in preference of ancient Greek names thereby replacing many of the Christian ones that had been established over the previous centuries. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) Athena is invariably portrayed in military attire and chronologically this is related to the occupations of women at a time when there was an established equality between the sexes in times of war. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

16. This information is particularly interesting for two reasons. Firstly, Plato gives the approximate date of certain significant geomorphologic occurrences in the Attica basin. Secondly, should these be verified, they will substantiate what was analyzed in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> as to the exact calculations of the dates of that period of time and this, because these natural transformations could not have taken place 2-3.000 years ago! Regrettably, this information has been ignored. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, the year in which there was much erosion by water, is given to be 11.600 BP or 9.600 BC. What is more, further on in the text (&19), there is commentary on the time prior to this date. In addition, Plato gives a description of an earthquake (he refers to <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201coccurrences\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> here, which he qualifies in &19) and a cataclysm that changed the Athenian topography and which are reminiscent of the catastrophic natural phenomena that befell Atlantis, namely, liquefaction (of the soft ground, as is mentioned elsewhere) as well as a deluge and an earthquake<\/span><\/span><\/span>. This report alone, once it is cross-referenced with geological research that may find evidence to prove that these natural events did in fact occur, will confirm the dates given by Solon with regard to this natural event and also the information supplied by the Egyptian priest.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Furthermore, should the latter\u2019s information be substantiated, it will confirm that in that far distant past (long before 11.600 BP), there may well have been civilizations of note in Athens and Egypt as well and with the two cultures intercommunicating. Otherwise, how else would the Egyptian priest have come to know of all this information? He must have drawn it from somewhere. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To date, from existing paleogeographical evidence as to when these particular environmental changes took place, the following important information has been derived. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to a study by D. Papanikolaou, E. & K. Bassi, Ch. Kranis and G. Danamas (2004), during the Later Miocene epoch (10-6 million years ago), there was a range of hills in the central part of what is now the basin in which is Athens<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Today, <\/span><\/span><\/span>besides the Acropolis of course,<\/span><\/span><\/span> three hills remain (Lycabetus, Philoppapou, Turkovounia). The sea in those times, reached as far as the hill of Philopappou, which is very close to that of the Acropolis, and may perhaps have been a promontory. The topographical picture was about the same during the Early Pliocene Epoch (4-2 million years ago). The sea still reached as far as the present day central Athenian suburb of Agios Dimitrios. It was only during the Middle Pliocene Epoch (800.000- 500.000 years ago) that this barrier of the central range of hills had ceased to exist and the topography of the Attica basin looked very much like it does today. Whereas during the Later Pleistocene, that is just before the present Holocene epoch, when the level of the sea was lower by 120 m (see SECTION 3), the present day islands of Aegina and Salamina were one lamdmass (Mariolakos and Theocharis 2001) and the hills in the Attica basin had their present day form. The start of the Holocene epoch has been scientifically determined to have been before 11.430 years \u00b1 130 years! Plato reports that this is the time (11.600 BP) at which the terrain had taken the shape familiar to Solon and himself and which was as it is today. With modern scientific methods, it is chronologically ascertained that it was perhaps some millenniums before 11.600 BP! It is apparent that the two reports, <\/span><\/span><\/span>the modern scientific and the historical<\/span><\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> draw a close parallel. It would be indeed very interesting to determine <\/span><\/span><\/span>exactly<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> when these hills took their present form. It may lead to decisive historical confirmation that in the Attica basin existed civilized societies from 23-25.000 BP! In any case, Plato is already justified, as he gives a particular millennium albeit without the chronological precision allowed by today\u2019s capabilities for research. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

17. Plato makes an informative description of waterworks that were designed to select and store rainwater for later use. The runoff from higher ground was gathered in hollow places. This seems a much more effective alternative to today\u2019s practice of positioning logs as barriers to stop or divert torrents in forests ravaged by fire. As described, the water gathers in water basins and its rush and volume is reduced while at the same time allowing the earth time to absorb it. In this way, aquifers are maintained and replenished. An added benefit is that the spores of the burnt trees, by not being washed away, not only remain on site but also in pits ready for immediate and natural reproduction; thus, not even manual planting is required. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Forestry managers everywhere, heed the ancient ways\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

18. Once again reference is made to the correct division of the hours (Section 3 – S. Chasapis – Report on 11.835 BC or 13.789 BP) This notable remark reflects back to what was described in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> and demonstrates that the ancients were fully cognizant at which periods of time and at which geographical coordinates, the hours between day and night, in the course of a year, were in correct proportion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

19. a) The dissolution of the ground at Athens had preceded the growth of civilization in Kekropia and also occurred before the catastrophe of Atlantis. These natural events in Attica had the same cause and effect as those which befell the Atlantians, namely liquefaction and landslip. It is reported that excessive volumes of water in combination with earthquakes resulted in continual wastage. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) The Greeks have still today preserved the legend of three great floods; t<\/span><\/span><\/span>hose of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ogyges<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Dardanus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>Deucalion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>. Plato here reports a third cataclysm<\/span><\/span><\/span> in Attica<\/span><\/span><\/span>, which was so far unknown, making <\/span><\/span><\/span>that of Deucalion, fourth. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

20. There is a well on the Acropolis, now dry, from which were retrieved shards of pottery from a much older era than that classically recognized as there having been advanced civilizations established on mainland Greece (12<\/span><\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup> cent. BC). This well is not the same as the one referred to by Plato, because he adds that where it used to be, the Acropolis was subsequently built and thus, only \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>remained the present perimetric small brooks\u201d. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>This report by Plato and\/or the Egyptian priest, confirms that there was a well prior to the one known to have been from the pre-classical era. According to the description, it is probably below the temple of the Parthenon which was built many millennia later. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

21. a) Shortly before, Plato writes that Solon had intended to incorporate this story of Atlantis in his poetry. Deliberately, he again alerts his reader that this story was almost recorded to be passed down in yet another poem because, as will be shown in due course, it had already partly been done by the Orphic poets and also by Homer in his epics. But one needs to know these latter mentioned writings in depth so as to be able to recognize the references. As one progresses in the of reading <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> and in correlation with all that has been referred to previously, there should be no doubt in anybody\u2019s mind that those great poets had incorporated in their recounts certain specific regions of Atlantis and an \u2018unknown\u2019 until now, topography of Africa. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) It is stated that Critias (i.e. Plato) had the story he is recounting also in writing from his great-grandfather. Therefore it is safe to assume that Plato had actually studied these manuscripts and had not just memorized the narrative of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> so as to subsequently write in such a circumlocutory manner<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It must here be reminded that in SECTION 1 of this book which deals with <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>, reference is made to Plato and Eudoxus having visited Sais in Egypt and staying there for thirteen years. As to why Plato states that Critias despite having the story in writing nevertheless recounts it off by heart, this will be analyzed in due course. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) The \u2018translation\u2019 of foreign names into Greek, has preserved the particularities characterizing many peoples and places of olden times. This is but one reason why even today, care should be taken when translating all names and designations. In cases where hydronyms and toponyms cannot be rendered in another language in a way such as will maintain their historically distinguishing characteristics, they should be transliterated and spelled in a way that is as faithful as possible to the original. One of many examples to be avoided is that of Gadeiriki, which in some other recent reports is written as Gades or Gadez or Gadirus. Such renaming, which was done either by mistake or deliberately for political and\/or economic expediencies, would subsequently often become generally accepted and thus recognized, would be propagated through the years. This has given rise to confusion because scholars in recent centuries, by applying onomastics when conducting research, were misled, since they based their studies on erroneous renditions or interpretations of the original names. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

22. So in this way Poseidon obtained a sizeable portion of the world, which was the Continent of Atlantis, while Athena and Hephaestus received smaller ones. There is no mention of the other gods, who obviously must have had their own lots elsewhere.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

23. Here is seen how the schematic logic followed in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus,<\/span><\/span><\/span> is reversed in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span> and remains so. Accordingly, wherever Plato writes <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> he means the Island of Atlantis and wherever <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>he means the Continent of Atlantis i.e. the opposite meaning as in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. The reason being that, in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Plato is no longer \u2018getting\u2019 to the continent (as in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>) but has \u2018arrived\u2019 at the island and is therefore \u2018on site\u2019 and unfolding the story from that geographical perspective; hence the reversal of definition. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

24. The original rulers were all born on the Island of Atlantis, not somewhere else on the Continent. This item of information is relevant, as will become apparent further on.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

25. The centre of the Continent, the Island and the wheel system to which Plato refers to immediately afterwards, were not far from the sea. This is an important condition that must be met and which will also be duly shown to be relevant. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

26. a) Plato makes reference to a location that is <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthe centre of all\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> meaning the centre of both the Continent and the Island. It is as to this place that he gives the geographical bearing of the places mentioned in his previous phrase which are both the Continent and the Island. It is an illustrative sentence which qualifies the previous one and confirms that which was opined in <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u03a4\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Namely, that when the word <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201call\u201d, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>or its synonyms in whichever grammar case, is used in qualification of the term <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cisland of Atlantis\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, it is meant to signify both the Island and the Continent! Thus, as has been established, <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201call\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>is a key word. Plato uses it three more times (in different grammar cases) in relation to the Continent or the Island of Atlantis. Of course, Plato uses this word elsewhere, but when he associates it to the Island or the Continent, he means them as per the above analysis. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) The characteristic phrase translated here as <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026in the direction of the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>centre\u2026\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>is used three times (in similar wording). It is also of major defining importance because depending on its combination with the words it accompanies its meaning changes. This change of meaning oftentimes happens with many ancient Greek <\/span><\/span><\/span>words which must be considered within the context of the text. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In ancient Greek, the above phrase usually indicates the direction towards a location which is in the centre or the in the proximity of the centre, <\/span><\/span><\/span>whereas the phrase <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026in the middle\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> usually means exactly that. <\/span><\/span><\/span>In the writings of other olden writers it may have a different connotation but in his use of the specific expression, Plato is reminiscent of Herodotus. <\/span><\/span><\/span>(The relevant Greek grammar rules, analyses and correlations are in the Greek version of this book).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To summarize, there is a place on the Island which is in the proximity of the centre of the Continent and the fertile plain of the Island and which is at the same time central as to the length <\/span><\/span><\/span>and<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> breadth of the Continent <\/span><\/span><\/span>and<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the Island! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is an incredibly precise geographical condition which must be met and in fact exists! To be seen in due course. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

27. Plato refers to a small fertile plain where Poseidon \u2018constructed\u2019 the famed concentric wheel system of Atlantis and in the centre of which, as he clarifies in due course, was a small mountain or hill that was later transformed into the Sacred Isle (Poseidonia), hub of the wheels. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

28. a) Plato here means that the plain was <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026in the direction of <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>the centre of all\u2026\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>of the Continent and the Island. Furthermore, at its own centre and in the direction of the sea -at a distance of 9.5 km <\/span><\/span><\/span>away from <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026the centre of all\u2026\u201d-<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/i> a landmark which, as will be reported further, was a small mountain or hill (Image 50). <\/span><\/span><\/span> The grammatical and syntactical analyses of the ancient text by which the conclusion that follows is drawn, is exhaustively presented in the Greek version of this book.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Accordingly, the conclusion is that the small mountain or hill was nearer the sea by 9, 45 km from the centre of all. Put in another way, that initial point on the plain that is<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u201c\u2026the centre of all\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> is in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>opposite direction<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> of that point which is <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cat the middle\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the plain and is also in the opposite direction from the sea. Therefore, there is the point that is in the centre of all and yet another point which is the hill in the middle of the plain which is in the middle of the Island and they are all in a line towards the sea. This means that the middle of the plain is between the centre of all (the length and breadth of the Island and Continent) and the sea.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) The phrase translated as <\/span><\/span><\/span>25.b.1, 2, 3. \"...<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> besides the rest on the plain once again\u2026\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>has been rendered by following the grammatical analysis of the ancient text and interpreted according to accredited dictionaries. Thus is concluded that what Plato means, is that apart from being the centre of all, there is \u2018something more\u2019 there. He duly states that there is a hill in the centre and further on will emerge to what else he is implying here. All the above will become evident in due course.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

29. Plato states that in the middle of the plain there is a hill <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026 afar <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>from everywhere\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> This means that it was equidistant from everywhere which indicates that it was in the centre of a circle. A similar contrivance was seen in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span> when he describes the harbour-like place which could be seen from everywhere, which is Plato\u2019s way of showing that the harbour was at a \u2018central\u2019 point on the Continent. Consequently, if the equidistant from everywhere point (in this case, the hill) is a central point and in the middle of the plain, it follows that <\/span><\/span><\/span>the plain is round<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> (Plato confirms this further on) and its centre is this small mountain or hill. Its diameter is at least 9, 45 + 9, 45 km because it is not yet given exactly how far he sea is and, as will be shown in due course, there was an intervening <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026perimetric wall\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This element will be given much further on in the text (Image 54).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is highly improbable, nay, impossible, for the above mentioned geographical conditions that Plato describes to have a coincidental counterpart in reality. And yet, as will be shown in due course, these conditions do in fact exist at Richat<\/span><\/span><\/span> and what is more, correspond with remarkable precision as to their depiction and given dimensions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

30. As <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c\u2026earth\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> Plato means the Continent of Atlantis. This has been analyzed in the section on <\/span><\/span><\/span>Timaeus<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Thus, Euvinor was of the first inhabitants of the Continent of Atlantis, not of the planet Earth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

50 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u03a3\u03c4\u03ac\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1<\/span><\/p>\n

Point B<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Small visible Hill, from the center of the island, and from the sea and from everywhere around. Center of the plain<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfar from everywhere\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

SEA<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fertile plain, in the middle of the Island.<\/span><\/p>\n

Point A.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Center of the Island and of the Continent. (At their width and Length)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Point C.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Joined point of sea and the plain<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Center of the fertile plain<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Image 50: Illustration of the small fertile plain. Point A has been determined by Plato as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201ccentre of all\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which is of both the Continent and the Island of Atlantis. In other words, he specifies it as the central point as to the length and breadth of the Continent and the Island<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Point B is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201csmall mountain afar from everywhere\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>by 9, 45 km. Because he states that this small mountain was in the middle of the plain, the depiction is of a circular plain with a small mountain at its centre<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, because by correlation he reports that the plain is <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cin the direction of\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>the sea, it follows that the sea is diametrically opposite to <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cthe centre of all\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Besides, taken from a geometrical perspective, the centre of everything could not be between the centre of the plain and the sea. This will be reconfirmed further on when all the given dimensions are given, because \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>the centre of all\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> could not be very near the sea which borders the one side of the Island and much further away from the opposite -to it- side of the Island<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another geometrically derived conclusion is that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201csmall mountain\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> which is in the centre of the plain is also in the centre as to the length or breadth of the Island and Continent. As will be proven later, when all the relevant information and dimensions are eventually made available, that this hill is indeed in the centre as to the length of both the Continent and the Island<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

31. Plato does not go into a detailed analysis of the names of the ten twins. Most of the names are probably symbolic and not actual. However, it is interesting at this point to note an extract from <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey. <\/span><\/span><\/span> Plato here offers his reader a \u2018break\u2019 from concentration before carrying on with multifarious and complex presentations (if the meaning of the names had been elaborated on, it would not have been a \u2018break\u2019. This will become apparent in &43). In any case, this is the first indication by Plato that he has included fictional elements in this account. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The following extract is from <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey<\/span><\/span><\/span> by Homer<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt first the shaker of the earth Poseidon, sired <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Nausithous<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> with <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Periboea<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, best of womankind, the only daughter of Euremedon, who reigned in the past over the proud Gigantes <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Giants). <\/span><\/span><\/span>But this king destroyed his irreverent people and he too was destroyed; with her did Poseidon mate, and she gave birth to an only son, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Nausithous<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> the magnanimous, who reigned over the <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Phaeacians<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. And Nausithous gave birth to Rixinoras and <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Alkinoous<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>\"<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Remarks: Plato was well versed in <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey <\/span><\/span><\/span>which, besides being a useful source of language, amongst other things, was also a good vehicle by which to carry information on mythology to future generations. Plato would frequently \u2018borrow\u2019 words and meanings from the Homeric epics. Thus, with an elementary comparison, certain conclusions can be derived.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

a) In <\/span><\/span><\/span>Critias<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Poseidon mated with Kleito, whereas with <\/span><\/span><\/span>Periboea<\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Odyssey<\/span><\/span><\/span>. The names (in Greek) are comparable. Accordingly, possible interpretations are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n