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Critias
by Plato
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS。
The Critias is a fragment which breaks off in the middle of a sentence。 It
was designed to be the second part of a trilogy； which； like the other
great Platonic trilogy of the Sophist； Statesman； Philosopher； was never
completed。 Timaeus had brought down the origin of the world to the
creation of man； and the dawn of history was now to succeed the philosophy
of nature。 The Critias is also connected with the Republic。 Plato； as he
has already told us （Tim。）； intended to represent the ideal state engaged
in a patriotic conflict。 This mythical conflict is prophetic or symbolical
of the struggle of Athens and Persia； perhaps in some degree also of the
wars of the Greeks and Carthaginians； in the same way that the Persian is
prefigured by the Trojan war to the mind of Herodotus； or as the narrative
of the first part of the Aeneid is intended by Virgil to foreshadow the
wars of Carthage and Rome。 The small number of the primitive Athenian
citizens （20；000）； 'which is about their present number' （Crit。）； is
evidently designed to contrast with the myriads and barbaric array of the
Atlantic hosts。 The passing remark in the Timaeus that Athens was left
alone in the struggle； in which she conquered and became the liberator of
Greece； is also an allusion to the later history。 Hence we may safely
conclude that the entire narrative is due to the imagination of Plato； who
has used the name of Solon and introduced the Egyptian priests to give
verisimilitude to his story。 To the Greek such a tale； like that of the
earth…born men； would have seemed perfectly accordant with the character of
his mythology； and not more marvellous than the wonders of the East
narrated by Herodotus and others： he might have been deceived into
believing it。 But it appears strange that later ages should have been
imposed upon by the fiction。 As many attempts have been made to find the
great island of Atlantis； as to discover the country of the lost tribes。
Without regard to the description of Plato； and without a suspicion that
the whole narrative is a fabrication； interpreters have looked for the spot
in every part of the globe； America； Arabia Felix； Ceylon； Palestine；
Sardinia； Sweden。
Timaeus concludes with a prayer that his words may be acceptable to the God
whom he has revealed； and Critias； whose turn follows； begs that a larger
measure of indulgence may be conceded to him； because he has to speak of
men whom we know and not of gods whom we do not know。 Socrates readily
grants his request； and anticipating that Hermocrates will make a similar
petition； extends by anticipation a like indulgence to him。
Critias returns to his story； professing only to repeat what Solon was told
by the priests。 The war of which he was about to speak had occurred 9000
years ago。 One of the combatants was the city of Athens； the other was the
great island of Atlantis。 Critias proposes to speak of these rival powers
first of all； giving to Athens the precedence； the various tribes of Greeks
and barbarians who took part in the war will be dealt with as they
successively appear on the scene。
In the beginning the gods agreed to divide the earth by lot in a friendly
manner； and when they had made the allotment they settled their several
countries； and were the shepherds or rather the pilots of mankind； whom
they guided by persuasion； and not by force。 Hephaestus and Athena；
brother and sister deities； in mind and art united； obtained as their lot
the land of Attica； a land suited to the growth of virtue and wisdom； and
there they settled a brave race of children of the soil； and taught them
how to order the state。 Some of their names； such as Cecrops； Erechtheus；
Erichthonius； and Erysichthon； were preserved and adopted in later times；
but the memory of their deeds has passed away； for there have since been
many deluges； and the remnant who survived in the mountains were ignorant
of the art of writing； and during many generations were wholly devoted to
acquiring the means of life。。。And the armed image of the goddess which was
dedicated by the ancient Athenians is an evidence to other ages that men
and women had in those days； as they ought always to have； common virtues
and pursuits。 There were various classes of citizens； including
handicraftsmen and husbandmen and a superior class of warriors who dwelt
apart； and were educated； and had all things in common； like our guardians。
Attica in those days extended southwards to the Isthmus； and inland to the
heights of Parnes and Cithaeron； and between them and the sea included the
district of Oropus。 The country was then； as what remains of it still is；
the most fertile in the world； and abounded in rich plains and pastures。
But in the course of ages much of the soil was washed away and disappeared
in the deep sea。 And the inhabitants of this fair land were endowed with
intelligence and the love of beauty。
The Acropolis of the ancient Athens extended to the Ilissus and Eridanus；
and included the Pnyx； and the Lycabettus on the opposite side to the Pnyx；
having a level surface and deep soil。 The side of the hill was inhabited
by craftsmen and husbandmen； and the warriors dwelt by themselves on the
summit； around the temples of Hephaestus and Athene； in an enclosure which
was like the garden of a single house。 In winter they retired into houses
on the north of the hill； in which they held their syssitia。 These were
modest dwellings； which they bequeathed unaltered to their children's
children。 In summer time the south side was inhabited by them； and then
they left their gardens and dining…halls。 In the midst of the Acropolis
was a fountain； which gave an abundant supply of cool water in summer and
warm in winter； of this there are still some traces。 They were careful to
preserve the number of fighting men and women at 20；000； which is equal to
that of the present military force。 And so they passed their lives as
guardians of the citizens and leaders of the Hellenes。 They were a just
and famous race； celebrated for their beauty and virtue all over Europe and
Asia。
And now I will speak to you of their adversaries； but first I ought to
explain that the Greek names were given to Solon in an Egyptian form； and
he enquired their meaning and translated them。 His manuscript was left
with my grandfather Dropides； and is now in my possession。。。In the division
of the earth Poseidon obtained as his portion the island of Atlantis； and
there he begat children whose mother was a mortal。 Towards the sea and in
the centre of the island there was a very fair and fertile plain； and near
the centre； about fifty stadia from the plain； there was a low mountain in
which dwelt a man named Evenor and his wife Leucippe； and their daughter
Cleito； of whom Poseidon became enamoured。 He to secure his love enclosed
the mountain with rings or zones varying in size； two of land and three of
sea； which his divine power readily enabled him to excavate and fashion；
and； as there was no shipping in those days； no man could get into the
place。 To the interior island he conveyed under the earth springs of water
hot and cold； and supplied the land with all things needed for the life of
man。 Here he begat a family consisting of five pairs of twin male
children。 The eldest was Atlas； and him he made king of the centre island；
while to his twin brother； Eumelus； or Gadeirus； he assigned that part of
the country which was nearest the Straits。 The other brothers he made
chiefs over the rest of the island。 And their kingdom extended as far as
Egypt and Tyrrhenia。 Now Atlas had a fair posterity； and great treasures
derived from minesamong them that precious metal orichalcum； and there
was abundance of wood； and herds of elephants； and pastures for animals of
all kinds； and fragrant herbs； and grasses； and trees bearing fruit。 These
they used； and employed themselves in constructing their temples； and
palaces； and harbours； and docks； in the following manner：First； they
bridged over the zones of sea； and made a way to and from the royal palace
which they built in the centre island。 This ancient palace was ornamented
by successive generations； and they dug a canal which passed through the
zones of land from the island to the sea。 The zones of earth were
surrounded by walls made o