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common。
Yet； before proceeding further in the narrative； I ought to warn you； that
you must not be surprised if you should perhaps hear Hellenic names given
to foreigners。 I will tell you the reason of this： Solon； who was
intending to use the tale for his poem； enquired into the meaning of the
names； and found that the early Egyptians in writing them down had
translated them into their own language； and he recovered the meaning of
the several names and when copying them out again translated them into our
language。 My great…grandfather； Dropides； had the original writing； which
is still in my possession； and was carefully studied by me when I was a
child。 Therefore if you hear names such as are used in this country； you
must not be surprised； for I have told how they came to be introduced。 The
tale； which was of great length； began as follows：
I have before remarked in speaking of the allotments of the gods； that they
distributed the whole earth into portions differing in extent； and made for
themselves temples and instituted sacrifices。 And Poseidon； receiving for
his lot the island of Atlantis； begat children by a mortal woman； and
settled them in a part of the island； which I will describe。 Looking
towards the sea； but in the centre of the whole island； there was a plain
which is said to have been the fairest of all plains and very fertile。
Near the plain again； and also in the centre of the island at a distance of
about fifty stadia； there was a mountain not very high on any side。 In
this mountain there dwelt one of the earth…born primeval men of that
country； whose name was Evenor； and he had a wife named Leucippe； and they
had an only daughter who was called Cleito。 The maiden had already reached
womanhood； when her father and mother died； Poseidon fell in love with her
and had intercourse with her； and breaking the ground； inclosed the hill in
which she dwelt all round； making alternate zones of sea and land larger
and smaller； encircling one another； there were two of land and three of
water； which he turned as with a lathe； each having its circumference
equidistant every way from the centre； so that no man could get to the
island； for ships and voyages were not as yet。 He himself； being a god；
found no difficulty in making special arrangements for the centre island；
bringing up two springs of water from beneath the earth； one of warm water
and the other of cold； and making every variety of food to spring up
abundantly from the soil。 He also begat and brought up five pairs of twin
male children； and dividing the island of Atlantis into ten portions； he
gave to the first…born of the eldest pair his mother's dwelling and the
surrounding allotment； which was the largest and best； and made him king
over the rest； the others he made princes； and gave them rule over many
men； and a large territory。 And he named them all； the eldest； who was the
first king； he named Atlas； and after him the whole island and the ocean
were called Atlantic。 To his twin brother； who was born after him； and
obtained as his lot the extremity of the island towards the pillars of
Heracles； facing the country which is now called the region of Gades in
that part of the world； he gave the name which in the Hellenic language is
Eumelus； in the language of the country which is named after him； Gadeirus。
Of the second pair of twins he called one Ampheres； and the other Evaemon。
To the elder of the third pair of twins he gave the name Mneseus； and
Autochthon to the one who followed him。 Of the fourth pair of twins he
called the elder Elasippus； and the younger Mestor。 And of the fifth pair
he gave to the elder the name of Azaes； and to the younger that of
Diaprepes。 All these and their descendants for many generations were the
inhabitants and rulers of divers islands in the open sea； and also； as has
been already said； they held sway in our direction over the country within
the pillars as far as Egypt and Tyrrhenia。 Now Atlas had a numerous and
honourable family； and they retained the kingdom； the eldest son handing it
on to his eldest for many generations； and they had such an amount of
wealth as was never before possessed by kings and potentates； and is not
likely ever to be again； and they were furnished with everything which they
needed； both in the city and country。 For because of the greatness of
their empire many things were brought to them from foreign countries； and
the island itself provided most of what was required by them for the uses
of life。 In the first place； they dug out of the earth whatever was to be
found there； solid as well as fusile； and that which is now only a name and
was then something more than a name； orichalcum； was dug out of the earth
in many parts of the island； being more precious in those days than
anything except gold。 There was an abundance of wood for carpenter's work；
and sufficient maintenance for tame and wild animals。 Moreover； there were
a great number of elephants in the island； for as there was provision for
all other sorts of animals； both for those which live in lakes and marshes
and rivers； and also for those which live in mountains and on plains； so
there was for the animal which is the largest and most voracious of all。
Also whatever fragrant things there now are in the earth； whether roots； or
herbage； or woods； or essences which distil from fruit and flower； grew and
thrived in that land； also the fruit which admits of cultivation； both the
dry sort； which is given us for nourishment and any other which we use for
foodwe call them all by the common name of pulse； and the fruits having a
hard rind； affording drinks and meats and ointments； and good store of
chestnuts and the like； which furnish pleasure and amusement； and are
fruits which spoil with keeping； and the pleasant kinds of dessert； with
which we console ourselves after dinner； when we are tired of eatingall
these that sacred island which then beheld the light of the sun； brought
forth fair and wondrous and in infinite abundance。 With such blessings the
earth freely furnished them； meanwhile they went on constructing their
temples and palaces and harbours and docks。 And they arranged the whole
country in the following manner：
First of all they bridged over the zones of sea which surrounded the
ancient metropolis； making a road to and from the royal palace。 And at the
very beginning they built the palace in the habitation of the god and of
their ancestors； which they continued to ornament in successive
generations； every king surpassing the one who went before him to the
utmost of his power； until they made the building a marvel to behold for
size and for beauty。 And beginning from the sea they bored a canal of
three hundred feet in width and one hundred feet in depth and fifty stadia
in length； which they carried through to the outermost zone； making a
passage from the sea up to this； which became a harbour； and leaving an
opening sufficient to enable the largest vessels to find ingress。
Moreover； they divided at the bridges the zones of land which parted the
zones of sea； leaving room for a single trireme to pass out of one zone
into another； and they covered over the channels so as to leave a way
underneath for the ships； for the banks were raised considerably above the
water。 Now the largest of the zones into which a passage was cut from the
sea was three stadia in breadth； and the zone of land which came next of
equal breadth； but the next two zones； the one of water； the other of land；
were two stadia； and the one which surrounded the central island was a
stadium only in width。 The island in which the palace was situated had a
diameter of five stadia。 All this including the zones and the bridge；
which was the sixth part of a stadium in width； they surrounded by a stone
wall on every side； placing towers and gates on the bridges where the sea
passed in。 The stone which was used in the work they quarried from
underneath the centre island； and from underneath the zones； on the outer
as well as the inner side。 One kind was white； another black； and a third
red； and as they quarried； they at the same time hollowed out double docks；
having roofs formed out of the native rock。 Some of their buildings were
simple； but in others they put together different stones； varying the
colour to please the eye； and to be a natural source of delight。 The
entire circuit of the wall； which went round the