or goddess, so likely
to have votaries. And there you dwelt as became the children of the
gods, excelling all men in virtue, and many famous actions are recorded
of you. The most famous of them all was the overthrow of the island of
Atlantis. This great island lay over against the Pillars of Heracles, in
extent greater than Libya and Asia put together, and was the passage to
other islands and to a great ocean of which the Mediterranean sea was
only the harbour; and within the Pillars the empire of Atlantis reached
in Europe to Tyrrhenia and in Libya to Egypt. This mighty power was
arrayed against Egypt and Hellas and all the countries bordering on the
Mediterranean. Then your city did bravely, and won renown over the
whole earth. For at the peril of her own existence, and when the other
Hellenes had deserted her, she repelled the invader, and of her own
accord gave liberty to all the nations within the Pillars. A little
while afterwards there were great earthquakes and floods, and your
warrior race all sank into the earth; and the great island of Atlantis
also disappeared in the sea. This is the explanation of the shallows
which are found in that part of the Atlantic ocean.'

Such was the tale, Socrates, which Critias heard from Solon; and I
noticed when listening to you yesterday, how close the resemblance was
between your city and citizens and the ancient Athenian State. But I
would not speak at the time, because I wanted to refresh my memory.
I had heard the old man when I was a child, and though I could not
remember the whole of our yesterday's discourse, I was able to recall
every word of this, which is branded into my mind; and I am prepared,
Socrates, to rehearse to you the entire narrative. The imaginary State
which you were describing may be identified with the reality of Solon,
and our antediluvian ancestors may be your citizens. 'That is excellent,
Critias, and very appropriate to a Panathenaic festival; the truth of
the story is a great advantage.' Then now let me explain to you
the order of our entertainment; first, Timaeus, who is a natural
philosopher, will speak of the origin of the world, going down to the
creation of man, and then I shall receive the men whom he has created,
and some of whom will have been educated by you, and introduce them to
you as the lost Athenian citizens of whom the Egyptian record spoke.
As the law of Solon prescribes, we will bring them into court and
acknowledge their claims