The Atlantis Myth
Plato’s Timaeus
Plato’s Timaeus recounts Solon’s journey to Egypt, where priests tell him about ancient Athens. This powerful city once successfully opposed the island kingdom of Atlantis, which wanted to conquer Europe. Atlantis later sank into the sea due to a natural disaster.
Plato’s Critias
Plato’s Critias tells of ancient Athens with its exemplary warrior class and of Atlantis’s immense power. The concentrically laid out royal island had immense resources at its disposal. When human greed supplanted divine nature, Zeus planned a punishment.
Analysis of the Atlantis Myth
An analysis of the Atlantis myth from Plato’s dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias”. The ancient sources, Plato’s geographical information on the location, and various theories on the origin of this ancient narrative are discussed.