better ones； and excelled all mankind in all virtue； as became the
children and disciples of the gods。
Many great and wonderful deeds are recorded of your state in our
histories。 But one of them exceeds all the rest in greatness and
valour。 For these histories tell of a mighty power which unprovoked
made an expedition against the whole of Europe and Asia； and to
which your city put an end。 This power came forth out of the
Atlantic Ocean； for in those days the Atlantic was navigable； and
there was an island situated in front of the straits which are by
you called the Pillars of Heracles； the island was larger than Libya
and Asia put together； and was the way to other islands； and from
these you might pass to the whole of the opposite continent which
surrounded the true ocean； for this sea which is within the Straits of
Heracles is only a harbour； having a narrow entrance； but that other
is a real sea； and the surrounding land may be most truly called a
boundless continent。 Now in this island of Atlantis there was a
great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and
several others； and over parts of the continent； and； furthermore； the
men of Atlantis had subjected the parts of Libya within the columns of
Heracles as far as Egypt； and of Europe as far as Tyrrhenia。 This vast
power； gathered into one； endeavoured to subdue at a blow our
country and yours and the whole of the region within the straits；
and then； Solon； your country shone forth； in the excellence of her
virtue and strength； among all mankind。 She was pre…eminent in courage
and military skill； and was the leader of the Hellenes。 And when the
rest fell off from her； being compelled to stand alone； after having
undergone the very extremity of danger； she defeated and triumphed
over the invaders； and preserved from slavery those who were not yet
subjugated； and generously liberated all the rest of us who dwell
within the pillars。 But afterwards there occurred violent
earthquakes and floods； and in a single day and night of misfortune
all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth； and the island
of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea。 For
which reason the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable；
because there is a shoal of mud in the way； and this was caused by the
subsidence of the island。
I have told you briefly； Socrates； what the aged Critias heard
from Solon and related to us。 And when you were speaking yesterday
about your city and citizens； the tale which I have just been
repeating to you came into my mind； and I remarked with astonishment
how； by some mysterious coincidence； you agreed in almost every
particular with the narrative of Solon； but I did not like to speak at
the moment。 For a long time had elapsed； and I had forgotten too much；
I thought that I must first of all run over the narrative in my own
mind； and then I would speak。 And so I readily assented to your
request yesterday； considering that in all such cases the chief
difficulty is to find a tale suitable to our purpose； and that with
such a tale we should be fairly well provided。
And therefore； as Hermocrates has told you； on my way home yesterday
I at once communicated the tale to my companions as I remembered it；
and after I left them； during the night by thinking I recovered nearly
the whole it。 Truly； as is often said； the lessons of our childhood
make wonderful impression on our memories； for I am not sure that I
could remember all the discourse of yesterday； but I should be much
surprised if I forgot any of these things which I have heard very long
ago。 I listened at the time with childlike interest to the old man's
narrative； he was very ready to teach me； and I asked him again and
again to repeat his words； so that like an indelible picture they were
branded into my mind。 As soon as the day broke； I rehearsed them as he
spoke them to my companions； that they； as well as myself； might
have something to say。 And now； Socrates； to make an end my preface； I
am ready to tell you the whole tale。 I will give you not only the
general heads； but the particulars； as they were told to me。 The
city and citizens； which you yesterday described to us in fiction；
we will now transfer to the world of reality。 It shall be the
ancient city of Athens； and we will suppose that the citizens whom you
imagined； were our veritable ancestors； of whom the priest spoke； they
will perfectly harmonise； and there will be no inconsistency in saying
that the citizens of your republic are these ancient Athenians。 Let us
divide the subject among us； and all endeavour according to our
ability gracefully to execute the task which you have imposed upon us。
Consider then； Socrates； if this narrative is suited to the purpose；
or whether we should seek for some other instead。
Soc。 And what other； Critias； can we find that will be better than
this； which is natural and suitable to the festival of the goddess；
and has the very great advantage of being a fact and not a fiction？
How or where shall we find another if we abandon this？ We cannot；
and therefore you must tell the tale； and good luck to you； and I in
return for my yesterday's discourse will now rest and be a listener。
Crit。 Let me proceed to explain to you； Socrates； the order in which
we have arranged our entertainment。 Our intention is； that Timaeus；
who is the most of an astronomer amongst us； and has made the nature
of the universe his special study； should speak first； beginning
with the generation of the world and going down to the creation of
man； next； I am to receive the men whom he has created of whom some
will have profited by the excellent education which you have given
them； and then； in accordance with the tale of Solon； and equally with
his law； we will bring them into court and make them citizens； as if
they were those very Athenians whom the sacred Egyptian record has
recovered from oblivion； and thenceforward we will speak of them as
Athenians and fellow…citizens。
Soc。 I see that I shall receive in my turn a perfect and splendid
feast of reason。 And now； Timaeus； you； I suppose； should speak
next； after duly calling upon the Gods。
Tim。 All men； Socrates； who have any degree of right feeling； at the
beginning of every enterprise； whether small or great； always call
upon God。 And we； too； who are going to discourse of the nature of the
universe； how created or how existing without creation； if we be not
altogether out of our wits； must invoke the aid of Gods and
Goddesses and pray that our words may be acceptable to them and
consistent with themselves。 Let this； then； be our invocation of the
Gods； to which I add an exhortation of myself to speak in such
manner as will be most intelligible to you； and will most accord
with my own intent。
First then； in my judgment； we must make a distinction and ask； What
is that which always is and has no becoming； and what is that which is
always becoming and never is？ That which is apprehended by
intelligence and reason is always in the same state； but that which is
conceived by opinion with the help of sensation and without reason； is
always in a process of becoming and perishing and never really is。 Now
everything that becomes or is created must of necessity be created
by some cause； for without a cause nothing can be created。 The work of
the creator； whenever he looks to the unchangeable and fashions the
form and nature of his work after an unchangeable pattern； must
necessarily be made fair and perfect； but when he looks to the created
only； and uses a created pattern； it is not fair or perfect。 Was the
heaven then or the world； whether called by this or by any other
more appropriate name…assuming the name； I am asking a question
which has to be asked at the beginning of an enquiry about
anything…was the world； I say； always in existence and without
beginning？ or created； and had it a beginning？ Created； I reply； being
visible and tangible and having a body； and therefore sensible； and
all sensible things are apprehended by opinion and sense and are in
a process of creation and created。 Now that which is created must；
as we affirm； of necessity be created by a cause。 But the father and
maker of all this universe is past finding out； and even if we found
him； to tell of him to all men would be impossible。 And there is still
a question to be asked about him： Which of the patterns had the
artificer in view when he made the world…the pattern of the
unchangeable； or of that which is created？ If the world be indeed fair
and the artificer good； it is manifest that he must have looked to
that which is eternal； but if what cannot be said without blasphemy is
true； then to the created pattern。 Every one will see that he must
have looked to； the eternal； for the world is the fairest of creations
and he is the best of causes。 And having been created in this way； the
world has been framed in the likeness of that which is apprehended
by reason and mind and is unchangeable； and must therefore of
necess