Source edition
Platonis Opera Tomus IV: Tetralogia VIII. Burnet, John, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This unfinished dialogue by Plato, serving as a sequel to the "Timaeus", details the conflict and ultimate fates of ancient Athens and the legendary empire of Atlantis. Speaking before Socrates and the other interlocutors, Critias begins by recounting how the gods originally divided the earth, describing the virtuous and harmonious social order of primeval Athens under the patronage of Athena and Hephaestus. He then provides a lavish description of Atlantis, founded by Poseidon, detailing its colossal architecture, vast canal networks, and immense wealth fueled by resources like orichalcum. Although the rulers of Atlantis initially lived in accordance with divine laws and virtue, they eventually lost their divine nature, becoming corrupted by greed and ambition. The narrative breaks off abruptly just as Zeus convenes the gods to deliver a judgment on the fallen empire, leaving the work permanently incomplete.