For years, I well knew that the Greek island Santorini was a caldera, the remains of the volcano Thera after it exploded three and a half thousand years ago; that it had been the hub of a bustling Mediterranean trade network; and that Thera has been identified with the legendary Atlantis by many researchers for many years.
What I learned only recently from a TV documentary was that before the famous eruption it was already a caldera, with a central, populated island surrounded by a natural, circular harbour. In this short essay, my focus is on what Plato actually says about the location of Atlantis in his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias; on whether they paint a logically consistent picture and, if so, of what. I have used the Benjamin Jowett translations of Timaeus [Tim. Extracts are in italics, my insertions are in [square brackets]. I have quoted passages out of order and not attempted to introduce any line or paragraph numbering to refer back to their original locations: The story of Atlantis occurs within an account of ancient Athens, given as part of a public address hosted by Socrates to a theatre audience celebrating a festival of Athena.
There were three speakers: Unfortunately, most of Critias and all of Hermocrates is lost. The unit of measure most used is the stadium, whose definition was somewhat variable, but usually Greek feet.
Critias tells how the story came to be passed down to him and why the illustrious Solon himself did not have the opportunity to publicise what he had learned form the Egyptians. This BCE date is given for both the foundation of the city of Athens years before Sais was founded in Egypt, whence the records come and the war with Atlantis. Some writers suggest this is a problem, that a fledgling state would not be in a position to combat a powerful aggressor.
But to expect years to be a precise figure would be asking too much! That is to say, there is ample slack in the date to allow for significant progress and economic development of the Athenian state between foundation and going to war. After all, they were not alone in the world, making up everything from scratch: Critias describes a world of city states and bustling international trade.
Certain parts of the dialogues do look contrived, but, since no doubt Plato drew together ideas from various sources and connected them with his own narrative, we should be allowed to ignore the suspect parts without devaluing the rest. I will proceed on the assumption that Plato believed he was relating a true account.
History and Writing opening windows on the past
It is worth noting that, contrary to popular belief, Atlantis was not destroyed by the gods because the people had become debased. Such was the vast power which the god settled in the lost island of Atlantis; and this he afterwards directed against our land for the following reasons… Zeus, the god of gods, who rules according to law, and is able to see into such things, perceiving that an honourable race was in a woeful plight, and wanting to inflict punishment on them, that they might be chastened and improve, collected all the gods into their most holy habitation… And when he had called them together, he spake as follows — [Critias breaks off here and the remainder of the dialogue is lost.
Furthermore, the destruction and disappearance of Atlantis did not mark the end of the war. It could have been years later, but still in the region of eleven and a half thousand years ago. 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. Europe, to its Ice Age inhabitants eleven and a half thousand years ago , was not Europe as we know it, but we can assume this means the northern Mediterranean shores at the very least.
Similarly, Asia refers, at the very least, to the eastern Mediterranean, perhaps all of the Middle East; but certainly not to the entire continent to the east that we are familiar with. There is much discussion of the difference between what we know as the Atlantic Ocean and what it meant in the time of Plato.
As we will see, Critias is clear about this. This vast power, gathered into one, endeavoured to subdue at a blow our country [Egypt] and yours [Greece] and the whole of the region within the straits; and then, Solon, your country… generously liberated all the rest of us who dwell within the pillars. The region that Egypt and Greece occupy together — which is effectively a cul-de-sac, naturally delimited by a single point — is the Mediterranean. The sea was no doubt central to their existence and it is no surprise that the shores they inhabited were more important than the continents they fringed.
The Atlanteans, too, were only interested in the coastal regions: Let me begin by observing first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of years which had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place between those who dwelt outside the pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt within them.
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The pillars of Heracles are a critical landmark in distinguishing the two areas. For this to make sense, Atlantis must be close to the pillars: Nowhere else — continental Europe or Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Antarctica — matches the description here. The scale of the distinction or boundary we are trying to draw matches the scale of the areas we are trying to identify. 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.
The scale and location of the empire are suggested here: Again, the implication must be that Atlantis was not very far away on the other side of the pillars. Can we really credit the idea that an Atlantis located in South America or Antarctica as some theories hold could sensibly occupy these regions inside the Mediterranean — about the identities of which, as far as I know, the scholars do not argue?
If so, Atlantis must have been to the north, or a genuine island in the ocean. As has been already said [in Timaeus] , they held sway in our direction [towards Greece] over the country within the pillars as far as Egypt and Tyrrhenia.
The pillars referred to are indeed those at the straits of Gibraltar. Egypt and Greece were in the eastern Mediterranean; so coming towards them but only reaching as far as the edge of Egypt and Tyrrhenia can only mean coming from the western end of the Sea. If the pillars were really to the north, south or east, or between Egypt and Greece, one or both would have been inside the Atlantean territory.
The reverse direction, back to where they can from, is from Greece past Tyrrhenia; and from within Egypt past its western border the side that borders the rest of Libya: Atlantis was therefore generally to the west of the pillars, in or on the Atlantic Ocean. Thousands of books are eligible, including current and former best sellers.
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ATLANTIS SOLON AND PLATO FOR FROST By Daniel P Buckley
I've always had a soft spot for Atlantis and the lore that surrounds it, so thought this would be an enjoyable read with hopefully some new info perspectives that I'd not come across before. Unfortunately, while the authors interest in the subject shines through, the book reads more like a draft of notes hobbled together than a proper text on the subject. And while there is a bibliography at the back, it is just a list of title the author had read with nothing properly referenced. I hate to give negative reviews as I find that there is usually something of value in any given book, but unfortunately this book is just a regurgitation of information from a handful of books the author found interesting.
Steven Buckley rated it it was amazing Aug 23, Frederick Rotzien marked it as to-read Jun 22, Kerry marked it as to-read Jun 22, Linda marked it as to-read Jun 22, Nicola Fantom marked it as to-read Jun 22, Christine Brunt marked it as to-read Jun 22,