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See also: The founding of Athens 56–57 ■ The Trojan War 62–63 ■ The quest of Odysseus 66–71A
tlantis was a mythical
civilization that flourished
before an ill-fated war and
natural forces destroyed it. It is
described in two dialogues by the
Athenian philosopher Plato as an
imaginative illustration of his
beliefs about how an ideal state
should be run, and the dangers of
the arrogant use of power.
Though an island, Atlantis was
“larger than Libya and Asia.” It was
an advanced society, technically
accomplished and well governed.
Yet when this wealthy aggressor
waged an unprovoked war, it was
the small, democratic Athens that
prevailed through her “virtue and
strength.” The seemingly utopian
Atlantis failed, Plato notes, because
its people became corrupt. For this,
the great god Zeus punished them,
sending earthquakes and floods
until finally Atlantis was swallowed
up in the sea.Minoan memories
So vividly suggestive was this one
fable that the quest to find a site
that inspired Plato’s story neverceased. There was a historical
precedent for the loss of Atlantis:
the eruption of the island-volcano
of Thera (Santorini), in the Aegean,
south of Greece, around 1500 bce.
Not only did most of the island
sink into the sea, but the darkening
effect of the ash across the sky
created a “winter” which lasted
several years. This disaster likely
brought about the end of the
Minoan civilization, and some
scholars believe that the story of
Atlantis represented a sort of folk
memory of these events. ■ANCIENT GREECE
IN A SINGLE DAY AND
NIGHT, THE ISLAND
OF ATLANTIS DISAPPEARED
BENEATH THE WAVES
THE LEGEND OF ATLANTIS
IN BRIEF
THEME
Lost citySOURCES
Timaeus and Critias,
Plato, ca. 360 bce.SETTING
Beyond the Pillars of Herakles
(now known as the Strait of
Gibraltar), which marked the
edge of the ancient Greek world.[Athens] shone forth,
in the excellence of her
virtue and strength.
CritiasA confederacy of kings, of
great and marvelous power.
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