byPlatoTranslatedbyBenjaminJowettINTRODUCTIONANDANALYSIS。
TheCritiasisafragmentwhichbreaksoffinthemiddleofasentence。Itwasdesignedtobethesecondpartofatrilogy，which，liketheothergreatPlatonictrilogyoftheSophist，Statesman，Philosopher，wasnevercompleted。Timaeushadbroughtdowntheoriginoftheworldtothecreationofman，andthedawnofhistorywasnowtosucceedthephilosophyofnature。TheCritiasisalsoconnectedwiththeRepublic。Plato，ashehasalreadytoldus（Tim。），intendedtorepresenttheidealstateengagedinapatrioticconflict。ThismythicalconflictispropheticorsymbolicalofthestruggleofAthensandPersia，perhapsinsomedegreealsoofthewarsoftheGreeksandCarthaginians，inthesamewaythatthePersianisprefiguredbytheTrojanwartothemindofHerodotus，orasthenarrativeofthefirstpartoftheAeneidisintendedbyVirgiltoforeshadowthewarsofCarthageandRome。ThesmallnumberoftheprimitiveAtheniancitizens（20，000），’whichisabouttheirpresentnumber’（Crit。），isevidentlydesignedtocontrastwiththemyriadsandbarbaricarrayoftheAtlantichosts。ThepassingremarkintheTimaeusthatAthenswasleftaloneinthestruggle，inwhichsheconqueredandbecametheliberatorofGreece，isalsoanallusiontothelaterhistory。HencewemaysafelyconcludethattheentirenarrativeisduetotheimaginationofPlato，whohasusedthenameofSolonandintroducedtheEgyptianprieststogiveverisimilitudetohisstory。TotheGreeksuchatale，likethatoftheearth—bornmen，wouldhaveseemedperfectlyaccordantwiththecharacterofhismythology，andnotmoremarvellousthanthewondersoftheEastnarratedbyHerodotusandothers:hemighthavebeendeceivedintobelievingit。Butitappearsstrangethatlateragesshouldhavebeenimposeduponbythefiction。AsmanyattemptshavebeenmadetofindthegreatislandofAtlantis，astodiscoverthecountryofthelosttribes。
WithoutregardtothedescriptionofPlato，andwithoutasuspicionthatthewholenarrativeisafabrication，interpretershavelookedforthespotineverypartoftheglobe，America，ArabiaFelix，Ceylon，Palestine，Sardinia，Sweden。
TimaeusconcludeswithaprayerthathiswordsmaybeacceptabletotheGodwhomhehasrevealed，andCritias，whoseturnfollows，begsthatalargermeasureofindulgencemaybeconcededtohim，becausehehastospeakofmenwhomweknowandnotofgodswhomwedonotknow。Socratesreadilygrantshisrequest，andanticipatingthatHermocrateswillmakeasimilarpetition，extendsbyanticipationalikeindulgencetohim。
Critiasreturnstohisstory，professingonlytorepeatwhatSolonwastoldbythepriests。Thewarofwhichhewasabouttospeakhadoccurred9000
yearsago。OneofthecombatantswasthecityofAthens，theotherwasthegreatislandofAtlantis。Critiasproposestospeakoftheserivalpowersfirstofall，givingtoAthenstheprecedence；thevarioustribesofGreeksandbarbarianswhotookpartinthewarwillbedealtwithastheysuccessivelyappearonthescene。
Inthebeginningthegodsagreedtodividetheearthbylotinafriendlymanner，andwhentheyhadmadetheallotmenttheysettledtheirseveralcountries，andweretheshepherdsorratherthepilotsofmankind，whomtheyguidedbypersuasion，andnotbyforce。HephaestusandAthena，brotherandsisterdeities，inmindandartunited，obtainedastheirlotthelandofAttica，alandsuitedtothegrowthofvirtueandwisdom；andtheretheysettledabraveraceofchildrenofthesoil，andtaughtthemhowtoorderthestate。Someoftheirnames，suchasCecrops，Erechtheus，Erichthonius，andErysichthon，werepreservedandadoptedinlatertimes，butthememoryoftheirdeedshaspassedaway；fortherehavesincebeenmanydeluges，andtheremnantwhosurvivedinthemountainswereignorantoftheartofwriting，andduringmanygenerationswerewhollydevotedtoacquiringthemeansoflife……AndthearmedimageofthegoddesswhichwasdedicatedbytheancientAtheniansisanevidencetootheragesthatmenandwomenhadinthosedays，astheyoughtalwaystohave，commonvirtuesandpursuits。Therewerevariousclassesofcitizens，includinghandicraftsmenandhusbandmenandasuperiorclassofwarriorswhodweltapart，andwereeducated，andhadallthingsincommon，likeourguardians。
AtticainthosedaysextendedsouthwardstotheIsthmus，andinlandtotheheightsofParnesandCithaeron，andbetweenthemandtheseaincludedthedistrictofOropus。Thecountrywasthen，aswhatremainsofitstillis，themostfertileintheworld，andaboundedinrichplainsandpastures。
Butinthecourseofagesmuchofthesoilwaswashedawayanddisappearedinthedeepsea。Andtheinhabitantsofthisfairlandwereendowedwithintelligenceandtheloveofbeauty。
TheAcropolisoftheancientAthensextendedtotheIlissusandEridanus，andincludedthePnyx，andtheLycabettusontheoppositesidetothePnyx，havingalevelsurfaceanddeepsoil。Thesideofthehillwasinhabitedbycraftsmenandhusbandmen；andthewarriorsdweltbythemselvesonthesummit，aroundthetemplesofHephaestusandAthene，inanenclosurewhichwaslikethegardenofasinglehouse。Inwintertheyretiredintohousesonthenorthofthehill，inwhichtheyheldtheirsyssitia。Theseweremodestdwellings，whichtheybequeathedunalteredtotheirchildren’schildren。Insummertimethesouthsidewasinhabitedbythem，andthentheylefttheirgardensanddining—halls。InthemidstoftheAcropoliswasafountain，whichgaveanabundantsupplyofcoolwaterinsummerandwarminwinter；ofthistherearestillsometraces。Theywerecarefultopreservethenumberoffightingmenandwomenat20，000，whichisequaltothatofthepresentmilitaryforce。AndsotheypassedtheirlivesasguardiansofthecitizensandleadersoftheHellenes。Theywereajustandfamousrace，celebratedfortheirbeautyandvirtuealloverEuropeandAsia。
AndnowIwillspeaktoyouoftheiradversaries，butfirstIoughttoexplainthattheGreeknamesweregiventoSoloninanEgyptianform，andheenquiredtheirmeaningandtranslatedthem。HismanuscriptwasleftwithmygrandfatherDropides，andisnowinmypossession……InthedivisionoftheearthPoseidonobtainedashisportiontheislandofAtlantis，andtherehebegatchildrenwhosemotherwasamortal。Towardstheseaandinthecentreoftheislandtherewasaveryfairandfertileplain，andnearthecentre，aboutfiftystadiafromtheplain，therewasalowmountaininwhichdweltamannamedEvenorandhiswifeLeucippe，andtheirdaughterCleito，ofwhomPoseidonbecameenamoured。Hetosecurehisloveenclosedthemountainwithringsorzonesvaryinginsize，twooflandandthreeofsea，whichhisdivinepowerreadilyenabledhimtoexcavateandfashion，and，astherewasnoshippinginthosedays，nomancouldgetintotheplace。Totheinteriorislandheconveyedundertheearthspringsofwaterhotandcold，andsuppliedthelandwithallthingsneededforthelifeofman。Herehebegatafamilyconsistingoffivepairsoftwinmalechildren。TheeldestwasAtlas，andhimhemadekingofthecentreisland，whiletohistwinbrother，Eumelus，orGadeirus，heassignedthatpartofthecountrywhichwasnearesttheStraits。Theotherbrothershemadechiefsovertherestoftheisland。AndtheirkingdomextendedasfarasEgyptandTyrrhenia。NowAtlashadafairposterity，andgreattreasuresderivedfrommines——amongthemthatpreciousmetalorichalcum；andtherewasabundanceofwood，andherdsofelephants，andpasturesforanimalsofallkinds，andfragrantherbs，andgrasses，andtreesbearingfruit。Thesetheyused，andemployedthemselvesinconstructingtheirtemples，andpalaces，andharbours，anddocks，inthefollowingmanner:——First，theybridgedoverthezonesofsea，andmadeawaytoandfromtheroyalpalacewhichtheybuiltinthecentreisland。Thisancientpalacewasornamentedbysuccessivegenerations；andtheydugacanalwhichpassedthroughthezonesoflandfromtheislandtothesea。Thezonesofearthweresurroundedbywallsmadeofstoneofdiverscolours，blackandwhiteandred，whichtheysometimesintermingledforthesakeofornament；andastheyquarriedtheyhollowedoutbeneaththeedgesofthezonesdoubledockshavingroofsofrock。Theoutermostofthewallswascoatedwithbrass，thesecondwithtin，andthethird，whichwasthewallofthecitadel，flashedwiththeredlightoforichalcum。Intheinteriorofthecitadelwasaholytemple，dedicatedtoCleitoandPoseidon，andsurroundedbyanenclosureofgold，andtherewasPoseidon’sowntemple，whichwascoveredwithsilver，andthepinnacleswithgold。Theroofwasofivory，adornedwithgoldandsilverandorichalcum，andtherestoftheinteriorwaslinedwithorichalcum。Withinwasanimageofthegodstandinginachariotdrawnbysixwingedhorses，andtouchingtheroofwithhishead；aroundhimwereahundredNereids，ridingondolphins。Outsidethetemplewereplacedgoldenstatuesofallthedescendantsofthetenkingsandoftheirwives；
therewasanaltartoo，andtherewerepalaces，correspondingtothegreatnessandglorybothofthekingdomandofthetemple。
Alsotherewerefountainsofhotandcoldwater，andsuitablebuildingssurroundingthem，andtrees，andtherewerebathsbothofthekingsandofprivateindividuals，andseparatebathsforwomen，andalsoforcattle。
ThewaterfromthebathswascarriedtothegroveofPoseidon，andbyaqueductsoverthebridgestotheoutercircles。Andthereweretemplesinthezones，andinthelargerofthetwotherewasaracecourseforhorses，whichranallroundtheisland。Theguardsweredistributedinthezonesaccordingtothetrustreposedinthem；themosttrustedofthemwerestationedinthecitadel。Thedockswerefulloftriremesandstores。Thelandbetweentheharbourandtheseawassurroundedbyawall，andwascrowdedwithdwellings，andtheharbourandcanalresoundedwiththedinofhumanvoices。
Theplainaroundthecitywashighlycultivatedandshelteredfromthenorthbymountains；itwasoblong，andwherefallingoutofthestraightlinefollowedthecircularditch，whichwasofanincredibledepth。Thisdepthreceivedthestreamswhichcamedownfromthemountains，aswellasthecanalsoftheinterior，andfoundawaytothesea。Theentirecountrywasdividedintosixtythousandlots，eachofwhichwasasquareoftenstadia；andtheownerofalotwasboundtofurnishthesixthpartofawar—chariot，soastomakeuptenthousandchariots，twohorsesandridersuponthem，apairofchariot—horseswithoutaseat，andanattendantandcharioteer，twohoplites，twoarchers，twoslingers，threestone—shooters，threejavelin—men，andfoursailorstomakeupthecomplementoftwelvehundredships。
Eachofthetenkingswasabsoluteinhisowncityandkingdom。TherelationsofthedifferentgovernmentstooneanotherweredeterminedbytheinjunctionsofPoseidon，whichhadbeeninscribedbythefirstkingsonacolumnoforichalcuminthetempleofPoseidon，atwhichthekingsandprincesgatheredtogetherandheldafestivaleveryfifthandeverysixthyearalternately。AroundthetemplerangedthebullsofPoseidon，oneofwhichthetenkingscaughtandsacrificed，sheddingthebloodofthevictimovertheinscription，andvowingnottotransgressthelawsoftheirfatherPoseidon。Whennightcame，theyputonazurerobesandgavejudgmentagainstoffenders。Themostimportantoftheirlawsrelatedtotheirdealingswithoneanother。Theywerenottotakeuparmsagainstoneanother，andweretocometotherescueifanyoftheirbrethrenwereattacked。Theyweretodeliberateincommonaboutwar，andthekingwasnottohavethepoweroflifeanddeathoverhiskinsmen，unlesshehadtheassentofthemajority。
Formanygenerations，astraditiontells，thepeopleofAtlantiswereobedienttothelawsandtothegods，andpractisedgentlenessandwisdomintheirintercoursewithoneanother。Theyknewthattheycouldonlyhavethetrueuseofrichesbynotcaringaboutthem。Butgraduallythedivineportionoftheirsoulsbecamedilutedwithtoomuchofthemortaladmixture，andtheybegantodegenerate，thoughtotheoutwardeyetheyappearedgloriousaseverattheverytimewhentheywerefilledwithalliniquity。Theall—seeingZeus，wantingtopunishthem，heldacouncilofthegods，andwhenhehadcalledthemtogether，hespokeasfollows:——
NooneknewbetterthanPlatohowtoinvent’anoblelie。’Observe（1）theinnocentdeclarationofSocrates，thatthetruthofthestoryisagreatadvantage:（2）themannerinwhichtraditionalnamesandindicationsofgeographyareintermingled（’Why，herebetruths！’）:（3）theextrememinutenesswithwhichthenumbersaregiven，asintheOldEpicpoetry:
（4）theingeniousreasonassignedfortheGreeknamesoccurringintheEgyptiantale:（5）theremarkthatthearmedstatueofAthenaindicatedthecommonwarriorlifeofmenandwomen:（6）theparticularitywithwhichthethirddelugebeforethatofDeucalionisaffirmedtohavebeenthegreatdestruction:（7）thehappyguessthatgreatgeologicalchangeshavebeeneffectedbywater:（8）theindulgenceoftheprejudiceagainstsailingbeyondtheColumns，andthepopularbeliefoftheshallownessoftheoceaninthatpart:（9）theconfessionthatthedepthoftheditchintheIslandofAtlantiswasnottobebelieved，and’yethecouldonlyrepeatwhathehadheard’，comparedwiththestatementmadeinanearlierpassagethatPoseidon，beingaGod，foundnodifficultyincontrivingthewater—supplyofthecentreisland:（10）thementionoftheoldrivalryofPoseidonandAthene，andthecreationofthefirstinhabitantsoutofthesoil。Platohere，aselsewhere，ingeniouslygivestheimpressionthatheistellingthetruthwhichmythologyhadcorrupted。
Theworld，likeachild，hasreadily，andforthemostpartunhesitatingly，acceptedthetaleoftheIslandofAtlantis。Inmoderntimeswehardlyseekfortracesofthesubmergedcontinent；butevenMr。GroteisinclinedtobelieveintheEgyptianpoemofSolonofwhichthereisnoevidenceinantiquity；whileothers，likeMartin，discusstheEgyptianoriginofthelegend，orlikeM。deHumboldt，whomhequotes，aredisposedtofindinitavestigeofawidely—spreadtradition。Others，adoptingadifferentveinofreflection，regardtheIslandofAtlantisastheanticipationofastillgreaterisland——theContinentofAmerica。’Thetale，’saysM。Martin，’restsupontheauthorityoftheEgyptianpriests；andtheEgyptianprieststookapleasureindeceivingtheGreeks。’HeneverappearstosuspectthatthereisagreaterdeceiverormagicianthantheEgyptianpriests，thatistosay，Platohimself，fromthedominionofwhosegeniusthecriticandnaturalphilosopherofmoderntimesarenotwhollyemancipated。Althoughworthlessinrespectofanyresultwhichcanbeattainedbythem，discussionslikethoseofM。Martin（Timee）haveaninterestoftheirown，andmaybecomparedtothesimilardiscussionsregardingtheLostTribes（2
Esdras），asshowinghowthechancewordofsomepoetorphilosopherhasgivenbirthtoendlessreligiousorhistoricalenquiries。（SeeIntroductiontotheTimaeus。）
IncontrastingthesmallGreekcitynumberingabouttwentythousandinhabitantswiththebarbaricgreatnessoftheislandofAtlantis，Platoprobablyintendedtoshowthatastate，suchastheidealAthens，wasinvincible，thoughmatchedagainstanynumberofopponents（cp。Rep。）。
Eveninagreatempiretheremightbeadegreeofvirtueandjustice，suchastheGreeksbelievedtohaveexistedundertheswayofthefirstPersiankings。Butallsuchempireswereliabletodegenerate，andsoonincurredtheangerofthegods。TheirOrientalwealth，andsplendourofgoldandsilver，andvarietyofcolours，seemedalsotobeatvariancewiththesimplicityofGreeknotions。IntheislandofAtlantis，PlatoisdescribingasortofBabylonianorEgyptiancity，towhichheopposesthefrugallifeofthetrueHelleniccitizen。Itisremarkablethatinhisbriefsketchofthem，heidealizesthehusbandmen’whoareloversofhonourandtruehusbandmen，’aswellasthewarriorswhoarehissoleconcernintheRepublic；andthatthoughhespeaksofthecommonpursuitsofmenandwomen，hesaysnothingofthecommunityofwivesandchildren。
ItissingularthatPlatoshouldhaveprefixedthemostdetestedofAtheniannamestothisdialogue，andevenmoresingularthatheshouldhaveputintothemouthofSocratesapanegyriconhim（Tim。）。YetweknowthathischaracterwasaccountedinfamousbyXenophon，andthatthemereacquaintancewithhimwasmadeasubjectofaccusationagainstSocrates。
Wecanonlyinferthatinthis，andperhapsinsomeothercases，Plato’scharactershavenoreferencetotheactualfacts。Thedesiretodohonourtohisownfamily，andtheconnectionwithSolon，mayhavesuggestedtheintroductionofhisname。WhytheCritiaswasnevercompleted，whetherfromaccident，orfromadvancingage，orfromasenseoftheartisticdifficultyofthedesign，cannotbedetermined。
CRITIAS。
PERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUE:Critias，Hermocrates，Timaeus，Socrates。
TIMAEUS:HowthankfulIam，Socrates，thatIhavearrivedatlast，and，likeawearytravellerafteralongjourney，maybeatrest！AndIpraythebeingwhoalwayswasofold，andhasnowbeenbymerevealed，tograntthatmywordsmayendureinsofarastheyhavebeenspokentrulyandacceptablytohim；butifunintentionallyIhavesaidanythingwrong，I
praythathewillimposeuponmeajustretribution，andthejustretributionofhimwhoerrsisthatheshouldbesetright。Wishing，then，tospeaktrulyinfutureconcerningthegenerationofthegods，Iprayhimtogivemeknowledge，whichofallmedicinesisthemostperfectandbest。
AndnowhavingofferedmyprayerIdeliveruptheargumenttoCritias，whoistospeaknextaccordingtoouragreement。（Tim。）
CRITIAS:AndI，Timaeus，acceptthetrust，andasyouatfirstsaidthatyouweregoingtospeakofhighmatters，andbeggedthatsomeforbearancemightbeshowntoyou，ItooaskthesameorgreaterforbearanceforwhatI
amabouttosay。AndalthoughIverywellknowthatmyrequestmayappeartobesomewhatambitiousanddiscourteous，Imustmakeitnevertheless。
Forwillanymanofsensedenythatyouhavespokenwell？IcanonlyattempttoshowthatIoughttohavemoreindulgencethanyou，becausemythemeismoredifficult；andIshallarguethattoseemtospeakwellofthegodstomenisfareasierthantospeakwellofmentomen:fortheinexperienceandutterignoranceofhishearersaboutanysubjectisagreatassistancetohimwhohastospeakofit，andweknowhowignorantweareconcerningthegods。ButIshouldliketomakemymeaningclearer，ifyouwillfollowme。Allthatissaidbyanyofuscanonlybeimitationandrepresentation。Forifweconsiderthelikenesseswhichpaintersmakeofbodiesdivineandheavenly，andthedifferentdegreesofgratificationwithwhichtheeyeofthespectatorreceivesthem，weshallseethatwearesatisfiedwiththeartistwhoisableinanydegreetoimitatetheearthanditsmountains，andtherivers，andthewoods，andtheuniverse，andthethingsthatareandmovetherein，andfurther，thatknowingnothingpreciseaboutsuchmatters，wedonotexamineoranalyzethepainting；allthatisrequiredisasortofindistinctanddeceptivemodeofshadowingthemforth。Butwhenapersonendeavourstopaintthehumanformwearequickatfindingoutdefects，andourfamiliarknowledgemakesusseverejudgesofanyonewhodoesnotrendereverypointofsimilarity。Andwemayobservethesamethingtohappenindiscourse；wearesatisfiedwithapictureofdivineandheavenlythingswhichhasverylittlelikenesstothem；butwearemorepreciseinourcriticismofmortalandhumanthings。
WhereforeifatthemomentofspeakingIcannotsuitablyexpressmymeaning，youmustexcuseme，consideringthattoformapprovedlikenessesofhumanthingsisthereverseofeasy。ThisiswhatIwanttosuggesttoyou，andatthesametimetobeg，Socrates，thatImayhavenotless，butmoreindulgenceconcededtomeinwhatIamabouttosay。Whichfavour，ifIamrightinasking，Ihopethatyouwillbereadytogrant。
SOCRATES:Certainly，Critias，wewillgrantyourrequest，andwewillgrantthesamebyanticipationtoHermocrates，aswellastoyouandTimaeus；forIhavenodoubtthatwhenhisturncomesalittlewhilehence，hewillmakethesamerequestwhichyouhavemade。Inorder，then，thathemayprovidehimselfwithafreshbeginning，andnotbecompelledtosaythesamethingsoveragain，lethimunderstandthattheindulgenceisalreadyextendedbyanticipationtohim。Andnow，friendCritias，Iwillannouncetoyouthejudgmentofthetheatre。Theyareofopinionthatthelastperformerwaswonderfullysuccessful，andthatyouwillneedagreatdealofindulgencebeforeyouwillbeabletotakehisplace。
HERMOCRATES:Thewarning，Socrates，whichyouhaveaddressedtohim，I
mustalsotaketomyself。Butremember，Critias，thatfaintheartneveryetraisedatrophy；andthereforeyoumustgoandattacktheargumentlikeaman。FirstinvokeApolloandtheMuses，andthenletushearyousoundthepraisesandshowforththevirtuesofyourancientcitizens。
CRITIAS:FriendHermocrates，you，whoarestationedlastandhaveanotherinfrontofyou，havenotlostheartasyet；thegravityofthesituationwillsoonberevealedtoyou；meanwhileIacceptyourexhortationsandencouragements。Butbesidesthegodsandgoddesseswhomyouhavementioned，IwouldspeciallyinvokeMnemosyne；foralltheimportantpartofmydiscourseisdependentonherfavour，andifIcanrecollectandreciteenoughofwhatwassaidbythepriestsandbroughthitherbySolon，IdoubtnotthatIshallsatisfytherequirementsofthistheatre。Andnow，makingnomoreexcuses，Iwillproceed。
Letmebeginbyobservingfirstofall，thatninethousandwasthesumofyearswhichhadelapsedsincethewarwhichwassaidtohavetakenplacebetweenthosewhodweltoutsidethepillarsofHeraclesandallwhodweltwithinthem；thiswarIamgoingtodescribe。Ofthecombatantsontheoneside，thecityofAthenswasreportedtohavebeentheleaderandtohavefoughtoutthewar；thecombatantsontheothersidewerecommandedbythekingsofAtlantis，which，asIwassaying，wasanislandgreaterinextentthanLibyaandAsia，andwhenafterwardssunkbyanearthquake，becameanimpassablebarrierofmudtovoyagerssailingfromhencetoanypartoftheocean。TheprogressofthehistorywillunfoldthevariousnationsofbarbariansandfamiliesofHelleneswhichthenexisted，astheysuccessivelyappearonthescene；butImustdescribefirstofalltheAtheniansofthatday，andtheirenemieswhofoughtwiththem，andthentherespectivepowersandgovernmentsofthetwokingdoms。LetusgivetheprecedencetoAthens。
Inthedaysofold，thegodshadthewholeearthdistributedamongthembyallotment（Cp。Polit。）Therewasnoquarrelling；foryoucannotrightlysupposethatthegodsdidnotknowwhatwasproperforeachofthemtohave，or，knowingthis，thattheywouldseektoprocureforthemselvesbycontentionthatwhichmoreproperlybelongedtoothers。Theyallofthembyjustapportionmentobtainedwhattheywanted，andpeopledtheirowndistricts；andwhentheyhadpeopledthemtheytendedus，theirnurselingsandpossessions，asshepherdstendtheirflocks，exceptingonlythattheydidnotuseblowsorbodilyforce，asshepherdsdo，butgoverneduslikepilotsfromthesternofthevessel，whichisaneasywayofguidinganimals，holdingoursoulsbytherudderofpersuasionaccordingtotheirownpleasure；——thusdidtheyguideallmortalcreatures。Nowdifferentgodshadtheirallotmentsindifferentplaceswhichtheysetinorder。
HephaestusandAthene，whowerebrotherandsister，andsprangfromthesamefather，havingacommonnature，andbeingunitedalsointheloveofphilosophyandart，bothobtainedastheircommonportionthisland，whichwasnaturallyadaptedforwisdomandvirtue；andtheretheyimplantedbravechildrenofthesoil，andputintotheirmindstheorderofgovernment；
theirnamesarepreserved，buttheiractionshavedisappearedbyreasonofthedestructionofthosewhoreceivedthetradition，andthelapseofages。
Forwhentherewereanysurvivors，asIhavealreadysaid，theyweremenwhodweltinthemountains；andtheywereignorantoftheartofwriting，andhadheardonlythenamesofthechiefsoftheland，butverylittleabouttheiractions。Thenamestheywerewillingenoughtogivetotheirchildren；butthevirtuesandthelawsoftheirpredecessors，theyknewonlybyobscuretraditions；andastheythemselvesandtheirchildrenlackedformanygenerationsthenecessariesoflife，theydirectedtheirattentiontothesupplyoftheirwants，andofthemtheyconversed，totheneglectofeventsthathadhappenedintimeslongpast；formythologyandtheenquiryintoantiquityarefirstintroducedintocitieswhentheybegintohaveleisure（Cp。Arist。Metaphys。），andwhentheyseethatthenecessariesoflifehavealreadybeenprovided，butnotbefore。Andthisisthereasonwhythenamesoftheancientshavebeenpreservedtousandnottheiractions。ThisIinferbecauseSolonsaidthatthepriestsintheirnarrativeofthatwarmentionedmostofthenameswhicharerecordedpriortothetimeofTheseus，suchasCecrops，andErechtheus，andErichthonius，andErysichthon，andthenamesofthewomeninlikemanner。
Moreover，sincemilitarypursuitswerethencommontomenandwomen，themenofthosedaysinaccordancewiththecustomofthetimesetupafigureandimageofthegoddessinfullarmour，tobeatestimonythatallanimalswhichassociatetogether，maleaswellasfemale，may，iftheyplease，practiseincommonthevirtuewhichbelongstothemwithoutdistinctionofsex。
Nowthecountrywasinhabitedinthosedaysbyvariousclassesofcitizens；——therewereartisans，andtherewerehusbandmen，andtherewasalsoawarriorclassoriginallysetapartbydivinemen。Thelatterdweltbythemselves，andhadallthingssuitablefornurtureandeducation；