The Lost Kingdom of Atlantis

In his dialogs "Timeaus" and "Critias," Plato relates the story of the mythical kingdom of Atlantis, an ancient island nation of incredible wealth and power located in the Atlantic Ocean somewehere beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Straight of Gibraltar).

Plato recounts a conversation which took place between Socrates, Hermocrates, Critias, and Timeaus in which Critias recalls a story told by his grandfather when he was a little boy. Once upon a time, says Critias, his grandfather was drawn into a conversation about Solon and remembered an account of Solon's travel to Egypt and his experience in the city of Sais. According to Solon, an old priest from the temple of Neith (Athena) told him the history of events that took place long before the Greek's first historical records were made. It was a tale of the highly developed civilization of Atlantis, and the subsequent war between Atlantis and Athens from which Athens emerged victorious.

Atlantis was the domain of Poseidon, god of the sea. When Poseidon fell in love with a mortal woman, Cleito, he created a dwelling at the top of a hill near the middle of the island and surrounded the dwelling with rings of water and land to protect her. Cleito gave birth to five sets of twin boys who became the first rulers of Atlantis. The island was divided among the brothers with the eldest, Atlas, first King of Atlantis, being given control over the central hill and surrounding areas. At the top of the central hill, a temple was built to honor Poseidon which housed a giant gold statue of the god riding a chariot pulled by winged horses. It was here that the rulers of Atlantis would come to discuss laws and pass judgments, and pay tribute to Poseidon.

In landmass, Atlantis surpassed the lands of Libya and Asia combined. The city sat just outside an outer ring of water and spread across a plain covering a circle of 11 miles (1.7 km). This was a densely populated area where the majority of the population lived. To facilitate travel and trade, a water canal was cut through of the rings of land and water running south for 5.5 miles (appox. 9 km) to the sea.

The people of Atlantis possessed great wealth thanks to the natural resources of their island. The island was a center for trade and commerce. Beyond the city lay a fertile plain 330 miles (530 km) long and 110 miles (190 km) wide surrounded by another canal used to collect water from the rivers and streams of the mountains. The climate was such that two harvests were possible each year: one in the winter fed by the rains, and one in the summer fed by irrigation from the canal. Besides the harvests, the island provided all kinds of herbs, fruits, and nuts. An abundance of animals, including elephants, roamed the island.

Surrounding the plain to the north were mountains which soared to the skies. Villages, lakes, rivers, and meadows dotted the mountains.

For generations the Atlanteans lived simple, virtuous lives. But slowly they began to change. Greed and power began to corrupt them. With their vast military power, the rulers of Atlantis sought to enslave all of Europe. The Atlanteans were quite successful in defeating many European countries; however, the great civilization of Athens repelled their attacks and eventually succeeded in driving them back out of Europe.

When Zeus saw the corruption and immorality of the Atlanteans he gathered the other gods to determine a suitable punishment. Soon, in one violent surge, it was gone. The island of Atlantis, its people, and its memory were swallowed by the sea. Unfortunately, almost all records of this great civilization were lost due to the flood that also destroyed much of Europe and Asia. As it stood, the temples of Egypt remained the only place where the records of ancient times were to be found, since unlike Greece, Egypt's geographical features preserved it from the destruction that descended upon many other nations.

Source: Bradley Keyes