第2章

neitherhadanyofthemanythingoftheirown，buttheyregardedallthattheyhadascommonproperty；nordidtheyclaimtoreceiveoftheothercitizensanythingmorethantheirnecessaryfood。Andtheypractisedallthepursuitswhichweyesterdaydescribedasthoseofourimaginaryguardians。ConcerningthecountrytheEgyptianpriestssaidwhatisnotonlyprobablebutmanifestlytrue，thattheboundarieswereinthosedaysfixedbytheIsthmus，andthatinthedirectionofthecontinenttheyextendedasfarastheheightsofCithaeronandParnes；theboundarylinecamedowninthedirectionofthesea，havingthedistrictofOropusontheright，andwiththeriverAsopusasthelimitontheleft。Thelandwasthebestintheworld，andwasthereforeableinthosedaystosupportavastarmy，raisedfromthesurroundingpeople。EventheremnantofAtticawhichnowexistsmaycomparewithanyregionintheworldforthevarietyandexcellenceofitsfruitsandthesuitablenessofitspasturestoeverysortofanimal，whichproveswhatIamsaying；butinthosedaysthecountrywasfairasnowandyieldedfarmoreabundantproduce。HowshallI establishmywords？andwhatpartofitcanbetrulycalledaremnantofthelandthatthenwas？Thewholecountryisonlyalongpromontoryextendingfarintotheseaawayfromtherestofthecontinent，whilethesurroundingbasinoftheseaiseverywheredeepintheneighbourhoodoftheshore。Manygreatdelugeshavetakenplaceduringtheninethousandyears，forthatisthenumberofyearswhichhaveelapsedsincethetimeofwhichIamspeaking；andduringallthistimeandthroughsomanychanges，therehasneverbeenanyconsiderableaccumulationofthesoilcomingdownfromthemountains，asinotherplaces，buttheearthhasfallenawayallroundandsunkoutofsight。Theconsequenceis，thatincomparisonofwhatthenwas，thereareremainingonlythebonesofthewastedbody，astheymaybecalled，asinthecaseofsmallislands，allthericherandsofterpartsofthesoilhavingfallenaway，andthemereskeletonofthelandbeingleft。 Butintheprimitivestateofthecountry，itsmountainswerehighhillscoveredwithsoil，andtheplains，astheyaretermedbyus，ofPhelleuswerefullofrichearth，andtherewasabundanceofwoodinthemountains。 Ofthislastthetracesstillremain，foralthoughsomeofthemountainsnowonlyaffordsustenancetobees，notsoverylongagotherewerestilltobeseenroofsoftimbercutfromtreesgrowingthere，whichwereofasizesufficienttocoverthelargesthouses；andthereweremanyotherhightrees，cultivatedbymanandbearingabundanceoffoodforcattle。 Moreover，thelandreapedthebenefitoftheannualrainfall，notasnowlosingthewaterwhichflowsoffthebareearthintothesea，but，havinganabundantsupplyinallplaces，andreceivingitintoherselfandtreasuringitupinthecloseclaysoil，itletoffintothehollowsthestreamswhichitabsorbedfromtheheights，providingeverywhereabundantfountainsandrivers，ofwhichtheremaystillbeobservedsacredmemorialsinplaceswherefountainsonceexisted；andthisprovesthetruthofwhatI amsaying。 Suchwasthenaturalstateofthecountry，whichwascultivated，aswemaywellbelieve，bytruehusbandmen，whomadehusbandrytheirbusiness，andwereloversofhonour，andofanoblenature，andhadasoilthebestintheworld，andabundanceofwater，andintheheavenaboveanexcellentlyattemperedclimate。Nowthecityinthosedayswasarrangedonthiswise。 InthefirstplacetheAcropoliswasnotasnow。Forthefactisthatasinglenightofexcessiverainwashedawaytheearthandlaidbaretherock；atthesametimetherewereearthquakes，andthenoccurredtheextraordinaryinundation，whichwasthethirdbeforethegreatdestructionofDeucalion。ButinprimitivetimesthehilloftheAcropolisextendedtotheEridanusandIlissus，andincludedthePnyxononeside，andtheLycabettusasaboundaryontheoppositesidetothePnyx，andwasallwellcoveredwithsoil，andlevelatthetop，exceptinoneortwoplaces。 OutsidetheAcropolisandunderthesidesofthehilltheredweltartisans，andsuchofthehusbandmenasweretillingthegroundnear；thewarriorclassdweltbythemselvesaroundthetemplesofAtheneandHephaestusatthesummit，whichmoreovertheyhadenclosedwithasinglefencelikethegardenofasinglehouse。Onthenorthsidetheyhaddwellingsincommonandhaderectedhallsfordininginwinter，andhadallthebuildingswhichtheyneededfortheircommonlife，besidestemples，buttherewasnoadorningofthemwithgoldandsilver，fortheymadenouseoftheseforanypurpose；theytookamiddlecoursebetweenmeannessandostentation，andbuiltmodesthousesinwhichtheyandtheirchildren’schildrengrewold，andtheyhandedthemdowntootherswhowerelikethemselves，alwaysthesame。Butinsummer—timetheylefttheirgardensandgymnasiaanddininghalls，andthenthesouthernsideofthehillwasmadeuseofbythemforthesamepurpose。WheretheAcropolisnowistherewasafountain，whichwaschokedbytheearthquake，andhasleftonlythefewsmallstreamswhichstillexistinthevicinity，butinthosedaysthefountaingaveanabundantsupplyofwaterforallandofsuitabletemperatureinsummerandinwinter。Thisishowtheydwelt，beingtheguardiansoftheirowncitizensandtheleadersoftheHellenes，whoweretheirwillingfollowers。Andtheytookcaretopreservethesamenumberofmenandwomenthroughalltime，beingsomanyaswererequiredforwarlikepurposes，thenasnow——thatistosay，abouttwentythousand。SuchweretheancientAthenians，andafterthismannertheyrighteouslyadministeredtheirownlandandtherestofHellas；theywererenownedalloverEuropeandAsiaforthebeautyoftheirpersonsandforthemanyvirtuesoftheirsouls，andofallmenwholivedinthosedaystheywerethemostillustrious。Andnext，ifIhavenotforgottenwhatIheardwhenIwasachild，Iwillimparttoyouthecharacterandoriginoftheiradversaries。 Forfriendsshouldnotkeeptheirstoriestothemselves，buthavethemincommon。 Yet，beforeproceedingfurtherinthenarrative，Ioughttowarnyou，thatyoumustnotbesurprisedifyoushouldperhapshearHellenicnamesgiventoforeigners。Iwilltellyouthereasonofthis:Solon，whowasintendingtousethetaleforhispoem，enquiredintothemeaningofthenames，andfoundthattheearlyEgyptiansinwritingthemdownhadtranslatedthemintotheirownlanguage，andherecoveredthemeaningoftheseveralnamesandwhencopyingthemoutagaintranslatedthemintoourlanguage。Mygreat—grandfather，Dropides，hadtheoriginalwriting，whichisstillinmypossession，andwascarefullystudiedbymewhenIwasachild。Thereforeifyouhearnamessuchasareusedinthiscountry，youmustnotbesurprised，forIhavetoldhowtheycametobeintroduced。Thetale，whichwasofgreatlength，beganasfollows:—— Ihavebeforeremarkedinspeakingoftheallotmentsofthegods，thattheydistributedthewholeearthintoportionsdifferinginextent，andmadeforthemselvestemplesandinstitutedsacrifices。AndPoseidon，receivingforhislottheislandofAtlantis，begatchildrenbyamortalwoman，andsettledtheminapartoftheisland，whichIwilldescribe。Lookingtowardsthesea，butinthecentreofthewholeisland，therewasaplainwhichissaidtohavebeenthefairestofallplainsandveryfertile。 Neartheplainagain，andalsointhecentreoftheislandatadistanceofaboutfiftystadia，therewasamountainnotveryhighonanyside。Inthismountaintheredweltoneoftheearth—bornprimevalmenofthatcountry，whosenamewasEvenor，andhehadawifenamedLeucippe，andtheyhadanonlydaughterwhowascalledCleito。Themaidenhadalreadyreachedwomanhood，whenherfatherandmotherdied；Poseidonfellinlovewithherandhadintercoursewithher，andbreakingtheground，inclosedthehillinwhichshedweltallround，makingalternatezonesofseaandlandlargerandsmaller，encirclingoneanother；thereweretwooflandandthreeofwater，whichheturnedaswithalathe，eachhavingitscircumferenceequidistanteverywayfromthecentre，sothatnomancouldgettotheisland，forshipsandvoyageswerenotasyet。Hehimself，beingagod，foundnodifficultyinmakingspecialarrangementsforthecentreisland，bringinguptwospringsofwaterfrombeneaththeearth，oneofwarmwaterandtheotherofcold，andmakingeveryvarietyoffoodtospringupabundantlyfromthesoil。Healsobegatandbroughtupfivepairsoftwinmalechildren；anddividingtheislandofAtlantisintotenportions，hegavetothefirst—bornoftheeldestpairhismother’sdwellingandthesurroundingallotment，whichwasthelargestandbest，andmadehimkingovertherest；theothershemadeprinces，andgavethemruleovermanymen，andalargeterritory。Andhenamedthemall；theeldest，whowasthefirstking，henamedAtlas，andafterhimthewholeislandandtheoceanwerecalledAtlantic。Tohistwinbrother，whowasbornafterhim，andobtainedashislottheextremityoftheislandtowardsthepillarsofHeracles，facingthecountrywhichisnowcalledtheregionofGadesinthatpartoftheworld，hegavethenamewhichintheHelleniclanguageisEumelus，inthelanguageofthecountrywhichisnamedafterhim，Gadeirus。 OfthesecondpairoftwinshecalledoneAmpheres，andtheotherEvaemon。 TotheelderofthethirdpairoftwinshegavethenameMneseus，andAutochthontotheonewhofollowedhim。OfthefourthpairoftwinshecalledtheelderElasippus，andtheyoungerMestor。AndofthefifthpairhegavetotheelderthenameofAzaes，andtotheyoungerthatofDiaprepes。Alltheseandtheirdescendantsformanygenerationsweretheinhabitantsandrulersofdiversislandsintheopensea；andalso，ashasbeenalreadysaid，theyheldswayinourdirectionoverthecountrywithinthepillarsasfarasEgyptandTyrrhenia。NowAtlashadanumerousandhonourablefamily，andtheyretainedthekingdom，theeldestsonhandingitontohiseldestformanygenerations；andtheyhadsuchanamountofwealthaswasneverbeforepossessedbykingsandpotentates，andisnotlikelyevertobeagain，andtheywerefurnishedwitheverythingwhichtheyneeded，bothinthecityandcountry。Forbecauseofthegreatnessoftheirempiremanythingswerebroughttothemfromforeigncountries，andtheislanditselfprovidedmostofwhatwasrequiredbythemfortheusesoflife。Inthefirstplace，theydugoutoftheearthwhateverwastobefoundthere，solidaswellasfusile，andthatwhichisnowonlyanameandwasthensomethingmorethananame，orichalcum，wasdugoutoftheearthinmanypartsoftheisland，beingmorepreciousinthosedaysthananythingexceptgold。Therewasanabundanceofwoodforcarpenter’swork，andsufficientmaintenancefortameandwildanimals。Moreover，therewereagreatnumberofelephantsintheisland；forastherewasprovisionforallothersortsofanimals，bothforthosewhichliveinlakesandmarshesandrivers，andalsoforthosewhichliveinmountainsandonplains，sotherewasfortheanimalwhichisthelargestandmostvoraciousofall。 Alsowhateverfragrantthingstherenowareintheearth，whetherroots，orherbage，orwoods，oressenceswhichdistilfromfruitandflower，grewandthrivedinthatland；alsothefruitwhichadmitsofcultivation，boththedrysort，whichisgivenusfornourishmentandanyotherwhichweuseforfood——wecallthemallbythecommonnameofpulse，andthefruitshavingahardrind，affordingdrinksandmeatsandointments，andgoodstoreofchestnutsandthelike，whichfurnishpleasureandamusement，andarefruitswhichspoilwithkeeping，andthepleasantkindsofdessert，withwhichweconsoleourselvesafterdinner，whenwearetiredofeating——allthesethatsacredislandwhichthenbeheldthelightofthesun，broughtforthfairandwondrousandininfiniteabundance。Withsuchblessingstheearthfreelyfurnishedthem；meanwhiletheywentonconstructingtheirtemplesandpalacesandharboursanddocks。Andtheyarrangedthewholecountryinthefollowingmanner:—— Firstofalltheybridgedoverthezonesofseawhichsurroundedtheancientmetropolis，makingaroadtoandfromtheroyalpalace。Andattheverybeginningtheybuiltthepalaceinthehabitationofthegodandoftheirancestors，whichtheycontinuedtoornamentinsuccessivegenerations，everykingsurpassingtheonewhowentbeforehimtotheutmostofhispower，untiltheymadethebuildingamarveltobeholdforsizeandforbeauty。Andbeginningfromtheseatheyboredacanalofthreehundredfeetinwidthandonehundredfeetindepthandfiftystadiainlength，whichtheycarriedthroughtotheoutermostzone，makingapassagefromtheseauptothis，whichbecameaharbour，andleavinganopeningsufficienttoenablethelargestvesselstofindingress。 Moreover，theydividedatthebridgesthezonesoflandwhichpartedthezonesofsea，leavingroomforasingletriremetopassoutofonezoneintoanother，andtheycoveredoverthechannelssoastoleaveawayunderneathfortheships；forthebankswereraisedconsiderablyabovethewater。Nowthelargestofthezonesintowhichapassagewascutfromtheseawasthreestadiainbreadth，andthezoneoflandwhichcamenextofequalbreadth；butthenexttwozones，theoneofwater，theotherofland，weretwostadia，andtheonewhichsurroundedthecentralislandwasastadiumonlyinwidth。Theislandinwhichthepalacewassituatedhadadiameteroffivestadia。Allthisincludingthezonesandthebridge，whichwasthesixthpartofastadiuminwidth，theysurroundedbyastonewalloneveryside，placingtowersandgatesonthebridgeswheretheseapassedin。Thestonewhichwasusedintheworktheyquarriedfromunderneaththecentreisland，andfromunderneaththezones，ontheouteraswellastheinnerside。Onekindwaswhite，anotherblack，andathirdred，andastheyquarried，theyatthesametimehollowedoutdoubledocks，havingroofsformedoutofthenativerock。Someoftheirbuildingsweresimple，butinotherstheyputtogetherdifferentstones，varyingthecolourtopleasetheeye，andtobeanaturalsourceofdelight。Theentirecircuitofthewall，whichwentroundtheoutermostzone，theycoveredwithacoatingofbrass，andthecircuitofthenextwalltheycoatedwithtin，andthethird，whichencompassedthecitadel，flashedwiththeredlightoforichalcum。Thepalacesintheinteriorofthecitadelwereconstructedonthiswise:——InthecentrewasaholytemplededicatedtoCleitoandPoseidon，whichremainedinaccessible，andwassurroundedbyanenclosureofgold；thiswasthespotwherethefamilyofthetenprincesfirstsawthelight，andthitherthepeopleannuallybroughtthefruitsoftheearthintheirseasonfromallthetenportions，tobeanofferingtoeachoftheten。HerewasPoseidon’sowntemplewhichwasastadiuminlength，andhalfastadiuminwidth，andofaproportionateheight，havingastrangebarbaricappearance。Alltheoutsideofthetemple，withtheexceptionofthepinnacles，theycoveredwithsilver，andthepinnacleswithgold。Intheinteriorofthetempletheroofwasofivory，curiouslywroughteverywherewithgoldandsilverandorichalcum；andalltheotherparts，thewallsandpillarsandfloor，theycoatedwithorichalcum。Inthetempletheyplacedstatuesofgold:therewasthegodhimselfstandinginachariot——thecharioteerofsixwingedhorses——andofsuchasizethathetouchedtheroofofthebuildingwithhishead；aroundhimtherewereahundredNereidsridingondolphins，forsuchwasthoughttobethenumberofthembythemenofthosedays。Therewerealsointheinteriorofthetempleotherimageswhichhadbeendedicatedbyprivatepersons。Andaroundthetempleontheoutsidewereplacedstatuesofgoldofallthedescendantsofthetenkingsandoftheirwives，andthereweremanyothergreatofferingsofkingsandofprivatepersons，comingbothfromthecityitselfandfromtheforeigncitiesoverwhichtheyheldsway。Therewasanaltartoo，whichinsizeandworkmanshipcorrespondedtothismagnificence，andthepalaces，inlikemanner，answeredtothegreatnessofthekingdomandthegloryofthetemple。 Inthenextplace，theyhadfountains，oneofcoldandanotherofhotwater，ingraciousplentyflowing；andtheywerewonderfullyadaptedforusebyreasonofthepleasantnessandexcellenceoftheirwaters。Theyconstructedbuildingsaboutthemandplantedsuitabletrees，alsotheymadecisterns，someopentotheheaven，othersroofedover，tobeusedinwinteraswarmbaths；therewerethekings’baths，andthebathsofprivatepersons，whichwerekeptapart；andtherewereseparatebathsforwomen，andforhorsesandcattle，andtoeachofthemtheygaveasmuchadornmentaswassuitable。OfthewaterwhichranofftheycarriedsometothegroveofPoseidon，whereweregrowingallmanneroftreesofwonderfulheightandbeauty，owingtotheexcellenceofthesoil，whiletheremainderwasconveyedbyaqueductsalongthebridgestotheoutercircles；andthereweremanytemplesbuiltanddedicatedtomanygods；alsogardensandplacesofexercise，someformen，andothersforhorsesinbothofthetwoislandsformedbythezones；andinthecentreofthelargerofthetwotherewassetapartarace—courseofastadiuminwidth，andinlengthallowedtoextendallroundtheisland，forhorsestoracein。Alsotherewereguard— housesatintervalsfortheguards，themoretrustedofwhomwereappointedtokeepwatchinthelesserzone，whichwasnearertheAcropolis；whilethemosttrustedofallhadhousesgiventhemwithinthecitadel，nearthepersonsofthekings。Thedockswerefulloftriremesandnavalstores，andallthingswerequitereadyforuse。Enoughoftheplanoftheroyalpalace。 Leavingthepalaceandpassingoutacrossthethreeharbours，youcametoawallwhichbeganattheseaandwentallround:thiswaseverywheredistantfiftystadiafromthelargestzoneorharbour，andenclosedthewhole，theendsmeetingatthemouthofthechannelwhichledtothesea。 Theentireareawasdenselycrowdedwithhabitations；andthecanalandthelargestoftheharbourswerefullofvesselsandmerchantscomingfromallparts，who，fromtheirnumbers，keptupamultitudinoussoundofhumanvoices，anddinandclatterofallsortsnightandday。 IhavedescribedthecityandtheenvironsoftheancientpalacenearlyinthewordsofSolon，andnowImustendeavourtorepresenttoyouthenatureandarrangementoftherestoftheland。Thewholecountrywassaidbyhimtobeveryloftyandprecipitousonthesideofthesea，butthecountryimmediatelyaboutandsurroundingthecitywasalevelplain，itselfsurroundedbymountainswhichdescendedtowardsthesea；itwassmoothandeven，andofanoblongshape，extendinginonedirectionthreethousandstadia，butacrossthecentreinlanditwastwothousandstadia。Thispartoftheislandlookedtowardsthesouth，andwasshelteredfromthenorth。 Thesurroundingmountainswerecelebratedfortheirnumberandsizeandbeauty，farbeyondanywhichstillexist，havinginthemalsomanywealthyvillagesofcountryfolk，andrivers，andlakes，andmeadowssupplyingfoodenoughforeveryanimal，wildortame，andmuchwoodofvarioussorts，abundantforeachandeverykindofwork。 Iwillnowdescribetheplain，asitwasfashionedbynatureandbythelaboursofmanygenerationsofkingsthroughlongages。Itwasforthemostpartrectangularandoblong，andwherefallingoutofthestraightlinefollowedthecircularditch。Thedepth，andwidth，andlengthofthisditchwereincredible，andgavetheimpressionthataworkofsuchextent，inadditiontosomanyothers，couldneverhavebeenartificial。 NeverthelessImustsaywhatIwastold。Itwasexcavatedtothedepthofahundredfeet，anditsbreadthwasastadiumeverywhere；itwascarriedroundthewholeoftheplain，andwastenthousandstadiainlength。Itreceivedthestreamswhichcamedownfromthemountains，andwindingroundtheplainandmeetingatthecity，wasthereletoffintothesea。Furtherinland，likewise，straightcanalsofahundredfeetinwidthwerecutfromitthroughtheplain，andagainletoffintotheditchleadingtothesea: thesecanalswereatintervalsofahundredstadia，andbythemtheybroughtdownthewoodfromthemountainstothecity，andconveyedthefruitsoftheearthinships，cuttingtransversepassagesfromonecanalintoanother，andtothecity。Twiceintheyeartheygatheredthefruitsoftheearth——inwinterhavingthebenefitoftherainsofheaven，andinsummerthewaterwhichthelandsuppliedbyintroducingstreamsfromthecanals。 Astothepopulation，eachofthelotsintheplainhadtofindaleaderforthemenwhowerefitformilitaryservice，andthesizeofalotwasasquareoftenstadiaeachway，andthetotalnumberofallthelotswassixtythousand。Andoftheinhabitantsofthemountainsandoftherestofthecountrytherewasalsoavastmultitude，whichwasdistributedamongthelotsandhadleadersassignedtothemaccordingtotheirdistrictsandvillages。Theleaderwasrequiredtofurnishforthewarthesixthportionofawar—chariot，soastomakeupatotaloftenthousandchariots；alsotwohorsesandridersforthem，andapairofchariot—horseswithoutaseat，accompaniedbyahorsemanwhocouldfightonfootcarryingasmallshield，andhavingacharioteerwhostoodbehindtheman—at—armstoguidethetwohorses；also，hewasboundtofurnishtwoheavy—armedsoldiers，twoarchers，twoslingers，threestone—shootersandthreejavelin—men，whowerelight—armed，andfoursailorstomakeupthecomplementoftwelvehundredships。Suchwasthemilitaryorderoftheroyalcity——theorderoftheotherninegovernmentsvaried，anditwouldbewearisometorecounttheirseveraldifferences。 Astoofficesandhonours，thefollowingwasthearrangementfromthefirst。Eachofthetenkingsinhisowndivisionandinhisowncityhadtheabsolutecontrolofthecitizens，and，inmostcases，ofthelaws，punishingandslayingwhomsoeverhewould。NowtheorderofprecedenceamongthemandtheirmutualrelationswereregulatedbythecommandsofPoseidonwhichthelawhadhandeddown。Thesewereinscribedbythefirstkingsonapillaroforichalcum，whichwassituatedinthemiddleoftheisland，atthetempleofPoseidon，whitherthekingsweregatheredtogethereveryfifthandeverysixthyearalternately，thusgivingequalhonourtotheoddandtotheevennumber。Andwhentheyweregatheredtogethertheyconsultedabouttheircommoninterests，andenquiredifanyonehadtransgressedinanything，andpassedjudgment，andbeforetheypassedjudgmenttheygavetheirpledgestooneanotheronthiswise:——TherewerebullswhohadtherangeofthetempleofPoseidon；andthetenkings，beingleftaloneinthetemple，aftertheyhadofferedprayerstothegodthattheymightcapturethevictimwhichwasacceptabletohim，huntedthebulls，withoutweapons，butwithstavesandnooses；andthebullwhichtheycaughttheyleduptothepillarandcutitsthroatoverthetopofitsothatthebloodfelluponthesacredinscription。Nowonthepillar，besidesthelaws，therewasinscribedanoathinvokingmightycursesonthedisobedient。Whentherefore，afterslayingthebullintheaccustomedmanner，theyhadburntitslimbs，theyfilledabowlofwineandcastinaclotofbloodforeachofthem；therestofthevictimtheyputinthefire，afterhavingpurifiedthecolumnallround。Thentheydrewfromthebowlingoldencups，andpouringalibationonthefire，theysworethattheywouldjudgeaccordingtothelawsonthepillar，andwouldpunishhimwhoinanypointhadalreadytransgressedthem，andthatforthefuturetheywouldnot，iftheycouldhelp，offendagainstthewritingonthepillar，andwouldneithercommandothers，norobeyanyrulerwhocommandedthem，toactotherwisethanaccordingtothelawsoftheirfatherPoseidon。 Thiswastheprayerwhicheachofthemofferedupforhimselfandforhisdescendants，atthesametimedrinkinganddedicatingthecupoutofwhichhedrankinthetempleofthegod；andaftertheyhadsuppedandsatisfiedtheirneeds，whendarknesscameon，andthefireaboutthesacrificewascool，allofthemputonmostbeautifulazurerobes，and，sittingontheground，atnight，overtheembersofthesacrificesbywhichtheyhadsworn，andextinguishingallthefireaboutthetemple，theyreceivedandgavejudgment，ifanyofthemhadanaccusationtobringagainstanyone； andwhentheyhadgivenjudgment，atdaybreaktheywrotedowntheirsentencesonagoldentablet，anddedicatedittogetherwiththeirrobestobeamemorial。 Thereweremanyspeciallawsaffectingtheseveralkingsinscribedaboutthetemples，butthemostimportantwasthefollowing:Theywerenottotakeuparmsagainstoneanother，andtheywerealltocometotherescueifanyoneinanyoftheircitiesattemptedtooverthrowtheroyalhouse； liketheirancestors，theyweretodeliberateincommonaboutwarandothermatters，givingthesupremacytothedescendantsofAtlas。Andthekingwasnottohavethepoweroflifeanddeathoveranyofhiskinsmenunlesshehadtheassentofthemajorityoftheten。 SuchwasthevastpowerwhichthegodsettledinthelostislandofAtlantis；andthisheafterwardsdirectedagainstourlandforthefollowingreasons，astraditiontells:Formanygenerations，aslongasthedivinenaturelastedinthem，theywereobedienttothelaws，andwell—affectionedtowardsthegod，whoseseedtheywere；fortheypossessedtrueandineverywaygreatspirits，unitinggentlenesswithwisdominthevariouschancesoflife，andintheirintercoursewithoneanother。Theydespisedeverythingbutvirtue，caringlittlefortheirpresentstateoflife，andthinkinglightlyofthepossessionofgoldandotherproperty，whichseemedonlyaburdentothem；neitherweretheyintoxicatedbyluxury；nordidwealthdeprivethemoftheirself—control；buttheyweresober，andsawclearlythatallthesegoodsareincreasedbyvirtueandfriendshipwithoneanother，whereasbytoogreatregardandrespectforthem，theyarelostandfriendshipwiththem。Bysuchreflectionsandbythecontinuanceinthemofadivinenature，thequalitieswhichwehavedescribedgrewandincreasedamongthem；butwhenthedivineportionbegantofadeaway，andbecamedilutedtoooftenandtoomuchwiththemortaladmixture，andthehumannaturegottheupperhand，theythen，beingunabletobeartheirfortune，behavedunseemly，andtohimwhohadaneyetoseegrewvisiblydebased，fortheywerelosingthefairestoftheirpreciousgifts；buttothosewhohadnoeyetoseethetruehappiness，theyappearedgloriousandblessedattheverytimewhentheywerefullofavariceandunrighteouspower。Zeus，thegodofgods，whorulesaccordingtolaw，andisabletoseeintosuchthings，perceivingthatanhonourableracewasinawoefulplight，andwantingtoinflictpunishmentonthem，thattheymightbechastenedandimprove，collectedallthegodsintotheirmostholyhabitation，which，beingplacedinthecentreoftheworld，beholdsallcreatedthings。Andwhenhehadcalledthemtogether，hespakeasfollows——* *TherestoftheDialogueofCritiashasbeenlost。