Join Edith Hall, a Professor of Classics, and Christopher Gill, an expert in ancient philosophy, as they unravel Plato’s enigmatic tale of Atlantis. They delve into the story's potential truths and mythological roots, exploring the cautionary themes of imperialism and virtue that resonate with Athenian history. The conversation highlights the contrasting ideals of governance between Atlantis and Athens, the role of storytelling in shaping society, and the evolution of Atlantis in cultural narratives, making for a fascinating exploration of ancient thought.
54:15
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Prehistoric Athens vs. Atlantis
Critias recounts a story heard from his grandfather, about a war between prehistoric Athens and Atlantis 9,000 years prior.
Athens, though less powerful, defeated Atlantis through virtue.
insights INSIGHT
Atlantis: A Detailed Description
Atlantis, a massive island in the Atlantic, was described as having a central mountain surrounded by canals and bridges.
It featured Poseidon's magnificent temple, a racecourse, and bustling maritime activity.
insights INSIGHT
The Fall of Atlantis and Athens
The Critias text ends with Zeus about to punish Atlanteans, foreshadowed by an earthquake and flood destroying both Atlantis and Athens' army.
Atlantis sinks beneath the waves and Athens goes below the earth.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Plato's "Laws" is a significant work in his later years, offering a more practical approach to ideal governance compared to "The Republic." It presents a detailed legal framework for an ideal state, focusing on laws and their implementation. Unlike the earlier dialogues, it's presented as a more structured legal code rather than a series of discussions. The work explores various aspects of law, including criminal justice and education. It provides a contrasting perspective on achieving a just society.
Atlantis the Antediluvian World
IGNATIUS DONNELLY
Ignatius Donnelly's "Atlantis, the Antediluvian World" is a significant work in the history of Atlantis theories. Published in 1882, it revived interest in the lost continent, proposing that Atlantis was the cradle of civilization. Donnelly connected various myths and legends to Atlantis, suggesting it as the origin of human culture and technology. The book's popularity fueled a renewed fascination with Atlantis, influencing popular culture and sparking further speculation. Despite its pseudoscientific nature, it remains a landmark text in the history of Atlantis studies.
Plato's Republic
Plato
Timaeus
Plato
In 'Timaeus,' Plato presents a detailed account of the formation of the universe. The dialogue is primarily delivered through long monologues by Timaeus and Critias. It describes the universe as the product of a rational, purposive, and beneficent agency, created by a divine Craftsman (Demiurge) who imitates an eternal and unchanging model. The work discusses the distinction between the eternal and the physical worlds, the composition of the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) linked to Platonic solids, and the creation of the cosmic soul and its role in governing the universe. The dialogue also touches on various philosophical themes, including the nature of God, the distinction between the sensible and intellectual, and the concepts of time and space[1][3][5].
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Plato's account of the once great island of Atlantis out to the west, beyond the world known to his fellow Athenians, and why it disappeared many thousands of years before his time. There are no sources for this story other than Plato, and he tells it across two of his works, the Timaeus and the Critias, tantalizing his readers with evidence that it is true and clues that it is a fantasy. Atlantis, for Plato, is a way to explore what an ideal republic really is, and whether Athens could be (or ever was) one; to European travellers in the Renaissance, though, his story reflected their own encounters with distant lands, previously unknown to them, spurring generations of explorers to scour the oceans and in the hope of finding a lost world.
The image above is from an engraving of the legendary island of Atlantis after a description by Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680).
With
Edith Hall
Professor of Classics at Durham University
Christopher Gill
Emeritus Professor of Ancient Thought at the University of Exeter
And
Angie Hobbs
Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield
In Our Time 
