Plato's dialogue Timaeus contains a fascinating quote from an Egyptian priest speaking to Solon about lost civilizations. The priest observes that humanity has suffered many destructions by fire, water, and other causes over the ages, leaving the Greeks with no continuous oral traditions passed down through time. Critias recounts this story to Socrates, having heard it from Solon himself.
Plato attributes ancient catastrophe quote to Solon
Key facts
- Quote attributed to Critias speaking to Solon in Plato's Timaeus
- References many past destructions of humanity from fire, water, and other causes
- Notes the lack of old opinions handed down among the Greeks due to repeated destructions
Sources
Extract from Plato's Timaeus and Critiasing.iac.es
The narrator is an Egyptian priest talking to Solon. It is supposed to describe a historical war between the ancient Athenians and the legendary ...
ATLANTIS: Decoding the dialogues Timaeus & Critias of Platoresearchgate.net
The dialogues “Critias” & “Timaeus” describe the meet- ing of Socrates, Critias, Critias, then started to describe the visit of Solon-the famous ruler of ...
Timaeus by Platoclassics.mit.edu
Timaeus, of Locris in Italy, here is Critias, whom every Athenian knows to be no novice. And what is this ancient famous action of the Athenians, which Critias ...
Timaeus (dialogue)en.wikipedia.org
Critias proceeds to tell the story of Solon's journey to Egypt where he hears the story of Atlantis, and how Athens used to be an ideal state
Atlantis in Plato's Timaeus and Critias - The Gold Scalesoaks.nvg.org
Critias: Listen, Socrates, to a tale which, though strange, is certainly true. It was attested by Solon, who was the wisest of the seven sages.
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