Plato's Timaeus recounts Solon learning Atlantis story from Egyptian priests at Sais

August 18, 2026Egyptunverified

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Key facts

• Plato's primary source is the Socratic dialogue Timaeus, first in a planned trilogy followed by Critias and Hermocrates (which he did not complete)
• Text adapted from the 1871 translation by Benjamin Jowett
• Solon learned the story from priests at the city of Sais in the Egyptian Delta during his exile
• The Egyptian goddess Neith was identified by the priest with the Greek Athena
• The Egyptian priest told Solon that Hellenes were "never anything but children" with no old opinion or ancient science handed down
• Multiple destructions of humanity described, arising from fire, water, and other causes at long intervals
• The Phaethon myth was interpreted as an allegory describing a cosmic declination event rather than literal history
• The priest claimed Athens was founded 1,000 years before the Egyptian city of Sais
• Egyptian sacred registers were claimed to be 8,000 years old with records about citizens from 9,000 years ago
• Egyptian cast system described: priests, artificers (kept separate), shepherds/hunters, husbandmen, and warriors (kept distinct)

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