| Joseph Wells, 2005 | R. Bury, 1929 | B. Jowett, 1871 | D. Lee, 1965 |
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For it is said in the writings, that your city stopped a violent [1] power which was proceeding against
Europe and Asia at the same time. It invaded from outside; from out of the Atlantic ocean.
For at the time, that ocean was navigable (even though an island stood just outside [2] the straits
[3] of the place called, as you Greeks say, the pillars [4] of Heracles; that island being at once
greater [5] than Libya and Asia) [6] so that there was access to other islands, and it was possible
at that time to travel from those islands onward to that which was beyond; an entire continent that
surrounds that veritable ocean.
But this which is entirely within the straits [3] of which we are speaking seems a narrow harbor, something having a narrow harbor entrance. Yet that outside is truly an ocean and the land surrounding it is altogether [[in reality]] [7] most correctly called a continent. Now then, on this island of Atlantis was a confederation of great and wondrous kings with power, ruling all those islands entirely and many other islands, and portions of the continent. But also ruling over lands here within [the straits]; Libya as far as Egypt, and Europe as far a Tyrrhenia. Indeed, these very kings, being assembled as one, made a single assault upon [lands] [8] near to you and upon [lands] [8] near to us, and upon others within the straits [3], all the places at that time to conquer all and enslave them. At that time, therefore O Solon, your city's power, before all men, became manifestly valorous and strong. For among all you were foremost in courage and great cunning in the midst of battle, so of all the Greeks you took the lead; yet at the same time you came to stand alone out of necessity, for the others deserted. Yet upon finally encountering the danger you conquered; the invaders stood in defeat [9]. So those not yet enslaved, you spared from being enslaved, but all the others, everyone dwelling within the boundary of Heracles, all these together you ungrudgingly [10] set free. But at a later time, violent earthquakes and floods came. In a single grievous day and night they came, and the ones with you, fighting men, were all together swallowed by the earth, and the island of Atlantis in a similar way plunged into the sea, vanishing; and because of this it is now impassible and unfathomable, that part of the sea became thick mire, a heavily laden [11] hindrance, for this is what the settling down of the island has caused.
Wells footnotes: [1] Greek is hubrizo, literally "hubris." As a legal term it involves violent assault. [2] Greek is pro "before." When used in relation to a boundary or entrance it often means "at" or "just outside" as in "pro ten thuras" "at the door" and "pro ten poleos" meaning "just outside the city [walls]." [3] Literally "mouth" i.e. the straits of Gibraltar. [4] Greek, stela, a pillar or obelisk. [5] Literally "greater", traditionally "larger". [6] Information in parentheses in parenthetic. [7] Phrase in double brackets is omitted from primary manuscript. [8] Literally, "the near you and the near us." I added [lands] to make sense. Other words could be substituted: [places], [nations], [peoples], [races], etc. [9] Greek is tropaia possibly from tropaios "for defeat" or from tropaion "as a trophy". [10] Literally, "without envy." [11] Greek is katabracheos, "heavily laden" but best manuscript has karta batheos, "extremely deep". Other manuscripts have other wordings. |
For it is related in our records how once upon a time your State stayed the course of a mighty host,
which, starting from a distant point in the Atlantic ocean was insolently advancing to attack the whole
of Europe, and Asia to boot. For the ocean there at that time navigable; for in front of the mouth which
you Greeks call, as you say, the Pillars of Heracles, [1] there lay an island which was larger than Libya [2]
and Asia together; and it was possible for the travelers of that time to cross from it to the other islands,
and from the islands to the whole the whole of the continent over against them which encompasses that veritable ocean.
For all that we have here, lying within the mouth of which we speak, [3] is evidently a haven having a narrow entrance; but that yonder is a real ocean, and the land surrounding it may most rightly be called, in the fullest and truest sense, a continent. Now in this island of Atlantis there existed a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power, which held sway over all the island, and many other islands also and parts of the continent; and, moreover, of the lands here within the Straits they ruled over Libya as far as Egypt, and over Europe as far as Tuscany. So this host, being gathered all together, made an attempt one time to e nslave by one single onslaught both your country and ours and the whole of the territory within the Straits. And then it was, O Solon, that the manhood of your State showed itself conspicuous for valor and might in the sight of all the world. For it stood pre-eminent above all in gallantry and all warlike arts, and acting partly as the leader of the Greeks, and partly standing alone by itself when deserted by all others, after encountering the deadliest perils, it defeated the invaders and reared up a trophy; whereby it saved from slavery such as were not yet enslaved, and all the rest of us who dwelt within the bounds of Heracles it ungrudgingly set free. But at a later time there occurred portentous earthquakes and floods, and one grievous day and night befell them, when the whole body of your warriors were swallowed up by the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner was swallowed up by the sea and vanished; wherefore also the ocean at that spot has now become impassible and unsearchable, being blocked up by the shoal mud which the island created as it settled down.
Bury's footnotes: [1] i. e. the Straits of Gibralter. [2] i. e. Africa. [3] i. e. the Mediterranean Sea, contrasted with the Atlantic Ocean. |
For these histories tell of a mighty power which unprovoked made an expedition against the whole
of Europe and Asia, and to which your city put an end. This power came forth out of the Atlantic
Ocean, for in those days the Atlantic was navigable; and there was an island situated in front of the
straits which are by you called the Pillars of Heracles; the island was larger than Libya and
Asia put together, and was the way to other islands, and from these you might pass to the whole of
the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean;
for this sea which is within the Straits of Heracles is only a harbor, having a narrow entrance, but that other is a real sea, and the surrounding land may be most truly called a boundless continent. Now in this island of Atlantis there was a great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent, and, furthermore, the men of Atlantis had subjected the parts of Libya within the columns of Heracles as far as Egypt, and of Europe as far as Tyrrhenia. This vast power, gathered into one, endeavored to subdue at a blow our country and yours and the whole of the region within the straits; and then, Solon, your country shone forth, in the excellence of her virtue and strength, among all mankind. She was pre-eminent in courage and military skill, and was the leader of the Hellenes. And when the rest fell off from her, being compelled to stand alone, after having undergone the very extremity of danger, she defeated and triumphed over the invaders, and preserved from slavery those who were not yet subjugated, and generously liberated all the rest of us who dwell within the pillars. But afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. For which reason the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island. |
'Our records show how your city checked a great power which arrogantly advanced from its base in
the Atlantic Ocean to attack the cities of Europe and Asia. For in those days the Atlantic was navigable.
There was an island opposite the strait which you call the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar),
an island larger than Libya (Africa) and Asia combined; from it travelers could in those days reach the
other islands, and from them the whole opposite continent which surrounds what can truly be called the ocean.
For the sea within the strait we were talking about is like a lake with a narrow entrance (the Mediterranean sea); the outer ocean is the real ocean and the land which entirely surrounds it is properly termed continent. On this island of Atlantis had arisen a powerful and remarkable dynasty of kings, who ruled the whole island, and many other islands as well and parts of the continent; in addition it controlled, within the strait, Libya up to the borders of Egypt and Europe as far as Tyrrhenia (Italy). This dynasty, gathering its whole power together, attempted to enslave, at a single stroke, your country and ours and all the territory within the strait. It was then, Solon, that the power and courage and strength of your city became clear for all men to see. Her bravery and military skill were outstanding; she led an alliance of the Greeks, and then when they deserted her and she was forced to fight alone, after running into direst peril, she overcame the invaders and celebrated a victory; she rescued those not yet enslaved from the slavery threatening them, and she generously freed all others living within the Pillars of Hercules. At a later time there were earthquakes and floods of extraordinary violence, and in a single dreadful day and night all your fighting men were swallowed up by the earth, and the island of Atlantis was similarly swallowed up by the sea and vanished; this is why the sea in that area is to this day impassable to navigation, which is hindered by mud just below the surface, the remains of the sunken island' |