Timaeus and Critias
                        Timaeus and Critias, two of Plato's dialogues, are the only existing written records which
                   specifically refer to Atlantis. The dialogues are conversations between Socrates, Hermocrates,
                   Timeaus, and Critias. Apparently in response to a prior talk by Socrates about ideal societies,
                   Timeaus and Critias agree to entertain Socrates with a tale that is "not a fiction but a true story."

                   The story is about the conflict between the ancient Athenians and the Atlantians 9000 years
                   before Plato's time. Knowledge of the distant past apparently forgotten to the Athenians of
                   Plato's day, the story of Atlantis was conveyed to Solon by Egyptian priests. Solon passed the
                   tale to Dropides, the great-grandfather of Critias. Critias learned of it from his grandfather also
                   named Critias, son of Dropides.

                        All of the men, except for Timaeus, who take part in or are mentioned in Timaeus and Critias are known to have actually existed in ancient Greece. Records of their lives and deeds have been  recorded in other writings
from the time period.

                   Note: There are 2 people named Critias related to the story of Atlantis and this can lead to some confusion. There is the Critias who actually takes part in the dialogues. He is the one who tells the story of Atlantis to Socrates. Then there is Critias who was the grandfather of the Critias of the dialogues. This elder Critias told the story of Atlantis to his grandson, Critias, who then conveyed the story to Socrates in the dialogues.

                             Those who actually take part in the dialogues:

                                  ~Timaeus - there is no historical record of him.
                                  ~Critias - Plato's great grandfather.
                                  ~Socrates - Plato's mentor and teacher. He was
                                    condemned to death by authorities in Athens for
                                    "corrupting the moral of Athenian youth"; He lived from
                                  469 to 399 BC.
                                  ~Hermocrates - statesman and soldier from Syracuse.

                             Those mentioned in the dialogues:

                                  ~Solon - Athenian traveler, poet, and lawgiver who lived
                                    from approximately 638-559 BC. According to Plato it
                                    was he who learned of the story of Atlantis from an
                                  Egyptian priest.
                                  ~Dropides - Critias' great grandfather who was told the
                                    story of Atlantis by Solon, a distant relative and close
                                    friend.
                                  ~Critias - Son of Dropides and grandfather of the Critias
                                    who takes part in the dialogues. It was he who related
                                    the story of Atlantis to the Critias of the dialogues.
 

   More Detailed Information On Atlantis
                         Theory Of Atlantis
                         Where Was Atlantis
                         Index
                         Vital Statistics