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size sufficient to cover the largest houses； and there were many other high
trees； cultivated by man and bearing abundance of food for cattle。
Moreover； the land reaped the benefit of the annual rainfall； not as now
losing the water which flows off the bare earth into the sea； but； having
an abundant supply in all places； and receiving it into herself and
treasuring it up in the close clay soil； it let off into the hollows the
streams which it absorbed from the heights； providing everywhere abundant
fountains and rivers； of which there may still be observed sacred memorials
in places where fountains once existed； and this proves the truth of what I
am saying。
Such was the natural state of the country； which was cultivated； as we may
well believe； by true husbandmen； who made husbandry their business； and
were lovers of honour； and of a noble nature； and had a soil the best in
the world； and abundance of water； and in the heaven above an excellently
attempered climate。 Now the city in those days was arranged on this wise。
In the first place the Acropolis was not as now。 For the fact is that a
single night of excessive rain washed away the earth and laid bare the
rock； at the same time there were earthquakes； and then occurred the
extraordinary inundation； which was the third before the great destruction
of Deucalion。 But in primitive times the hill of the Acropolis extended to
the Eridanus and Ilissus； and included the Pnyx on one side； and the
Lycabettus as a boundary on the opposite side to the Pnyx； and was all well
covered with soil； and level at the top； except in one or two places。
Outside the Acropolis and under the sides of the hill there dwelt artisans；
and such of the husbandmen as were tilling the ground near； the warrior
class dwelt by themselves around the temples of Athene and Hephaestus at
the summit； which moreover they had enclosed with a single fence like the
garden of a single house。 On the north side they had dwellings in common
and had erected halls for dining in winter； and had all the buildings which
they needed for their common life； besides temples； but there was no
adorning of them with gold and silver； for they made no use of these for
any purpose； they took a middle course between meanness and ostentation；
and built modest houses in which they and their children's children grew
old； and they handed them down to others who were like themselves； always
the same。 But in summer…time they left their gardens and gymnasia and
dining halls； and then the southern side of the hill was made use of by
them for the same purpose。 Where the Acropolis now is there was a
fountain； which was choked by the earthquake； and has left only the few
small streams which still exist in the vicinity； but in those days the
fountain gave an abundant supply of water for all and of suitable
temperature in summer and in winter。 This is how they dwelt； being the
guardians of their own citizens and the leaders of the Hellenes； who were
their willing followers。 And they took care to preserve the same number of
men and women through all time； being so many as were required for warlike
purposes； then as nowthat is to say； about twenty thousand。 Such were
the ancient Athenians； and after this manner they righteously administered
their own land and the rest of Hellas； they were renowned all over Europe
and Asia for the beauty of their persons and for the many virtues of their
souls； and of all men who lived in those days they were the most
illustrious。 And next； if I have not forgotten what I heard when I was a
child； I will impart to you the character and origin of their adversaries。
For friends should not keep their stories to themselves； but have them in
common。
Yet； before proceeding further in the narrative； I ought to warn you； that
you must not be surprised if you should perhaps hear Hellenic names given
to foreigners。 I will tell you the reason of this： Solon； who was
intending to use the tale for his poem； enquired into the meaning of the
names； and found that the early Egyptians in writing them down had
translated them into their own language； and he recovered the meaning of
the several names and when copying them out again translated them into our
language。 My great…grandfather； Dropides； had the original writing； which
is still in my possession； and was carefully studied by me when I was a
child。 Therefore if you hear names such as are used in this country； you
must not be surprised； for I have told how they came to be introduced。 The
tale； which was of great length； began as follows：
I have before remarked in speaking of the allotments of the gods； that they
distributed the whole earth into portions differing in extent； and made for
themselves temples and instituted sacrifices。 And Poseidon； receiving for
his lot the island of Atlantis； begat children by a mortal woman； and
settled them in a part of the island； which I will describe。 Looking
towards the sea； but in the centre of the whole island； there was a plain
which is said to have been the fairest of all plains and very fertile。
Near the plain again； and also in the centre of the island at a distance of
about fifty stadia； there was a mountain not very high on any side。 In
this mountain there dwelt one of the earth…born primeval men of that
country； whose name was Evenor； and he had a wife named Leucippe； and they
had an only daughter who was called Cleito。 The maiden had already reached
womanhood； when her father and mother died； Poseidon fell in love with her
and had intercourse with her； and breaking the ground； inclosed the hill in
which she dwelt all round； making alternate zones of sea and land larger
and smaller； encircling one another； there were two of land and three of
water； which he turned as with a lathe； each having its circumference
equidistant every way from the centre； so that no man could get to the
island； for ships and voyages were not as yet。 He himself； being a god；
found no difficulty in making special arrangements for the centre island；
bringing up two springs of water from beneath the earth； one of warm water
and the other of cold； and making every variety of food to spring up
abundantly from the soil。 He also begat and brought up five pairs of twin
male children； and dividing the island of Atlantis into ten portions； he
gave to the first…born of the eldest pair his mother's dwelling and the
surrounding allotment； which was the largest and best； and made him king
over the rest； the others he made princes； and gave them rule over many
men； and a large territory。 And he named them all； the eldest； who was the
first king； he named Atlas； and after him the whole island and the ocean
were called Atlantic。 To his twin brother； who was born after him； and
obtained as his lot the extremity of the island towards the pillars of
Heracles； facing the country which is now called the region of Gades in
that part of the world； he gave the name which in the Hellenic language is
Eumelus； in the language of the country which is named after him； Gadeirus。
Of the second pair of twins he called one Ampheres； and the other Evaemon。
To the elder of the third pair of twins he gave the name Mneseus； and
Autochthon to the one who followed him。 Of the fourth pair of twins he
called the elder Elasippus； and the younger Mestor。 And of the fifth pair
he gave to the elder the name of Azaes； and to the younger that of
Diaprepes。 All these and their descendants for many generations were the
inhabitants an