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Diaprepes。 All these and their descendants for many generations were the
inhabitants and rulers of divers islands in the open sea； and also； as has
been already said； they held sway in our direction over the country within
the pillars as far as Egypt and Tyrrhenia。 Now Atlas had a numerous and
honourable family； and they retained the kingdom； the eldest son handing it
on to his eldest for many generations； and they had such an amount of
wealth as was never before possessed by kings and potentates； and is not
likely ever to be again； and they were furnished with everything which they
needed； both in the city and country。 For because of the greatness of
their empire many things were brought to them from foreign countries； and
the island itself provided most of what was required by them for the uses
of life。 In the first place； they dug out of the earth whatever was to be
found there； solid as well as fusile； and that which is now only a name and
was then something more than a name； orichalcum； was dug out of the earth
in many parts of the island； being more precious in those days than
anything except gold。 There was an abundance of wood for carpenter's work；
and sufficient maintenance for tame and wild animals。 Moreover； there were
a great number of elephants in the island； for as there was provision for
all other sorts of animals； both for those which live in lakes and marshes
and rivers； and also for those which live in mountains and on plains； so
there was for the animal which is the largest and most voracious of all。
Also whatever fragrant things there now are in the earth； whether roots； or
herbage； or woods； or essences which distil from fruit and flower； grew and
thrived in that land； also the fruit which admits of cultivation； both the
dry sort； which is given us for nourishment and any other which we use for
foodwe call them all by the common name of pulse； and the fruits having a
hard rind； affording drinks and meats and ointments； and good store of
chestnuts and the like； which furnish pleasure and amusement； and are
fruits which spoil with keeping； and the pleasant kinds of dessert； with
which we console ourselves after dinner； when we are tired of eatingall
these that sacred island which then beheld the light of the sun； brought
forth fair and wondrous and in infinite abundance。 With such blessings the
earth freely furnished them； meanwhile they went on constructing their
temples and palaces and harbours and docks。 And they arranged the whole
country in the following manner：
First of all they bridged over the zones of sea which surrounded the
ancient metropolis； making a road to and from the royal palace。 And at the
very beginning they built the palace in the habitation of the god and of
their ancestors； which they continued to ornament in successive
generations； every king surpassing the one who went before him to the
utmost of his power； until they made the building a marvel to behold for
size and for beauty。 And beginning from the sea they bored a canal of
three hundred feet in width and one hundred feet in depth and fifty stadia
in length； which they carried through to the outermost zone； making a
passage from the sea up to this； which became a harbour； and leaving an
opening sufficient to enable the largest vessels to find ingress。
Moreover； they divided at the bridges the zones of land which parted the
zones of sea； leaving room for a single trireme to pass out of one zone
into another； and they covered over the channels so as to leave a way
underneath for the ships； for the banks were raised considerably above the
water。 Now the largest of the zones into which a passage was cut from the
sea was three stadia in breadth； and the zone of land which came next of
equal breadth； but the next two zones； the one of water； the other of land；
were two stadia； and the one which surrounded the central island was a
stadium only in width。 The island in which the palace was situated had a
diameter of five stadia。 All this including the zones and the bridge；
which was the sixth part of a stadium in width； they surrounded by a stone
wall on every side； placing towers and gates on the bridges where the sea
passed in。 The stone which was used in the work they quarried from
underneath the centre island； and from underneath the zones； on the outer
as well as the inner side。 One kind was white； another black； and a third
red； and as they quarried； they at the same time hollowed out double docks；
having roofs formed out of the native rock。 Some of their buildings were
simple； but in others they put together different stones； varying the
colour to please the eye； and to be a natural source of delight。 The
entire circuit of the wall； which went round the outermost zone； they
covered with a coating of brass； and the circuit of the next wall they
coated with tin； and the third； which encompassed the citadel； flashed with
the red light of orichalcum。 The palaces in the interior of the citadel
were constructed on this wise：In the centre was a holy temple dedicated
to Cleito and Poseidon； which remained inaccessible； and was surrounded by
an enclosure of gold； this was the spot where the family of the ten princes
first saw the light； and thither the people annually brought the fruits of
the earth in their season from all the ten portions； to be an offering to
each of the ten。 Here was Poseidon's own temple which was a stadium in
length； and half a stadium in width； and of a proportionate height； having
a strange barbaric appearance。 All the outside of the temple； with the
exception of the pinnacles； they covered with silver； and the pinnacles
with gold。 In the interior of the temple the roof was of ivory； curiously
wrought everywhere with gold and silver and orichalcum； and all the other
parts； the walls and pillars and floor； they coated with orichalcum。 In
the temple they placed statues of gold： there was the god himself standing
in a chariotthe charioteer of six winged horsesand of such a size that
he touched the roof of the building with his head； around him there were a
hundred Nereids riding on dolphins； for such was thought to be the number
of them by the men of those days。 There were also in the interior of the
temple other images which had been dedicated by private persons。 And
around the temple on the outside were placed statues of gold of all the
descendants of the ten kings and of their wives； and there were many other
great offerings of kings and of private persons； coming both from the city
itself and from the foreign cities over which they held sway。 There was an
altar too； which in size and workmanship corresponded to this magnificence；
and the palaces； in like manner； answered to the greatness of the kingdom
and the glory of the temple。
In the next place； they had fountains； one of cold and another of hot
water； in gracious plenty flowing； and they were wonderfully adapted for
use by reason of the pleasantness and excellence of their waters。 They
constructed buildings about them and planted suitable trees； also they made
cisterns； some open to the heaven； others roofed over； to be used in winter
as warm baths； there were the kings' baths； and the baths of private
persons； which were kept apart； and there were separate baths for women；
and for horses and cattle； and to each of them they gave as much adornment
as was suitable。 Of the water which ran off they carried some to the grove
of Poseidon； where were growing all manner of trees of wonderful height and
beauty；