The work opens as a continuation of the Timaeus, framing a grand historical narrative about a primeval conflict that occurred nine thousand years before. Critias relates a story told to Solon by Egyptian priests, describing two rival civilizations that once dominated the ancient world.
The first power is the primeval city of Athens, governed by a society of citizen-warriors who lived simply and virtuously. Descended from the gods Hephaestus and Athena, these ancient Athenians shared everything in common and maintained a modest, balanced life on a fertile land that was later eroded by severe deluges and cataclysms.
Opposing them is the island of Atlantis, an immense and wealthy domain allotted to the god Poseidon. Poseidon transformed the island into an impregnable fortress by surrounding it with alternating zones of sea and land, bridged by canals and protected by multiple concentric walls coated in brass, tin, and the fiery metal known as orichalcum.
The narrative details the staggering scale of Atlantis, from its royal palaces and majestic temples adorned in gold and ivory to its elaborate network of agricultural canals and a massive surrounding trench. The ten kings of Atlantis governed this vast empire under strict laws inscribed on a sacred pillar of orichalcum, gathering periodically to sacrifice bulls and renew their oaths of mutual peace and allegiance.
For many generations, the people of Atlantis remained wise, gentle, and indifferent to material wealth, guided by the divine portion of their souls. However, as human nature gradually diluted this divine essence, greed and unrighteous power began to corrupt the rulers.
Blinded by arrogance and luxury, the Atlanteans pursued dominion and iniquity while appearing glorious to the outside world. Recognizing their moral collapse, Zeus convened the council of the gods to inflict punishment and chastisement upon the fallen empire, bringing the text to an abrupt halt mid-sentence.
