Plato believed greatly in the existence of the civilization of Atlantis (Writer873). The origins of Atlantis are written in Plato's “Critias” and “Timaeus” (Plato). Written around 350 BC, the main character Solon travels to Egypt and learns of the existence of Atlantis from priests (Writer873). He claimed that his dialogues were real recordings (Atlantis Subplots). Timaeus explains that Atlantis was “the island opposite the strait, which you call the Pillars of Heracles; the island was larger than Libya and Asia combined” (Plato). He continues further: “Atlantis was a great and wonderful empire which ruled over the entire island” (Plato). Through brief explanations, Timaeus concludes that Atlantis “conquered and triumphed over the invaders,” “but then violent earthquakes and floods occurred; and in one day and one night of misfortune all your men of war in one body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis disappeared in the same way into the depths of the sea” (Plato ). Plato is not one for depth in Timaeus, but he vaguely states that there was a battle against the invaders and that after the triumph of Atlantis, the city fell in twenty-four hours due to natural disasters (Plato). It does not explain who the invaders were or whether there was any possibility of natural disasters demolishing an empire that existed 9,000 years before Timaeus was written. Fortunately, Plato wrote a second play, Critias, to fill in most of the gaps. Unfortunately, Plato never completed Critias. Critias begins with a vivid description of Atlantis, similarly describing that of the “volcanic island” (The Island). War is declared against Athens and describes the “attributions” that each sovereign “has each received his own” (Plato). Next, Poseidon is brought into the picture and is said to have "begotten" five...... middle of paper ... a figure on Plato's part, or a translation error on Plato's work" ( Writer873) is the cause. an additional zero. Works Cited “Atlantean Culture”. Seachild: Culture of Atlantis. NP, 2009. Web. March 28, 2014. “Atlantis Subplots: A Brief History of the Lost Continent.” » Np, and Web. March 24, 2014.Gerber, Judie, Dr. “Who was Egerton Sykes?” » Seachild: Egerton Sykes: British intelligence officer, diplomat, scholar. NP, 2009. Web. April 8, 2014. “The Island”. Atlantis. Np, and Web. March 21, 2014. Plato. “PLATO’S ISLAND OF ATLANTIS.” ATLANTIS: The lost island | Greek mythology. Np, and Web. March 21, 2014. “Sinking Atlantis The Fall of the Minoans.” PBS. PBS, May 9, 2011. web. March 27, 2014. Writer873. “Atlantis and Thera: The theory that Thera was the lost city of Atlantis.” Encyclopedia of ancient history. Np, January 18, 2012. Web. March 28. 2014.