Deconstructing Atlantis: What Makes a Myth? Plato’s Allegorical Atlantis (Part 2)
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean
Liv Albert
4.6 • 5.6K Ratings
🗓️ 18 January 2022
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We've heard the original source for Atlantis, but why is it that Plato's Timaeus and Critias can't be termed "myths"? If it isn't a myth, how do we know that there isn't some history behind it? This episode details what we do know about Plato's Atlantis and what that proves.
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.
Sources/Further Reading: Plato's Timaeus and Critias, quotes translated by Benjamin Jowett; A Brief History of Atlantis: Plato's Ideal State by Stephen P. Kershaw (includes alternate translation of Plato); PDF: Truth, Lies, and History in Plato's Timaeus and Critias by Thomas K Johansen, 1998.
Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Special podcast artwork by Sara Richard.
Learn more about Liv's next group trip to GREECE, this time following along with Ariadne's escape from Theseus. Pre-order Liv's new book, The Odyssey: a Modern Retelling. Get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby.
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Transcript
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