translatedbyBenjaminJowett
TIMAEUSPERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUE:SOCRATES;CRITIAS;TIMAEUS;HERMOCRATES
Socrates。One,two,three;butwhere,mydearTimaeus,isthefourth
ofthosewhowereyesterdaymyguestsandaretobemyentertainers
to—day?
Timaeus。Hehasbeentakenill,Socrates;forhewouldnotwillingly
havebeenabsentfromthisgathering。
Soc。Then,ifheisnotcoming,youandthetwoothersmustsupply
hisplace。
Tim。Certainly,andwewilldoallthatwecan;havingbeen
handsomelyentertainedbyyouyesterday,thoseofuswhoremainshould
beonlytoogladtoreturnyourhospitality。
Soc。DoyourememberwhatwerethepointsofwhichIrequiredyouto
speak?
Tim。Weremembersomeofthem,andyouwillbeheretoremindus
ofanythingwhichwehaveforgotten:orrather,ifwearenot
troublingyou,willyoubrieflyrecapitulatethewhole,andthenthe
particularswillbemorefirmlyfixedinourmemories?
Soc。TobesureIwill:thechiefthemeofmyyesterday’s
discoursewastheState—howconstitutedandofwhatcitizens
composeditwouldseemlikelytobemostperfect。
Tim。Yes,Socrates;andwhatyousaidofitwasverymuchtoour
mind。
Soc。Didwenotbeginbyseparatingthehusbandmenandthe
artisansfromtheclassofdefendersoftheState?
Tim。Yes。
Soc。Andwhenwehadgiventoeachonethatsingleemploymentand
particularartwhichwassuitedtohisnature,wespokeofthosewho
wereintendedtobeourwarriors,andsaidthattheyweretobe
guardiansofthecityagainstattacksfromwithinaswellasfrom
without,andtohavenootheremployment;theyweretobemerciful
injudgingtheirsubjects,ofwhomtheywerebynaturefriends,but
fiercetotheirenemies,whentheycameacrosstheminbattle。
Tim。Exactly。
Soc。Wesaid,ifIamnotmistaken,thattheguardiansshouldbe
giftedwithatemperamentinahighdegreebothpassionateand
philosophical;andthatthentheywouldbeastheyoughttobe,gentle
totheirfriendsandfiercewiththeirenemies。
Tim。Certainly。
Soc。Andwhatdidwesayoftheireducation?Weretheynottobe
trainedingymnastic,andmusic,andallothersortsofknowledge
whichwereproperforthem?
Tim。Verytrue。
Soc。Andbeingthustrainedtheywerenottoconsidergoldorsilver
oranythingelsetobetheirownprivateproperty;theyweretobe
likehiredtroops,receivingpayforkeepingguardfromthosewhowere
protectedbythem—thepaywastobenomorethanwouldsufficeformen
ofsimplelife;andtheyweretospendincommon,andtolivetogether
inthecontinualpracticeofvirtue,whichwastobetheirsole
pursuit。
Tim。Thatwasalsosaid。
Soc。Neitherdidweforgetthewomen;ofwhomwedeclared,that
theirnaturesshouldbeassimilatedandbroughtintoharmonywith
thoseofthemen,andthatcommonpursuitsshouldbeassignedto
thembothintimeofwarandintheirordinarylife。
Tim。That,again,wasasyousay。
Soc。Andwhatabouttheprocreationofchildren?Orrathernotthe
proposaltoosingulartobeforgotten?forallwivesandchildrenwere
tobeincommon,totheintentthatnooneshouldeverknowhisown
child,buttheyweretoimaginethattheywereallonefamily;those
whowerewithinasuitablelimitofageweretobebrothersand
sisters,thosewhowereofaneldergenerationparentsand
grandparents,andthoseofayoungerchildrenandgrandchildren。
Tim。Yes,andtheproposaliseasytoremember,asyousay。
Soc。Anddoyoualsorememberhow,withaviewofsecuringasfaras
wecouldthebestbreed,wesaidthatthechiefmagistrates,male
andfemale,shouldcontrivesecretly,bytheuseofcertainlots,so
toarrangethenuptialmeeting,thatthebadofeithersexandthe
goodofeithersexmightpairwiththeirlike;andtherewastobe
noquarrellingonthisaccount,fortheywouldimaginethatthe
unionwasamereaccident,andwastobeattributedtothelot?
Tim。Iremember。
Soc。Andyourememberhowwesaidthatthechildrenofthegood
parentsweretobeeducated,andthechildrenofthebadsecretly
dispersedamongtheinferiorcitizens;andwhiletheywereallgrowing
uptherulersweretobeonthelook—out,andtobringupfrombelow
intheirturnthosewhowereworthy,andthoseamongthemselveswho
wereunworthyweretotaketheplacesofthosewhocameup?
Tim。True。
Soc。ThenhaveInowgivenyoualltheheadsofouryesterday’s
discussion?Oristhereanythingmore,mydearTimaeus,whichhasbeen
omitted?
Tim。Nothing,Socrates;itwasjustasyouhavesaid。
Soc。Ishouldlike,beforeproceedingfurther,totellyouhowI
feelabouttheStatewhichwehavedescribed。Imightcomparemyself
toapersonwho,onbeholdingbeautifulanimalseithercreatedby
thepainter’sart,or,betterstill,alivebutatrest,isseizedwith
adesireofseeingtheminmotionorengagedinsomestruggleor
conflicttowhichtheirformsappearsuited;thisismyfeeling
abouttheStatewhichwehavebeendescribing。Thereareconflicts
whichallcitiesundergo,andIshouldliketohearsomeonetellof
ourowncitycarryingonastruggleagainstherneighbours,andhow
shewentouttowarinabecomingmanner,andwhenatwarshowedby
thegreatnessofheractionsandthemagnanimityofherwordsin
dealingwithothercitiesaresultworthyofhertrainingand
education。NowI,CritiasandHermocrates,amconsciousthatI
myselfshouldneverbeabletocelebratethecityandhercitizens
inabefittingmanner,andIamnotsurprisedatmyownincapacity;to
methewonderisratherthatthepoetspresentaswellaspastare
nobetter—notthatImeantodepreciatethem;buteveryonecansee
thattheyareatribeofimitators,andwillimitatebestandmost
easilythelifeinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtup;whilethatwhich
isbeyondtherangeofaman’seducationhefindshardtocarryoutin
action,andstillharderadequatelytorepresentinlanguage。Iam
awarethattheSophistshaveplentyofbravewordsandfair
conceits,butIamafraidthatbeingonlywanderersfromonecityto
another,andhavingneverhadhabitationsoftheirown,theymay
failintheirconceptionofphilosophersandstatesmen,andmaynot
knowwhattheydoandsayintimeofwar,whentheyarefightingor
holdingparleywiththeirenemies。Andthuspeopleofyourclassare
theonlyonesremainingwhoarefittedbynatureandeducationtotake
partatoncebothinpoliticsandphilosophy。HereisTimaeus,of
LocrisinItaly,acitywhichhasadmirablelaws,andwhoishimself
inwealthandranktheequalofanyofhisfellow—citizens;hehas
heldthemostimportantandhonourableofficesinhisownstate,
and,asIbelieve,hasscaledtheheightsofallphilosophy;and
hereisCritias,whomeveryAthenianknowstobenonoviceinthe
mattersofwhichwearespeaking;andasto,Hermocrates,Iamassured
bymanywitnessesthathisgeniusandeducationqualifyhimtotake
partinanyspeculationofthekind。AndthereforeyesterdaywhenI
sawthatyouwantedmetodescribetheformationoftheState,I
readilyassented,beingverywellaware,that,ifyouonlywould,none
werebetterqualifiedtocarrythediscussionfurther,andthatwhen
youhadengagedourcityinasuitablewar,youofallmenliving
couldbestexhibitherplayingafittingpart。WhenIhadcompletedmy
task,Iinreturnimposedthisothertaskuponyou。Youconferred
togetherandagreedtoentertainmeto—day,asIhadentertained
you,withafeastofdiscourse。HereamIinfestivearray,andnoman
canbemorereadyforthepromisedbanquet。
Her。Andwetoo,Socrates,asTimaeussays,willnotbewantingin
enthusiasm;andthereisnoexcusefornotcomplyingwithyour
request。Assoonaswearrivedyesterdayattheguest—chamberof
Critias,withwhomwearestaying,orratheronourwaythither,we
talkedthematterover,andhetoldusanancienttradition,whichI
wish,Critias,thatyouwouldrepeattoSocrates,sothathemay
helpustojudgewhetheritwillsatisfyhisrequirementsornot。
Crit。Iwill,ifTimaeus,whoisourotherpartner,approves。
Tim。Iquiteapprove。
Crit。Thenlisten,Socrates,toatalewhich,thoughstrange,is
certainlytrue,havingbeenattestedbySolon,whowasthewisestof
thesevensages。Hewasarelativeandadearfriendofmy
great—grandfather,Dropides,ashehimselfsaysinmanypassagesof
hispoems;andhetoldthestorytoCritias,mygrandfather,who
rememberedandrepeatedittous。Therewereofold,hesaid,great
andmarvellousactionsoftheAtheniancity,whichhavepassedinto
oblivionthroughlapseoftimeandthedestructionofmankind,andone
inparticular,greaterthanalltherest。Thiswewillnowrehearse。
Itwillbeafittingmonumentofourgratitudetoyou,andahymnof
praisetrueandworthyofthegoddess,onthisherdayoffestival。
Soc。Verygood。Andwhatisthisancientfamousactionofthe
Athenians,whichCritiasdeclared,ontheauthorityofSolon,tobe
notamerelegend,butanactualfact?
Crit。Iwilltellanold—worldstorywhichIheardfromanagedman;
forCritias,atthetimeoftellingit,wasashesaid,nearly
ninetyyearsofage,andIwasaboutten。Nowthedaywasthatday
oftheApaturiawhichiscalledtheRegistrationofYouth,atwhich,
accordingtocustom,ourparentsgaveprizesforrecitations,and
thepoemsofseveralpoetswererecitedbyusboys,andmanyofus
sangthepoemsofSolon,whichatthattimehadnotgoneoutof
fashion。Oneofourtribe,eitherbecausehethoughtsoortoplease
Critias,saidthatinhisjudgmentSolonwasnotonlythewisestof
men,butalsothenoblestofpoets。Theoldman,asIverywell
remember,brightenedupathearingthisandsaid,smiling:Yes,
Amynander,ifSolonhadonly,likeotherpoets,madepoetrythe
businessofhislife,andhadcompletedthetalewhichhebroughtwith
himfromEgypt,andhadnotbeencompelled,byreasonofthe
factionsandtroubleswhichhefoundstirringinhisowncountry
whenhecamehome,toattendtoothermatters,inmyopinionhe
wouldhavebeenasfamousasHomerorHesiod,oranypoet。
Andwhatwasthetaleabout,Critias?saidAmynander。
AboutthegreatestactionwhichtheAthenianseverdid,andwhich
oughttohavebeenthemostfamous,but,throughthelapseoftimeand
thedestructionoftheactors,ithasnotcomedowntous。
Tellus,saidtheother,thewholestory,andhowandfromwhom
Solonheardthisveritabletradition。
Hereplied:—IntheEgyptianDelta,attheheadofwhichtheriver
Niledivides,thereisacertaindistrictwhichiscalledthedistrict
ofSais,andthegreatcityofthedistrictisalsocalledSais,and
isthecityfromwhichKingAmasiscame。Thecitizenshaveadeityfor
theirfoundress;sheiscalledintheEgyptiantongueNeith,andis
assertedbythemtobethesamewhomtheHellenescallAthene;they
aregreatloversoftheAthenians,andsaythattheyareinsomeway
relatedtothem。TothiscitycameSolon,andwasreceivedthere
withgreathonour;heaskedthepriestswhoweremostskilfulin
suchmatters,aboutantiquity,andmadethediscoverythatneither
henoranyotherHelleneknewanythingworthmentioningaboutthe
timesofold。Ononeoccasion,wishingtodrawthemontospeakof
antiquity,hebegantotellaboutthemostancientthingsinour
partoftheworld—aboutPhoroneus,whoiscalled"thefirstman,"
andaboutNiobe;andaftertheDeluge,ofthesurvivalofDeucalion
andPyrrha;andhetracedthegenealogyoftheirdescendants,and
reckoningupthedates,triedtocomputehowmanyyearsagotheevents
ofwhichhewasspeakinghappened。Thereupononeofthepriests,who
wasofaverygreatage,said:OSolon,Solon,youHellenesare
neveranythingbutchildren,andthereisnotanoldmanamongyou。
Soloninreturnaskedhimwhathemeant。Imeantosay,hereplied,
thatinmindyouareallyoung;thereisnooldopinionhandeddown
amongyoubyancienttradition,noranysciencewhichishoarywith
age。AndIwilltellyouwhy。Therehavebeen,andwillbeagain,many
destructionsofmankindarisingoutofmanycauses;thegreatest
havebeenbroughtaboutbytheagenciesoffireandwater,andother
lesseronesbyinnumerableothercauses。Thereisastory,which
evenyouhavepreserved,thatonceuponatimePaethon,thesonof
Helios,havingyokedthesteedsinhisfather’schariot,becausehe
wasnotabletodrivetheminthepathofhisfather,burntupall
thatwasupontheearth,andwashimselfdestroyedbyathunderbolt。
Nowthishastheformofamyth,butreallysignifiesadeclinationof
thebodiesmovingintheheavensaroundtheearth,andagreat
conflagrationofthingsupontheearth,whichrecursafterlong
intervals;atsuchtimesthosewholiveuponthemountainsandin
dryandloftyplacesaremoreliabletodestructionthanthosewho
dwellbyriversorontheseashore。AndfromthiscalamitytheNile,
whoisournever—failingsaviour,deliversandpreservesus。When,
ontheotherhand,thegodspurgetheearthwithadelugeofwater,
thesurvivorsinyourcountryareherdsmenandshepherdswhodwell
onthemountains,butthosewho,likeyou,liveincitiesare
carriedbytheriversintothesea。Whereasinthisland,neitherthen
noratanyothertime,doesthewatercomedownfromaboveonthe
fields,havingalwaysatendencytocomeupfrombelow;forwhich
reasonthetraditionspreservedherearethemostancient。
Thefactis,thatwherevertheextremityofwinterfrostorof
summerdoesnotprevent,mankindexist,sometimesingreater,
sometimesinlessernumbers。Andwhateverhappenedeitherinyour
countryorinours,orinanyotherregionofwhichweareinformed—if
therewereanyactionsnobleorgreatorinanyotherway
remarkable,theyhaveallbeenwrittendownbyusofold,andare
preservedinourtemples。Whereasjustwhenyouandothernations
arebeginningtobeprovidedwithlettersandtheotherrequisites
ofcivilizedlife,aftertheusualinterval,thestreamfromheaven,
likeapestilence,comespouringdown,andleavesonlythoseofyou
whoaredestituteoflettersandeducation;andsoyouhavetobegin
alloveragainlikechildren,andknownothingofwhathappenedin
ancienttimes,eitheramongusoramongyourselves。Asforthose
genealogiesofyourswhichyoujustnowrecountedtous,Solon,they
arenobetterthanthetalesofchildren。Inthefirstplaceyou
rememberasingledelugeonly,butthereweremanypreviousones;in
thenextplace,youdonotknowthatthereformerlydweltinyourland
thefairestandnoblestraceofmenwhicheverlived,andthatyouand
yourwholecityaredescendedfromasmallseedorremnantofthem
whichsurvived。Andthiswasunknowntoyou,because,formany
generations,thesurvivorsofthatdestructiondied,leavingno
writtenword。Fortherewasatime,Solon,beforethegreatdeluge
ofall,whenthecitywhichnowisAthenswasfirstinwarandin
everywaythebestgovernedofallcities,issaidtohaveperformed
thenoblestdeedsandtohavehadthefairestconstitutionofanyof
whichtraditiontells,underthefaceofheaven。
Solonmarvelledathiswords,andearnestlyrequestedtheprieststo
informhimexactlyandinorderabouttheseformercitizens。Youare
welcometohearaboutthem,Solon,saidthepriest,bothforyour
ownsakeandforthatofyourcity,andaboveall,forthesakeofthe
goddesswhoisthecommonpatronandparentandeducatorofbothour
cities。Shefoundedyourcityathousandyearsbeforeours,
receivingfromtheEarthandHephaestustheseedofyourrace,and
afterwardsshefoundedours,ofwhichtheconstitutionisrecorded
inoursacredregisterstobeeightthousandyearsold。Astouching
yourcitizensofninethousandyearsago,Iwillbrieflyinformyouof
theirlawsandoftheirmostfamousaction;theexactparticularsof
thewholewewillhereaftergothroughatourleisureinthesacred
registersthemselves。Ifyoucomparetheseverylawswithoursyou
willfindthatmanyofoursarethecounterpartofyoursasthey
wereintheoldentime。Inthefirstplace,thereisthecasteof
priests,whichisseparatedfromalltheothers;next,therearethe
artificers,whoplytheirseveralcraftsbythemselvesanddonot
intermix;andalsothereistheclassofshepherdsandofhunters,
aswellasthatofhusbandmen;andyouwillobserve,too,thatthe
warriorsinEgyptaredistinctfromalltheotherclasses,andare
commandedbythelawtodevotethemselvessolelytomilitarypursuits;
moreover,theweaponswhichtheycarryareshieldsandspears,astyle
ofequipmentwhichthegoddesstaughtofAsiaticsfirsttous,asin
yourpartoftheworldfirsttoyou。Thenastowisdom,doyouobserve
howourlawfromtheveryfirstmadeastudyofthewholeorderof
things,extendingeventoprophecyandmedicinewhichgiveshealth,
outofthesedivineelementsderivingwhatwasneedfulforhumanlife,
andaddingeverysortofknowledgewhichwasakintothem。Allthis
orderandarrangementthegoddessfirstimpartedtoyouwhen
establishingyourcity;andshechosethespotofearthinwhichyou
wereborn,becauseshesawthatthehappytemperamentoftheseasons
inthatlandwouldproducethewisestofmen。Whereforethegoddess,
whowasaloverbothofwarandofwisdom,selectedandfirstofall
settledthatspotwhichwasthemostlikelytoproducemenlikest
herself。Andthereyoudwelt,havingsuchlawsastheseandstill
betterones,andexcelledallmankindinallvirtue,asbecamethe
childrenanddisciplesofthegods。
Manygreatandwonderfuldeedsarerecordedofyourstateinour
histories。Butoneofthemexceedsalltherestingreatnessand
valour。Forthesehistoriestellofamightypowerwhichunprovoked
madeanexpeditionagainstthewholeofEuropeandAsia,andto
whichyourcityputanend。Thispowercameforthoutofthe
AtlanticOcean,forinthosedaystheAtlanticwasnavigable;and
therewasanislandsituatedinfrontofthestraitswhichareby
youcalledthePillarsofHeracles;theislandwaslargerthanLibya
andAsiaputtogether,andwasthewaytootherislands,andfrom
theseyoumightpasstothewholeoftheoppositecontinentwhich
surroundedthetrueocean;forthisseawhichiswithintheStraitsof
Heraclesisonlyaharbour,havinganarrowentrance,butthatother
isarealsea,andthesurroundinglandmaybemosttrulycalleda
boundlesscontinent。NowinthisislandofAtlantistherewasa
greatandwonderfulempirewhichhadruleoverthewholeislandand
severalothers,andoverpartsofthecontinent,and,furthermore,the
menofAtlantishadsubjectedthepartsofLibyawithinthecolumnsof
HeraclesasfarasEgypt,andofEuropeasfarasTyrrhenia。Thisvast
power,gatheredintoone,endeavouredtosubdueatablowour
countryandyoursandthewholeoftheregionwithinthestraits;
andthen,Solon,yourcountryshoneforth,intheexcellenceofher
virtueandstrength,amongallmankind。Shewaspre—eminentincourage
andmilitaryskill,andwastheleaderoftheHellenes。Andwhenthe
restfellofffromher,beingcompelledtostandalone,afterhaving
undergonetheveryextremityofdanger,shedefeatedandtriumphed
overtheinvaders,andpreservedfromslaverythosewhowerenotyet
subjugated,andgenerouslyliberatedalltherestofuswhodwell
withinthepillars。Butafterwardsthereoccurredviolent
earthquakesandfloods;andinasingledayandnightofmisfortune
allyourwarlikemeninabodysankintotheearth,andtheisland
ofAtlantisinlikemannerdisappearedinthedepthsofthesea。For
whichreasontheseainthosepartsisimpassableandimpenetrable,
becausethereisashoalofmudintheway;andthiswascausedbythe
subsidenceoftheisland。
Ihavetoldyoubriefly,Socrates,whattheagedCritiasheard
fromSolonandrelatedtous。Andwhenyouwerespeakingyesterday
aboutyourcityandcitizens,thetalewhichIhavejustbeen
repeatingtoyoucameintomymind,andIremarkedwithastonishment
how,bysomemysteriouscoincidence,youagreedinalmostevery
particularwiththenarrativeofSolon;butIdidnotliketospeakat
themoment。Foralongtimehadelapsed,andIhadforgottentoomuch;
IthoughtthatImustfirstofallrunoverthenarrativeinmyown
mind,andthenIwouldspeak。AndsoIreadilyassentedtoyour
requestyesterday,consideringthatinallsuchcasesthechief
difficultyistofindatalesuitabletoourpurpose,andthatwith
suchataleweshouldbefairlywellprovided。
Andtherefore,asHermocrateshastoldyou,onmywayhomeyesterday
IatoncecommunicatedthetaletomycompanionsasIrememberedit;
andafterIleftthem,duringthenightbythinkingIrecoverednearly
thewholeit。Truly,asisoftensaid,thelessonsofourchildhood
makewonderfulimpressiononourmemories;forIamnotsurethatI
couldrememberallthediscourseofyesterday,butIshouldbemuch
surprisedifIforgotanyofthesethingswhichIhaveheardverylong
ago。Ilistenedatthetimewithchildlikeinteresttotheoldman’s
narrative;hewasveryreadytoteachme,andIaskedhimagainand
againtorepeathiswords,sothatlikeanindeliblepicturetheywere
brandedintomymind。Assoonasthedaybroke,Irehearsedthemashe
spokethemtomycompanions,thatthey,aswellasmyself,might
havesomethingtosay。Andnow,Socrates,tomakeanendmypreface,I
amreadytotellyouthewholetale。Iwillgiveyounotonlythe
generalheads,buttheparticulars,astheyweretoldtome。The
cityandcitizens,whichyouyesterdaydescribedtousinfiction,
wewillnowtransfertotheworldofreality。Itshallbethe
ancientcityofAthens,andwewillsupposethatthecitizenswhomyou
imagined,wereourveritableancestors,ofwhomthepriestspoke;they
willperfectlyharmonise,andtherewillbenoinconsistencyinsaying
thatthecitizensofyourrepublicaretheseancientAthenians。Letus
dividethesubjectamongus,andallendeavouraccordingtoour
abilitygracefullytoexecutethetaskwhichyouhaveimposeduponus。
Considerthen,Socrates,ifthisnarrativeissuitedtothepurpose,
orwhetherweshouldseekforsomeotherinstead。
Soc。Andwhatother,Critias,canwefindthatwillbebetterthan
this,whichisnaturalandsuitabletothefestivalofthegoddess,
andhastheverygreatadvantageofbeingafactandnotafiction?
Howorwhereshallwefindanotherifweabandonthis?Wecannot,
andthereforeyoumusttellthetale,andgoodlucktoyou;andIin
returnformyyesterday’sdiscoursewillnowrestandbealistener。
Crit。Letmeproceedtoexplaintoyou,Socrates,theorderinwhich
wehavearrangedourentertainment。Ourintentionis,thatTimaeus,
whoisthemostofanastronomeramongstus,andhasmadethenature
oftheuniversehisspecialstudy,shouldspeakfirst,beginning
withthegenerationoftheworldandgoingdowntothecreationof
man;next,Iamtoreceivethemenwhomhehascreatedofwhomsome
willhaveprofitedbytheexcellenteducationwhichyouhavegiven
them;andthen,inaccordancewiththetaleofSolon,andequallywith
hislaw,wewillbringthemintocourtandmakethemcitizens,asif
theywerethoseveryAthenianswhomthesacredEgyptianrecordhas
recoveredfromoblivion,andthenceforwardwewillspeakofthemas
Atheniansandfellow—citizens。
Soc。IseethatIshallreceiveinmyturnaperfectandsplendid
feastofreason。Andnow,Timaeus,you,Isuppose,shouldspeak
next,afterdulycallingupontheGods。
Tim。Allmen,Socrates,whohaveanydegreeofrightfeeling,atthe
beginningofeveryenterprise,whethersmallorgreat,alwayscall
uponGod。Andwe,too,whoaregoingtodiscourseofthenatureofthe
universe,howcreatedorhowexistingwithoutcreation,ifwebenot
altogetheroutofourwits,mustinvoketheaidofGodsand
Goddessesandpraythatourwordsmaybeacceptabletothemand
consistentwiththemselves。Letthis,then,beourinvocationofthe
Gods,towhichIaddanexhortationofmyselftospeakinsuch
manneraswillbemostintelligibletoyou,andwillmostaccord
withmyownintent。
Firstthen,inmyjudgment,wemustmakeadistinctionandask,What
isthatwhichalwaysisandhasnobecoming;andwhatisthatwhichis
alwaysbecomingandneveris?Thatwhichisapprehendedby
intelligenceandreasonisalwaysinthesamestate;butthatwhichis
conceivedbyopinionwiththehelpofsensationandwithoutreason,is
alwaysinaprocessofbecomingandperishingandneverreallyis。Now
everythingthatbecomesoriscreatedmustofnecessitybecreated
bysomecause,forwithoutacausenothingcanbecreated。Theworkof
thecreator,wheneverhelookstotheunchangeableandfashionsthe
formandnatureofhisworkafteranunchangeablepattern,must
necessarilybemadefairandperfect;butwhenhelookstothecreated
only,andusesacreatedpattern,itisnotfairorperfect。Wasthe
heaventhenortheworld,whethercalledbythisorbyanyother
moreappropriatename—assumingthename,Iamaskingaquestion
whichhastobeaskedatthebeginningofanenquiryabout
anything—wastheworld,Isay,alwaysinexistenceandwithout
beginning?orcreated,andhaditabeginning?Created,Ireply,being
visibleandtangibleandhavingabody,andthereforesensible;and
allsensiblethingsareapprehendedbyopinionandsenseandarein
aprocessofcreationandcreated。Nowthatwhichiscreatedmust,
asweaffirm,ofnecessitybecreatedbyacause。Butthefatherand
makerofallthisuniverseispastfindingout;andevenifwefound
him,totellofhimtoallmenwouldbeimpossible。Andthereisstill
aquestiontobeaskedabouthim:Whichofthepatternshadthe
artificerinviewwhenhemadetheworld—thepatternofthe
unchangeable,orofthatwhichiscreated?Iftheworldbeindeedfair
andtheartificergood,itismanifestthathemusthavelookedto
thatwhichiseternal;butifwhatcannotbesaidwithoutblasphemyis
true,thentothecreatedpattern。Everyonewillseethathemust
havelookedto,theeternal;fortheworldisthefairestofcreations
andheisthebestofcauses。Andhavingbeencreatedinthisway,the
worldhasbeenframedinthelikenessofthatwhichisapprehended
byreasonandmindandisunchangeable,andmustthereforeof
necessity,ifthisisadmitted,beacopyofsomething。Nowitis
all—importantthatthebeginningofeverythingshouldbeaccording
tonature。Andinspeakingofthecopyandtheoriginalwemay
assumethatwordsareakintothematterwhichtheydescribe;when
theyrelatetothelastingandpermanentandintelligible,they
oughttobelastingandunalterable,and,asfarastheirnature
allows,irrefutableandimmovable—nothingless。Butwhenthey
expressonlythecopyorlikenessandnottheeternalthings
themselves,theyneedonlybelikelyandanalogoustothereal
words。Asbeingistobecoming,soistruthtobelief。Ifthen,
Socrates,amidthemanyopinionsaboutthegodsandthegeneration
oftheuniverse,wearenotabletogivenotionswhichare
altogetherandineveryrespectexactandconsistentwithoneanother,
donotbesurprised。Enough,ifweadduceprobabilitiesaslikelyas
anyothers;forwemustrememberthatIwhoamthespeaker,andyou
whoarethejudges,areonlymortalmen,andweoughttoacceptthe
talewhichisprobableandenquirenofurther。
Soc。Excellent,Timaeus;andwewilldopreciselyasyoubidus。The
preludeischarming,andisalreadyacceptedbyus—maywebegofyou
toproceedtothestrain?
Tim。Letmetellyouthenwhythecreatormadethisworldof
generation。Hewasgood,andthegoodcanneverhaveanyjealousyof
anything。Andbeingfreefromjealousy,hedesiredthatallthings
shouldbeaslikehimselfastheycouldbe。Thisisinthetruest
sensetheoriginofcreationandoftheworld,asweshalldowell
inbelievingonthetestimonyofwisemen:Goddesiredthatallthings
shouldbegoodandnothingbad,sofarasthiswasattainable。
Whereforealsofindingthewholevisiblespherenotatrest,but
movinginanirregularanddisorderlyfashion,outofdisorderhe
broughtorder,consideringthatthiswasineverywaybetterthan
theother。Nowthedeedsofthebestcouldneverbeorhavebeenother
thanthefairest;andthecreator,reflectingonthethingswhich
arebynaturevisible,foundthatnounintelligentcreaturetakenasa
wholewasfairerthantheintelligenttakenasawhole;andthat
intelligencecouldnotbepresentinanythingwhichwasdevoidof
soul。Forwhichreason,whenhewasframingtheuniverse,heput
intelligenceinsoul,andsoulinbody,thathemightbethecreator
ofaworkwhichwasbynaturefairestandbest。Wherefore,usingthe
languageofprobability,wemaysaythattheworldbecamealiving
creaturetrulyendowedwithsoulandintelligencebytheprovidenceof
God。
Thisbeingsupposed,letusproceedtothenextstage:Inthe
likenessofwhatanimaldidtheCreatormaketheworld?Itwouldbean
unworthythingtolikenittoanynaturewhichexistsasapart
only;fornothingcanbebeautifulwhichislikeanyimperfect
thing;butletussupposetheworldtobetheveryimageofthatwhole
ofwhichallotheranimalsbothindividuallyandintheirtribesare
portions。Fortheoriginaloftheuniversecontainsinitselfall
intelligiblebeings,justasthisworldcomprehendsusandallother
visiblecreatures。FortheDeity,intendingtomakethisworldlike
thefairestandmostperfectofintelligiblebeings,framedone
visibleanimalcomprehendingwithinitselfallotheranimalsofa
kindrednature。Arewerightinsayingthatthereisoneworld,or
thattheyaremanyandinfinite?Theremustbeoneonly,ifthe
createdcopyistoaccordwiththeoriginal。Forthatwhichincludes
allotherintelligiblecreaturescannothaveasecondorcompanion;in
thatcasetherewouldbeneedofanotherlivingbeingwhichwould
includeboth,andofwhichtheywouldbeparts,andthelikenesswould
bemoretrulysaidtoresemblenotthem,butthatotherwhichincluded
them。Inorderthenthattheworldmightbesolitary,liketheperfect
animal,thecreatormadenottwoworldsoraninfinitenumberofthem;
butthereisandeverwillbeoneonly—begottenandcreatedheaven。
Nowthatwhichiscreatedisofnecessitycorporeal,andalso
visibleandtangible。Andnothingisvisiblewherethereisnofire,
ortangiblewhichhasnosolidity,andnothingissolidwithoutearth。
WhereforealsoGodinthebeginningofcreationmadethebodyofthe
universetoconsistoffireandearth。Buttwothingscannotbe
rightlyputtogetherwithoutathird;theremustbesomebondofunion
betweenthem。Andthefairestbondisthatwhichmakesthemost
completefusionofitselfandthethingswhichitcombines;and
proportionisbestadaptedtoeffectsuchaunion。Forwheneverinany
threenumbers,whethercubeorsquare,thereisamean,whichisto
thelasttermwhatthefirsttermistoit;andagain,whenthemean
istothefirsttermasthelasttermistothemean—thenthemean
becomingfirstandlast,andthefirstandlastbothbecomingmeans,
theywillallofthemofnecessitycometobethesame,andhaving
becomethesamewithoneanotherwillbeallone。Iftheuniversal
framehadbeencreatedasurfaceonlyandhavingnodepth,asingle
meanwouldhavesufficedtobindtogetheritselfandtheother
terms;butnow,astheworldmustbesolid,andsolidbodiesare
alwayscompactednotbyonemeanbutbytwo,Godplacedwaterand
airinthemeanbetweenfireandearth,andmadethemtohavethesame
proportionsofaraswaspossible(asfireistoairsoisairto
water,andasairistowatersoiswatertoearth);andthushebound
andputtogetheravisibleandtangibleheaven。Andforthesereasons,
andoutofsuchelementswhichareinnumberfour,thebodyofthe
worldwascreated,anditwasharmonisedbyproportion,and
thereforehasthespiritoffriendship;andhavingbeenreconciled
toitself,itwasindissolublebythehandofanyotherthanthe
framer。
Nowthecreationtookupthewholeofeachofthefourelements;for
theCreatorcompoundedtheworldoutofallthefireandallthewater
andalltheairandalltheearth,leavingnopartofanyofthem
noranypowerofthemoutside。Hisintentionwas,inthefirst
place,thattheanimalshouldbeasfaraspossibleaperfectwhole
andofperfectparts:secondly,thatitshouldbeone,leavingno
remnantsoutofwhichanothersuchworldmightbecreated:andalso
thatitshouldbefreefromoldageandunaffectedbydisease。
Consideringthatifheatandcoldandotherpowerfulforceswhich
unitebodiessurroundandattackthemfromwithoutwhentheyare
unprepared,theydecomposethem,andbybringingdiseasesandold
ageuponthem,makethemwasteaway—forthiscauseandonthese
groundshemadetheworldonewhole,havingeverypartentire,and
beingthereforeperfectandnotliabletooldageanddisease。And
hegavetotheworldthefigurewhichwassuitableandalsonatural。
Nowtotheanimalwhichwastocomprehendallanimals,thatfigurewas
suitablewhichcomprehendswithinitselfallotherfigures。
Whereforehemadetheworldintheformofaglobe,roundasfroma
lathe,havingitsextremesineverydirectionequidistantfromthe
centre,themostperfectandthemostlikeitselfofallfigures;
forheconsideredthatthelikeisinfinitelyfairerthanthe
unlike。Thishefinishedoff,makingthesurfacesmoothallaroundfor
manyreasons;inthefirstplace,becausethelivingbeinghadnoneed
ofeyeswhentherewasnothingremainingoutsidehimtobeseen;nor
ofearswhentherewasnothingtobeheard;andtherewasno
surroundingatmospheretobebreathed;norwouldtherehavebeenany
useoforgansbythehelpofwhichhemightreceivehisfoodorget
ridofwhathehadalreadydigested,sincetherewasnothingwhich
wentfromhimorcameintohim:fortherewasnothingbesidehim。Of
designhewascreatedthus,hisownwasteprovidinghisownfood,
andallthathedidorsufferedtakingplaceinandbyhimself。For
theCreatorconceivedthatabeingwhichwasself—sufficientwould
befarmoreexcellentthanonewhichlackedanything;and,ashehad
noneedtotakeanythingordefendhimselfagainstanyone,the
Creatordidnotthinkitnecessarytobestowuponhimhands:norhad
heanyneedoffeet,norofthewholeapparatusofwalking;butthe
movementsuitedtohissphericalformwasassignedtohim,beingof
alltheseventhatwhichismostappropriatetomindandintelligence;
andhewasmadetomoveinthesamemannerandonthesamespot,
withinhisownlimitsrevolvinginacircle。Alltheothersixmotions
weretakenawayfromhim,andhewasmadenottopartakeoftheir
deviations。Andasthiscircularmovementrequirednofeet,the
universewascreatedwithoutlegsandwithoutfeet。
SuchwasthewholeplanoftheeternalGodaboutthegodthatwasto
be,towhomforthisreasonhegaveabody,smoothandeven,having
asurfaceineverydirectionequidistantfromthecentre,abody
entireandperfect,andformedoutofperfectbodies。Andinthe
centreheputthesoul,whichhediffusedthroughoutthebody,
makingitalsotobetheexteriorenvironmentofit;andhemadethe
universeacirclemovinginacircle,oneandsolitary,yetby
reasonofitsexcellenceabletoconversewithitself,andneeding
nootherfriendshiporacquaintance。Havingthesepurposesinview
hecreatedtheworldablessedgod。
NowGoddidnotmakethesoulafterthebody,althoughweare
speakingoftheminthisorder;forhavingbroughtthemtogetherhe
wouldneverhaveallowedthattheeldershouldberuledbythe
younger;butthisisarandommannerofspeakingwhichwehave,
becausesomehowweourselvestooareverymuchunderthedominionof
chance。Whereashemadethesoulinoriginandexcellencepriortoand
olderthanthebody,tobetherulerandmistress,ofwhomthebody
wastobethesubject。Andhemadeheroutofthefollowingelements
andonthiswise:Outoftheindivisibleandunchangeable,andalso
outofthatwhichisdivisibleandhastodowithmaterialbodies,
hecompoundedathirdandintermediatekindofessence,partakingof
thenatureofthesameandoftheother,andthiscompoundheplaced
accordinglyinameanbetweentheindivisible,andthedivisibleand
material。Hetookthethreeelementsofthesame,theother,andthe
essence,andmingledthemintooneform,compressingbyforcethe
reluctantandunsociablenatureoftheotherintothesame。Whenhe
hadmingledthemwiththeessenceandoutofthreemadeone,he
againdividedthiswholeintoasmanyportionsaswasfitting,each
portionbeingacompoundofthesame,theother,andtheessence。
Andheproceededtodivideafterthismanner:—Firstofall,hetook
awayonepartofthewhole[1],andthenheseparatedasecondpart
whichwasdoublethefirst[2],andthenhetookawayathirdpart
whichwashalfasmuchagainasthesecondandthreetimesasmuch
asthefirst[3],andthenhetookafourthpartwhichwastwiceas
muchasthesecond[4],andafifthpartwhichwasthreetimesthe
third[9],andasixthpartwhichwaseighttimesthefirst[8],anda
seventhpartwhichwastwenty—seventimesthefirst[27]。Afterthis
hefilledupthedoubleintervals[i。e。between1,2,4,8]andthe
triple[i。e。between1,3,9,27]cuttingoffyetotherportions
fromthemixtureandplacingthemintheintervals,sothatineach
intervalthereweretwokindsofmeans,theoneexceedingandexceeded
byequalpartsofitsextremes[asforexample1,4/3,2,inwhichthe
mean4/3isone—thirdof1morethan1,andone—thirdof2lessthan
2],theotherbeingthatkindofmeanwhichexceedsandisexceededby
anequalnumber。Wheretherewereintervalsof3/2andof4/3andof
9/8,madebytheconnectingtermsintheformerintervals,hefilled
upalltheintervalsof4/3withtheintervalof9/8,leavinga
fractionover;andtheintervalwhichthisfractionexpressedwasin
theratioof256to243。Andthusthewholemixtureoutofwhichhe
cuttheseportionswasallexhaustedbyhim。Thisentirecompoundhe
dividedlengthwaysintotwoparts,whichhejoinedtooneanotherat
thecentreliketheletterX,andbentthemintoacircularform,
connectingthemwiththemselvesandeachotheratthepointopposite
totheiroriginalmeeting—point;and,comprehendingthemina
uniformrevolutionuponthesameaxis,hemadetheonetheouterand
theothertheinnercircle。Nowthemotionoftheoutercirclehe
calledthemotionofthesame,andthemotionoftheinnercircle
themotionoftheotherordiverse。Themotionofthesamehe
carriedroundbythesidetotheright,andthemotionofthe
diversediagonallytotheleft。Andhegavedominiontothemotion
ofthesameandlike,forthatheleftsingleandundivided;butthe
innermotionhedividedinsixplacesandmadesevenunequalcircles
havingtheirintervalsinratiosoftwo—andthree,threeofeach,
andbadetheorbitsproceedinadirectionoppositetooneanother;
andthree[Sun,Mercury,Venus]hemadetomovewithequal
swiftness,andtheremainingfour[Moon,Saturn,Mars,Jupiter]to
movewithunequalswiftnesstothethreeandtooneanother,butin
dueproportion。
NowwhentheCreatorhadframedthesoulaccordingtohiswill,he
formedwithinherthecorporealuniverse,andbroughtthetwo
together,andunitedthemcentretocentre。Thesoul,interfused
everywherefromthecentretothecircumferenceofheaven,ofwhich
alsosheistheexternalenvelopment,herselfturninginherself,
beganadivinebeginningofneverceasingandrationallifeenduring
throughoutalltime。Thebodyofheavenisvisible,butthesoulis
invisible,andpartakesofreasonandharmony,andbeingmadebythe
bestofintellectualandeverlastingnatures,isthebestofthings
created。Andbecausesheiscomposedofthesameandoftheother
andoftheessence,thesethree,andisdividedandunitedindue
proportion,andinherrevolutionsreturnsuponherself,thesoul,
whentouchinganythingwhichhasessence,whetherdispersedinparts
orundivided,isstirredthroughallherpowers,todeclarethe
samenessordifferenceofthatthingandsomeother;andtowhat
individualsarerelated,andbywhataffected,andinwhatwayandhow
andwhen,bothintheworldofgenerationandintheworldof
immutablebeing。Andwhenreason,whichworkswithequaltruth,
whethershebeinthecircleofthediverseorofthesame—in
voicelesssilenceholdingheronwardcourseinthesphereofthe
self—moved—whenreason,Isay,ishoveringaroundthesensibleworld
andwhenthecircleofthediversealsomovingtrulyimpartsthe
intimationsofsensetothewholesoul,thenariseopinionsand
beliefssureandcertain。Butwhenreasonisconcernedwiththe
rational,andthecircleofthesamemovingsmoothlydeclaresit,then
intelligenceandknowledgearenecessarilyperfected。Andifanyone
affirmsthatinwhichthesetwoarefoundtobeotherthanthesoul,
hewillsaytheveryoppositeofthetruth。
Whenthefathercreatorsawthecreaturewhichhehadmademoving
andliving,thecreatedimageoftheeternalgods,herejoiced,andin
hisjoydeterminedtomakethecopystillmoreliketheoriginal;
andasthiswaseternal,hesoughttomaketheuniverseeternal,so
farasmightbe。Nowthenatureoftheidealbeingwaseverlasting,
buttobestowthisattributeinitsfulnessuponacreaturewas
impossible。Whereforeheresolvedtohaveamovingimageof
eternity,andwhenhesetinordertheheaven,hemadethisimage
eternalbutmovingaccordingtonumber,whileeternityitselfrestsin
unity;andthisimagewecalltime。Fortherewerenodaysand
nightsandmonthsandyearsbeforetheheavenwascreated,butwhenhe
constructedtheheavenhecreatedthemalso。Theyareallpartsof
time,andthepastandfuturearecreatedspeciesoftime,whichwe
unconsciouslybutwronglytransfertotheeternalessence;forwe
saythathe"was,"he"is,"he"willbe,"butthetruthisthat"is"
aloneisproperlyattributedtohim,andthat"was"and"willbe"only
tobespokenofbecomingintime,fortheyaremotions,butthatwhich
isimmovablythesamecannotbecomeolderoryoungerbytime,norever
didorhasbecome,orhereafterwillbe,olderoryounger,noris
subjectatalltoanyofthosestateswhichaffectmovingandsensible
thingsandofwhichgenerationisthecause。Thesearetheformsof
time,whichimitateseternityandrevolvesaccordingtoalawof
number。Moreover,whenwesaythatwhathasbecomeisbecomeand
whatbecomesisbecoming,andthatwhatwillbecomeisabouttobecome
andthatthenon—existentisnon—existent—alltheseareinaccurate
modesofexpression。Butperhapsthiswholesubjectwillbemore
suitablydiscussedonsomeotheroccasion。