An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

314: Atlantis: The Legend (Part 1)

March 20, 2023

Description

Majestic palaces, untold riches, and indeterminable power... the story of Atlantis is a tale as old as time. But is there really any truth behind the ancient tome, or was Plato simply trying his...
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Books Referenced

Magicians of the Gods

Author: Graham Hancock

Context:

Explicitly introduced as 'the synopsis of the book Magicians of the Gods from the website of the renowned historian Graham Hancock' - the book's premise about Atlantis and ancient civilizations is quoted at length

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Author: Jules Verne

Context:

Referenced indirectly when discussing Captain Nemo and his submarine as the origin of the underwater kingdom concept in fiction - 'Because all that ultimately comes from Jules Verne... Captain Nemo in his submarine going around'

The Republic

Author: Plato

Context:

Explicitly mentioned as 'the most famous text that Plato writes about this question is called The Republic' - discussed as Plato's work on ideal forms of government

The Laws

Author: Plato

Context:

Explicitly described as 'a book called The Laws' by Plato, noted as being 'a very kind of, compared to his other works, kind of very arid' and 'essentially what it says on the tin. It's a list of laws'

Timaeus

Author: Plato

Context:

Discussed as one of 'two other dialogues' by Plato where the story of Atlantis is told - the dialogue features Socrates and others including Critias discussing the ideal state

Critias

Author: Plato

Context:

Discussed as the second dialogue by Plato about Atlantis - 'we then move on to the second dialogue which is actually called Critias where we get back to it'

History of the Peloponnesian War

Author: Thucydides

Context:

Referenced as 'the history of the Peloponnesian War by an Athenian general called Thucydides, which Plato would undoubtedly have read' - cited as source for earthquake and tsunami events

The Histories

Author: Herodotus

Context:

Referenced multiple times as Herodotus's history of the Persian Wars - Tom notes 'I've translated him and everything' and discusses how Plato drew on 'Herodotus' history of the Persian Wars' for his Atlantis narrative