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Colonies, Missions and Safe Havens

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Author Topic: Colonies, Missions and Safe Havens  (Read 2861 times)
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Bianca
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« Reply #15 on: May 09, 2007, 08:27:57 pm »




FROM                                                                                                       continued

ATLANTIS - Myth or Reality

by Murry Hope



                         C O L O N I E S, M I S S I O N S   A N D   S A F E   H A V E N S


                                                             G R E E C E



Certain passages in the unabridged versions of the TIMAEUS and CRITIAS have
caused some concern to scholars, because of the discrepancy between the dates
given by Plato and the generally accepted historical picture of prehistoric Athens.

In order to comment on this, we need to see what was actually said.



"Once upon a time the gods divided up the Earth between them - not in
the course of a quarrel; for it would be quite wrong to think that the
gods do not know what is appropriate to them, or that, knowing it,
they would want to annex what properly belongs to others.  Each gladly
received his just allocation, and settled his territories; and having done
so they proceeded to look after us, their creatures and children, as
shepherds look after their flocks.  They did not use physical means of
control, like shepherds who direct their flock with blows, but brought
their influence to bear on the creature's most sensitive part, using
persuasion as a steersman uses the helm to direct the mind as they saw fit
and so guide the whole mortal creature.  The various gods, then,
administered the various regions which had been allotted to them.  But
Hephaestos and Athene, who shared as brother and sister a common
character, and pursued the same ends in their love of knowledge and
skill, were allotted this land of ours as their joint sphere and as a suitable
and natural home for excellence and wisdom.  They produced a native
race of good men and gave them suitable political arrangements.

Their names have been preserved but what they did has been forgotten
because of the destruction of their successors and the long lapse of
time.  For as we said before, the survivors of this destruction were an
unlettered mountain race who had just heard the names of the rulers of
the land but knew little of their achievements.  They were glad enough
to give their names of their own children, but they knew nothing of
the virtues and institutions of their predecessors, except for a few hazy
reports; for many generations they and their children were short of
bare necessities, and their minds and thoughts were occupied with
providing for them, to the neglect of earlier history and tradition.  For
an interest in the past and historical research come only when
communities have leisure and when men are already provided with
the necessities of life.  That is how the names but not the achievements
of these early generation come to be preserved.  My evidence is this,
that Cecrops, Erectheus, Erichthonios, Erusichthon and most of the
other names recorded before Theseus, occurred, according to Solon,
in the narrative of the priests about this war; and the same is true of the
women's names.  What is more, as men and women in those days both
took part in military exercises, so the figure and image of the goddess,
following the custom, was in full armour, as a sign that whenever
animals are grouped into male and female it is natural for each sex to
be able to practise its appropriate excellence in the community."





« Last Edit: May 10, 2007, 07:26:56 am by Bianca2001 » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
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