Plato's Lost Dialogue

“Achaeus, I’ve decided that I’d like a feasting hall.” “Very well your grace, where would you like your new hall?” “There!”  King Erysichthon pointed to a small group of trees in front of him. “Ahmmm…may I suggest, your grace, that in the vast swathes of land that you hold here on Thessaly, you might want to avoid placing you new hall in the sacred grove of Demeter.” “Nonsense Achaeus, the old gal won’t mind.  She can join me in there once it’s built.  Get the men to cut the trees down right away.” “Your grace, I really must…” “Chop chop Achaeus, ha – get it – chop chop, I must write that one down.  Witty aren’t I, Achaeus?” “Very, your grace,” Achaeus sighed.  This won’t end well, he thought to himself.  The men set to work chopping down the trees, and soon all had been felled save for one giant oak tree which was covered in wreaths; each one representing a prayer that had been granted by Demeter.  The men refused to lay an axe on that tree, ...

Ten men sat round a golden table.  Some had travelled a long distance to the Citadel and the meeting had been long and arduous.  They were tired and the good humour from the start of the day had evaporated and left a residue of resentment and frustration. “He must be offered as a sacrifice!” “Don’t be a fool, Klemides.” “The Order requires it.” “The Order says nothing of the sort.  In fact, the Order requires a majority for any State killing and I will never agree to such folly.” “You would risk the wrath of Poseidon?  For the Middling?” “It is a sign from Poseidon and you wish to slaughter him.  How many have survived the mouth of the storm?” “Nesta has a valid point.  There are no records of any survivors.” “We’ve all heard stories of survivors.  Whether or not there’s any truth in them is another matter.” “They’re just stories to entertain the children.  I agree with Klemides.  The Middling must be sacrificed.  We cannot ris...

Most people will be familiar with Plato (I’m talking about the ancient Greek philosopher rather than a Spanish plate).  Despite living nearly 2500 years ago his works are still hugely popular and he completes the holy trinity of ancient Greek philosophers along with Socrates and Aristotle (being a student of the former and a teacher of the latter).  On his father’s side he claimed to have been descended from Poseidon (which perhaps explains the link between Atlantis and Poseidon), and on his mother’s side he claimed to have been descended from the lawgiver Solon (which perhaps explains the link between Solon purportedly passing down the story of Atlantis to Plato via Critias amongst others). The first time we hear about Atlantis is in Plato’s dialogues: Timaeus and the unfinished Critias.  The dialogues are largely a monologue between Timaeus, Critias, Hermocrates and Socrates.  In them the four scholars discuss the ideal state and Critias explains how Athens (the ...

Polydectes, King of Serifos, took a bite out of his chicken leg.  A steady stream of grease dripped into his greying beard as his mind ticked over.  ‘So the mother is still single you say?’ ‘Yes, I believe so your grace,’ replied his advisor. ‘And the big looking chap with the muscles and the chiseled jaw is definitely just her son?’ ‘Yes your grace.  The mother is called Danae and the son is Perseus.’ ‘Good, good.  Have to be careful these days with relations.  Sometimes they can be quite complex.  And this Diana…’ ‘Danae, your grace.’ ‘Exactly, Danae, will refuse to be my Queen whilst the boy is around?’ ‘Yes your grace.  That is what I am led to believe.’ ‘Why is that exactly?’ The advisor looked at his ill-tempered King’s ageing body overflowing from his grease stained clothing and then considered the perfectly formed Danae.  He chose his next words carefully. ‘I believe the Gods have plans for them.’ ‘Humph,’ grunted Polydectes, ‘t...