<p>"When all the gods had assembled in conference, Zeus arose among them and addressed them thus" . . .<br><br>"it is with this line that Plato's story of Atlantis ends; and the words of Zeus remain unknown."<br><br>-- Francis Bacon, New Atlantis<br><br>Of all the writings of Plato the Timaeus is the most obscure and repulsive to the modern reader, and has nevertheless had the greatest influence over the ancient and mediaeval world. The obscurity...