Dialogues · Character

Critias

An Athenian statesman and storyteller who unfolds the tale of Atlantis as a political and cosmic parable for his assembled listeners.

supporting

Also known as 297 Critias

First appearance: Critias

As a supporting figure in Dialogues, Critias is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Charmides' guardian and cousin; takes over the argument, proposing that temperance is self-knowledge.

In the storyCharmidesOpen this moment free

See Critias in Charmides Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Critias is the narrator of the Atlantis myth, a figure whose political experience and family prestige lend weight to his account of an ancient war between Athens and a vanished island empire. He presents the story as both history and moral exemplar, but his own entanglement in Athenian politics casts a shadow over his authority. His tale sets up the dialogue's exploration of ideal states and their decline, making him the bridge between philosophy and political reality.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Critias sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Critias in Critias

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

In this excerpt, the dramatic climax occurs when Erasistratus’s boastful praise of the Syracusan envoy’s immen…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Critias appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Charmides
Charmides' guardian and cousin; takes over the argument, proposing that temperance is self-knowledge.
Charmides
Charmides' guardian and cousin; he asserts Charmides' temperance and commands him to follow Socrates.
Timaeus
Present; introduces the Atlantis story as a prelude to Timaeus's cosmology.
Timaeus I
Relays the story of Solon and the Egyptian priests about Atlantis, as told by his grandfather.
Timaeus
Tells the ancient tradition of Solon and the story of Atlantis, as heard from his grandfather.
Critias
The primary narrator, recounting the story of Atlantis and ancient Athens as told by Solon.
Introduction and Analysis
Critias is the narrator of the Atlantis story, claiming to repeat what Solon was told by Egyptian priests.
Critias
Critias accepts the argument from Timaeus and begins his discourse on Atlantis, requesting indulgence for the difficulty of speaking about human affairs.
Appendix II
Discusses with Socrates the utility of wealth, hearing, and medicine for virtue, and reluctantly considers whether bad means can serve good ends.
Eryxias
Argues that wealth can be bad for some men, and engages in a dialectical exchange with Eryxias and Socrates.
Eryxias
Engages in the discussion with Socrates, reluctantly accepting arguments about the uselessness of certain antecedents and the condition of the wealthy.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Critias unlock in the free preview.

See Critias in Critias

See Critias in Charmides