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Island of Atlantis
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Atlantis was the home of Poseidon, god of the sea. When Poseidon fell in love with a mortal woman, Cleito, he created a house at the top of a hill near the middle of the island and surrounded the house with rings of water and land to protect her.
Cleito gave birth to five sets of twin boys who became the first rulers of Atlantis. The island was divided among the brothers. The eldest, Atlas, was the first King of Atlantis. He was given control over the central hill and the areas around.
At the top of the central hill, a temple was built to honour Poseidon. In it was a giant gold statue of Poseidon riding a chariot pulled by winged horses. In this temple the rulers of Atlantis came to discuss laws, pass judgements, and pay tribute to Poseidon.To make travel and trade easier, a water canal was cut through the rings of land.
The city of Atlantis sat just outside the outer ring of water and spread across the plain covering a circle of 1.7 km. This was where most of the Atlantians lived. Besides the harvests, the island produced all kinds of herbs, fruits, and nuts. Many animals, including elephants, lived on the island.
Check that you understand what these words mean in this document Pass judgements: make official decisions as by a judge in a court of justice. Pay tribute: to offer a gift or service showing respect
Further reading: "Atlantis"- Mark Doty, Harper Perennial, 1995 "Unearthing Atlantis: An Archaeological Odyssey"- Charles Pellegrino, Random House, 1991
