Editing Crucible:Atlantis (section)

== The Island Kingdom ==

At its height, Atlantis was a realm of shining towers, sea-gates, temple observatories, bronze-armored armies, and sorcerer-princes. Its capital was built in great rings of stone, canal, and ceremonial avenue, with palaces and temples raised from white marble, green basalt, orichalcum, and other materials now unknown to modern science.

Atlantean civilization blended early science, high magic, astronomy, engineering, and psychic discipline into a single worldview. To the Atlanteans, there was no sharp division between sorcery and natural philosophy. The movement of stars, the shaping of metals, the binding of spirits, and the command of storms were all parts of the same royal art.

The kingdom’s wealth came from its command of the sea. Atlantean ships crossed the ancient Atlantic, visiting prehistoric Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean basin, and lands now forgotten. In the oldest myths of many cultures, there are echoes of pale visitors from the western ocean, bearing gifts, weapons, laws, and curses.