The following excrept, written originaly in medieval Greek, is included in the third part of the novel, as an extract from the travel chronicle by Ernesto Malipiero, whist visiting Irekoussa in 1474. In this scene, Malipiero and Cristobal (Colon) are met by Laonikos Kantzis, the Lord of Irekoussa, and discuss Atlantis and some unknown continent «beyond Atlantis».
…It was late afternoon when we heard bells ring. Two armed guards came into our quarters and escorted us to the most illustrious Lord of the island. He welcomed us in his library. Beholding us for the first time, he asked us formally who we were and what was our purpose.
«With the warmest greetings of your brother Lorenzo de Medici, ensign of Firenze!» I answered.
We then explained to him the request of Lorenzo that he may allow us to copy several books from his library, and in particular a certain book entitled «Atlantis», for the Academy in Florence.
The Lord of the island was impressed by our specific knowledge of this book.
«Who spoke to you about Atlantis?» he asked
«His Reverance the Cardinal, your brother Bissarion», we responded
«How fares my beloved brother?» he asked, obviously ignoring the facts
«He has passed away unfortunately,» said Cristobal, for His Reverence had been indeed dead for two years.
The Lord felt sorry to the news and ordered that everyone in the castle learned about it too, for the island, cut off as it was from the rest of the world, had no word of what was going on.
Soon afterwards he rose and asked us to follow him. He took us to his private study where he kept the most valuable volumes of his library, all the treasures that the Philosopher of Mystras had endowed to him.
«This book,» he said as he took up a cylindrical papyrus, «was
…It was late afternoon when we heard bells ring. Two armed guards came into our quarters and escorted us to the most illustrious Lord of the island. He welcomed us in his library. Beholding us for the first time, he asked us formally who we were and what was our purpose.
«With the warmest greetings of your brother Lorenzo de Medici, ensign of Firenze!» I answered.
We then explained to him the request of Lorenzo that he may allow us to copy several books from his library, and in particular a certain book entitled «Atlantis», for the Academy in Florence.
The Lord of the island was impressed by our specific knowledge of this book.
«Who spoke to you about Atlantis?» he asked
«His Reverance the Cardinal, your brother Bissarion», we responded
«How fares my beloved brother?» he asked, obviously ignoring the facts
«He has passed away unfortunately,» said Cristobal, for His Reverence had been indeed dead for two years.
The Lord felt sorry to the news and ordered that everyone in the castle learned about it too, for the island, cut off as it was from the rest of the world, had no word of what was going on.
Soon afterwards he rose and asked us to follow him. He took us to his private study where he kept the most valuable volumes of his library, all the treasures that the Philosopher of Mystras had endowed to him.
«This book,» he said as he took up a cylindrical papyrus, «was
written by my beloved Teacher, based on the descriptions of the ancients, and particularly on works by the devine Plato. The knowledge encrypted herein is most ancient indeed, bestowed to us since the times of the Gods and the Titans.»
Although his words, blasphemous as they were, were hurting my pious feelings, I expressed nothing. For I did not wish my remorse to become obvious in front of the idols of the Greeks. Staying motionless, like the eternal snow of the highest mountaintops, I listened to the Lord Kantzis as he described the days of a dominion and a people, an island kingdom beyond the Pillars of Hercules, the so-called by the ancients «Atlantis».
He then unfolded another papyrus and showed us a map.
«Behold Atlantis!» he said, pointing on a landmass west of Libya. «Here lived the Atlanteans, in wonderful cities, full of fine statues, avenues and temples!»
Further to the west of Atlantis there was yet another landmass, which seemed like the limit at the end of the earth.
«Which is the land?» asked Cristobal. «Is it Indies? China perhaps?»
The Lord nodded.
«No», he said. «This is neither Indies nor China, but yet another continent altogether, well-known to the descendents of the Atlanteans who colonised it, as they fled their sinking kingdom. It is called Macaria, the island of the Macareans (the "happy ones"), alias Mericia. A great ocean separates us from them. And this is good, because their cities and their people still retain the pureness’ of soul which we have long since then lost.»
Cristobal complained that the calculations of Ptolemeus regarding the earth’s circumference prohibited the existence of yet another continent, but the Lord interrupted him abruptly.
«Ptolemeus did not know what the mystics knew,» he said. «On
Although his words, blasphemous as they were, were hurting my pious feelings, I expressed nothing. For I did not wish my remorse to become obvious in front of the idols of the Greeks. Staying motionless, like the eternal snow of the highest mountaintops, I listened to the Lord Kantzis as he described the days of a dominion and a people, an island kingdom beyond the Pillars of Hercules, the so-
He then unfolded another papyrus and showed us a map.
«Behold Atlantis!» he said, pointing on a landmass west of Libya. «Here lived the Atlanteans, in wonderful cities, full of fine statues, avenues and temples!»
Further to the west of Atlantis there was yet another landmass, which seemed like the limit at the end of the earth.
«Which is the land?» asked Cristobal. «Is it Indies? China perhaps?»
The Lord nodded.
«No», he said. «This is neither Indies nor China, but yet another continent altogether, well-
Cristobal complained that the calculations of Ptolemeus regarding the earth’s circumference prohibited the existence of yet another continent, but the Lord interrupted him abruptly.
«Ptolemeus did not know what the mystics knew,» he said. «On
the contrary, it is more valuable to reflect on the calculations of Aristarchus and Archimedes, who likewise had estimated the precise size of the sphere upon which we live.»
And thus saying, he indicated that it was time for us to take our leave.
«I will give you several books to take to your Lord and my brother,» he said. «But I cannot give you this map. For knowledge of Atlantis and the descendents of the Atlanteans is prohibited to all except for the highest mystics.»
To our vociferous protests, the Lord retorted that the knowledge of transverse through the Great Ocean to the shores of the western continent Mericia would mean the complete destruction of its peoples.
«The gods» he said, «by sinking Atlantis, had wished to separate forever us from them, and so they did in full wisdom, for any contact would bring forth pain and anguish, death and war. I cannot allow to be the cause of such loss of life and spirit, never.»
…Chistobal was not, however, eased by the Lord’s determination to withhold the map from us. He wanted to copy the map regardless
«Cristobal,» I tried to reason with him, «let us take what the Lord Kantzis provides us and let us then leave immediately for Florence. Don’t you see in what deep of darkness this place has fallen? It is in a fearful nest of atheists and antichrists that we are caught and we must aim to sail away from here as soon as possible!»
But Cristobal did not listen. That damned map had seduced his senses and nothing else occupied his mind but the desire to steal it.
…And while Cristobal was contriving the mechanisms of his plan, I was inspired, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, the mechanisms of mine…
And thus saying, he indicated that it was time for us to take our leave.
«I will give you several books to take to your Lord and my brother,» he said. «But I cannot give you this map. For knowledge of Atlantis and the descendents of the Atlanteans is prohibited to all except for the highest mystics.»
To our vociferous protests, the Lord retorted that the knowledge of transverse through the Great Ocean to the shores of the western continent Mericia would mean the complete destruction of its peoples.
«The gods» he said, «by sinking Atlantis, had wished to separate forever us from them, and so they did in full wisdom, for any contact would bring forth pain and anguish, death and war. I cannot allow to be the cause of such loss of life and spirit, never.»
…Chistobal was not, however, eased by the Lord’s determination to withhold the map from us. He wanted to copy the map regardless
«Cristobal,» I tried to reason with him, «let us take what the Lord Kantzis provides us and let us then leave immediately for Florence. Don’t you see in what deep of darkness this place has fallen? It is in a fearful nest of atheists and antichrists that we are caught and we must aim to sail away from here as soon as possible!»
But Cristobal did not listen. That damned map had seduced his senses and nothing else occupied his mind but the desire to steal it.
…And while Cristobal was contriving the mechanisms of his plan, I was inspired, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, the mechanisms of mine…
