Poseidon's paradise: the romance of Atlantis

by Elizabeth G. Birkmaier

At the northern curve of the temple were three doors that led to the temple extension. The one toward the east opened into a passage leading to the inner holy place, or sanctuary, and through it only the king, high priest, chief priest, and the few priests highest in authority could pass. The middle door admitted the inferior priests from their gathering room. By the third door, toward the west, the handmaids entered from the long passage that extended northward to their own building. On the left of this passage were the rooms reserved for the priests and the few male attendants. On its right, the first door opened into the great gathering room, and farther along were other doors leading to rooms connecting with this that were sacred to the priests. As the rooms on the right of the passage, as well as the gathering room, were inside rooms, they would have been dark had not this part of the extension been run up higher, thus admitting of apertures in the walls just below the vaulted ceilings. To the right of this middle part, was the inner sanctuary with its rear connecting rooms. These were lighted by apertures; and those of the inner sanctuary and the principal rooms overlooked the eastern coast.

On the great stone dais, holding the golden altar and leading to the inner sanctuary, were gathered the priests, chanting. Toward the portal were the minstrels with lyre, syrinx, harp, pipes, cymbals, and drum. At intervals these accompanied the priests, the people swelling the refrains.

On a dais near the middle door, sat the king in his robes of state, and about him on a lower dais were seated the nobles and their wives. Grouped about the statues of Poseidon and Cleito were the handmaids, attired in long flowing robes of thin white linen and garlanded with lilies. Each held a bunch of rarest flowers, beside. A charming spectacle were they of youthful grace and innocence. But the despairing Hellen, as he gazed, could but shudder and grow faint at thought of their probable fate.

At first he could not distinguish Æole, nor Electra. But erelong, he perceived them to the left of the statue of Poseidon; and soon was brightening under a loving look from the one and a smile from the other. Then, so great became the pressure of the crowd, that he lost sight of them, and thus turned his attention to the statues of the Nereids nearest him. These, as well as the others, were lavishly decorated with flowers conspicuous among which were the blue lotus, chrysanthemum, anemone, acacia blossom, convolvulus, water lily, rose, tuberose, lilac, and the graceful plumes of the papyrus. Tall shoots of the last, over ten feet in height, also adorned the apertures, producing fine effect; whilst garlands and festoons hung from every available point. Most elegantly did the vast interior bear testimony to the Atlanteans’ skill in flower culture.

When the temple was full, and but few stragglers arriving, the great silver gong was sounded before the altar by a priest. Profound became the quiet. And, almost instantly, the door leading to the inner sanctuary opened to admit the high priest, the chief priest, and the few priests of superior rank.

Of course, Oltis was the observed of all, not so much because of his office, nor the fact of his officiating so seldom, as that the people held an unconscious fear and distrust of him. Every eye was fixed.

Now, as he moved with slow, stately step toward the altar, a mighty shock came upon these quiescent islanders. Oltis had dared to make another innovation upon the ancient sacred customs! He had discarded the white linen robe of the priests, the silver circlet with its sapphire, and was resplendent in a purple woolen robe embroidered in gold and a miter richly jeweled. Worse, he was wearing these with an air indicating he would brook no interference.

The great throng began to sway, and murmur; and those that could, looked from Oltis to King Atlano, inquiringly, resentfully.

But Atlano was smiling back as response to the salutation of the high priest, appearing to think it in order that the priestly vestments should rival his own in color and splendor. For Atlano wore the royal purple sacred ever before to the king, and his high crown was no richer in gems than the high priest’s miter.