 We saw above that in its dramatic context, the Timaeus is the second of a series of three or possibly four (see Critias 108a–b) speeches exchanged by four or possibly five (see Timaeus 17a) friends during one of the yearly Athenian Panathenaic festivals. It is sandwiched between Socrates’ Republic-like speech, which is briefly summarized at the beginning of the Timaeus (17c–19b), and Critias’ speech, the unfinished sequel to the  Timaeus,[32]  which was intended to recount and celebrate the great victory of ancient, prehistoric Athens over the vast military might of  Atlantis.[33]  The stated thematic purpose of Timaeus’ discourse is to provide an account of human nature in the context of the nature of the universe as a whole. Conjoined with Socrates’ previous account of education (à la Republic) this account will provide the basis for Critias’ forthcoming account of human virtue in action, as displayed by the deeds of the ancient Athenians  (27a7–b1).[34]  If we take this stated purpose seriously, we will expect the entire cosmological account to culminate in human psychology and ethics. And that is indeed what we find.