Pausanias Analysis

Current sentence-level mythic, historical, and other tags

Chapter 5.3

PassageSentenceBucketConfidenceGreekEnglishRationale
5.3.1 1 mythic high Ἡρακλῆς δὲ εἷλεν ὕστερον καὶ ἐπόρθησεν Ἦλιν, στρατιὰν παρά τε Ἀργείων καὶ ἐκ Θηβῶν ἀθροίσας καὶ Ἀρκάδας· Later Heracles captured and destroyed Elis, gathering a force from Argos, Thebes and Arcadia. Heracles is a mythic hero, and the destruction of Elis is presented as part of his legendary deeds.
5.3.1 2 historical medium ἤμυναν δὲ καὶ Ἠλείοις οἱ ἐκ Πύλου τοῦ ἐν τῇ Ἠλείᾳ καὶ οἱ Πισαῖοι. The people of Pylos in Elis and the Pisatans fought alongside the Eleans. Describes a coalition of peoples fighting alongside the Eleans; this is an historical conflict, not a mythic event.
5.3.1 3 mythic high καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἐτιμωρήσατο αὐτῶν ὁ Ἡρακλῆς, τῆς δὲ ἐπὶ τοὺς Πισαίους στρατείας αὐτὸν χρησμὸς ἐπέσχεν ἐκ Δελφῶν ἔχων οὕτω· Heracles took vengeance upon those who opposed him, but when he was about to march against the Pisatans, he was restrained by an oracle from Delphi which declared as follows: Heracles and the Delphic oracle are mythic material; the sentence concerns a mythic campaign and divine restraint.
5.3.1 4 mythic high πατρὶ μέλει Πίσης, Πυθοῦς δέ μοι ἐν γυάλοισι. "Pisa belongs to my father; I care for Pytho by its glens." Refers to Pisa as belonging to Zeus and Pytho to Apollo, a mythic claim tied to divine possession.
5.3.1 5 mythic medium τοῦτο μὲν δὴ σωτηρία Πισαίοις τὸ μάντευμα ἐγένετο· This oracle thus became the salvation of the Pisatans. An oracle is a mythic/religious intervention and its salvation-effect on the Pisatans derives from that mythic event.
5.3.1 6 mythic high Φυλεῖ δὲ Ἡρακλῆς τήν τε χώραν ἀνέδωκε τὴν Ἠλείαν καὶ τἄλλα, αἰδοῖ τοῦ Φυλέως μᾶλλον ἢ αὐτὸς ἑκουσίως· τά τε γὰρ αἰχμάλωτα ἐφίησιν ἔχειν αὐτῷ καὶ Αὐγέαν μὴ ὑποσχεῖν δίκην. Heracles restored the territory of Elis to Phyleus, along with everything else, more out of respect for Phyleus than willingly on his own part; he also allowed him to keep the captives and exempted Augeas from punishment. Heracles and Phyleus are mythic figures, and the sentence describes a mythic episode and its effect on Elis.
5.3.2 1 mythic high τῶν δὲ Ἠλείων αἱ γυναῖκες, ἅτε τῶν ἐν ἡλικίᾳ σφίσιν ἠρημωμένης τῆς χώρας, εὔξασθαι τῇ Ἀθηνᾷ λέγονται κυῆσαι παραυτίκα, ἐπειδὰν μιχθῶσι τοῖς ἀνδράσι· The women of Elis, since their land had been left barren of men of suitable age, are said to have prayed to Athena that they would become pregnant swiftly upon mating with their husbands. A prayer to Athena for miraculous fertility belongs to mythic aetiology and divine intervention.
5.3.2 2 mythic medium καὶ ἥ τε εὐχή σφισιν ἐτελέσθη καὶ Ἀθηνᾶς ἱερὸν ἐπίκλησιν Μητρὸς ἱδρύσαντο. This prayer was fulfilled for them, and they established a sanctuary of Athena, giving her the surname "Mother." A fulfilled prayer and the founding of Athena's sanctuary belong to a mythic/religious foundation context.
5.3.2 3 other high ὑπερησθέντες δὲ ἀμφότεροι τῇ μίξει καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες, ἔνθα συνεγένοντο ἀλλήλοις πρῶτον, αὐτό τε τὸ χωρίον Βαδὺ ὀνομάζουσι καὶ ποταμὸν τὸν ῥέοντα ἐνταῦθα ὕδωρ Βαδὺ ἐπιχωρίῳ φωνῇ. Greatly rejoicing, both the women and the men, at their union, they named the very place where they first joined each other "Bady," and gave the same name "Bady"—in the local tongue—to a river flowing there. A naming anecdote explaining a place and river; geographic/antiquarian rather than mythic or historical.
5.3.3 1 mythic high Φυλέως δέ, ὡς τὰ ἐν τῇ Ἤλιδι κατεστήσατο, αὖθις ἐς Δουλίχιον ἀποχωρήσαντος, Αὐγέαν μὲν τὸ χρεὼν ἐπέλαβε προήκοντα ἐς γῆρας, βασιλείαν δὲ τὴν Ἠλείων Ἀγασθένης ἔσχεν ὁ Αὐγέου καὶ Ἀμφίμαχός τε καὶ Θάλπιος· When Phyleus, after establishing affairs in Elis, retired again to Dulichium, Augeas met his destined end, advanced in old age; then Agasthenes, son of Augeas, received the kingship of the Eleans along with Amphimachus and Thalpius. Augeas, Phyleus, and Agasthenes belong to mythic heroic genealogy and succession lore.
5.3.3 2 mythic high Ἄκτορος γὰρ τοῖς παισὶν ἀδελφὰς ἐσαγαγομένοις διδύμας ἐς τὸν οἶκον, Δεξαμενοῦ θυγατέρας ἐν Ὠλένῳ βασιλεύοντος, τῷ μὲν ἐκ Θηρονίκης Ἀμφίμαχος, Εὐρύτῳ δὲ ἐκ Θηραιφόνης ἐγεγόνει Θάλπιος. For the sons of Actor had brought as wives into their house twin sisters, daughters of Dexamenos, who reigned at Olenus; and from Theronice was born Amphimachus, while Thalpius was born to Eurytos from Theraephone. Genealogical myth concerning Actor’s sons and the daughters of Dexamenos, a legendary king.
5.3.4 1 mythic medium οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ Ἀμαρυγκεὺς οὔτε αὐτὸς διέμεινεν ἰδιωτεύων οὔτε Διώρης ὁ Ἀμαρυγκέως. Neither did Amarynkeus himself remain in private life, nor did his son Diores, the son of Amarynkeus. Amarynkeus and Diores are figures from heroic genealogy, so this belongs to mythic genealogy rather than later history.
5.3.4 2 mythic high ἃ δὴ καὶ Ὅμηρος παρεδήλωσεν ἐν καταλόγῳ τῶν Ἠλείων, τὸν μὲν σύμπαντα αὐτῶν στόλον ποιήσας τεσσαράκοντα εἶναι νεῶν, τούτων δὲ τὰς ἡμισείας ὑπὸ Ἀμφιμάχῳ τετάχθαι καὶ Θαλπίῳ, τῶν λοιπῶν δὲ εἴκοσι δέκα μὲν ναυσὶ Διώρην τὸν Ἀμαρυγκέως ἡγεῖσθαι, τοσαύταις δὲ ἑτέραις Πολύξενον τὸν Ἀγασθένους. Homer indicates this clearly in the Catalogue of the Eleans, making their total fleet amount to forty ships, half of which he assigns to Amphimachus and Thalpius; of the remaining twenty, ten ships are commanded by Diores, son of Amarynkeus, and the other ten by Polyxenus, son of Agasthenes. Mentions Homer’s Catalogue and heroic-age figures from mythic tradition.
5.3.4 3 mythic high Πολυξένῳ δὲ ἀνασωθέντι ἐκ Τροίας ἐγένετο υἱὸς Ἀμφίμαχος---τὸ δὲ ὄνομα τῷ παιδὶ ἔθετο ὁ Πολύξενος κατὰ φιλίαν ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν πρὸς Ἀμφίμαχον τὸν Κτεάτου τελευτήσαντα ἐν Ἰλίῳ---, Ἀμφιμάχου δὲ Ἠλεῖος· Polyxenus, upon returning safely from Troy, had a son named Amphimachus; and it seems to me that Polyxenus gave this name to the child because of the friendship he had for Amphimachus, son of Cteatus, who had died at Ilium. Refers to Polyxenus returning from Troy and names linked to the Trojan War, a mythic event and its aftermath.
5.3.5 1 mythic high καὶ ἐπὶ Ἠλείου βασιλεύοντος ἐν Ἤλιδι, τηνικαῦτα ὁ Δωριέων στόλος σὺν τοῖς Ἀριστομάχου παισὶν ἠθροίζετο ἐπὶ καθόδῳ τῇ ἐς Πελοπόννησον. During the reign of Eleius in Elis, at that time the Dorian expedition under the sons of Aristomachus was assembling for its descent into the Peloponnesus. Refers to the Dorian descent into the Peloponnesus under Aristomachus' sons, a legendary/mythic migration event.
5.3.5 2 mythic high γίνεται δὲ τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν αὐτῶν λόγιον τόδε, ἡγεμόνα τῆς καθόδου ποιεῖσθαι τὸν τριόφθαλμον. The following oracle was delivered to their kings: they should select as leader of the descent the one who possessed three eyes. An oracle directing a mythic descent and a three-eyed leader belongs to mythic narrative.
5.3.5 3 other high ἀποροῦσι δέ σφισιν ὅ τι ὁ χρησμὸς ἐθέλοι συνέτυχεν ἐλαύνων ἀνὴρ ἡμίονον, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος διέφθαρτο τῷ ἡμιόνῳ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν· While they were in perplexity as to the oracle's meaning, a man driving a mule happened to encounter them; one of the mule's eyes had been lost. Oracle context plus a chance encounter is narrative detail, not a mythic event or post-500 BC historical event.
5.3.6 1 mythic high Κρεσφόντου δὲ συμφρονήσαντος ὡς ἐς τοῦτον τὸν ἄνδρα ἔχοι τὸ μάντευμα, οὕτως ᾠκειώσαντο αὐτὸν οἱ Δωριεῖς. Since Cresphontes also agreed that the oracle referred to this man, accordingly the Dorians entered into friendly relations with him. Refers to an oracle and Cresphontes, a legendary figure; this is mythic material.
5.3.6 2 historical medium ὁ δὲ σφᾶς ναυσὶν ἐκέλευεν ἐς Πελοπόννησον κατιέναι μηδὲ στρατῷ πεζῷ διὰ τοῦ ἰσθμοῦ πειρᾶσθαι. He advised them to sail to the Peloponnesus in ships and not attempt passage through the Isthmus with a land army. Refers to military advice about sailing to the Peloponnesus and crossing the Isthmus, a historical strategic matter.
5.3.6 3 other high ταῦτά τε δὴ παρῄνεσε καὶ ἅμα τὸν ἐς Μολύκριον ἐκ Ναυπάκτου πλοῦν καθηγήσατο αὐτοῖς· Not only did he offer this counsel, but he also guided them on the voyage from Naupactus to Molycrium. A route/travel description from Naupactus to Molycrium; no mythic or post-500 BC historical event.
5.3.6 4 mythic medium οἱ δὲ ἀντὶ τούτου δεηθέντι τὴν Ἠλείαν γῆν συνέθεντο αὐτῷ δώσειν. In return for this favor, at his request, they agreed to give him the land of Elis. The grant of the land of Elis is tied to a legendary exchange and belongs to mythic tradition rather than post-500 BC history.
5.3.6 5 mythic high ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ἦν Ὄξυλος Αἵμονος τοῦ Θόαντος· This man was Oxylus, son of Haimon, the son of Thoas. Oxylus is a mythic genealogical figure, identified by ancestry rather than by historical event.
5.3.6 6 mythic high Θόας δὲ ἦν οὗτος ὃς καὶ τοῖς Ἀτρέως παισὶν ἀρχὴν συγκαθεῖλε τὴν Πριάμου. This Thoas was the very one who joined with the sons of Atreus in overthrowing the kingdom of Priam. Refers to the Trojan War and the fall of Priam's kingdom, a mythic event.
5.3.6 7 mythic high γενεαὶ δὲ ἀπὸ Θόαντος ἀνήκουσιν ἓξ ἐς Αἰτωλὸν τὸν Ἐνδυμίωνος. Counting back from Thoas, there are six generations ascending to Aetolus, the son of Endymion. Genealogical descent from Thoas to Aetolus and Endymion is mythic ancestry.
5.3.7 1 mythic high ἦσαν δὲ οἱ Ἡρακλεῖδαι συγγενεῖς καὶ ἄλλως τοῖς ἐν Αἰτωλίᾳ βασιλεῦσι, καὶ ἀδελφαὶ Θόαντι τῷ Ἀνδραίμονος καὶ Ὕλλου τοῦ Ἡρακλέους ἦσαν αἱ μητέρες. Indeed, the Heracleidae were otherwise related to the royal family in Aetolia, as their mothers were sisters, the mother of Thoas son of Andraemon and the mother of Hyllus son of Heracles. Mentions Heracleidae, Hyllus, and Heracles, all within mythic genealogy and kinship.
5.3.7 2 mythic high συνεπεπτώκει δὲ τῷ Ὀξύλῳ φυγάδι ἐξ Αἰτωλίας εἶναι· δισκεύοντα γάρ φασιν ἁμαρτεῖν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξεργάσασθαι φόνον ἀκούσιον, τὸν δὲ ἀποθανόντα ὑπὸ τοῦ δίσκου τὸν ἀδελφὸν εἶναι τοῦ Ὀξύλου Θέρμιον, οἱ δὲ Ἀλκιδόκον τὸν Σκοπίου. It happened also that Oxylus was an exile from Aetolia; for they say that, while throwing a discus, he missed his aim and accidentally committed homicide, and that the man who died from the discus was Thermios, Oxylus' brother, though some say it was Alcidocus, son of Scopius. Explains Oxylus' exile through a mythic aetiology involving accidental homicide.