Pausanias Analysis

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Chapter 8.39

PassageSentenceBucketConfidenceGreekEnglishRationale
8.39.1 1 other high παρὰ δὲ τὴν Λυκόσουραν ὡς ἐπὶ ἡλίου δυσμὰς ποταμὸς Πλατανιστὼν παρέξεισιν· Near Lykosoura, towards the west, flows the river Plataniston. Purely geographical description of a river’s location and course near Lykosoura.
8.39.1 2 other high ἀνδρὶ δὲ ἰόντι ἐς Φιγαλίαν ἀνάγκη πᾶσα διαβῆναι τὸν Πλατανιστῶνα, μετὰ δὲ αὐτόν ἐστιν ἄνοδος ὅσον τε σταδίους τριάκοντα ἢ πλείους τῶν τριάκοντα οὐ πολλῷ. A traveler heading to Phigalia must necessarily cross the Plataniston, and beyond it the ascent is approximately thirty stadia, or slightly more. Pure route and distance description to Phigalia, with no mythic or historical event.
8.39.2 1 mythic high τὰ δὲ ἐς τὸν Λυκάονος Φίγαλον---οὗτος γὰρ δὴ τῇ πόλει τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐγένετο οἰκιστής---καὶ ὡς μετέβαλεν ἀνὰ χρόνον ἀπὸ Φιάλου Βουκολίωνος τὸ ὄνομα ἡ πόλις καὶ αὖθις τε ἀνεσώσατο τὸ ἀρχαῖον, τόδε μὲν καὶ πρότερον ἔτι ἐσήμαινεν ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος· Regarding Phigalos, son of Lycaon—for indeed this man was the original founder of the city—and how in the course of time the city changed its name from Phigalia to Bucolion, after Phialus son of Boukolos, and later recovered its former name, I have already mentioned this previously. Explains the city's original founder and name changes tied to heroic genealogy and etiological myth.
8.39.2 2 mythic high λέγεται δὲ καὶ ἄλλα οὐκ ἀξιόχρεα ἐς πίστιν, ἄνδρα αὐτόχθονα εἶναι τὸν Φίγαλον καὶ οὐ Λυκάονος παῖδα· However, other stories are also told about him which are not reliable enough to believe, such as that Phigalos was earth-born, and not a son of Lycaon. An earth-born (autochthonous) origin and descent from Lycaon are mythic genealogical traditions.
8.39.2 3 mythic high τοῖς δὲ εἰρημένον ἐστὶν ὡς ἡ Φιγαλία νύμφη τῶν καλουμένων εἴη Δρυάδων. Some further say that Phigalia was one of the so-called Dryad nymphs. Identifies Phigalia as a Dryad nymph, a mythic claim about a locale's divine/nymphic association.
8.39.3 1 historical high Λακεδαιμόνιοι δὲ ἡνίκα Ἀρκάσιν ἐπεχείρησαν καὶ ἐσέβαλον ἐς τὴν Φιγαλίαν στρατιᾷ, μάχῃ τε νικῶσι τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους καὶ ἐπολιόρκουν προσκαθεζόμενοι· When the Lacedaemonians undertook an expedition against the Arcadians and invaded Phigalia with an army, they defeated the inhabitants in battle and placed the city under siege by encamping around it. Describes a Spartan military campaign and siege of Phigalia, an event of historical warfare rather than myth.
8.39.3 2 historical high κινδυνεύοντος δὲ ἁλῶναι τοῦ τείχους ἐκδιδράσκουσιν οἱ Φιγαλεῖς, ἢ καὶ οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι σφᾶς ἀφιᾶσιν ἐξελθεῖν ὑποσπόνδους. As the walls were about to fall, the Phigalians either fled secretly, or else the Lacedaemonians allowed them to depart under agreed terms. Describes a specific siege episode and negotiated departure, an event of historical warfare.
8.39.3 3 historical high ἐγένετο δὲ ἡ τῆς Φιγαλίας ἅλωσις καὶ Φιγαλέων ἡ ἐξ αὐτῆς φυγὴ Μιλτιάδου μὲν Ἀθήνῃσιν ἄρχοντος, δευτέρῳ δὲ ἔτει τῆς τριακοστῆς Ὀλυμπιάδος, ἣν Χίονις Λάκων ἐνίκα τὸ τρίτον. This capture of Phigalia and the resulting exile of the Phigalians occurred when Miltiades was archon in Athens, in the second year of the thirtieth Olympiad, at which Chionis of Lacedaemon gained his third victory. The capture of Phigalia and exile of its people are dated by archon and Olympiad, placing them in the historical period.
8.39.4 1 historical medium Φιγαλέων δὲ τοῖς διαπεφευγόσιν ἔδοξεν ἀφικομένοις ἐς Δελφοὺς ἐρωτᾶν ὑπὲρ καθόδου τὸν θεόν· The Phigaleians who had survived decided to come to Delphi and ask the god about their return home. Refers to a surviving group consulting Delphi about their return home after a conflict; this is post-mythic narrative and concerns a historical/community event.
8.39.4 2 other high καί σφισιν ἡ Πυθία καθʼ αὑτοὺς μὲν πειρωμένοις ἐς Φιγαλίαν κατελθεῖν οὐχ ὁρᾶν ἔφη κάθοδον, εἰ δὲ λογάδας ἑκατὸν ἐξ Ὀρεσθασίου προσλάβοιεν, τοὺς μὲν ἀποθανεῖσθαι παρὰ τὴν μάχην, Φιγαλεῦσι δὲ ἔσεσθαι διʼ αὐτῶν κάθοδον. The Pythia responded that if they attempted by themselves to return to Phigaleia, she saw no way down for them; but if they should take as allies one hundred chosen men from Oresthasion, some of these men would die in battle, yet through them the Phigaleians would have their path home. Oracle consultation and route advice are antiquarian/descriptive, not a mythic event or post-500 BC historical event.
8.39.4 3 historical high Ὀρεσθάσιοι δὲ ὡς τὴν γενομένην τοῖς Φιγαλεῦσιν ἐπύθοντο μαντείαν, ἄλλος ἔφθανεν ἄλλον σπουδῇ λογάδων τε τῶν ἑκατὸν αὐτὸς ἕκαστος γενέσθαι καὶ ἐξόδου τῆς ἐς Φιγαλίαν μετασχεῖν. When the Oresthasians heard the oracle delivered to the Phigaleians, each man eagerly strove to be among these hundred chosen warriors, surpassing one another in zeal to participate in the expedition to Phigaleia. Describes a response to an oracle and the recruitment for an expedition, a quasi-historical event rather than mythic geography.
8.39.5 1 historical high παρελθόντες δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν Λακεδαιμονίων φρουρὰν ἄγουσιν ἐς πάντα ἐπὶ τέλος τὸν χρησμόν· Having advanced against the Spartan garrison, they carried the oracle to complete fulfillment. Refers to an attack on the Spartan garrison and fulfillment of an oracle, a post-mythic historical event.
8.39.5 2 historical high καὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς λόγου μαχεσαμένοις ἀξίως ἐπεγένετο ἡ τελευτὴ καὶ ἐξελάσαντες τοὺς Σπαρτιάτας παρέσχον Φιγαλεῦσιν ἀπολαβεῖν τὴν πατρίδα. For after they had fought bravely in battle according to prophecy, the end turned out fittingly for them, and, driving out the Spartans, they enabled the Phigalians to reclaim their homeland. Refers to fighting the Spartans and Phigaleians reclaiming their homeland, an event in historical times rather than myth.
8.39.5 3 other high κεῖται δὲ ἡ Φιγαλία ἐπὶ μετεώρου μὲν καὶ ἀποτόμου τὰ πλέονα, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρημνῶν ᾠκοδομημένα ἐστὶ τείχη σφίσιν· Phigalia itself lies mostly upon a high and precipitous site, and the city's walls are constructed on the cliffs. Purely geographical/descriptive: describes Phigalia's site and walls, with no mythic or historical event.
8.39.5 4 other high ἀνελθόντι δὲ ὁμαλής ἐστιν ὁ λόφος ἤδη καὶ ἐπίπεδος. Once one has ascended, however, the hill at the top is flat and level. Pure topographical description of the hill's shape; no mythic or historical event.
8.39.5 5 other high ἔστι δὲ Σωτείρας τε ἱερὸν ἐνταῦθα Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ἄγαλμα ὀρθὸν λίθου· There is here a sanctuary dedicated to Artemis Soteira (the Savior) and an upright stone statue. Describes a sanctuary and statue at a location; this is descriptive/topographical rather than mythic or historical.
8.39.5 6 other high ἐκ τούτου δὲ τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ τὰς πομπάς σφισι πέμπειν κατέστη. It is from this sanctuary that they established the sending forth of their processions. Describes a cultic practice and its origin at a sanctuary, not a mythic or post-500 BC historical event.
8.39.6 1 other high ἐν δὲ τῷ γυμνασίῳ τὸ ἄγαλμα τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ ἀμπεχομένῳ μὲν ἔοικεν ἱμάτιον, καταλήγει δὲ οὐκ ἐς πόδας, ἀλλὰ ἐς τὸ τετράγωνον σχῆμα. In the gymnasium there is a statue of Hermes; although it seems to wear a cloak, it does not end in feet, but instead terminates in a square form. Purely descriptive note about a statue’s appearance in the gymnasium; no event or mythic/historical development.
8.39.6 2 other high πεποίηται δὲ καὶ Διονύσου ναός· There is also a temple of Dionysus. A temple’s presence is descriptive/antiquarian topography, not a mythic event or a post-500 BC historical event.
8.39.6 3 other high ἐπίκλησις μέν ἐστιν αὐτῷ παρὰ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων Ἀκρατοφόρος, τὰ κάτω δὲ οὐκ ἔστι σύνοπτα τοῦ ἀγάλματος ὑπὸ δάφνης τε φύλλων καὶ κισσῶν. The local people call him by the surname Akratophoros ("Giver of Unmixed Wine"), and the lower parts of his statue are hidden from view beneath leaves of laurel and ivy. Describes local cult epithet and statue appearance/setting, not a mythic or historical event.
8.39.6 4 other high ὁπόσον δὲ αὐτοῦ καθορᾶν ἔστιν, ἐπαλήλιπται κιννάβαρι ἐκλάμπειν· εὑρίσκεσθαι δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰβήρων ὁμοῦ τῷ χρυσῷ λέγεται. All that can be clearly seen of the statue is painted with cinnabar to make it gleam; this cinnabar is said to be discovered by Iberians together with gold. Describes the statue’s appearance and the source of cinnabar, a geographical/antiquarian detail rather than a mythic or historical event.