Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.17.1 Class: Historical

βαρβάρων δὲ τῶν πρὸς τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ οἱ ἔχοντες Σαρδώ, εἰκόνα οὗτοι χαλκῆν τοῦ ἐπωνύμου σφίσιν ἀπέστειλαν. ἡ δὲ Σαρδὼ μέγεθος μὲν καὶ εὐδαιμονίαν ἐστὶν ὁμοία ταῖς μάλιστα ἐπαινουμέναις· ὄνομα δὲ αὐτῇ τὸ ἀρχαῖον ὅ τι μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἐγένετο οὐκ οἶδα, Ἑλλήνων δὲ οἱ κατʼ ἐμπορίαν ἐσπλέοντες Ἰχνοῦσσαν ἐκάλεσαν, ὅτι τὸ σχῆμα τῇ νήσῳ κατʼ ἴχνος μάλιστά ἐστιν ἀνθρώπου. μῆκος δὲ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς εἴκοσι στάδιοι καὶ ἑκατόν εἰσι καὶ χίλιοι, εὖρος δὲ ἐς εἴκοσί τε καὶ τετρακοσίους προήκει.

Proper Nouns:

Σαρδώ Ἕλληνες Ἰχνοῦσσα

Of the barbarian peoples dwelling toward the west, those who possess Sardinia sent a bronze image of their eponymous ancestor to Olympia. Sardinia in size and prosperity resembles the most celebrated islands. Its original local name I do not know, but among the Greeks it was called by the traders who sailed there "Ichnoussa," because the shape of the island closely resembles the footprint of a human being. The length of the island extends to one thousand one hundred and twenty stadia, and its breadth reaches as far as four hundred and twenty stadia.

Passage 10.17.2 Class: Mythic

πρῶτοι δὲ διαβῆναι λέγονται ναυσὶν ἐς τὴν νῆσον Λίβυες· ἡγεμὼν δὲ τοῖς Λίβυσιν ἦν Σάρδος ὁ Μακήριδος, Ἡρακλέους δὲ ἐπονομασθέντος ὑπὸ Αἰγυπτίων τε καὶ Λιβύων. Μακήριδι μὲν δὴ αὐτῷ τὰ ἐπιφανέστατα ὁδὸς ἐγένετο ἡ ἐς Δελφούς· Σάρδῳ δὲ ἡγεμονία τε ὑπῆρξε τῶν Λιβύων ἡ ἐς τὴν Ἰχνοῦσσαν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἀπὸ τοῦ Σάρδου τούτου μετέβαλεν ἡ νῆσος. οὐ μέντοι τούς γε αὐτόχθονας ἐξέβαλεν ὁ τῶν Λιβύων στόλος, σύνοικοι δὲ ὑπʼ αὐτῶν οἱ ἐπελθόντες ἀνάγκῃ μᾶλλον ἢ ὑπὸ εὐνοίας ἐδέχθησαν. καὶ πόλεις μὲν οὔτε οἱ Λίβυες οὔτε τὸ γένος τὸ ἐγχώριον ἠπίσταντο ποιήσασθαι· σποράδες δὲ ἐν καλύβαις τε καὶ σπηλαίοις, ὡς ἕκαστοι τύχοιεν, ᾤκησαν.

Proper Nouns:

Αἰγύπτιοι Δελφοί Λίβυες Λίβυες Μακήρις Σάρδος νῆσος Ἡρακλῆς Ἰχνοῦσσα

The Libyans are said to have been the first people to cross over by ships to the island, and their leader was Sardus son of Makeris, who was surnamed Heracles by the Egyptians and Libyans. Makeris himself acquired his greatest fame from his journey to Delphi; Sardus, on the other hand, commanded the Libyans who sailed to Ichnoussa, and the island changed its name on account of this Sardus. Nevertheless, the Libyan expedition did not expel the native inhabitants, but these newcomers were received by them as co-settlers by compulsion rather than through goodwill. Neither the Libyans nor the indigenous people knew at that time how to establish cities; instead, they lived scattered about in huts and caves wherever they happened to find shelter.

Passage 10.17.3 Class: Mythic

ἔτεσι δὲ ὕστερον μετὰ τοὺς Λίβυας ἀφίκοντο ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐς τὴν νῆσον οἱ μετʼ Ἀρισταίου. παῖδα δὲ λέγουσιν Ἀρισταῖον Ἀπόλλωνός τε εἶναι καὶ Κυρήνης· ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ Ἀκταίωνος περισσῶς ἀλγήσαντα τῇ συμφορᾷ καὶ Βοιωτίᾳ τε καὶ πάσῃ τῇ Ἑλλάδι κατὰ ταὐτὰ ἀχθόμενον, οὕτως ἐς τὴν Σαρδὼ μετοικῆσαί φασιν αὐτόν.

Proper Nouns:

Βοιωτία Κυρήνη Λίβυες Σαρδώ Ἀκταίων Ἀπόλλων Ἀρισταῖος Ἀρισταῖος Ἑλλάς Ἑλλάς

Years later, after the Libyans, the followers of Aristaeus arrived in the island from Greece. They say Aristaeus was the son of Apollo and Cyrene, and that after the disaster that befell Actaeon, being exceedingly distressed by this calamity and equally troubled by Boeotia and indeed the entire land of Greece, he migrated thus to Sardinia.

Passage 10.17.4 Class: Mythic

οἱ δὲ καὶ Δαίδαλον ἀποδρᾶναι τηνικαῦτα †καὶ οἴκου διὰ τὴν ἐπιστρατείαν τὴν Κρητῶν καὶ ἀποικίας ἐς τὴν Σαρδὼ μετασχεῖν τῷ Ἀρισταίῳ νομίζουσιν· ἔχοι δʼ ἂν λόγον οὐδένα Αὐτονόῃ τῇ Κάδμου συνοικήσαντι τῷ Ἀρισταίῳ Δαίδαλον ἢ ἀποικίας ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς μετεσχηκέναι, ὃς ἡλικίαν κατὰ Οἰδίποδα ἦν βασιλεύοντα ἐν Θήβαις. πόλιν δʼ οὖν οἰκίζουσιν οὐδεμίαν οὐδʼ οὗτοι, ὅτι ἀριθμῷ τε καὶ ἰσχύι ἐλάσσονες ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν ἢ κατὰ πόλεως ἦσαν οἰκισμόν.

Proper Nouns:

Αὐτονόη Δαίδαλος Θῆβαι Κάδμος Κρῆτες Οἰδίπους Σαρδώ Ἀρισταῖος

Some also believe that Daedalus escaped from home at this time, because of the expedition of the Cretans, and joined Aristaeus' colony to Sardinia. However, it does not seem reasonable at all that Daedalus, who was contemporary with Oedipus when he was king at Thebes, took part either in the colony or anything else alongside Aristaeus, who married Autonoe, daughter of Cadmus. In any case, these people too did not found any city, since it seems to me they were too few in number and insufficiently strong for settling a city.

Passage 10.17.5 Class: Mythic

μετὰ δὲ Ἀρισταῖον Ἴβηρες ἐς τὴν Σαρδὼ διαβαίνουσιν ὑπὸ ἡγεμόνι τοῦ στόλου Νώρακι, καὶ ᾠκίσθη Νώρα πόλις ὑπὸ αὐτῶν· ταύτην πρώτην γενέσθαι πόλιν μνημονεύουσιν ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, παῖδα δὲ Ἐρυθείας τε τῆς Γηρυόνου καὶ Ἑρμοῦ λέγουσιν εἶναι τὸν Νώρακα. τετάρτη δὲ μοῖρα Ἰολάου Θεσπιέων τε καὶ ἐκ τῆς Ἀττικῆς στρατιὰ κατῆρεν ἐς Σαρδώ, καὶ Ὀλβίαν μὲν πόλιν οἰκίζουσιν, ἰδίᾳ δὲ Ὀγρύλην οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι διασώζοντες τῶν δήμων τῶν οἴκοι τινὸς τὸ ὄνομα· ἢ καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ στόλου μετεῖχεν Ὀγρύλος. ἔστι δʼ οὖν καὶ κατʼ ἐμὲ ἔτι χωρία τε Ἰολάια ἐν τῇ Σαρδοῖ καὶ Ἰόλαος παρὰ τῶν οἰκητόρων ἔχει τιμάς.

Proper Nouns:

Γηρυόνης Θεσπιεῖς Νώρα Νώρακος Νώραξ Σαρδώ Σαρδώ Σαρδώ Ἀθηναῖοι Ἀρισταῖος Ἀττική Ἐρυθεία Ἑρμῆς Ἰολάια Ἰόλαος Ἰόλαος Ἴβηρες Ὀγρύλη Ὀγρύλος Ὀλβία

After Aristaeus, the Iberians crossed over into Sardinia under Norax, their expedition leader, and founded the city of Nora. They relate that this city was the first to arise on the island, and Norax himself is said to have been a son of Hermes and Erytheia, the daughter of Geryon. As a fourth contingent, an army of Thespians with Iolaus, joined by settlers from Attica, landed in Sardinia. They founded the city of Olbia, while the Athenians among them separately preserved Ogryle, naming it after one of their homeland demes, unless Ogrylus himself actually participated in their expedition. Even in my time there remain places named after Iolaus in Sardinia, and he is still honored by its inhabitants.

Passage 10.17.6 Class: Mythic

Ἰλίου δὲ ἁλισκομένης ἄλλοι τε ἐκφεύγουσι τῶν Τρώων καὶ οἱ ἀποσωθέντες μετὰ Αἰνείου· τούτων μοῖρα ἀπενεχθεῖσα ὑπὸ ἀνέμων ἐς Σαρδὼ ἀνεμίχθησαν τοῖς προενοικοῦσιν Ἕλλησι. καταστῆναι δὲ ἐς μάχην τῷ Ἑλληνικῷ καὶ τοῖς Τρωσὶν ἐκώλυσε τοὺς βαρβάρους· παρασκευῇ τε γὰρ ἴσοι τῇ ἁπάσῃ τὰ ἐς πόλεμον ἦσαν καὶ ὁ Θόρσος ποταμὸς διὰ μέσου σφίσι ῥέων τῆς χώρας ἐπʼ ἴσης καὶ ἀμφοτέροις διαβαίνειν παρεῖχε δέος.

Proper Nouns:

Αἰνείας Θόρσος Σαρδώ Τρῶες Ἕλληνες Ἴλιον

When Ilium was captured, among other Trojans who managed to escape were those who fled with Aeneas. Some of these, having been carried by winds to Sardinia, mixed with the Greeks who previously inhabited the island. A confrontation between the Greeks and these Trojans was prevented by the barbarians: for each side was equal in their full military preparedness, and the river Thorsus, flowing through the country between them, made both equally fearful of crossing.

Passage 10.17.7 Class: Mythic

ὕστερον μέντοι πολλοῖς ἔτεσιν οἱ Λίβυες ἐπεραιώθησάν τε αὖθις ἐς τὴν νῆσον στόλῳ μείζονι καὶ ἦρξαν ἐς τὸ Ἑλληνικὸν πολέμου. τὸ μὲν δὴ Ἑλληνικὸν ἐς ἅπαν ἐπέλαβε φθαρῆναι, ἢ ὀλίγον ἐγένετο ἐξ αὐτοῦ τὸ ὑπολειφθέν· οἱ δὲ Τρῶες ἐς τῆς νήσου τὰ ὑψηλὰ ἀναφεύγουσι, καταλαβόντες δὲ ὄρη δύσβατα ὑπὸ σκολόπων τε καὶ κρημνῶν Ἰλιεῖς μὲν ὄνομα καὶ ἐς ἐμὲ ἔτι ἔχουσι, Λίβυσι μέντοι τὰς μορφὰς καὶ τῶν ὅπλων τὴν σκευὴν καὶ ἐς τὴν πᾶσαν δίαιταν ἐοίκασιν.

Proper Nouns:

Λίβυες Τρῶες Ἑλληνικόν Ἰλιεῖς

However, many years later, the Libyans once again crossed into the island with a larger fleet and began war against the Greeks. The Greek element was entirely destroyed at that time, or at best only a small remnant survived. The Trojans, however, fled to the heights of the island, and having occupied mountains difficult of access due to cliffs and crags, they still retained the name of Ilians up until my own time. Yet, in appearance, equipment of arms, and indeed in their entire mode of life, they resemble Libyans.

Passage 10.17.8 Class: Historical

ἔστι δὲ νῆσος οὐ πολὺ ἀπέχουσα τῆς Σαρδοῦς, Κύρνος ὑπὸ Ἑλλήνων, ὑπὸ δὲ Λιβύων τῶν ἐνοικούντων καλουμένη Κορσική. ἐκ ταύτης μοῖρα οὐκ ἐλαχίστη στάσει πιεσθεῖσα ἀφίκετο ἐς τὴν Σαρδώ, καὶ ᾤκησαν τῆς χώρας ἀποτεμόμενοι τῆς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν· ὑπὸ μέντοι τῶν ἐν τῇ Σαρδοῖ τῷ ὀνόματι ὀνομάζονται τῷ οἴκοθεν Κορσοί.

Proper Nouns:

Κορσική Κορσοί Κύρνος Λίβυες Σαρδώς Σαρδώς Ἕλληνες

There is an island not far from Sardinia, called Cyrnus by the Greeks and Corsica by the Libyan inhabitants. A considerable portion of its people, oppressed by civil strife, migrated to Sardinia and settled there, claiming for themselves a region of the mountainous country. Yet the natives of Sardinia still call these settlers by their original home name—Corsi.

Passage 10.17.9 Class: Historical

Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ ὅτε ναυτικῷ μάλιστα ἴσχυσαν, κατεστρέψαντο μὲν καὶ ἅπαντας τοὺς ἐν τῇ Σαρδοῖ πλὴν Ἰλιέων τε καὶ Κορσῶν---τούτοις δὲ μὴ ἐς δουλείαν ὑπαχθῆναι τὸ ἐχυρὸν ἤρκεσε τῶν ὀρῶν---, ᾤκισαν δὲ ἐν τῇ νήσῳ καὶ αὐτοὶ πόλιν οἱ Καρχηδόνιοι Κάραλίν τε καὶ Σύλκους. τοῦ δὲ ἐπικουρικοῦ τῶν Καρχηδονίων Λίβυες ἢ Ἴβηρες ἐς ἀμφισβήτησιν λαφύρων ἀφικόμενοι καὶ ὡς εἶχον ὀργῆς ἀποστάντες ἐσῳκίσαντο ἐς τὰ ὑψηλὰ καὶ οὗτοι τῆς νήσου. Βαλαροὶ τὸ ὄνομά ἐστιν αὐτοῖς κατὰ γλῶσσαν τὴν Κυρνίων· Βαλαροὺς γὰρ τοὺς φυγάδας καλοῦσιν οἱ Κύρνιοι.

Proper Nouns:

Βαλαροί Κάραλις Καρχηδόνιοι Κορσοί Κύρνιοι Κύρνιοι Λίβυες Σαρδών Σύλκοι Ἰλεῖς Ἴβηρες

When the Carthaginians were strongest at sea, they subdued all the inhabitants of Sardinia except the Ilians and the Corsicans; and these resisted slavery by the strength of their mountain strongholds. Moreover, the Carthaginians themselves established in the island the cities of Caralis and Sulci. Certain Libyans and Iberians, who were serving as mercenaries for the Carthaginians, engaged in disputes over the distribution of booty and, seizing the opportunity afforded by their anger, revolted and established themselves in the mountainous parts of the island. These men are called Balari in the language of the Cyrnians; for the Cyrnians name exiles "Balari."

Passage 10.17.10 Class: Historical

γένη μὲν τοσαῦτα τὴν Σαρδὼ καὶ ἐσῳκισμένα οὕτω νέμεται, τῆς δὲ νήσου τὰ πρὸς τῆς ἄρκτου καὶ ἠπείρου τῆς κατὰ Ἰταλίαν ἐστὶν ὄρη δύσβατα τὰ πέρατα συνάπτοντα ἀλλήλοις· καὶ ἢν παραπλέῃς, ναυσὶν οὔ τε ὅρμους παρέχεται κατὰ τοῦτο ἡ νῆσος πνεύματά τε ἄτακτα καὶ ἰσχυρὰ αἱ ἄκραι τῶν ὀρῶν καταπέμπουσιν ἐς τὴν θάλασσαν.

Proper Nouns:

Σαρδώ Ἰταλία

These, then, are the tribes inhabiting Sardinia and the manner in which they have settled there. As for the island itself, the northern parts facing the mainland toward Italy consist of rugged mountains whose extremities join together, making them difficult to pass. If one sails along this coast, the island offers no harbors, and the mountain peaks send down to the sea winds that are fierce and unpredictable.

Passage 10.17.11 Class: Historical

ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλα διὰ μέσης αὐτῆς ὄρη χθαμαλώτερα. ὁ δὲ ἀὴρ ὁ ἐνταῦθα θολερός τε ὡς ἐπίπαν ἐστὶ καὶ νοσώδης· αἴτιοι δὲ οἵ τε ἅλες οἱ πηγνύμενοι καὶ ὁ νότος βαρὺς καὶ βίαιος ἐγκείμενος, οἱ ἄνεμοί τε οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς ἄρκτου διὰ τὸ ὑψηλὸν τῶν ὀρῶν τῶν πρὸς τῆς Ἰταλίας κωλύονται πνέοντες θέρους ὥρᾳ τόν τε ἀέρα τὸν ταύτῃ καὶ τὴν γῆν ἀναψύχειν. οἱ δὲ τὴν Κύρνον σταδίους φασὶν οὐ πλέονας ἀπὸ τῆς Σαρδοῦς ἢ ὀκτὼ τῇ θαλάσσῃ διείργεσθαι, ὀρεινήν τε οὖσαν καὶ ἐς ὕψος διὰ πάσης ἀνήκουσαν· τὸν Ζέφυρον οὖν καὶ Βορέαν ὑπὸ τῆς Κύρνου κωλύεσθαι νομίζουσι μὴ καὶ ἄχρι τῆς Σαρδοῦς ἐξικνεῖσθαι.

Proper Nouns:

Βορρέας Ζέφυρος Κύρνος Κύρνος Σαρδώ Ἰταλία

There are other mountains as well running through the middle of the island, which are rather lower. The air there is generally cloudy and unhealthy; this is due to the crystallizing salt deposits and to the oppressive and violent south wind that prevails there. Furthermore, the winds coming from the north are prevented, in the summer season, by the height of the mountains toward Italy from blowing and refreshing the air and land in those parts. It is said by some that the island of Cyrnus is separated from Sardinia by no more than eight stades of sea, being mountainous and rising throughout to considerable elevation; thus they suppose that the western and northern winds, hindered by Cyrnus, do not reach as far as Sardinia.

Passage 10.17.12 Class: Historical

ὄφεις δὲ οὔτε ἐπὶ συμφορᾷ τῇ ἀνθρώπων οὔτε ὅσον ἀνώλεθρον αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ οἱ λύκοι τρέφεσθαι πεφύκασιν. οἱ δὲ τράγοι ἄγριοι μέγεθος μὲν τοὺς ἑτέρωθι οὐχ ὑπερβάλλουσιν, εἶδος δέ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ὁποῖον ἐν πλαστικῇ τις ἂν τῇ Αἰγιναίᾳ ποιήσειεν ἀγρίου κριοῦ· τὰ μέντοι ἀμφὶ τὸ στῆθος δασύτερά ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἢ ὡς πρὸς Αἰγιναίαν τέχνην εἰκάσαι· κέρατα δὲ οὐ διεστηκότα ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς, ἀλλὰ ἐς εὐθὺ παρὰ τὰ ὦτα ἔχουσιν ἐληλιγμένα· ὠκύτητι δὲ ἅπαντα τὰ θηρία ὑπερήρκασι.

Proper Nouns:

Αἰγινή Αἰγινή

Neither snakes nor wolves here are naturally inclined to harm or prey upon men, nor even to the extent of causing them injury. The wild goats do not surpass those found elsewhere in size; in appearance, they resemble the figures of wild rams one might see in Aeginetan sculpture. Yet the hair around their chests is thicker and denser than can be represented by the skill of Aeginetan art. Their horns do not project outward from the head but coil directly beside the ears; and in speed, they surpass all other animals.

Passage 10.17.13 Class: Historical

πλὴν δὲ ἢ βοτάνης μιᾶς καθαρεύει καὶ ἀπὸ φαρμάκων ἡ νῆσος ὅσα ἐργάζεται θάνατον· ἡ πόα δὲ ἡ ὀλέθριος σελίνῳ μέν ἐστιν ἐμφερής, τοῖς φαγοῦσι δὲ γελῶσιν ἐπιγίνεσθαι τὴν τελευτὴν λέγουσιν. ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ Ὅμηρός τε καὶ οἱ ἔπειτα ἄνθρωποι τὸν ἐπὶ οὐδενὶ ὑγιεῖ Σαρδάνιον γέλωτα ὀνομάζουσι. φύεται δὲ μάλιστα ἡ πόα περὶ τὰς πηγάς, οὐ μέντοι μεταδίδωσί γε καὶ τῷ ὕδατι τοῦ ἰοῦ. τὸν μὲν δὴ περὶ τῆς Σαρδοῦς λόγον ἐπεισηγαγόμεθα ἐς τὴν Φωκίδα συγγραφήν, ὅτι οὐχ ἥκιστα καὶ ἐς ταύτην οἱ Ἕλληνες τὴν νῆσον ἀνηκόως εἶχον·

Proper Nouns:

Σαρδάνιον Σαρδώ Φωκίς Ἕλλην Ὅμηρος

Except for a single herb, the island is free of plants and poisons that cause death. The deadly herb resembles celery, and they say that those who eat it die while overcome by laughter. For this reason, Homer and later people have named any unnatural laughter "Sardonic." The herb grows especially around springs, but it does not pass its poison into the water. I have included this account concerning Sardinia in my description of Phocis because among the Greeks, not least among the Phocians, ignorance of this island was widespread.

Legend:

Chapter 10.17