Pausanias Analysis

Here is represented Athena striking Marsyas the Silenus, because he had taken up the flutes which the goddess intended to discard after casting them away. Beyond these things I have described is the depiction of what is known as Theseus' battle against the bull called the Minotaur—whether it was a man or beast according to the prevailing tradition; for even in my own time women have given birth to monstrosities far more wondrous than this creature.

There is also a depiction of Phrixus, son of Athamas, who was carried away to the Colchians by the ram. Having sacrificed the ram to whichever deity it may have been—presumably the one called Laphystios by the Orchomenians—Phrixus is shown performing the prescribed Greek ritual, cutting out its thighs and burning them. Next to him stand other statues, including one of Heracles, who, according to tradition, is strangling the serpents. Athena is also depicted, rising from the head of Zeus. There is furthermore a bronze bull, dedicated by the Council of the Areopagus—for what reason the Council made this offering is not clear.

One could speculate upon many things if willing. I have said previously, too, that the Athenians have greater earnestness regarding divine matters than other people. It was they who first gave Athena the surname Ergane ("Worker"), and they who first erected Hermae without limbs. And among them in the sanctuary there is a deity of earnestness. Whoever places a higher value upon works made with skill than upon those belonging to antiquity will have here objects to behold. There is a man wearing a helmet, the work of Cleoetas; Cleoetas also fashioned his fingernails from silver. There is also a statue of Earth, beseeching Zeus to rain upon her, either because the Athenians themselves needed rain, or because drought had afflicted all the Greeks collectively. In this place are laid to rest Timotheus, son of Conon, and Conon himself. Alcamenes made the dedication of Procne, planning her crime against her son, and of Itys himself. Sculpted also are Athena's olive tree and Poseidon, manifesting a wave.

There is also a statue of Zeus, one made by Leochares and another called Polieus. Though I record the established customs connected to the sacrifice for Zeus Polieus, I omit writing down the explanation traditionally offered for them. They place barley grains mixed with wheat on the altar of Zeus Polieus without setting any guard over them. The ox prepared for sacrifice, however, is carefully guarded; nonetheless, it goes up to the altar and touches the grains. One of the priests, whom they call the bouphonos ("ox-slayer"), kills the ox and immediately throws away the axe—for such is the custom—and flees swiftly away. Those present, pretending not to know who performed the deed, put the axe on trial. They perform these rites in the manner described. Next, they enter the temple known as the Parthenon.

Everything depicted on what are called the pediments relates entirely to the birth of Athena, while on the rear is the contest between Poseidon and Athena over the land. The statue itself is made from ivory and gold. In the middle of her helmet is placed the figure of a Sphinx—I shall write about what is said regarding the Sphinx when my account comes to Boeotia—and on each side of the helmet are fashioned griffins.

Concerning these griffins, Aristeas of Proconnesus in his verses says that they fight for the gold against the Arimaspi, who dwell beyond the Issedones; and that the gold guarded by the griffins is produced by the earth itself. He relates that all Arimaspi are men with one eye from birth, and that griffins are beasts resembling lions, but having the wings and beaks of eagles. Let thus much suffice regarding the griffins.

The statue of Athena stands upright, robed in a garment reaching down to her feet; upon her breast is a head of Medusa worked into ivory. The figure of Nike is about four cubits tall, and in Athena's hand is a spear. At her feet lies a shield, and, close to the spear, a serpent. This serpent may represent Erichthonius. Carved upon the pedestal of the statue is the Birth of Pandora. According to Hesiod and others, this Pandora was the first woman, and the race of women did not yet exist before Pandora came into being. Here I saw also only one statue of the emperor Hadrian, and near the entrance is Iphicrates, who accomplished many remarkable deeds.

Beyond the temple stands a bronze Apollo; they say this statue was crafted by Phidias, and they call the god Parnopius because he declared that he would drive locusts (parnopes) harming their land away from their territory. That he successfully drove them off is known, but they do not say precisely how. I myself know that locusts have already perished three times on Mount Sipylus, but not in the same manner each time: once they were driven off by a violent prevailing wind; another time a sudden intense heat sent by the god came upon them and destroyed them; and finally, some perished after being suddenly overtaken by sharp cold.