Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.20.1 Class: Historical

παρέντι δὲ Κρεύγα τε εἰκόνα ἀνδρὸς πύκτου καὶ τρόπαιον ἐπὶ Κορινθίοις ἀνασταθέν, ἄγαλμά ἐστι καθήμενον Διὸς Μειλιχίου, λίθου λευκοῦ, Πολυκλείτου δὲ ἔργον. ποιηθῆναι δὲ ἐπυνθανόμην αὐτὸ ἐπʼ αἰτίᾳ τοιαύτῃ. Λακεδαιμονίοις πολεμεῖν πρὸς Ἀργείους ἀρξαμένοις οὐδεμία ἦν ἔτι ἀπαλλαγή, πρὶν ἢ Φίλιππος σφᾶς ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἀμύντου μένειν ἐπὶ τοῖς καθεστηκόσιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὅροις τῆς χώρας. τὸν δὲ ἔμπροσθεν χρόνον οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι μηδὲν ἔξω Πελοποννήσου περιεργαζόμενοι τῆς Ἀργείας ἀεί τι ἀπετέμνοντο, ἢ οἱ Ἀργεῖοι τετραμμένων πρὸς πόλεμον ἐκείνων ὑπερόριον ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ καὶ αὐτοί σφισιν ἐνέκειντο.

Proper Nouns:

Ζεύς Μειλίχιος Κορίνθιοι Κρεύγας Λακεδαιμόνιοι Πελοπόννησος Πολύκλειτος Φίλιππος Ἀμύντας Ἀργεία Ἀργεῖοι

Near the statue of Creugas, a man renowned for his skill in boxing, and the trophy raised against the Corinthians, there stands a seated statue of Zeus Meilichios, carved from white stone and the work of Polycleitus. I learned that it was created for the following reason: Once the Spartans began their war with the Argives, there was no relief from hostilities until Philip, son of Amyntas, compelled them to accept the original boundaries of their territories. During the earlier period, the Spartans, busying themselves with no affairs outside the Peloponnese, continually seized parts of Argive land, or, whenever the Spartans were occupied elsewhere with war, the Argives would themselves undertake similar raids into Spartan territory.

Passage 2.20.2 Class: Historical

προηγμένου δὲ ἀμφοτέροις ἐς ἄκρον τοῦ μίσους ἔδοξεν Ἀργείοις λογάδας τρέφειν χιλίους· ἡγεμὼν δὲ ἐτέτακτο ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς Βρύας Ἀργεῖος, ὃς ἄλλα τε ἐς ἄνδρας ὕβρισε τοῦ δήμου καὶ παρθένον κομιζομένην παρὰ τὸν νυμφίον ᾔσχυνεν ἀφελόμενος τοὺς ἄγοντας. ἐπιλαβούσης δὲ τῆς νυκτὸς τυφλοῖ τὸν Βρύαντα ἡ παῖς φυλάξασα ὑπνωμένον· φωραθεῖσα δὲ ὡς ἐπέσχεν ἡμέρα, κατέφυγεν ἱκέτις ἐς τὸν δῆμον. οὐ προεμένων δὲ αὐτὴν τιμωρήσασθαι τοῖς χιλίοις καὶ ἀπὸ τούτου προαχθέντων ἐς μάχην ἀμφοτέρων, κρατοῦσιν οἱ τοῦ δήμου, κρατήσαντες δὲ οὐδένα ὑπὸ τοῦ θυμοῦ τῶν ἐναντίων ἔλιπον. ὕστερον δὲ ἄλλα τε ἐπηγάγοντο καθάρσια ὡς ἐπὶ αἵματι ἐμφυλίῳ καὶ ἄγαλμα ἀνέθηκαν Μειλιχίου Διός.

Proper Nouns:

Βρύας Μειλιχίου Ζεύς Ἀργεῖοι Ἀργεῖος

Since hatred had already grown to its highest pitch between both parties, the Argives resolved to equip a regiment of one thousand select men. Bryas, an Argive, was appointed commander over them, a man who not only committed various outrages against the common people, but who also dishonored a maiden being escorted to her bridegroom, forcibly seizing her from those accompanying her. When night fell, the girl kept watch until Bryas was asleep and then blinded him. She was discovered when day dawned, and fled as a suppliant to the people for protection. The thousand refused to allow the people to punish her, and from this event hostilities broke out openly between the two factions. Victory fell to the side of the common people, who, carried away by wrath, left none of their opponents alive. Later, they performed various rites of purification, as was customary after shedding kindred blood, and they erected a statue to Zeus Meilichios.

Passage 2.20.3 Class: Mythic

πλησίον δέ εἰσιν ἐπειργασμένοι λίθῳ Κλέοβις καὶ Βίτων αὐτοί τε ἕλκοντες τὴν ἅμαξαν καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ ἄγοντες τὴν μητέρα ἐς τὸ Ἡραῖον. τούτων δὲ ἀπαντικρὺ Νεμείου Διός ἐστιν ἱερόν, ἄγαλμα ὀρθὸν χαλκοῦν, τέχνη Λυσίππου . μετὰ δὲ αὐτὸ προελθοῦσιν ἐν δεξιᾷ Φορωνέως τάφος ἐστίν· ἐναγίζουσι δὲ καὶ ἐς ἡμᾶς ἔτι τῷ Φορωνεῖ. πέραν δὲ τοῦ Νεμείου Διὸς Τύχης ἐστὶν ἐκ παλαιοτάτου ναός, εἰ δὴ Παλαμήδης κύβους εὑρὼν ἀνέθηκεν ἐς τοῦτον τὸν ναόν.

Proper Nouns:

Βίτων Κλέοβις Λύσιππος Νεμείος Ζεύς Παλαμήδης Τύχη Φορωνεύς Ἡραῖον

Nearby are statues carved in stone of Cleobis and Biton themselves, depicted pulling the wagon and bringing their mother upon it to the sanctuary of Hera. Directly opposite them is a precinct dedicated to Nemean Zeus, containing an upright bronze statue, the work of Lysippus. Proceeding forward from here, on the right there is the tomb of Phoroneus; even in our time they continue to make offerings to Phoroneus. Beyond the precinct of Nemean Zeus stands a very ancient temple of Tyche (Fortune), said to be the place where Palamedes, upon inventing dice, dedicated them.

Passage 2.20.4 Class: Mythic

τὸ δὲ μνῆμα τὸ πλησίον Χορείας μαινάδος ὀνομάζουσι, Διονύσῳ λέγοντες καὶ ἄλλας γυναῖκας καὶ ταύτην ἐς Ἄργος συστρατεύσασθαι, Περσέα δέ, ὡς ἐκράτει τῆς μάχης, φονεῦσαι τῶν γυναικῶν τὰς πολλάς· τὰς μὲν οὖν λοιπὰς θάπτουσιν ἐν κοινῷ, ταύτῃ δὲ---ἀξιώματι γὰρ δὴ προεῖχεν---ἰδίᾳ τὸ μνῆμα ἐποίησαν.

Proper Nouns:

Διόνυσος Περσεύς Χορεία Ἄργος

The nearby tomb they call that of Choreia, a maenad. They say she and other women marched together with Dionysus against Argos, and that Perseus, having prevailed in battle, slew most of the women. The rest were buried together in a common grave, but this woman—since indeed she surpassed the others in dignity—they honored with a separate tomb.

Passage 2.20.5 Class: Mythic

ἀπωτέρω δὲ ὀλίγον Ὡρῶν ἱερόν ἐστιν. ἐπανιόντι δὲ ἐκεῖθεν ἀνδριάντες ἑστήκασι Πολυνείκους τοῦ Οἰδίποδος καὶ ὅσοι σὺν ἐκείνῳ τῶν ἐν τέλει πρὸς τὸ τεῖχος μαχόμενοι τὸ Θηβαίων ἐτελεύτησαν. τούτους τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐς μόνων ἑπτὰ ἀριθμὸν κατήγαγεν Αἰσχύλος, πλειόνων ἔκ τε Ἄργους ἡγεμόνων καὶ Μεσσήνης καί τινων καὶ Ἀρκάδων στρατευσαμένων. τούτων δὲ τῶν ἑπτὰ---ἐπηκολουθήκασι γὰρ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι τῇ Αἰσχύλου ποιήσει---πλησίον κεῖνται καὶ οἱ τὰς Θήβας ἑλόντες Αἰγιαλεὺς Ἀδράστου καὶ Πρόμαχος ὁ Παρθενοπαίου τοῦ Ταλαοῦ καὶ Πολύδωρος Ἱππομέδοντος καὶ Θέρσανδρος καὶ οἱ Ἀμφιαράου παῖδες, Ἀλκμαίων τε καὶ Ἀμφίλοχος, Διομήδης τε καὶ Σθένελος· παρῆν δὲ ἔτι καὶ ἐπὶ τούτων Εὐρύαλος Μηκιστέως καὶ Πολυνείκους Ἄδραστος καὶ Τιμέας.

Proper Nouns:

Αἰγιαλεύς Αἰσχύλος Αἰσχύλος Διομήδης Εὐρύαλος Θέρσανδρος Θῆβαι Θῆβαι Μεσσήνη Μηκιστεύς Οἰδίπους Παρθενοπαῖος Πολυνείκης Πολύδωρος Πρόμαχος Σθένελος Τάλαος Τιμέας Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχος Ἀμφιάραος Ἀργεῖοι Ἀρκάδες Ἄδραστος Ἄδραστος Ἄργος Ἱππομέδων Ὧραι

A short distance further away stands a sanctuary of the Horae (Seasons). Returning from there, one encounters statues of Polynices, son of Oedipus, and those who fell with him fighting as commanders at the wall of Thebes. Aeschylus reduced the number of these men to seven only, although more leaders from Argos, Messene, and certain Arcadians took part in the expedition. In accordance with Aeschylus’ portrayal – for the Argives also follow his poetry – close by these seven stand also those who took Thebes: Aegialeus, son of Adrastus; Promachus, son of Parthenopaeus, son of Talaüs; Polydorus, son of Hippomedon; Thersander; the sons of Amphiaraüs, Alcmaeon and Amphilochus; as well as Diomedes and Sthenelus. Additionally included among these were Euryalus, son of Mecisteus, Adrastus, son of Polynices, and Timeas.

Passage 2.20.6 Class: Mythic

τῶν δὲ ἀνδριάντων οὐ πόρρω δείκνυται Δαναοῦ μνῆμα καὶ Ἀργείων τάφος κενὸς ὁπόσους ἔν τε Ἰλίῳ καὶ ὀπίσω κομιζομένους ἐπέλαβεν ἡ τελευτή. καὶ Διός ἐστιν ἐνταῦθα ἱερὸν Σωτῆρος καὶ παριοῦσίν ἐστιν οἴκημα· ἐνταῦθα τὸν Ἄδωνιν αἱ γυναῖκες Ἀργείων ὀδύρονται. ἐν δεξιᾷ δὲ τῆς ἐσόδου τῷ Κηφισῷ πεποίηται τὸ ἱερόν· τῷ δὲ ποταμῷ τούτῳ τὸ ὕδωρ φασὶν οὐ καθάπαξ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος ἀφανισθῆναι, ἀλλὰ ἐνταῦθα δὴ μάλιστα, ἔνθα καὶ τὸ ἱερόν ἐστι, συνιᾶσιν ὑπὸ γῆν ῥέοντος.

Proper Nouns:

Δαναός Ζεύς Κηφισός Ποσειδῶν Σωτήρ Ἀργεῖοι Ἄδωνις Ἴλιος

Not far from these statues is shown the tomb of Danaus, as well as an empty burial place of the Argives, honoring those who died either at Troy or on their journey home. There is also here a sanctuary of Zeus the Savior, and near it is a building where the Argive women mourn for Adonis. To the right of the entrance is a sanctuary dedicated to Cephisus; it is said that the waters of this river were hidden from sight by Poseidon, not all at once, but especially at this spot, where its sanctuary stands, they sink underground as the river flows beneath.

Passage 2.20.7 Class: Mythic

παρὰ δὲ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ Κηφισοῦ Μεδούσης λίθου πεποιημένη κεφαλή· Κυκλώπων φασὶν εἶναι καὶ τοῦτο ἔργον. τὸ δὲ χωρίον τὸ ὄπισθεν καὶ ἐς τόδε Κριτήριον ὀνομάζουσιν, Ὑπερμήστραν ἐνταῦθα ὑπὸ Δαναοῦ κριθῆναι λέγοντες. τούτου δέ ἐστιν οὐ πόρρω θέατρον· ἐν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἄλλα θέας ἄξια καὶ ἀνὴρ φονεύων ἐστὶν ἄνδρα, Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν Σπαρτιάτην Περίλαος Ἀργεῖος ὁ Ἀλκήνορος· Περιλάῳ δὲ τούτῳ καὶ πρότερον ἔτι ὑπῆρχε Νεμείων ἀνῃρῆσθαι νίκην παλαίοντι.

Proper Nouns:

Δαναός Κήφισος Κριτήριον Κύκλωπες Μεδούσα Νεμέα Περίλαος Σπαρτιάτης Ἀλκήνωρ Ἀργεῖος Ὀθρυάδας Ὑπερμήστρα

Beside the sanctuary of Cephisus there is a head of Medusa made of stone; this too, they say, is a work of the Cyclopes. Behind this spot is a place which even today is called Criterion ("Judgment-place"); here, they say, Hypermnestra was judged by Danaus. Not far from here is a theater, and in it there are other noteworthy sights including a sculpture of a man killing another man, Perilaus, the Argive, son of Alcenor, slaying Othryades, the Spartan. This Perilaus had earlier distinguished himself by winning a wrestling victory at the Nemean games.

Passage 2.20.8 Class: Historical

ὑπὲρ δὲ τὸ θέατρον Ἀφροδίτης ἐστὶν ἱερόν, ἔμπροσθεν δὲ τοῦ ἕδους Τελέσιλλα ἡ ποιήσασα τὰ ᾄσματα ἐπείργασται στήλῃ· καὶ βιβλία μὲν ἐκεῖνα ἔρριπταί οἱ πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, αὐτὴ δὲ ἐς κράνος ὁρᾷ κατέχουσα τῇ χειρὶ καὶ ἐπιτίθεσθαι τῇ κεφαλῇ μέλλουσα. ἦν δὲ ἡ Τελέσιλλα καὶ ἄλλως ἐν ταῖς γυναιξὶν εὐδόκιμος καὶ μᾶλλον ἐτιμᾶτο ἔτι ἐπὶ τῇ ποιήσει. συμβάντος δὲ Ἀργείοις ἀτυχῆσαι λόγου μειζόνως πρὸς Κλεομένην τὸν Ἀναξανδρίδου καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους, καὶ τῶν μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ πεπτωκότων τῇ μάχῃ, ὅσοι δὲ ἐς τὸ ἄλσος τοῦ Ἄργου κατέφευγον διαφθαρέντων καὶ τούτων, τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ἐξιόντων κατὰ ὁμολογίαν, ὡς δὲ ἔγνωσαν ἀπατώμενοι συγκατακαυθέντων τῷ ἄλσει τῶν λοιπῶν, οὕτω τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους Κλεομένης ἦγεν ἐπὶ ἔρημον ἀνδρῶν τὸ Ἄργος.

Proper Nouns:

Κλεομένης Λακεδαιμόνιοι Τελέσιλλα θέατρον Ἀναξανδρίδης Ἀργεῖοι Ἀφροδίτη Ἄργος Ἄργος

Above the theater is a sanctuary of Aphrodite, and in front of her statue is a stele bearing the figure of Telesilla, the poetess who composed the songs. Her books lie cast down at her feet, and she herself is shown gazing at a helmet, holding it in her hand and about to place it upon her head. Telesilla was esteemed among women for other qualities as well, but even more greatly honored for her poetry. It happened once that the Argives suffered a disaster at the hands of Cleomenes son of Anaxandridas and the Lacedaemonians, an event greater than words can tell. Many fell in the battle itself, and those who fled for refuge to the sanctuary grove of Argus also perished. For at first, when leaving under an agreed truce, they were deceived, and once the Argives learned of the betrayal, those who remained were burned alive with the grove itself. Thus Cleomenes led the Lacedaemonians against an Argos utterly emptied of its men.

Passage 2.20.9 Class: Historical

Τελέσιλλα δὲ οἰκέτας μὲν καὶ ὅσοι διὰ νεότητα ἢ γῆρας ὅπλα ἀδύνατοι φέρειν ἦσαν, τούτους μὲν πάντας ἀνεβίβασεν ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος, αὐτὴ δὲ ὁπόσα ἐν ταῖς οἰκίαις ὑπελείπετο καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν ἱερῶν ὅπλα ἀθροίσασα τὰς ἀκμαζούσας ἡλικίᾳ τῶν γυναικῶν ὥπλιζεν, ὁπλίσασα δὲ ἔτασσε κατὰ τοῦτο ᾗ τοὺς πολεμίους προσιόντας ἠπίστατο. ὡς δὲ ἐγγὺς ἐγίνοντο οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες οὔτε τῷ ἀλαλαγμῷ κατεπλάγησαν δεξάμεναί τε ἐμάχοντο ἐρρωμένως, ἐνταῦθα οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι, φρονήσαντες ὡς καὶ διαφθείρασί σφισι τὰς γυναῖκας ἐπιφθόνως τὸ κατόρθωμα ἕξει καὶ σφαλεῖσι μετὰ ὀνειδῶν γενήσοιτο ἡ συμφορά, ὑπείκουσι ταῖς γυναιξί.

Proper Nouns:

Λακεδαιμόνιοι Τελέσιλλα

Telesilla brought up onto the walls all the slaves and those who, due to youth or old age, were unable to bear arms; meanwhile, she herself collected whatever weapons still remained in the homes and those taken from the temples, armed the women who were in the prime of life, and after arming them arranged them at that point where she knew the enemy would approach. When the Lacedaemonians came near, the women, neither terrified by their war cries nor falling back, engaged vigorously in battle. Then the Lacedaemonians, reflecting that if they killed the women their victory would bring envy rather than glory, and that if they suffered defeat the disgrace would carry lasting shame, withdrew before the women.

Passage 2.20.10 Class: Historical

πρότερον δὲ ἔτι τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦτον προεσήμηνεν ἡ Πυθία, καὶ τὸ λόγιον εἴτε ἄλλως εἴτε καὶ ὡς συνεὶς ἐδήλωσεν Ἡρόδοτος· ἀλλʼ ὅταν ἡ θήλεια τὸν ἄρρενα νικήσασα ἐξελάσῃ καὶ κῦδος ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἄρηται, πολλὰς Ἀργείων ἀμφιδρυφέας τότε θήσει. Hdt. 6.77 τὰ μὲν ἐς τὸ ἔργον τῶν γυναικῶν ἔχοντα τοῦ χρησμοῦ ταῦτα ἦν·

Proper Nouns:

Πυθία Ἀργεῖοι Ἀργεῖοι Ἡρόδοτος Ἡρόδοτος

But this contest had been foretold earlier by the Pythia, and the oracle was declared either in a different form or exactly as Herodotus understood it; saying: “Yet when the female, having conquered the male, drives him out and wins glory among the Argives, she will then cause many Argive women to tear their cheeks.” These were the oracle's words according to Herodotus, dealing with the deed of the women.

Legend:

Chapter 2.20