Pausanias Analysis

To Hippolytus, the son of Theseus, there is dedicated a very notable precinct, and within it stands a temple as well as an ancient image. People say that Diomedes made these things and furthermore was the first to sacrifice to Hippolytus. Among the Troezenians, one priest serves Hippolytus continuously throughout his lifetime, and annual sacrifices have been established. They also practice another custom of the following sort: before marriage, every maiden cuts off a lock of her hair and, after cutting it, carries it to the temple and dedicates it. They refuse to believe that Hippolytus died by being dragged by horses, nor do they admit that they know of any tomb belonging to him; instead, they think that the constellation called the Charioteer in the heavens is Hippolytus himself, having received this honor from the gods.

Within this enclosure is a temple of Apollo Epibaterios, an offering dedicated by Diomedes who escaped the storm that afflicted the Greeks on their return journey from Ilium. It is said that Diomedes was also the first to institute the contest of the Pythian games in honor of Apollo. Regarding Damia and Auxesia—for the Troezenians also share in their worship— they do not relate the same tradition told by the Epidaurians and Aeginetans. Rather, they say that these maidens arrived from Crete, and when the populace of the city fell into factional disputes, the maidens were stoned to death by their opponents. In memory of this event they hold a festival named Lithobolia ("the Stoning").

On the other side of the enclosure there is a race-course called after Hippolytus, and nearby, a temple of Aphrodite Kataskopia ("She Who Watches"), for from here Phaedra, in love with Hippolytus, would gaze upon him whenever he exercised. Here was still growing the myrtle whose leaves, as I mentioned previously, are pierced through. When Phaedra was overcome with distress, finding no relief from her passion, she used to prick holes into the leaves of this myrtle.

There is also the tomb of Phaedra, not far from the monument of Hippolytus, which itself lies close to the myrtle-tree. As for the image of Asclepius, it was made by Timotheus, but the Troezenians assert it represents not Asclepius but Hippolytus. And I have seen a dwelling said to have belonged to Hippolytus; before it is a spring called Heracleios, whose water, according to the Troezenians, was discovered by Heracles.

On the acropolis called Stheniada there is a temple dedicated to Athena, and the wooden image of the goddess was created by Callon of Aegina. This Callon was a pupil of Tectaeus and Angelion, who made the statue of Apollo for the Delians; and Angelion and Tectaeus themselves learned their craft from Dipoinus and Scyllis.

On descending from there is a sanctuary of Pan Lyterios (the Releasing). For it was he who revealed in dreams to the magistrates of Troezen the remedy against a plague afflicting the land of Troezen, and particularly affecting also the Athenians. If one crosses over also into the territory of Troezen, there one will see a temple of Isis, and above that a temple of Aphrodite Akraia ("of the heights"). The temple of Aphrodite was built by the Halicarnassians, as Troezen was their mother-city; but the image of Isis was dedicated by the people of Troezen themselves.

On the road through the mountains to Hermione, there is a spring forming the river Hyllikos, originally called the Taurios, and also a rock called the rock of Theseus, itself having changed its name when Theseus took from beneath it the sandals and sword of Aegeus; previously it was called the altar of Zeus Sthenius. Near the rock is a sanctuary of Aphrodite Nymphia, established by Theseus at the time when he took Helen to wife.

Outside the wall is also a sanctuary of Poseidon, called Phytalmios ("Nurturer of Plants"). They say that Poseidon, enraged at them, caused their land to become barren by sending seawater that infected their crops and reached down into the roots of the plants. But afterward, appeased by their sacrifices and prayers, he ceased sending brine onto their soil. Above the temple of Poseidon stands a temple dedicated to Demeter Thesmophoros, which, they say, was founded by Althepus.

Descending to the harbor near the place called Kelenderis, there is a site known as Genethlion ("Birthplace"), since they say Theseus was born there. Before this place stands a temple of Ares, commemorating the victory Theseus won here in combat against the Amazons. These Amazons presumably were among those who battled against Theseus and the Athenians in Attica.

As you travel toward the seaside at Psiphaia, there grows an olive tree called the Twisted Rhakhos. The Troezenians call rhakhos any olive that bears no fruit, whether it yields only leaves, oil-olives, or merely foliage. They give this particular tree the name "Twisted," because it was here, they say, that Hippolytus was overturned from his chariot when its reins became entangled. Not far from this tree stands the sanctuary of Saronian Artemis, about which my narrative has already made mention. I will add only this much more: the Troezenians annually celebrate the festival called Saronia in honor of Artemis.