Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.27.1 Class: Mythic

τὸ δὲ τῶν Τυνδάρεω παίδων μήνιμα ἐς τοὺς Μεσσηνίους ἤρξατο μὲν πρὸ τῆς ἐν Στενυκλήρῳ μάχης, γενέσθαι δὲ αὐτὸ διʼ αἰτίαν τοιάνδε εἰκάζω. μειράκια ὡραῖα ἐξ Ἀνδανίας, Πάνορμος καὶ Γώνιππος, τά τε ἄλλα οἰκείως εἶχον ἀλλήλοις καὶ κοινὰς ἐπὶ τὰς μάχας ἐξόδους καὶ καταδρομὰς ἐποιοῦντο ἐς τὴν Λακωνικήν.

Proper Nouns:

Γώνιππος Λακωνική Μεσσήνιοι Πάνορμος Στενυκλήρως Τυνδάρεως Ἀνδανία

The anger of the sons of Tyndareus against the Messenians began before the battle at Stenyclarus, and I judge it arose from the following cause. Two handsome youths from Andania, Panormus and Gonippus, were closely attached to one another in all respects and regularly made joint expeditions and raids into Laconian territory.

Passage 4.27.2 Class: Mythic

Λακεδαιμονίων δὲ ἐπὶ στρατοπέδου Διοσκούροις ἑορτὴν ἀγόντων καὶ ἤδη πρὸς πότον καὶ παιδιὰς τετραμμένων μετὰ τὸ ἄριστον, ὁ Γώνιππος καὶ ὁ Πάνορμος χιτῶνας λευκοὺς καὶ χλαμύδας πορφυρᾶς ἐνδύντες ἐπί τε ἵππων τῶν καλλίστων ὀχούμενοι καὶ ἐπὶ ταῖς κεφαλαῖς πίλους, ἐν δὲ ταῖς χερσὶ δόρατα ἔχοντες ἐπιφαίνονται Λακεδαιμονίοις. οἱ δὲ ὡς εἶδον, προσεκύνουν τε καὶ εὔχοντο, ἀφῖχθαι δοκοῦντές σφισιν αὐτοὺς ἐς τὴν θυσίαν τοὺς Διοσκούρους.

Proper Nouns:

Γώνιππος Διόσκουροι Διόσκουροι Λακεδαιμόνιοι Λακεδαιμόνιοι Πάνορμος

While the Lacedaemonians were celebrating a festival in honor of the Dioscuri in their encampment, and had already turned after the midday meal toward drinking and amusements, Gonippus and Panormus appeared before them, dressed in white tunics and purple cloaks, riding upon most distinguished horses, with piloi on their heads and holding spears in their hands. When the Lacedaemonians saw them, they worshipped and prayed, thinking that the Dioscuri themselves had arrived at their sacrifice.

Passage 4.27.3 Class: Mythic

οἱ νεανίσκοι δὲ ὡς ἅπαξ ἀνεμίχθησαν, διεξήλαυνον διὰ πάντων παίοντες τοῖς δόρασι, καὶ ἤδη κειμένων πολλῶν ἀποχωροῦσιν ἐς Ἀνδανίαν, καθυβρίσαντες τῶν Διοσκούρων τῇ θυσίᾳ. τοῦτο ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν προήγαγε τοὺς Διοσκούρους ἐς τὸ ἔχθος τὸ Μεσσηνίων· τότε δέ, ὡς ἐδήλου τῷ Ἐπαμινώνδᾳ τὸ ὄνειρον, οὐκ ἦν ἔτι τοῖς Διοσκούροις ἀκούσιος τῶν Μεσσηνίων ἡ κάθοδος.

Proper Nouns:

Διόσκουροι Διόσκουροι Μεσσήνιοι Ἀνδανία Ἐπαμινώνδας

But when the young men had once mingled with the crowd, they charged through everyone, striking them with spears, and after many had fallen, withdrew to Andania, having thus grievously insulted the festival of the Dioscuri. This event, it seems to me, first stirred the Dioscuri to hatred of the Messenians. Therefore, at the time when Epaminondas was given his dream, the return of the Messenians was no longer against the will of the Dioscuri.

Passage 4.27.4 Class: Mythic

μάλιστα δὲ τὸν Ἐπαμινώνδαν ἐς τὸν οἰκισμὸν οἱ Βάκιδος ἐνῆγον χρησμοί. Βάκιδι γὰρ μανέντι ἐκ Νυμφῶν ἐς ἄλλους τέ ἐστιν Ἑλλήνων καὶ ἐς τὴν Μεσσηνίων κάθοδον προειρημένα καὶ τότε δὴ Σπάρτης μὲν ἀπʼ ἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ὀλεῖται, Μεσσήνη δʼ αὖτις οἰκήσεται ἤματα πάντα. ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ περὶ τῆς Εἴρας, ὅντινα ἁλώσοιτο τρόπον, Βάκιν ἐφώρασα εἰρηκότα· καί οἱ καὶ τόδε ἐστὶ τῶν χρησμῶν, οἵ τʼ ἀπὸ Μεσσήνης πατάγῳ κρουνοῖς τε δαμείσης.

Proper Nouns:

Βάκις Βάκις Εἴρα Μεσσήνη Μεσσήνη Μεσσήνιοι Νύμφαι Σπάρτη Ἐπαμινώνδας Ἕλληνες

It was above all Bacis's oracles that led Epaminondas towards the founding of the city. For Bacis, inspired by the Nymphs, had uttered predictions concerning other Greek affairs and specifically about the return of the Messenians. It was then also that he declared: "Sparta shall perish, deprived of her splendid flower, Messenia, however, shall again be inhabited forever." I myself have observed that Bacis foretold even the manner in which Eira would be captured. Among his oracles is also this passage: "And they who come from Messenia, subdued by clamor and flowing streams."

Passage 4.27.5 Class: Historical

ὡς δὲ ἡ τελετή σφισιν ἀνεύρητο, ταύτην μέν, ὅσοι τοῦ γένους τῶν ἱερέων ἦσαν, κατετίθεντο ἐς βίβλους· Ἐπαμινώνδας δέ, ὥς οἱ τὸ χωρίον, ἔνθα νῦν ἔχουσιν οἱ Μεσσήνιοι τὴν πόλιν, μάλιστα ἐς οἰκισμὸν ἐφαίνετο ἐπιτήδειον, ἐκέλευεν ἀνασκοπεῖσθαι τοῖς μάντεσιν, εἴ οἱ βουλήσεται ταύτῃ καὶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἐπιχωρῆσαι. φαμένων δὲ καὶ τούτων εἶναι τὰ ἱερὰ αἴσια, οὕτω παρεσκευάζετο ἐς τὸν οἰκισμόν, λίθους τε ἄγεσθαι κελεύων καὶ ἄνδρας μεταπεμπόμενος, οἷς τέχνη στενωποὺς κατατέμνεσθαι καὶ οἰκίας καὶ ἱερὰ οἰκοδομεῖσθαι καὶ τείχη περιβάλλεσθαι.

Proper Nouns:

Μεσσήνιοι Ἐπαμινώνδας

When they had discovered the rites, all those among the priestly lineage recorded them in writing; as for Epaminondas, since the place now occupied by the city of the Messenians seemed to him particularly suitable for founding a settlement, he instructed the seers to inquire whether the will of the gods also favored it. When the sacrificial omens were declared auspicious by them, he made the necessary preparations for establishing the city, giving orders for stones to be brought in, and inviting men skilled in the art of laying out streets, as well as building houses and temples, and constructing encircling walls.

Passage 4.27.6 Class: Mythic

ὡς δὲ ἐγεγόνει τὰ πάντα ἐν ἑτοίμῳ, τὸ ἐντεῦθεν---ἱερεῖα γὰρ παρεῖχον οἱ Ἀρκάδες---αὐτὸς μὲν Ἐπαμινώνδας καὶ οἱ Θηβαῖοι Διονύσῳ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι ἔθυον Ἰσμηνίῳ τὸν νομιζόμενον τρόπον, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ τῇ τε Ἥρᾳ τῇ Ἀργείᾳ καὶ Νεμείῳ Διί, Μεσσήνιοι δὲ Διί τε Ἰθωμάτᾳ καὶ Διοσκούροις, οἱ δέ σφισιν ἱερεῖς θεαῖς ταῖς Μεγάλαις καὶ Καύκωνι. ἐπεκαλοῦντο δὲ ἐν κοινῷ καὶ ἥρωάς σφισιν ἐπανήκειν συνοίκους, Μεσσήνην μὲν τὴν Τριόπα μάλιστα, ἐπὶ ταύτῃ δὲ Εὔρυτον καὶ Ἀφαρέα τε καὶ τοὺς παῖδας, παρὰ δὲ Ἡρακλειδῶν Κρεσφόντην τε καὶ Αἴπυτον· πλείστη δὲ καὶ παρὰ πάντων ἀνάκλησις ἐγίνετο Ἀριστομένους.

Proper Nouns:

Αἴπυτος Διόνυσος Διόσκουροι Εὔρυτος Ζεύς Νεμείος Ζεύς Ἰθωμάτας Θηβαῖοι Καύκων Κρεσφόντης Μεγάλαι θεαί Μεσσήνη Τριόπος Μεσσήνιοι Ἀπόλλων Ἀργεῖοι Ἀριστομένης Ἀρκάδες Ἀφαρεύς Ἐπαμινώνδας Ἡρακλεῖδαι Ἥρα Ἀργεία Ἰσμήνιος

When everything had been arranged and was ready—for the Arcadians provided the sacrificial animals—Epaminondas himself and the Thebans offered sacrifice to Dionysus and to Apollo Ismenios according to their customary rite, the Argives to Hera of Argos and Zeus of Nemea, and the Messenians to Zeus Ithomatas and the Dioscuri, while their priests sacrificed to the Great Goddesses and to Caucon. They also collectively invoked heroes to return and inhabit the land with them, particularly Messene, daughter of Triopas, and after her, Eurytos and Aphareus and Aphareus' sons, along with Cresphontes and Aepytos of the Heracleidae; above all, their petition was most fervently directed toward Aristomenes.

Passage 4.27.7 Class: Historical

καὶ τὴν μὲν τότε ἡμέραν πρὸς θυσίαις τε καὶ εὐχαῖς ἦσαν, ταῖς δὲ ἐφεξῆς τοῦ τείχους τὸν περίβολον ἤγειρον καὶ ἐντὸς οἰκίας καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐποιοῦντο. εἰργάζοντο δὲ καὶ ὑπὸ μουσικῆς ἄλλης μὲν οὐδεμιᾶς, αὐλῶν δὲ Βοιωτίων καὶ Ἀργείων· τά τε Σακάδα καὶ Προνόμου μέλη τότε δὴ προήχθη μάλιστα ἐς ἅμιλλαν. αὐτῇ μὲν δὴ τῇ πόλει Μεσσήνην ἔθεντο ὄνομα, ἀνῴκιζον δὲ καὶ ἄλλα πολίσματα.

Proper Nouns:

Βοιωτία Μεσσήνη Πρόνoμος Σακάδας Ἄργος

On that first day they were occupied with sacrifices and prayers; but on the following days they built the circuit-wall, and inside its boundary they made houses and sanctuaries. And they worked accompanied by music—not any other kind, but with the flute-playing of the Boeotians and Argives. At that time especially, the compositions of Sakadas and Pronomos were brought into competition. The city itself they named Messene, and they also settled additional smaller towns.

Passage 4.27.8 Class: Historical

Ναυπλιεῖς δὲ ἐκ Μοθώνης οὐκ ἀνέστησαν· κατὰ χώραν δὲ καὶ Ἀσιναίους μένειν εἴων, τούτοις μὲν καὶ εὐεργεσίαν ἀπομνημονεύοντες πολεμῆσαι μετὰ Λακεδαιμονίων πρὸς σφᾶς οὐ θελήσασι, Ναυπλιεῖς δὲ κατιοῦσιν ἐς Πελοπόννησον Μεσσηνίοις τε δῶρα ἤγαγον ὁποῖα εἶχον καὶ ἅμα μὲν ὑπὲρ καθόδου τῆς ἐκείνων συνεχέσιν ἐς τὸ θεῖον ταῖς εὐχαῖς, ἅμα δὲ ὑπὲρ σωτηρίας τῆς σφετέρας δεήσεσιν ἐς ἐκείνους ἐχρῶντο.

Proper Nouns:

Λακεδαιμόνιος Μεσσήνιος Μοθώνη Ναυπλιεύς Πελοπόννησος Ἀσιναῖος

The Nauplians, however, were not driven out of Mothone; rather, the Messenians allowed them as well as the Asinaeans to remain in the territory, mindful of the kindness shown by the latter, who had refused to join the Lacedaemonians in making war upon them. When the Nauplians returned into the Peloponnese, they brought the Messenians gifts according to their means, continually addressing prayers to the gods for their safe return, and at the same time entreating the Messenians for their own safety.

Passage 4.27.9 Class: Historical

κατῆλθον δὲ ἐς Πελοπόννησον οἱ Μεσσήνιοι καὶ ἀνεσώσαντο τὴν αὑτῶν ἑπτὰ καὶ ὀγδοήκοντα καὶ διακοσίοις ἔτεσιν ὕστερον μετὰ Εἴρας ἅλωσιν, Δυσκινήτου μὲν Ἀθήνῃσιν ἄρχοντος, τρίτῳ δὲ ἔτει τῆς δευτέρας καὶ ἑκατοστῆς Ὀλυμπιάδος, ἣν Δάμων Θούριος τὸ δεύτερον ἐνίκα. οὐκ ὀλίγος μὲν οὖν ὁ χρόνος καὶ Πλαταιεῦσιν ἐγένετο, ἐφʼ ὅσον καὶ ἐκεῖνοι τὴν αὑτῶν ἔφευγον, καὶ Δηλίοις, ἡνίκα ᾤκησαν Ἀδραμύττιον ἐκβληθέντες ἐκ τῆς σφετέρας ὑπὸ Ἀθηναίων καὶ Ὀρχομενίων ·

Proper Nouns:

Δάμων Θούριος Δηλίοι Δυσκίνητος Εἴρα Μεσσήνιοι Πελοπόννησος Πλάταιαι Ἀδραμύττιον Ἀθηναῖοι Ἀθῆναι Ὀλυμπιάς Ὀρχομένιοι

The Messenians returned to the Peloponnese and recovered their own land two hundred and eighty-seven years after the capture of Eira, in the archonship of Dyscinetus at Athens and in the third year of the hundred and second Olympiad, in which Damon of Thurii won his second victory. Indeed, the time during which the Plataeans also remained exiled from their land was no small one. Likewise with the Delians, when they settled Adramyttium after being expelled from their homeland by the Athenians and the Orchomenians.

Passage 4.27.10 Class: Historical

οἱ δὲ Μινύαι, μετὰ τὴν μάχην τὴν ἐν Λεύκτροις ἐκπεσόντες ὑπὸ Θηβαίων ἐξ Ὀρχομενοῦ, κατήχθησαν ἐς Βοιωτίαν ὑπὸ Φιλίππου τοῦ Ἀμύντου, καὶ οὗτοι καὶ οἱ Πλαταιεῖς. Θηβαίων δὲ αὐτῶν ἐρημώσαντος Ἀλεξάνδρου τὴν πόλιν, αὖθις ἔτεσιν οὐ πολλοῖς ὕστερον Κάσσανδρος Ἀντιπάτρου τὰς Θήβας ἔκτισεν. φαίνεται μὲν δὴ τῶν κατειλεγμένων ἐπὶ μακρότατον ἡ Πλαταϊκὴ φυγὴ συμβᾶσα, οὐ μέντοι περαιτέρω γε ἢ ἐπὶ δύο ἐγένετο οὐδʼ αὐτὴ γενεάς.

Proper Nouns:

Βοιωτία Θηβαῖοι Θῆβαι Κάσσανδρος Λεῦκτρον Μινύαι Πλαταιά Πλαταιεῖς Φίλιππος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀμύντας Ἀντίπατρος Ὀρχομενός

After the battle of Leuctra, the Minyans, driven from Orchomenus by the Thebans, were restored to Boeotia by Philip the son of Amyntas, along with the Plataeans. Subsequently, Alexander destroyed the city of the Thebans; yet only a few years later, Cassander, the son of Antipater, rebuilt Thebes. Indeed, of those previously listed, the exile of the Plataeans appears to have lasted the longest; yet even this exile continued for no more than two generations.

Passage 4.27.11 Class: Historical

Μεσσήνιοι δὲ ἐκτὸς Πελοποννήσου τριακόσια ἔτη μάλιστα ἠλῶντο, ἐν οἷς οὔτε ἐθῶν εἰσι δῆλοι παραλύσαντές τι τῶν οἴκοθεν οὔτε τὴν διάλεκτον τὴν Δωρίδα μετεδιδάχθησαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐς ἡμᾶς ἔτι τὸ ἀκριβὲς αὐτῆς Πελοποννησίων μάλιστα ἐφύλασσον.

Proper Nouns:

Δωρίς Μεσσήνιοι Πελοπόννησος Πελοπόννησος

The Messenians were in exile from the Peloponnese for about three hundred years; during that time they neither abandoned their ancient customs in any visible respect nor altered their Doric dialect, but even to our own day they have preserved it in a purer form than all other Peloponnesians.

Legend:

Chapter 4.27