Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.19.1 Class: Mythic

τέταρτα δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ λάρνακι ἐξ ἀριστερᾶς περιιόντι Βορέας ἐστὶν ἡρπακὼς Ὠρείθυιαν---οὐραὶ δὲ ὄφεων ἀντὶ ποδῶν εἰσὶν αὐτῷ---καὶ Ἡρακλέους ὁ πρὸς Γηρυόνην ἀγών· τρεῖς δὲ ἄνδρες Γηρυόνης εἰσὶν ἀλλήλοις προσεχόμενοι. Θησεὺς δὲ ἔχων λύραν καὶ παρʼ αὐτὸν Ἀριάδνη κατέχουσά ἐστι στέφανον. Ἀχιλλεῖ δὲ καὶ Μέμνονι μαχομένοις παρεστήκασιν αἱ μητέρες·

Proper Nouns:

Βορέας Γηρυόνης Γηρυόνης Θησεύς Μέμνων Ἀριάδνη Ἀχιλλεύς Ἡρακλῆς Ὠρείθυια

Fourth upon the chest, as one proceeds from the left, is Boreas carrying away Oreithyia—his feet replaced by serpents' tails—and also the combat of Heracles against Geryon; Geryon himself appears as three men joined closely to one another. There is Theseus holding a lyre, with Ariadne beside him cradling a crown. Standing beside Achilles and Memnon as they fight are their mothers.

Passage 5.19.2 Class: Mythic

ἔστι δὲ καὶ Μελανίων καὶ Ἀταλάντη παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχουσα ἐλάφου νεβρόν. μονομαχοῦντος δὲ Αἴαντι Ἕκτορος κατὰ τὴν πρόκλησιν, μεταξὺ ἕστηκεν αὐτῶν Ἔρις αἰσχίστη τὸ εἶδος ἐοικυῖα· πρὸς δὲ ταύτῃ καὶ Καλλιφῶν Σάμιος ἐν Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερῷ τῆς Ἐφεσίας ἐποίησεν Ἔριν, τὴν μάχην γράψας τὴν ἐπὶ ταῖς ναυσὶν Ἑλλήνων. εἰσὶ δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ λάρνακι Διόσκουροι, ὁ ἕτερος οὐκ ἔχων πω γένεια, μέση δὲ αὐτῶν Ἑλένη·

Proper Nouns:

Αἴας Διόσκουροι Καλλιφῶν Μελανίων Σάμος Ἀταλάντη Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσία Ἑλένη Ἔρις Ἕκτωρ Ἕλληνες

There are also Melanion and Atalanta depicted beside him, holding a fawn of a deer. Between Ajax and Hector, as they fight in single combat in response to the challenge, stands Strife (Eris), most repulsive in shape and appearance. Similar to this, Calliphon of Samos also depicted Strife in the sanctuary of Artemis at Ephesus, painting the battle of the Greeks by the ships. On the chest are represented the Dioscuri, one of whom does not yet have a beard, and between them stands Helen.

Passage 5.19.3 Class: Mythic

Αἴθρα δὲ ἡ Πιτθέως ὑπὸ τῆς Ἑλένης τοῖς ποσὶν ἐς ἔδαφος καταβεβλημένη μέλαιναν ἔχουσά ἐστιν ἐσθῆτα, ἐπίγραμμα δὲ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ἔπος τε ἑξάμετρον καὶ ὀνόματός ἐστιν ἑνὸς ἐπὶ τῷ ἑξαμέτρῳ προσθήκη· Τυνδαρίδα Ἑλέναν φέρετον, Αἴθραν δʼ ἕλκετον Ἀθάναθεν.

Proper Nouns:

Αἴθρα Αἴθρα Πιτθεύς Τυνδαρίς Ἀθῆναι Ἑλένη Ἑλένη

Aethra, the daughter of Pittheus, appears cast to the ground at the feet of Helen. She wears dark garments, and inscribed upon them is an epigram: a single hexameter verse and the addition of one more name attached to the hexameter—"Tyndareus's daughter Helen do ye carry away, but drag away Aethra from Athens."

Passage 5.19.4 Class: Mythic

τοῦτο μὲν δὴ τὸ ἔπος οὕτω πεποίηται· Ἰφιδάμαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἀντήνορος κειμένου μαχόμενος πρὸς Ἀγαμέμνονα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ Κόων ἐστί· Φόβος δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀγαμέμνονος τῇ ἀσπίδι ἔπεστιν, ἔχων τὴν κεφαλὴν λέοντος. ἐπιγράμματα δὲ ὑπὲρ μὲν τοῦ Ἰφιδάμαντος νεκροῦ, Ἰφιδάμας οὗτός τε Κόων περιμάρναται αὐτοῦ· τοῦ Ἀγαμέμνονος δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀσπίδι,

Proper Nouns:

Κῶς Φόβος Ἀγαμέμνων Ἀγαμέμνων Ἀντήνωρ Ἰφιδάμας

This verse, indeed, is composed as follows; Iphidamas, the son of Antenor, is lying on the ground, and Koön is fighting against Agamemnon in defense of him. On the shield of Agamemnon there stands Fear (Phobos), bearing a lion's head. The inscriptions are, above the corpse of Iphidamas: "This is Iphidamas, and Koön fights in defense of him;" and upon the shield of Agamemnon:

Passage 5.19.5 Class: Mythic

οὗτος μὲν Φόβος ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὁ δʼ ἔχων Ἀγαμέμνων. ἄγει δὲ καὶ Ἑρμῆς παρʼ Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν Πριάμου τὰς θεὰς κριθησομένας ὑπὲρ τοῦ κάλλους, καὶ ἔστιν ἐπίγραμμα καὶ τούτοις· Ἑρμείας ὅδʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ δείκνυσι διαιτῆν τοῦ εἴδους Ἥραν καὶ Ἀθάναν καὶ Ἀφροδίταν. Ἄρτεμις δὲ οὐκ οἶδα ἐφʼ ὅτῳ λόγῳ πτέρυγας ἔχουσά ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων, καὶ τῇ μὲν δεξιᾷ κατέχει πάρδαλιν, τῇ δὲ ἑτέρᾳ τῶν χειρῶν λέοντα. πεποίηται δὲ καὶ Κασσάνδραν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγάλματος Αἴας τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς ἕλκων, ἐπʼ αὐτῷ δὲ καὶ ἐπίγραμμά ἐστιν· Αἴας Κασσάνδραν ἀπʼ Ἀθαναίας Λοκρὸς ἕλκει.

Proper Nouns:

Αἴας Κασσάνδρα Λοκρός Πρίαμος Φόβος Ἀγαμέμνων Ἀθηνᾶ Ἀθηνᾶ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀφροδίτη Ἄρτεμις Ἑρμῆς Ἑρμῆς Ἥρα

This figure is Phobos ("Fear") among mortals, and Agamemnon is the one holding him. Hermes is also depicted leading the goddesses to Alexander son of Priam to be judged for their beauty; and these figures too have an inscription: "This Hermes shows to Alexander the beauty-contesting Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite." As for Artemis—I do not know for what reason—she is represented as having wings upon her shoulders, and with her right hand she grasps a leopard, and with the other hand a lion. Ajax too is depicted dragging Cassandra from the statue of Athena, and there is also an inscription on this: "Ajax the Locrian drags Cassandra from Athena."

Passage 5.19.6 Class: Mythic

τῶν δὲ Οἰδίποδος παίδων Πολυνείκει πεπτωκότι ἐς γόνυ ἔπεισιν Ἐτεοκλῆς. τοῦ Πολυνείκους δὲ ὄπισθεν γυνὴ ἕστηκεν ὀδόντας τε ἔχουσα οὐδὲν ἡμερωτέρους θηρίου καί οἱ τῶν χειρῶν εἰσιν ἐπικαμπεῖς οἱ ὄνυχες· ἐπίγραμμα δὲ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ εἶναί φησι Κῆρα, ὡς τὸν μὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ πεπρωμένου τὸν Πολυνείκην ἀπαχθέντα, Ἐτεοκλεῖ δὲ γενομένης καὶ σὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τῆς τελευτῆς. Διόνυσος δὲ ἐν ἄντρῳ κατακείμενος, γένεια ἔχων καὶ ἔκπωμα χρυσοῦν, ἐνδεδυκώς ἐστι ποδήρη χιτῶνα· δένδρα δὲ ἄμπελοι περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ μηλέαι τέ εἰσι καὶ ῥόαι.

Proper Nouns:

Διόνυσος Κήρ Οἰδίπους Πολυνείκης Πολυνείκης Πολυνείκης Ἐτεοκλῆς Ἐτεοκλῆς

Of the sons of Oedipus, Eteocles is approaching Polynices, who has fallen upon one knee. Behind Polynices stands a woman, whose teeth are no less savage than those of a wild beast, and the nails on her hands are sharply curved. The inscription upon her identifies her as Fate, making clear that Polynices was led away by destiny, but that death came to Eteocles justly and deservedly. Dionysus is depicted reclining within a cave, bearded and holding a golden cup; he wears a floor-length tunic. Around him grow vines, apple trees, and pomegranate trees.

Passage 5.19.7 Class: Mythic

ἡ δὲ ἀνωτάτω χώρα---πέντε γὰρ ἀριθμόν εἰσι--- παρέχεται μὲν ἐπίγραμμα οὐδέν, λείπεται δὲ εἰκάζειν ἐς τὰ ἐπειργασμένα. εἰσὶν οὖν ἐν σπηλαίῳ γυνὴ καθεύδουσα σὺν ἀνδρὶ ἐπὶ κλίνῃ, καὶ σφᾶς Ὀδυσσέα εἶναι καὶ Κίρκην ἐδοξάζομεν ἀριθμῷ τε τῶν θεραπαινῶν, αἵ εἰσι πρὸ τοῦ σπηλαίου, καὶ τοῖς ποιουμένοις ὑπʼ αὐτῶν· τέσσαρές τε γάρ εἰσιν αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ ἐργάζονται τὰ ἔργα, ἃ ἐν τοῖς ἔπεσιν Ὅμηρος εἴρηκε. Κένταυρος δὲ οὐ τοὺς πάντας ἵππου πόδας, τοὺς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν ἔχων ἀνδρός ἐστιν.

Proper Nouns:

Κένταυρος Κίρκη Ὀδυσσεύς Ὅμηρος

The uppermost region—for there are five in number—provides no inscription, leaving us to speculate from the sculptures themselves. Within a cave is depicted a woman asleep on a bed with a man; we conjectured these to be Odysseus and Circe due both to the number of attendants positioned before the cave and to the actions they perform. For these four women carry out tasks described by Homer in his epic poetry. There is also a Centaur who does not possess horse legs in every instance, for his front legs are those of a human.

Passage 5.19.8 Class: Mythic

ἑξῆς καὶ ἵππων συνωρίδες καὶ γυναῖκες ἐπὶ τῶν συνωρίδων εἰσὶν ἑστῶσαι· πτερὰ δὲ τοῖς ἵπποις χρυσᾶ ἐστι, καὶ ἀνὴρ δίδωσιν ὅπλα μιᾷ τῶν γυναικῶν. ταῦτα ἐς τὴν Πατρόκλου τελευτὴν ἔχειν τεκμαίρονται· Νηρηίδας τε γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν συνωρίδων εἶναι καὶ Θέτιν τὰ ὅπλα λαμβάνειν παρὰ Ἡφαίστου. καὶ δὴ καὶ ἄλλως ὁ τὰ ὅπλα διδοὺς οὔτε τοὺς πόδας ἐστὶν ἐρρωμένος καὶ ὄπισθεν οἰκέτης ἕπεταί οἱ πυράγραν ἔχων·

Proper Nouns:

Θέτις Νηρηίδες Πάτροκλος Ἥφαιστος

Next there are pairs of horses and women standing upon the chariots; the horses have wings of gold, and a man is giving armor to one of the women. It is conjectured that these scenes relate to the death of Patroclus; for the women upon the chariots are Nereids, and Thetis is receiving the armor from Hephaestus. Indeed, further evidence is that the man giving the armor is portrayed with legs that are not strong, and behind him a servant follows holding a pair of tongs.

Passage 5.19.9 Class: Mythic

λέγεται δὲ καὶ ἐς τὸν Κένταυρον ὡς Χίρων, ἀπηλλαγμένος ἤδη παρὰ ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἠξιωμένος εἶναι σύνοικος θεοῖς, ῥᾳστώνην τινὰ ἥκοι τοῦ πένθους Ἀχιλλεῖ παρασκευάσων. παρθένους δὲ ἐπὶ ἡμιόνων τὴν μὲν ἔχουσαν τὰς ἡνίας, τὴν δὲ ἐπικειμένην κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ, Ναυσικᾶν τε νομίζουσιν εἶναι τὴν Ἀλκίνου καὶ τὴν θεράπαιναν, ἐλαυνούσας ἐπὶ τοὺς πλυνούς. τοξεύοντα δὲ ἄνδρα Κενταύρους, τοὺς δὲ καὶ ἀπεκτονότα ἐξ αὐτῶν, δῆλα Ἡρακλέα τε τὸν τοξεύοντα καὶ Ἡρακλέους εἶναι τὸ ἔργον.

Proper Nouns:

Κένταυροι Κένταυρος Ναυσικάα Χείρων θεοί Ἀλκίνοος Ἀχιλλεύς Ἡρακλῆς Ἡρακλῆς

There is also a story regarding the Centaur, that Chiron, having already departed from humans and having been deemed worthy to dwell among the gods, came to afford Achilles some alleviation of his grief. And as for the maidens upon the mules—one of whom holds the reins, and the other wears a veil over her head—they believe them to be Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, and her handmaiden, driving to the washing pools. Furthermore, regarding the man who shoots arrows at Centaurs, with some of the Centaurs already slain, it is clear that the figure depicted shooting is Heracles, and that the deed is his work.

Passage 5.19.10 Class: Historical

τὸν μὲν δὴ τὴν λάρνακα κατ εἰργασμένον ὅστις ἦν, οὐδαμῶς ἡμῖν δυνατὰ ἦν συμβαλέσθαι· τὰ ἐπιγράμματα δὲ τὰ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς τάχα μέν που καὶ ἄλλος τις ἂν εἴη πεποιηκώς, τῆς δὲ ὑπονοίας τὸ πολὺ ἐς Εὔμηλον τὸν Κορίνθιον εἶχεν ἡμῖν, ἄλλων τε ἕνεκα καὶ τοῦ προσοδίου μάλιστα ὃ ἐποίησεν ἐς Δῆλον.

Proper Nouns:

Δῆλος Εὔμηλος Κορίνθιος

Who exactly was the craftsman who designed the chest, it was entirely impossible for us to conjecture. Concerning the inscriptions upon it, it might perhaps have been another who composed them; yet we strongly suspected Eumelus the Corinthian, for several reasons, and particularly because of the processional hymn he composed for Delos.

Legend:

Chapter 5.19