Pausanias Analysis

In the territory of the Orchomenians, on the left side of the road from Anchisiae, on the slope of the mountain, stands the sanctuary of Artemis Hymnia. Both Orchomenians and Mantineans share it, and it has a priestess as well as a male priest. Throughout their entire lives these two are not only bound to strict rules concerning sexual relations but also follow holiness in other regards; neither their bathing nor their other ways of life are the same as those of other people, nor may they enter the house of a common individual. I know of similar practices lasting for a year, though no longer, among those Ephesians who become priests dedicated to Artemis of Ephesus, whom their fellow citizens term "Essenes." To Artemis Hymnia is also held an annual festival.

The earlier city of the Orchomenians stood upon the top of a mountain summit, and remains of the agora and city walls still survive. But the city existing in our time is settled below, alongside the enclosure of the ancient wall. In this place worthy of seeing is a spring from which the inhabitants draw water, and sanctuaries of Poseidon and Aphrodite, whose statues are of stone. Near the city is a wooden image of Artemis set within a great cedar tree, and the goddess is called Cedreatis from this cedar.

Below the city there are mounds of stones standing apart from one another, piled up as memorials for men who had fallen in war. Against whom of the Peloponnesians they fought—whether Arcadians themselves or others—is not indicated by inscriptions on the tombs, nor do the Orchomenians have any memory of it.

Opposite the city is Mount Trachy. The water flowing from the deity through a ravine between the city and Mount Trachy descends into another plain belonging to Orchomenus. This plain is considerable in size, being mostly occupied by a lake. About three stades outside Orchomenus, the straight road to the city of Caphyae runs alongside the ravine itself, and then continues on the left, along the standing water. The other road crosses the water flowing through the ravine and leads beneath Mount Trachy.

Along this road, first there is the tomb of Aristokrates, who once forcibly dishonored the maiden priestess of the goddess Hymnia. After the tomb of Aristokrates, there are springs called Teneiai, and about seven stades from these springs lies a place named Amilos. They say that Amilos once was a city. Near this place, the road again splits into two parts, one leading to Stymphalos, the other toward Pheneos.

On the way leading toward Pheneus, you will next come upon a mountain; on this mountain, the territories of the Orchomenians, the Pheneatians, and the Caphyatans meet. Above the boundary markers rises a lofty crag, which they call the Caphyatic Rock. Beyond these borders of the aforementioned cities lies a ravine through which the road to Pheneus passes. At approximately the midpoint of this ravine, water emerges from a spring, and at the far end of the ravine is a place called Caryae.