Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.25.1 Class: Historical

ἐς δὲ Θέλπουσαν ἰόντι ἐκ Ψωφῖδος πρῶτα μὲν χωρίον Τρόπαιά ἐστιν ὀνομαζόμενον ἐν ἀριστερᾷ τοῦ Λάδωνος, Τροπαίων δὲ ἔχεται δρυμὸς Ἀφροδίσιον· τρίτα δέ ἐστιν ἀρχαῖα ἐν στήλῃ γράμματα, ὅροι Ψωφιδίοις πρὸς τὴν Θελπουσίαν χώραν. ἐν δὲ τῇ γῇ τῇ Θελπουσίᾳ ποταμός ἐστιν Ἄρσην καλούμενος· τοῦτον οὖν διαβήσῃ καὶ ὅσον πέντε ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ σταδίοις ἀφίξῃ καὶ εἴκοσι ἐπὶ ἐρείπια Καοῦντος κώμης ὃ καὶ ἱερὸν Ἀσκληπιοῦ Καουσίου πεποιημένον ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ.

Proper Nouns:

Θέλπουσα Θέλπουσα Καούσιος Καοῦντος Λάδων Τρόπαια Τρόπαια Ψωφίδιοι Ψώφις Ἀσκληπιός Ἀφροδίσιον Ἄρσην

On the way from Psophis to Thelpousa, the first place encountered is called Tropaea, situated on the left bank of the Ladon river. Next to Tropaea is the grove Aphrodision, and thirdly there are ancient inscriptions carved on a stele marking the boundaries of Psophidian territory toward the land of Thelpousa. In Thelpousian territory there is a river named Arsen; having crossed this river and proceeded about twenty-five stades beyond it, one reaches the ruins of the village Kaous, along the road to which is built a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius Kaousios.

Passage 8.25.2 Class: Mythic

τοῦ δὲ ἱεροῦ τούτου σταδίους τεσσαράκοντα μάλιστα ἀφέστηκεν ἡ πόλις· τεθῆναι δὲ αὐτῇ ὄνομα ἀπὸ νύμφης λέγουσι Θελπούσης, ταύτην δὲ θυγατέρα εἶναι Λάδωνος. τῷ δὲ Λάδωνι ἄρχεται μὲν τὸ ὕδωρ ἐν πηγαῖς τῆς Κλειτορίας, καθὰ ὁ λόγος ἐδήλωσεν ἤδη μοι· ῥεῖ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν παρὰ Λευκάσιον χωρίον καὶ Μεσόβοα καὶ διὰ τῶν Νάσων ἐπί τε Ὄρυγα τὸν καὶ Ἁλοῦντα ὀνομαζόμενον, ἐξ Ἁλοῦντος δὲ ἐπὶ Θαλιάδας τε καὶ ἐπὶ Δήμητρος ἱερὸν κάτεισιν Ἐλευσινίας.

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Θαλιάδες Θελποῦσα Κλειτορία Λάδων Λευκάσιον Μεσόβοα Νῆσοι Ἁλοῦς Ἐλευσινία Ὄρυξ

The city stands around forty stades distant from this sanctuary. They say it was named after the nymph Thelpusa, who is said to have been a daughter of Ladon. The water of the Ladon begins in springs at Kleitoria, as I have already described. It flows first near the place Leukasion and Mesoboa, then through the Nasoi, on toward Oryx, also called Halous; and from Halous it descends toward Thaliades and the sanctuary of Demeter Eleusinia.

Passage 8.25.3 Class: Mythic

τὸ δὲ ἱερὸν τοῦτο ἔστι μὲν Θελπουσίων ἐν ὅροις· ἀγάλματα δὲ ἐν αὐτῷ, ποδῶν ἑπτὰ οὐκ ἀποδέον ἕκαστον, Δήμητρός ἐστι καὶ ἡ παῖς καὶ ὁ Διόνυσος, τὰ πάντα ὁμοίως λίθου. μετὰ δὲ τῆς Ἐλευσινίας τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ Θέλπουσαν τὴν πόλιν ὁ Λάδων παρέξεισιν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ, κειμένην μὲν ἐπὶ λόφου μεγάλου, τὰ πλείω δὲ ἐφʼ ἡμῶν ἔρημον, ὥστε καὶ τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τῷ πέρατι οὖσάν φασιν ἐν τῷ μεσαιτάτῳ ποιηθῆναι τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς. ἔστι δὲ ἐν Θελπούσῃ ναὸς Ἀσκληπιοῦ καὶ θεῶν ἱερὸν τῶν δώδεκα·

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Διόνυσος Θέλπουσα Θέλπουσα Θέλπουσοι Λάδων θεοὶ δώδεκα Ἀσκληπιός Ἐλευσίνια

This sanctuary lies within the territory of Thelpousa. Inside, there are stone statues, each nearly seven feet tall, representing Demeter, her daughter, and Dionysus, all similarly made of stone. Past the sanctuary of Eleusinian Demeter, the Ladon river flows by the city of Thelpousa on the left. The city is positioned upon a lofty hill but has been mostly deserted in our times, so that even the agora, which is now at its farthest edge, was originally situated in the very center. In Thelpousa, there is a temple devoted to Asklepios, as well as a sanctuary to the Twelve Gods.

Passage 8.25.4 Class: Mythic

τούτου τὰ πολλὰ ἐς ἔδαφος ἔκειτο ἤδη. μετὰ δὲ Θέλπουσαν ἐπὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τῆς Δήμητρος ὁ Λάδων κάτεισι τὸ ἐν Ὀγκείῳ· καλοῦσι δὲ Ἐρινὺν οἱ Θελπούσιοι τὴν θεόν, ὁμολογεῖ δέ σφισι καὶ Ἀντίμαχος ἐπιστρατείαν Ἀργείων ποιήσας ἐς Θήβας· καί οἱ τὸ ἔπος ἔχει, Δήμητρος τόθι φασὶν Ἐρινύος εἶναι ἔδεθλον. Antimachus, unknown location. ὁ μὲν δὴ Ὄγκιος Ἀπόλλωνός ἐστι κατὰ τὴν φήμην καὶ ἐν τῇ Θελπουσίᾳ περὶ τὸ χωρίον ἐδυνάστευε τὸ Ὄγκιον, τῇ θεῷ δὲ Ἐρινὺς γέγονεν ἐπίκλησις·

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Θέλπουσα Θέλπουσα Θελπούσιοι Θῆβαι Λάδων Ἀντίμαχος Ἀπόλλων Ἀργεῖοι Ἐρινύς Ἐρινύς Ἐρινύς Ὄγκειον Ὄγκιον Ὄγκιος

Most of this temple already lay in ruins. After passing Thelpusa, the river Ladon flows down toward the sanctuary of Demeter at Onkeion. The Thelpusians call the goddess Erinys (Fury), and Antimachus agrees with them, having recorded the Argives’ expedition against Thebes. He has expressed this in the verse: "There, they say, is the seat of Demeter Erinys." Of this Antimachus nothing further is known. Onkeios, according to tradition, was a surname of Apollo, who once held lordship over that region around Thelpusa called Onkeion. Yet the goddess received the surname Erinys (Fury).

Passage 8.25.5 Class: Mythic

πλανωμένῃ γὰρ τῇ Δήμητρι, ἡνίκα τὴν παῖδα ἐζήτει, λέγουσιν ἕπεσθαί οἱ τὸν Ποσειδῶνα ἐπιθυμοῦντα αὐτῇ μιχθῆναι, καὶ τὴν μὲν ἐς ἵππον μεταβαλοῦσαν ὁμοῦ ταῖς ἵπποις νέμεσθαι ταῖς Ὀγκίου, Ποσειδῶν δὲ συνίησεν ἀπατώμενος καὶ συγγίνεται τῇ Δήμητρι ἄρσενι ἵππῳ καὶ αὐτὸς εἰκασθείς.

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Ποσειδῶν Ὄγκιος

For when Demeter was wandering while searching for her daughter, they say that Poseidon followed after her, desiring to unite with her. She changed herself into a mare and grazed together with the horses of Onkios; but Poseidon, realizing her deception, assumed the form of a stallion and thus united with Demeter.

Passage 8.25.6 Class: Mythic

τὸ μὲν δὴ παραυτίκα τὴν Δήμητρα ἐπὶ τῷ συμβάντι ἔχειν ὀργίλως, χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον τοῦ τε θυμοῦ παύσασθαι καὶ τῷ Λάδωνι ἐθελῆσαί φασιν αὐτὴν λούσασθαι· ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ ἐπικλήσεις τῇ θεῷ γεγόνασι, τοῦ μηνίματος μὲν ἕνεκα Ἐρινύς, ὅτι τὸ θυμῷ χρῆσθαι καλοῦσιν ἐρινύειν οἱ Ἀρκάδες, Λουσία δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ λούσασθαι τῷ Λάδωνι. τὰ δὲ ἀγάλματά ἐστι τὰ ἐν τῷ ναῷ ξύλου, πρόσωπα δέ σφισι καὶ χεῖρες ἄκραι καὶ πόδες εἰσὶ Παρίου λίθου·

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Λάδων Λουσία Πάριος Ἀρκάδες Ἐρινύς

At first, indeed, Demeter became angry at what had happened, but later, they say, her anger abated, and she chose willingly to bathe herself in the Ladon river. For this reason, the goddess gained additional surnames: "Erinys," because among the Arcadians anger is called "erinuein," and "Lousia" due to her bathing in the Ladon. The images within the temple are made of wood, but their faces, and the ends of their hands and feet, are made of Parian marble.

Passage 8.25.7 Class: Mythic

τὸ μὲν δὴ τῆς Ἐρινύος τήν τε κίστην καλουμένην ἔχει καὶ ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ δᾷδα, μέγεθος δὲ εἰκάζομεν ἐννέα εἶναι ποδῶν αὐτήν· ἡ Λουσία δὲ ποδῶν ἓξ ἐφαίνετο εἶναι. ὅσοι δὲ Θέμιδος καὶ οὐ Δήμητρος τῆς Λουσίας τὸ ἄγαλμα εἶναι νομίζουσι, μάταια ἴστωσαν ὑπειληφότες. τὴν δὲ Δήμητρα τεκεῖν φασιν ἐκ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος θυγατέρα, ἧς τὸ ὄνομα ἐς ἀτελέστους λέγειν οὐ νομίζουσι, καὶ ἵππον τὸν Ἀρείονα· ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ παρὰ σφίσιν Ἀρκάδων πρώτοις Ἵππιον Ποσειδῶνα ὀνομασθῆναι.

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Δήμητρα Θέμις Λουσία Ποσειδῶν Ἀρείων Ἀρκάδες Ἐρινύς Ἵππιος Ποσειδῶν

The statue of the Erinys holds what is called a cista, and in her right hand a torch; we estimate the figure to be about nine feet tall. The statue of Lousia appeared to be six feet in height. Those who think that this statue of Lousia represents Themis rather than Demeter should know they are holding a mistaken opinion. It is said that Demeter gave birth, by Poseidon, to a daughter whose name they do not consider proper to reveal to the uninitiated, and also to the horse Areion. For this reason, they say, the Arcadians first named Poseidon Hippios ("Horse-god").

Passage 8.25.8 Class: Mythic

ἐπάγονται δὲ ἐξ Ἰλιάδος ἔπη καὶ ἐκ Θηβαΐδος μαρτύριά σφισιν εἶναι τῷ λόγῳ, ἐν μὲν Ἰλιάδι ἐς αὐτὸν Ἀρείονα πεποιῆσθαι, οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρείονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι, Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν· Hom. Il. 23.346 ἐν δὲ τῇ Θηβαΐδι ὡς Ἄδραστος ἔφευγεν ἐκ Θηβῶν εἵματα λυγρὰ φέρων σὺν Ἀρείονι κυανοχαίτῃ. Thebaid, unknown location. αἰνίσσεσθαι οὖν ἐθέλουσι τὰ ἔπη Ποσειδῶνα Ἀρείονι εἶναι πατέρα, Ἀντίμαχος δὲ παῖδα εἶναι Γῆς φησιν·

Proper Nouns:

Γῆ Θηβαΐς Θηβαΐς Θῆβαι Ποσειδῶν Ἀντίμαχος Ἀρείων Ἀρείων Ἄδραστος Ἄδραστος Ἰλιάς Ἰλιάς

They bring in quotations from the Iliad as well as from the Thebaid as evidence to support their account. In the Iliad, Arion himself is mentioned: "Nor even if he drove behind noble Arion, Adrastus' swift horse, that was of divine descent." (Hom. Il. 23.346) And in the Thebaid, how Adrastus fled from Thebes: "Wearing mournful garments, together with dark-maned Arion." (Thebaid, unknown location) Thus, by these verses they wish to intimate that Poseidon was Arion's father, although Antimachus asserts that Arion was the offspring of Earth.

Passage 8.25.9 Class: Mythic

Ἄδρηστος Ταλαὼ υἱὸς Κρηθηιάδαο πρώτιστος Δαναῶν ἑὼ αἰνέτω ἤλασεν ἵππω, Καιρόν τε κραιπνὸν καὶ Ἀρείονα Θελπουσαῖον, τόν ῥά τʼ Ἀπόλλωνος σχεδὸν ἄλσεος Ὀγκαίοιο αὐτὴ Γαῖʼ ἀνέδωκε, σέβας θνητοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι. Antimachus, unknown location.

Proper Nouns:

Antimachus Γῆ Δαναοί Θελπουσαῖος Καιρός Κρηθηιάδης Ταλαώς Ἀπόλλων Ἀρείων Ἄδρηστος Ὄγκαιον

Adrastus, son of Talaus and descendant of Cretheus, was the very first of the Danaans who drove his famous horses: swift Caerus, and Arion from Thelpusa, whom Earth herself brought forth near the grove of Apollo Ogygius, a marvel for mortals to behold. Antimachus, unknown location.

Passage 8.25.10 Class: Mythic

δύναιτο δʼ ἂν καὶ ἀναφύντι ἐκ γῆς τῷ ἵππῳ ἐκ θεοῦ τε εἶναι τὸ γένος καὶ αἱ τρίχες οἱ τὴν χρόαν ἐοικέναι κυανῷ. λέγεται δὲ καὶ τοιάδε, Ἡρακλέα πολεμοῦντα Ἠλείοις αἰτῆσαι παρʼ Ὄγκου τὸν ἵππον καὶ ἑλεῖν τὴν Ἦλιν ἐπὶ τῷ Ἀρείονι ὀχούμενον ἐς τὰς μάχας, δοθῆναι δὲ ὑπὸ Ἡρακλέους ὕστερον Ἀδράστῳ τὸν ἵππον. ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ ἐς τὸν Ἀρείονα ἐποίησεν Ἀντίμαχος ὅς ῥά ποτʼ Ἀδρήστῳ τριτάτῳ δέδμηθʼ ὑπʼ ἄνακτι. Antimachus, unknown location.

Proper Nouns:

Ἀντίμαχος Ἀρείων Ἄδραστος Ἄδραστος Ἠλεῖοι Ἡρακλῆς Ἡρακλῆς Ἦλις Ὄγκος

One could believe also from the horse's having sprung forth from the earth that its lineage was divine, and also from its hairs, whose color resembled dark blue. This story too is told: that when Heracles was waging war against the Eleans, he requested the horse from Oncus, and having received Arion mounted him into battle and so captured Elis; and that afterward, Heracles gave this horse to Adrastus. It is about this very Arion that Antimachus composed the following lines: "Who once was mastered by lord Adrastus as the third possessor."

Passage 8.25.11 Class: Mythic

ὁ δὲ Λάδων τῆς Ἐρινύος τὸ ἱερὸν ἀπολιπὼν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ, παρέξεισιν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ μὲν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος τοῦ Ὀγκαιάτου τὸν ναόν, τὰ δὲ ἐν δεξιᾷ παρὰ Ἀσκληπιοῦ Παιδὸς ἱερόν, ἔνθα Τρυγόνος μνῆμά ἐστι τροφοῦ · τροφὸν δὲ Ἀσκληπιοῦ τὴν Τρυγόνα εἶναι λέγουσιν· ἐν γὰρ τῇ Θελπούσῃ τῷ Ἀσκληπιῷ παιδὶ ἐκκειμένῳ φασὶν ἐπιτυχόντα Αὐτόλαον Ἀρκάδος υἱὸν νόθον ἀνελέσθαι τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ παῖδα Ἀσκληπιὸν εἰκότα εἶναι μᾶλλον ἡγούμην, ὃ καὶ ἐδήλωσα ἐν τοῖς Ἐπιδαυρίων.

Proper Nouns:

Αὐτόλαος Θέλπουσα Λάδων Παῖς Τρυγών Ἀπόλλων Ἀρκάς Ἀσκληπιός Ἐπίδαυροι Ἐρινύς Ὀγκαιᾶτης

The Ladon, after leaving the sanctuary of Erinys on the left, next passes on the left the temple of Apollo Ongaeates, and on the right a sanctuary of Asclepius Païs, where lies the tomb of Trygone, his nurse. They say that Trygone was nurse to Asclepius. For when the child Asclepius had been exposed at Thelpusa, Autolaus, an illegitimate son of Arcas, chanced upon him, picked up the infant, and thereupon I considered it more likely that Asclepius was indeed a child, a matter I have already explained in my discussion of the Epidaurians.

Passage 8.25.12 Class: Mythic

ἔστι δὲ Τουθόα ποταμός· ἐμβάλλει δὲ ἐς τὸν Λάδωνα καὶ ἡ Τουθόα κατὰ τὸν Θελπουσίων ὅρον πρὸς Ἡραιεῖς, καλούμενον δὲ ὑπὸ Ἀρκάδων Πεδίον. καθότι δὲ αὐτὸς ὁ Λάδων ἐκδίδωσιν ἐς τὸν Ἀλφειόν, Κοράκων ὠνόμασται νᾶσος. οἱ δὲ ἥγηνται τὴν Ἐνίσπην καὶ Στρατίην τε καὶ Ῥίπην τὰς ὑπὸ Ὁμήρου κατειλεγμένας γενέσθαι νήσους ποτὲ ἐν τῷ Λάδωνι ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων οἰκουμένας, ἃ οἱ πεπιστευκότες μάταια ἴστωσαν·

Proper Nouns:

Θελπούσιοι Κόρακες Λάδων Λάδων Πεδίον Στρατίη Τουθόα Ἀλφειός Ἀρκάδες Ἐνίσπη Ἡραιεῖς Ὅμηρος Ῥίπη

There is a river called Tuthoa, which also flows into the Ladon. Tuthoa lies along the boundary between Thelpusa and Heraea, an area Arcadians call "Pedion" (Plain). At the point where the Ladon itself empties into the Alpheios, there is an island known as Korakon ("of the crows"). Some believe that Enispe, Stratie, and Rhipe—mentioned by Homer in his verses—were once islands located within the Ladon river and inhabited by men; but those who trust in such accounts should know that their beliefs are in vain.

Passage 8.25.13 Class: Historical

οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτε οὐδὲ νηὶ παρισουμένας πορθμίδι παράσχοιτο ὁ Λάδων νήσους. κάλλους μὲν γὰρ ἕνεκα οὐδενὸς ποταμῶν δεύτερος οὔτε τῶν βαρβαρικῶν ἐστιν οὔτε Ἕλληνος, μέγεθος δὲ οὐ τοσοῦτος ὡς ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ νήσους ἀναφαίνεσθαι καθάπερ ἐν Ἴστρῳ τε καὶ Ἠριδανῷ.

Proper Nouns:

Λάδων Ἕλληνες Ἠριδανός Ἴστρος

For the Ladon would never offer islands that could rival even a ferry-boat in size. Indeed, in beauty it is second to none of the rivers, neither among the barbarian nor among the Greek; yet it is not large enough for islands to appear in it, as they do in both the Ister and the Eridanos.

Legend:

Chapter 8.25