Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.31.1 Class: Mythic

τὸ δὲ ἕτερον πέρας τῆς στοᾶς παρέχεται τὸ πρὸς ἡλίου δυσμῶν περίβολον θεῶν ἱερὸν τῶν Μεγάλων. αἱ δέ εἰσιν αἱ Μεγάλαι θεαὶ Δημήτηρ καὶ Κόρη, καθότι ἐδήλωσα ἤδη καὶ ἐν τῇ Μεσσηνίᾳ συγγραφῇ· τὴν Κόρην δὲ Σώτειραν καλοῦσιν οἱ Ἀρκάδες. ἐπειργασμένοι δὲ ἐπὶ τύπων πρὸ τῆς ἐσόδου τῇ μὲν Ἄρτεμις, τῇ δὲ Ἀσκληπιός ἐστι καὶ Ὑγεία.

Proper Nouns:

Δημήτηρ Κόρη Κόρη Μεγάλαι Μεγάλαι θεαί Μεσσηνία Σώτειρα Ἀρκάδες Ἀσκληπιός Ἄρτεμις ἥλιος Ὑγεία

At the other end of the colonnade, towards the west, is an enclosure sacred to the Great Goddesses. Now, these Great Goddesses are Demeter and the Maiden, as I have previously mentioned in my account of Messenia; however, the Arcadians call the Maiden "Saviour." In relief sculptures in front of the entrance, Artemis is depicted on one side, and on the other side are Asclepius and Hygieia.

Passage 8.31.2 Class: Mythic

θεαὶ δὲ αἱ Μεγάλαι Δημήτηρ μὲν λίθου διὰ πάσης, ἡ δὲ Σώτειρα τὰ ἐσθῆτος ἐχόμενα ξύλου πεποίηται· μέγεθος δὲ ἑκατέρας πέντε που καὶ δέκα εἰσὶ πόδες. τά τε ἀγάλματα Δαμοφῶν καὶ πρὸ αὐτῶν κόρας ἐποίησεν οὐ μεγάλας, ἐν χιτῶσί τε καθήκουσιν ἐς σφυρὰ καὶ ἀνθῶν ἀνάπλεων ἑκατέρα τάλαρον ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ φέρει· εἶναι δὲ θυγατέρες τοῦ Δαμοφῶντος λέγονται, τοῖς δὲ ἐπανάγουσιν ἐς τὸ θειότερον δοκεῖ σφᾶς Ἀθηνᾶν τε εἶναι καὶ Ἄρτεμιν τὰ ἄνθη μετὰ τῆς Περσεφόνης συλλεγούσας.

Proper Nouns:

Δαμοφῶν Δαμοφῶν Δημήτηρ Μεγάλαι θεαί Περσεφόνη Σώτειρα Ἀθηνᾶ Ἄρτεμις

The Great Goddesses are depicted thus: Demeter is carved entirely of stone, but the Saviour Goddess has garments made of wood. In height each of them measures about fifteen feet. Damophon made these statues, and also placed before them smaller figures of maidens, not large, clothed in tunics reaching to their ankles; each maiden carries upon her head a basket full of flowers. It is said these maidens are daughters of Damophon himself, but for those who interpret the figures in a more divine sense, the maidens are thought to represent Athena and Artemis gathering flowers along with Persephone.

Passage 8.31.3 Class: Mythic

ἔστι δὲ καὶ Ἡρακλῆς παρὰ τῇ Δήμητρι μέγεθος μάλιστα πῆχυν· τοῦτον τὸν Ἡρακλέα εἶναι τῶν Ἰδαίων καλουμένων Δακτύλων Ὀνομάκριτός φησιν ἐν τοῖς ἔπεσι. κεῖται δὲ τράπεζα ἔμπροσθεν, ἐπειργασμέναι τε ἐπʼ αὐτῇ δύο τέ εἰσιν Ὧραι καὶ ἔχων Πὰν σύριγγα καὶ Ἀπόλλων κιθαρίζων· ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἐπίγραμμα ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς εἶναι σφᾶς θεῶν τῶν πρώτων.

Proper Nouns:

Δάκτυλοι Δήμητρα Πάν Ἀπόλλων Ἡρακλῆς Ἡρακλῆς Ἰδαῖοι Ὀνομάκριτος Ὧραι

Beside Demeter is a statue of Heracles, about a cubit tall. Onomacritus asserts in his verses that this Heracles is one of those called the Idaean Dactyls. In front stands a table, on which are sculpted two Horae, Pan with pipes, and Apollo playing the lyre. There is also an inscription upon them, stating that they belong to the earliest of the gods.

Passage 8.31.4 Class: Mythic

πεποίηνται δὲ ἐπὶ τραπέζῃ καὶ Νύμφαι· Νέδα μὲν Δία φέρουσά ἐστι νήπιον παῖδα, Ἀνθρακία δὲ νύμφη τῶν Ἀρκαδικῶν καὶ αὕτη δᾷδα ἔχουσά ἐστιν, Ἁγνὼ δὲ τῇ μὲν ὑδρίαν, ἐν δὲ τῇ ἑτέρᾳ χειρὶ φιάλην· Ἀγχιρόης δὲ καὶ Μυρτωέσσης εἰσὶν ὑδρίαι τὰ φορήματα, καὶ ὕδωρ δῆθεν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν κάτεισιν. τοῦ περιβόλου δέ ἐστιν ἐντὸς Φιλίου Διὸς ναός, Πολυκλείτου μὲν τοῦ Ἀργείου τὸ ἄγαλμα, Διονύσῳ δὲ ἐμφερές· κόθορνοί τε γὰρ τὰ ὑποδήματά ἐστιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἔχει τῇ χειρὶ ἔκπωμα, τῇ δὲ ἑτέρᾳ θύρσον, κάθηται δὲ ἀετὸς ἐπὶ τῷ θύρσῳ· καίτοι τοῖς γε ἐς Διόνυσον λεγομένοις τοῦτο οὐχ ὁμολογοῦν ἐστι.

Proper Nouns:

Διόνυσος Ζεύς Μυρτωέσση Νέδα Νύμφαι Πολύκλειτος Φίλιος Ζεύς Ἀγχιρόη Ἀνθρακία Ἀρκαδία Ἁγνώ Ἄργος

On the table are also represented Nymphs: Neda is carrying the infant Zeus; Anthrakia, an Arcadian nymph as well, is holding a torch; Hagno holds an urn in one hand and in the other a drinking-cup; Anchiroë and Myrtoessa are bearing water-jars, and apparently water flows down from them. Within the enclosure is a temple of Zeus Philios. The statue was made by Polycleitus of Argos, and resembles Dionysus: for it wears buskins, holds a cup in one hand and a thyrsus in the other, and an eagle is perched upon the thyrsus. Yet this is not consistent with the established traditions related to Dionysus.

Passage 8.31.5 Class: Mythic

τούτου δὲ ὄπισθεν τοῦ ναοῦ δένδρων ἐστὶν ἄλσος οὐ μέγα, θριγκῷ περιεχόμενον· ἐς μὲν δὴ τὸ ἐντὸς ἔσοδος οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνθρώποις, πρὸ δὲ αὐτοῦ Δήμητρος καὶ Κόρης ὅσον τε ποδῶν τριῶν εἰσιν ἀγάλματα. ἔστι δὲ ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου τῶν Μεγάλων θεῶν καὶ Ἀφροδίτης ἱερόν. πρὸ μὲν δὴ τῆς ἐσόδου ξόανά ἐστιν ἀρχαῖα, Ἥρα καὶ Ἀπόλλων τε καὶ Μοῦσαι---ταῦτα κομισθῆναί φασιν ἐκ Τραπεζοῦντος---, ἀγάλματα δὲ ἐν τῷ ναῷ Δαμοφῶν

Proper Nouns:

Δήμητρα Δαμοφῶν Κόρη Μεγάλοι θεοί Μοῦσαι Τραπεζοῦς Ἀπόλλων Ἀφροδίτη Ἥρα

Behind this temple is a grove of trees, not large, enclosed by a wall. There is no entrance allowed to humans into the inner part, but in front of it stand statues of Demeter and Kore, each about three feet tall. Within the enclosure there is also a sanctuary of the Great Gods and of Aphrodite. Before the entrance stand ancient wooden figures, representing Hera, Apollo, and the Muses—these, they say, were brought from Trapezus. The statues within the temple itself were made by Damophon.

Passage 8.31.6 Class: Historical

ἐποίησεν Ἑρμῆν ξύλου καὶ Ἀφροδίτης ξόανον· καὶ ταύτης χεῖρές εἰσι λίθου καὶ πρόσωπόν τε καὶ ἄκροι πόδες. τὴν δὲ ἐπίκλησιν τῇ θεῷ Μαχανῖτιν ὀρθότατα ἔθεντο ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν· Ἀφροδίτης τε γὰρ ἕνεκα καὶ ἔργων τῶν ταύτης πλεῖσται μὲν ἐπιτεχνήσεις, παντοῖα δὲ ἀνθρώποις ἀνευρημένα ἐς λόγους ἐστίν.

Proper Nouns:

Μαχανῖτις Ἀφροδίτη Ἑρμῆς

He made a wooden figure of Hermes, and also a carved image of Aphrodite; her hands, face, and the tips of her feet are of stone. And their surname for the goddess, "Machanitis" ("Deviser"), seems to me exceedingly appropriate; for it is because of Aphrodite and her deeds that most contrivances have been devised, and these contrivances discovered by humankind are of every kind imaginable.

Passage 8.31.7 Class: Historical

ἑστήκασι δὲ καὶ ἀνδριάντες ἐν οἰκήματι, Καλλιγνώτου τε καὶ Μέντα καὶ Σωσιγένους τε καὶ Πώλου· καταστήσασθαι δὲ οὗτοι Μεγαλοπολίταις λέγονται πρῶτον τῶν Μεγάλων θεῶν τὴν τελετήν, καὶ τὰ δρώμενα τῶν Ἐλευσῖνί ἐστι μιμήματα. κεῖται δὲ ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου θεῶν τοσάδε ἄλλων ἀγάλματα τὸ τετράγωνον παρεχόμενα σχῆμα, Ἑρμῆς τε ἐπίκλησιν Ἀγήτωρ καὶ Ἀπόλλων καὶ Ἀθηνᾶ τε καὶ Ποσειδῶν, ἔτι δὲ Ἥλιος ἐπωνυμίαν ἔχων Σωτὴρ δὲ εἶναι καὶ Ἡρακλῆς. ᾠκοδόμηται δὲ καὶ ἱερόν σφισι μεγέθει μέγα, καὶ ἄγουσιν ἐνταῦθα τὴν τελετὴν ταῖς θεαῖς.

Proper Nouns:

Καλλίγνωτος Μέντας Μεγάλοι θεοί Μεγαλοπολῖται Ποσειδῶν Πῶλος Σωσιγένης Σωτήρ Ἀγήτωρ Ἀθηνᾶ Ἀπόλλων Ἐλευσίς Ἑρμῆς Ἡρακλῆς Ἥλιος

There also stand statues inside a building of Callignotus, Mentas, Sosigenes, and Polus. These men are said to have first established among the Megalopolitans the rites of the Great Goddesses; the ceremonies performed are imitations of those at Eleusis. Within the precinct there are also statues of other divinities arranged in a square: Hermes called Agetor ("Leader"), Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Helios bearing the surname Soter ("Savior"), and Heracles as well. A sanctuary of great size has also been constructed for them, and there they celebrate the sacred ceremonies in honor of the goddesses.

Passage 8.31.8 Class: Historical

τοῦ ναοῦ δὲ τῶν Μεγάλων θεῶν ἐστιν ἱερὸν ἐν δεξιᾷ καὶ Κόρης· λίθου δὲ τὸ ἄγαλμα ποδῶν ὀκτὼ μάλιστα· ταινίαι δὲ ἐπέχουσι διὰ παντὸς τὸ βάθρον. ἐς τοῦτο τὸ ἱερὸν γυναιξὶ μὲν τὸν πάντα ἐστὶν ἔσοδος χρόνον, οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες οὐ πλέον ἢ ἅπαξ κατὰ ἔτος ἕκαστον ἐς αὐτὸ ἐσίασι. γυμνάσιον δὲ τῇ ἀγορᾷ συνεχὲς κατὰ ἡλίου δυσμάς ἐστιν ᾠκοδομημένον.

Proper Nouns:

Κόρη Μεγάλοι θεοί

To the right of the temple of the Great Gods there is a sanctuary of Kore, and her statue, made of stone, is approximately eight feet high. Ribbons constantly encircle its pedestal. Women have perpetual access to this sanctuary, but men may enter it only once each year. Adjoining the marketplace on the west is a gymnasium.

Passage 8.31.9 Class: Historical

τῆς στοᾶς δὲ ἣν ἀπὸ τοῦ Μακεδόνος Φιλίππου καλοῦσι, ταύτης εἰσὶ δύο ὄπισθεν λόφοι, οὐκ ἐς ὕψος ἀνήκοντες· ἐρείπια δὲ Ἀθηνᾶς ἱεροῦ Πολιάδος ἐπὶ αὐτῷ, καὶ τῷ ἑτέρῳ ναός ἐστιν Ἥρας Τελείας, ὁμοίως καὶ ταῦτα ἐρείπια. ὑπὸ τούτῳ τῷ λόφῳ Βάθυλλος καλουμένη πηγὴ συντελεῖ καὶ αὕτη τῷ ποταμῷ Ἑλισσόντι ἐς μέγεθος.

Proper Nouns:

Βάθυλλος Πολιάς Φίλιππος ὁ Μακεδών Ἀθηνᾶ Ἑλισσός Ἥρα Τελεία

Behind the colonnade called after Philip of Macedon are two hills, neither of considerable height. On one of these stand the ruins of a sanctuary of Athena Polias, and upon the other hill is a temple of Hera Teleia—this too now lies in ruins. Beneath this second hill is a spring called Bathyllos, which also contributes significantly to the size of the river Helisson.

Legend:

Chapter 8.31