Pausanias Analysis

Elateia is the largest of the Phocian cities after Delphi itself. It lies near Amphikleia, and the road between them is one hundred and eighty stadia. Most of the way is flat terrain, and then again only slightly uphill as one approaches the city of Elateia. The Kephisos River flows through this plain, and the birds known as otides particularly frequent its banks.

The people of Elateia managed both to drive out Cassander and his Macedonian army, and later, when Taxilus commanded Mithridates' war against them, they succeeded in escaping disaster. On account of these deeds, the Romans granted them autonomy and exemption from taxation, allowing them to inhabit their territory freely. The origins of the Elateans, however, are disputed, for they claim to be descended from foreign stock. The Arcadians assert that the Elateans originally came from Arcadia, stating that Elatos, the son of Arkas, when the Phlegyans marched upon the sanctuary at Delphi, remained behind in Phocis together with his army to defend the god, and thus became the founder of Elateia.

Among the cities of the Phocians burned by the Persian, Elateia is also to be reckoned. Some calamities befell the Elateans in common with the other Phocians, but the deity also brought upon them their own private misfortunes through the Macedonians. In the war under Cassander, Olympiodorus especially was responsible for rendering the Macedonians' siege unsuccessful. Later, Philip, the son of Demetrius, reduced the population of Elateia to the utmost terror, while at the same time he won over the more powerful citizens by means of bribery.

Now Titus, the general of the Romans—sent out from Rome for the very purpose of freeing the whole of Greece—promised to restore to the Elateans their ancient constitution, and by envoys proclaimed to them that they should withdraw from their allegiance to the Macedonians. But due either to the stubbornness of the common people or of their magistrates, the Elateans remained loyal to Philip and consequently endured siege by the Roman. Yet later, when Taxilus commanded for Mithridates, they courageously resisted the siege by the barbarians from Pontus; because of this deed, the Romans at length granted them actual freedom.

In my own time, the marauding tribe of the Costoboci made a raid into Greece, reaching as far as Elateia. Here, a man named Mnesiboulos gathered about himself a company of men, slew many of the barbarians, and fell himself during the battle. This Mnesiboulos had previously won victories in running and other contests, winning in the two-hundred-and-thirty-fifth Olympiad both the stadium and the race in armour. At Elateia, there stands by the road a bronze statue of the runner Mnesiboulos.

The marketplace itself is worth seeing, as is the carving of Elatus on a stela. However, I do not know clearly whether they set up this stela to honor him as their founder or as a gravestone. There is also a temple built to Asclepius and a statue of him bearded. The artists who crafted this statue are named Timocles and Timarchides, both of Attic descent. At the right-hand boundary of the city is a theater and an ancient bronze statue of Athena. They say that this goddess defended them against the barbarians who accompanied Taxilus.

About twenty stades distant from Elateia stands a sanctuary of Athena, surnamed Kranaia. The road leading there has such a gentle slope upward that one hardly notices, the incline being practically imperceptible. At the end of the road lies a hill, steep for the most part, yet neither very imposing in size nor particularly high. The sanctuary has been built on this hill; it includes porches and rooms behind these colonnades, in which dwell those appointed to serve the goddess, especially the priest and the other attendants.

They choose the priest from among the boys who have not yet reached puberty, taking care beforehand that the period of priesthood shall expire before he attains maturity. He serves continuously as priest for five years, during which time he lives by the goddess according to a certain established way of life, and the bathing basins are provided for him in the ancient customary manner. This statue too was made by the sons of Polycleitus, and it is armored as though ready for battle. Furthermore, upon the shield has been crafted a relief imitating the design upon the shield of the image which the Athenians call the Parthenos.