Pausanias Analysis

Regarding Cylon, I have nothing certain to say about the precise reason why they dedicated a bronze statue of him, though he plotted to seize tyranny. However, my inference is based on these points: he was supremely handsome in appearance, gained considerable fame by winning the Olympic victory in the double foot-race, and married a daughter of Theagenes, who ruled as tyrant over Megara.

Apart from those which I have mentioned, there are two dedications in Athens made from the spoils of war: a bronze statue of Athena, taken as a tithe from the Medes who landed at Marathon (the work of Pheidias—although they say the battle of the Lapiths with the Centaurs depicted on the shield and the rest of the carving were wrought by Mys, while Parrhasios, son of Euenor, drew these and other images for Mys). The point of this Athena's spear and the crest of her helmet can already be seen by those sailing in from Sounion. There is also placed there a bronze chariot, a tithe dedicated from the victory over the Boeotians and the Chalcidians in Euboea. In addition, two other dedications can be found: a statue of Pericles, son of Xanthippos, and a sculpture of Athena known as the Lemnian from those who dedicated it, the most worthy of Phidias' works to behold.

It is said that the Pelasgians, who once inhabited under the Acropolis, built the wall around it, except the portions constructed later by Cimon the son of Miltiades. They also say that Agrolas and Hyperbius were its builders. When I inquired who these men were, I was able to gather nothing else except that they were originally Sicilians who migrated to Acarnania.

When you descend, not to the lower city, but just beneath the Propylaia, there is a spring of water and, close by, a sanctuary to Apollo in a cave. It is believed that here Apollo lay with Kreousa, the daughter of Erechtheus. They say that Philippides was sent as a messenger to Sparta when the Persians had landed on the Greek mainland. Upon his return, he reported that the Lacedaemonians had delayed their departure, as it was their custom not to march out for battle until the moon was at its full. Philippides also related how Pan appeared to him on Mount Parthenion, declaring his goodwill toward the Athenians and promising to come and aid them in battle at Marathon. Thus, due to this announcement, the god Pan has been honored since that time.

Hence also the Areopagus. It is called the "Hill of Ares" because Ares was the first to be tried there; the story has also informed me of these matters, that he killed Halirrhothius and why he slew him. They say that afterwards Orestes too was tried here for the murder of his mother. There is an altar dedicated to Athena Areia, which Orestes set up after being acquitted. As for the rough stones upon which defendants and their accusers stand during their trial, these they have named Respectively the Stone of Insolence (Hybris) and the Stone of Shamelessness (Anaideia).

Nearhere is a sanctuary of goddesses whom the Athenians call Semnai ("Revered ones"), though Hesiod in his Theogony called them Erinyes ("Furies"). Aeschylus was the first to represent them with snakes entwined in their hair; but these statues here exhibit nothing terrifying, nor do any of the other subterranean gods depicted. Statues of Pluto, Hermes, and Earth also stand here. Here, sacrifices are offered by those who have been acquitted of murder at the Areopagus; but sacrifices are offered also, generally, by both foreigners and local citizens alike.

Within the enclosure there is also a tomb of Oedipus. In my careful investigation, I found that his bones had been brought from Thebes; for the account Sophocles composed about the death of Oedipus did not appear credible to me, since Homer did not allow me to accept it as true, having said that after the death of Mecisteus, Oedipus himself went to Thebes and participated in funeral games.

The Athenians also have other law courts, but they have not reached such renown. One is called Parabyston, another Trigonon: the first is in an obscure part of the city, and only a very few gather there, while the second derives its name from its shape. Batrachion ("Frog") and Phoinikion ("Red") have their names from their colors, and one of them continues to be known as such to this day. The largest court, where most gather, they call the Heliaia. There are additional courts dealing specifically with murderers; among these is one called "At the Palladion," established to judge those who have committed involuntary homicide. And no one disputes that Demophon was the first to stand trial in this place.

As to why there are differing accounts about it, various things are said. They relate that when Troy had fallen, Diomedes was sailing homeward with his fleet and that night had already come upon them as they reached the area off Phalerum. The Argives landed on hostile territory, believing mistakenly in the night that it was some other land, not Attica. Then, it is said, Demophon came out against them, equally ignorant that they, the men from the ships, were Argives; he killed some of them and carried off the Palladium. During this attack an Athenian was inadvertently knocked down and trampled to death by Demophon's horse. Because of this incident, Demophon was compelled to stand trial; some claim he was prosecuted by the relatives of the man trampled, while others say he was accused publicly by the Argives as a whole.

At the Delphinion, a trial is established for those claiming to have committed homicide with just cause—a plea such as Theseus successfully offered and thereby escaped penalty when he had slain Pallas and his sons who rose against him. Before Theseus received acquittal for such acts, it had been customary for anyone who committed homicide either to flee universally or remain and suffer death in equal retribution. As for the procedure called the "trial in the Prytaneion," wherein judgments are passed upon iron implements and all other lifeless objects alike, I believe its origin to be as follows: during the reign of Erechtheus as king of the Athenians, the first ox was slain by a certain ox-killer at the altar of Zeus Polieus; the man, abandoning the axe there, fled from the country in exile, but the axe itself, when adjudicated, was immediately acquitted, and even up to the present it undergoes a judgment each year.

Indeed, it is said that even certain inanimate objects have spontaneously executed just vengeance against men; but of these the sword of Cambyses provided the finest and most celebrated example. There is a place by the sea in Piraeus known as Phreattys, where exiles, if another accusation is brought against them when they have gone abroad, make their defense from a ship to those listening from the shore. Tradition says Teucer first used such means to defend himself before Telamon, pleading that he had committed no wrong regarding the death of Ajax. Thus I have related these things for the benefit of those who take a serious interest in matters of judicial procedure.