Pausanias Analysis

Within the enclosure and on the left is the sanctuary of Palaemon, and inside it are statues of Poseidon, Leucothea, and Palaemon himself. There is also another place called the Adyton, to which there is an underground descent; here, they say, Palaemon lies concealed. Whoever, whether Corinthian or foreigner, swears falsely here will find no way at all to escape the consequence of their oath. There is also an ancient sanctuary with an altar called the Altar of the Cyclopes, and at this altar sacrifices are performed to the Cyclopes.

As for the tombs of Sisyphus and of Neleus—for they say that Neleus had come to Corinth and, falling ill, died and was buried near the Isthmus—I doubt whether anyone examining the writings of Eumelus could succeed in locating them. For he says that not even to Nestor was Neleus' tomb revealed by Sisyphus, because it was required to remain unknown equally to everyone. Sisyphus himself, he says, was indeed buried on the Isthmus, but only a few of the Corinthians in his own era knew the location of his tomb. The Isthmian Games, however, did not cease even after the Corinthians had been driven out by Mummius; rather, while the city lay desolate, the Sicyonians undertook their administration. But after the city had been resettled, the privilege returned again to its present inhabitants.

The Corinthians gave to their seaports the names Lechaeum and Cenchreae, after Leches and Cenchrias, who were said to be sons of Poseidon and Peirene, the daughter of Achelous; though in the "Great Eoeae" it is recorded that Peirene was a daughter of Oebalus. At Lechaeum there is a sanctuary of Poseidon and a bronze statue. On the way from the Isthmus toward Cenchreae there is a temple of Artemis with an ancient wooden statue. In Cenchreae itself is a temple of Aphrodite with an image made of stone. Beyond this, upon the mole projecting into the sea, is a bronze image of Poseidon, and at the other end of the harbour there are temples dedicated to Asclepius and Isis. Opposite Cenchreae lies Helen's Bath, a large stream of salt water flowing from a rock into the sea, similar to seawater and slightly warm.

As one ascends toward Corinth, there are other tombs along the way, including near the gate the burial-place of Diogenes the Cynic from Sinope, whom the Greeks surnamed "the Dog." Before the city lies a grove of cypress trees called Kraneion. There is there a sanctuary dedicated to Bellerophon, and a temple of Aphrodite Melainis, and also the tomb of Lais, upon which stands an image of a lioness holding a ram in her front paws.

There is also another monument in Thessaly said to be the tomb of Lais; for she journeyed even into Thessaly out of love for Hippostratos. It is said that originally she was from Hyccara in Sicily, and as a young girl she was captured by Nikias and the Athenians, sold into slavery in Corinth, and there surpassed in beauty the courtesans of her time, gaining great admiration. Such is her fame among the Corinthians that even now they compete for her, calling her their own.

The objects in the city worthy of mention are partly those still remaining from ancient times, but the majority were created later during the period of its prosperity. Now, in the marketplace—for there the greatest number of sanctuaries stand—is a temple of Artemis surnamed Ephesia and gilded wooden images of Dionysus, except for their faces, which are decorated with red paint. One they call Lysios ("the Deliverer") and the other Bakcheios.

I will also record the traditions relating to the wooden images. They say that Pentheus insulted Dionysus, dared other outrages against him, and at length came to Mount Cithaeron to spy upon the women. Having climbed a tree, he watched them performing their rites. But they perceived him, and immediately dragged Pentheus down from the tree and tore him limb from limb, each woman pulling away some part of his body while he was still alive. Afterwards, according to the Corinthians, the Pythia commanded them by oracle, once they had found that very tree, to worship it equally with the god himself. For this reason they made these images from that tree.

There is also a temple of Fortune containing an upright statue made of Parian marble, and beside it is a sanctuary devoted to all the gods. Near this temple is constructed a fountain, above which stands a bronze statue of Poseidon, where from beneath his feet a dolphin sends forth water. There is also a bronze statue of Apollo bearing the surname Clarius, and a statue of Aphrodite made by Hermogenes of Cythera. There are two bronze statues of Hermes, both upright figures, and one of these has a temple erected around it. Also present are statues of Zeus, all situated outdoors; one of these had no surname, but the others they call respectively Chthonios (of the Underworld) and Hypsistos (the Highest).