Pausanias Analysis

The road from Argos to Mantinea is not the same as the one leading toward Tegea, but it begins from the gates near Deiras. Upon this road there is built a double sanctuary, having one entrance facing west and another facing east. In the eastern section stands a wooden statue of Aphrodite, and in the western part, one of Ares. They say that these statues were dedicated by Polynices and by the Argives who joined him in his expedition, seeking vengeance on his behalf.

Advancing onward from here and having crossed over a mountain stream called Charadros, one comes to Oinoe, which, according to the Argives, derives its name from Oineus. For they say that Oineus, who had ruled as king in Aetolia, was expelled from his kingdom by the sons of Agrios and came to Argos to Diomedes. Diomedes avenged him regarding most things, launching a campaign into Calydonia, but stated that he could not remain there himself. Instead, he told Oineus that he could accompany him to Argos, if he wished. When Oineus arrived there, Diomedes honoured him in every way, as was fitting for one to honour a father of one's own father, and upon Oineus' death he buried him here. Because of this, there is among the Argives a place called Oinoe.

Above Oenoe is the mountain Artemision, and on its summit is a sanctuary of Artemis. On this mountain are also the springs of the Inachus—for there are in fact springs here, but their water does not flow far along the surface of the land.

In this direction, indeed, there was no longer anything worth seeing; but another road leads from the gates near Deiras toward Lyrceia. At this spot, it is said, Lynceus alone survived of his fifty brothers; and as soon as he was safe, he raised a torch from there. For he had agreed with Hypermnestra to signal by torchlight if he reached safety, having escaped Danaus; and they say that she herself also, on her part, raised another torch from Larisa, thus plainly indicating that she too was no longer in any danger. For this reason the Argives annually celebrate a festival of torches.

At that time, the place was called Lynkeia, but after Lyrkos settled there—he was an illegitimate son of Abas—it received its new name from him. Among the ruins there are other things not much worth mentioning, and also an image of Lyrkos set upon a stone pillar. From Argos to this place is approximately sixty stades, and from Lyrkeia another sixty stades to Orneai. Homer made no mention of the city of Lyrkeia in his catalogue, as by the time of the Greek expedition against Ilium it was already deserted. But Orneai, which was still inhabited, he listed ahead of Phlious and Sikyon, just as it lay nearer in location to Argos.

They were named after Orneus, the son of Erechtheus; the son of this Orneus was Peteos, and Peteos’ son was Menestheus, who joined Agamemnon in overthrowing Priam's kingdom with the Athenians. From him the city took its name; afterwards the Argives expelled the inhabitants of Orneae, who, after their expulsion, became fellow-residents with the Argives. At Orneae there is a temple of Artemis with an upright wooden image, and another temple consecrated in common to all the gods. Beyond Orneae lie Sicyon and Phlius.

To those traveling from Argos into the territory of Epidaurus, there is a building on the right hand side closely resembling a pyramid, upon which are engraved Argive-shaped shields. At this place, Proetus fought with Acrisius for the kingship. They say that the battle resulted in a draw, and reconciliation followed afterward, as neither could gain a decisive victory. They also claim this was the first occasion when they and their armies fought equipped with shields. The fallen from each side—who were citizens and kinsmen—were jointly buried together there, and a common memorial was made for them at this spot.

Proceeding onward from there and turning to the right are the ruins of Tiryns. For the Argives also displaced the people of Tiryns, wishing to take them as fellow inhabitants and thus enlarge Argos. They say the hero Tiryns, from whom the city took its name, was the son of Argos, who was the son of Zeus. The wall, which alone now remains of the ruins, is the work of the Cyclopes, built of unwrought stones, each stone being so large that even the smallest among them could not begin to be moved by a pair of mules. Long ago the smaller stones were fitted into place in such a way as to perfectly harmonize with the large blocks.

Upon descending toward the sea, there are located here the chambers of the daughters of Proetus. Returning back to the main road, turning left, you will reach Medeia. They say that Electryon, father of Alcmene, ruled in Medeia. In my time, however, nothing of Medeia remained except the site itself.

Along the straight road to Epidaurus lies a village named Lessa. In it stands a temple of Athena, containing a wooden statue quite similar to the one on the acropolis of Larisa. Above Lessa rises Mount Arachnaion, which in ancient times was called Sapyselaton ("Fir-covered"), a name derived from Inachus. On the mountain are altars to Zeus and Hera, and here they offer sacrifices when they seek rain.