Pausanias Analysis

In Therapne I myself saw the spring called Messeïs. According to another tradition of the Lacedaemonians, the spring that in my time is named Polydeucea was originally called Messeïs, not the one in Therapne. Polydeucea itself consists both of the spring and of a sanctuary of Polydeuces, situated on the right side of the road leading to Therapne.

Not far from Therapne there is a place called Phoibaion, and in it is a sanctuary of the Dioskouroi; here the young men sacrifice to Enyalios. At no great distance from it stands a sanctuary of Poseidon known as Gaiaochos ("Earth-holder"). Proceeding from there towards Taygetos, one comes to a site called Alesiai; they say it was here that Myleas, son of Lelex, was the first among men to invent the mill and grind meal, and that he ground grain in Alesiai. Here also stands the hero shrine of Lakedaimon, the son of Taygete.

After crossing from there the river Phellia, going directly past Amyclae toward the sea, one comes upon Pharis, a city in Laconia once inhabited. Turning away from the Phellia river to the right, the road leads toward Mount Taygetus. In this plain is a precinct sacred to Zeus Messapeus; the god, they say, received the surname from a man who performed ritual sacrifices in his honor. From there, as one descends from Taygetus, there is a place where formerly stood the city of Bryseae; a temple to Dionysus still remains here, and also an image in the open air. The statue within the temple can only be viewed by women, for indeed it is women alone who perform the sacrificial rites in secret.

The peak of Taygetus, Taleton, rises above Bryseai; they call this spot sacred to Helios, and there they offer sacrifices to Helios, among other things horses especially. I know that the Persians also follow a similar custom in sacrificing horses. Not far from Taleton is a place named Evoras, which shelters wild animals and especially wild goats. The whole Taygetus range abounds with hunting, both for these goats and for wild boars, and very plentifully also for deer and bears.

Between Taletum and Euoras, places called Theras, there is a sanctuary of Demeter Eleusinia. They say that Leto came there from the peaks of Taygetus. At this place, the Lacedaemonians say Heracles was concealed by Asclepius, who healed his wound; and therein stands a wooden image of Orpheus, said to be the work of the Pelasgians. Moreover, I am acquainted with another rite performed there:

On the seacoast lay a small city named Helos, which even Homer has mentioned in his catalogue of the Lacedaemonians: "Those who held Amyclae, and Helos by the sea" (Homer, Il. 2.584). Helos was founded by Helios, the youngest son of Perseus. Later, the Dorians captured the city by siege, and these inhabitants became the first slaves of the commonwealth of Lacedaemon, called Helots after their true condition. In time, the term prevailed, such that even subsequent servile classes whom the Dorians acquired (although these later were Messenians by descent) also came to be known as Helots. This resembles how the Greeks collectively gained their name “Hellenes” from the place known as Hellas, located originally in Thessaly.

From this place called Helos they bring an ancient wooden image of the Maiden, daughter of Demeter, to the Eleusinion during certain prescribed days. Fifteen stades from the Eleusinion stands a place called Lapithaeum, named for a local man called Lapithus. This Lapithaeum is situated on Mount Taygetus, and not far from it is Dereium, where there is an open-air statue of Artemis Dereatis and near it a spring they name Anonus. About twenty stades beyond Dereium lies Harpleia, which extends to the edge of the plain.

On the road from Sparta toward Arcadia stands a statue of Athena called "Pareia" in the open air; beyond it is a sanctuary of Achilles. It is not customary for them to open it, but all those youths intending to compete in the games at Platanistas are required to sacrifice to Achilles before their contest. The Spartans say that this sanctuary was built for them by Prax, a descendant in the third generation from Pergamos, the son of Neoptolemus.

Going forward, one encounters a tomb called the "Tomb of the Horse." Here Tyndareus once sacrificed a horse and made all the suitors of Helen swear an oath upon the severed parts of the animal. The oath bound them to defend Helen and the chosen husband, should either suffer injustice. Having made them swear this oath, Tyndareus buried the horse on this spot. Nearby stand seven columns, placed at a short distance from the tomb, which, according to ancient custom, are said to be symbols representing the planets. Along the road lies also a sanctuary of Kranius, surnamed Stemmatios, and a shrine belonging to Mysian Artemis.

The statue of Modesty stands about thirty stades from the city; it is said to be a dedication of Icarius, and was made upon the following occasion. When Icarius gave his daughter Penelope to Odysseus to be his wife, he first attempted to persuade Odysseus himself to settle in Lacedaemon; but when he failed in this, he begged his daughter earnestly to remain. When she left for Ithaca, he followed her chariot, entreating her to stay.

Odysseus endured this situation for some time, but finally told Penelope to follow him willingly, or else, choosing her father, return again to Lacedaemon. They say Penelope answered nothing, but veiled herself at his question. Icarius, realizing clearly from this gesture that she wished to depart with Odysseus, sent her away; he then dedicated a statue to Modesty (Aidos) at the very spot on the road where, it is said, Penelope had veiled herself.