Pausanias Analysis

Thus it stands according to what I have already said. Within the temple of Zeus there is also an image of Hera, depicted seated upon a throne. Beside her stands Zeus, who wears a beard and has a helmet placed upon his head; these artworks are of simple workmanship. Next to these are the Hours, seated upon thrones in succession, works of Smilis of Aegina. Beside them stands a statue of Themis, as being the mother of the Hours, carved by Dorycleidas, a Spartan by birth and a pupil of Dipoenus and Scyllis.

The Hesperides, five in number, were made by Theocles, who was also a Lacedaemonian, son of Hegylus, and he himself is said to have studied under Scyllis and Dipoenus. The statue of Athena, depicted with a helmet on her head and holding a spear and shield, is said to be the work of Medon of Lacedaemon; Medon was the brother of Dorycleidas and trained under the same masters.

Here also are Kore, Demeter, Apollo, and Artemis: the goddesses sit opposite one another, while Apollo stands facing Artemis as she stands opposite him. Placed here as dedications are also Leto, Tyche, Dionysus, and a winged Nike. I cannot clearly specify the artists who made these statues, but they seem to me among the most ancient. Those images I have listed are of ivory and gold; but later offerings of other materials were also made to the Heraion. There is a stone statue of Hermes carrying the infant Dionysus, a work by Praxiteles, and a bronze Aphrodite, crafted by Kleon of Sikyon.

The teacher of Cleon was Antiphanes, who was the pupil of Periclytus, himself a pupil of Polycleitus of Argos. In front of the Aphrodite stands a seated statue of a naked child, covered with gold; it was carved by Boethus of Chalcedon. Also transferred here from the building called the Philippeion were statues made of gold and ivory representing Eurydice, wife of Aridaeus, and Olympias, wife of Philip.

The chest is made of cedar wood; upon it are figures carved from ivory, others of gold, while some are fashioned out of the cedar itself. Into this chest the mother of Cypselus hid him when the Bacchiadae, immediately after his birth, were earnestly seeking to find him. Afterwards, because of this rescue of Cypselus, his descendants, called Cypselidae, dedicated the chest at Olympia. In those days, the Corinthians called such chests "cypselae," and thus it is said that the boy himself was also named Cypselus.

On the chest there are inscriptions, many of them written in ancient characters; some of them run in a straight line, while those of another type the Greeks call "boustrophedon." This manner of writing is as follows: at the end of one line, the second turns back in reverse, just like runners racing up and down a track. Moreover, upon the chest there are also inscriptions arranged in other intricate patterns that are difficult to decipher. For someone beginning to examine them from below, the first compartment of the chest contains the following text.

Oinomaos is shown pursuing Pelops, who is carrying Hippodameia. Each man has two horses, but those of Pelops by nature possess wings. Next to them is the house of Amphiaraos, and an elderly woman, whoever she may be, is depicted carrying the infant Amphilochos. In front of the house stands Eriphyle holding the necklace, and beside her are her daughters, Eurydike and Demonassa, and her son Alkmaion, depicted naked.

Now Asius, in his poems, made Alcmene to be daughter of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle. Baton, who was charioteer to Amphiaraus, holds the horses' reins in one hand and a spear in the other. Amphiaraus himself has one foot already placed upon his chariot, while he holds a naked sword and turns toward Eriphyle, so overcome by rage that he can scarcely restrain himself from attacking her.

Next to the house of Amphiaraus is depicted the contest held in honor of Pelias, along with spectators watching the competitors. Heracles is portrayed seated on a throne, and behind him stands a woman. No inscription identifies this woman, but she is shown playing upon Phrygian rather than Greek flutes. Driving two-horse chariots are Piso, son of Perieres, and Asterion, son of Cometes, who is also said to have sailed aboard the Argo; alongside them are Polydeuces and Admetus, and above them is Euphemus, who, according to the poets, was a son of Poseidon and shared in Jason's voyage to Colchis. Indeed, this Euphemus appears as the victor with the pair of horses.

Those who have dared to contend in boxing are Admetus and Mopsus, the son of Ampyx, while between them stands a man playing the flute, just as in our own day it is customary to play the flute during the athletes' broad jump in the pentathlon. Wrestling is evenly matched between Jason and Peleus. A depiction is also made of Eurybotas throwing a discus, who indeed holds a famous reputation for this event. Those positioned for the race are Melanion, Neotheus, and Phalareus; an Argive is fourth to them, and Iphiclus fifth. Acastus, who hands the victor's wreath to Iphiclus, would be none other than the father of Protesilaus who sailed to Troy.

There are also tripods, which indeed were prizes awarded to victors; and there are represented the daughters of Pelias, but the name is inscribed only on Alcestis. Iolaus, who willingly aided Heracles in his labours, is portrayed achieving victory with a chariot drawn by horses. Since that time, the contests held in honour of Pelias have ceased. Heracles stands shown shooting arrows at the hydra, the monster in the river Amymone, with Athena by his side. But because Heracles and his deed are well-known to all, the representation bears no inscription. There is also Phineus the Thracian, and the sons of Boreas pursuing the Harpies from him.