Pausanias Analysis

The city of the Pellenians stands upon a hill whose summit rises sharply to a high peak. This upper part is steep and therefore uninhabited. On the lower ground, however, dwellings have been established, although the town is not continuous, but divided into two parts separated by the peak standing between. On the road leading toward Pellene stands an image of Hermes, surnamed Dolios ("Crafty"), who readily fulfills the prayers of men. The statue is square in form, with a beard, and upon its head is a carefully worked hat.

On the road leading into the city itself is a temple to Athena, built from the local stone, but the statue is of ivory and gold. They say Phidias crafted this image even earlier than the statues of Athena he made on the Acropolis in Athens and at Plataea. The Pelleneans also say that a sanctuary chamber of Athena extends downward beneath the earth, situated beneath the statue's pedestal, and that the air from this underground chamber is moist and thereby beneficial to the ivory.

Above the temple of Athena is a grove enclosed by a wall, sacred to Artemis called Soteira ("Savior"), whom they invoke with oaths in matters of greatest importance. Entrance to this place is permitted to no human being other than the priests. These priests are chosen from among the local men, selected especially on account of the esteem of their lineage. Directly opposite the grove of Soteira stands the sanctuary of Dionysus named Lampter ("Torch-bearer"); to him they celebrate a festival called the Lampteria, during which they carry torches into his sanctuary by night and set bowls of wine throughout the entire city.

The Pelleneans also have a sanctuary of Apollo Theoxenius, whose statue is made of bronze. They hold a festival in honor of Apollo called the Theoxenia, at which silver is offered as prizes for victory; local men compete in these contests. Near the temple of Apollo stands a temple of Artemis; the statue of the goddess is depicted in the pose of one who is shooting an arrow. In the marketplace there is also a structure built to shelter a fountain; this water provided by the deity serves them for bathing, since they have few springs within the city itself suitable for drinking. The place where the springs are found is called Glyceae.

There is an ancient gymnasium intended chiefly for the training of youths; indeed, no one is permitted to be enrolled among the citizens before having completed this period of youth. Here stands the statue of a man from Pellene, Promachos, son of Dryon, who achieved victories in the pancratium—a single victory at Olympia, three at the Isthmian games, and two at Nemea. The people of Pellene erected two statues in his honor, dedicating one at Olympia and placing the other in their gymnasium; the latter statue is made of stone rather than bronze.

It is said also that during a war between Corinth and Pellene, Promachus slew a great many of his opponents. It is further said that he defeated even Pulydamas of Scotussa at Olympia. Pulydamas had returned safely home from a journey to the king of the Persians, arriving for a second time at the Olympic games. The Thessalians, however, not admitting that Pulydamas was actually defeated, provide additional proofs, including an elegiac couplet composed about Pulydamas: "O Skotoessa, nurse of unconquered Pulydamas."

The Pellenians hold Promachos in the highest honour. But they are unwilling even to mention Chairon, who won two victories in wrestling at the Isthmian games and four at Olympia, because, according to my view, he destroyed the constitution of Pellene, having accepted from Alexander, son of Philip, a most hateful gift—to become a tyrant over his own homeland.

The Pelleneans also have a sanctuary of Eileithyia; this is located in the lesser part of the city. The place called Poseidion was formerly in ancient times a populous settlement, but is deserted in our day. This Poseidion lies below the gymnasium, and even in my time a sanctuary of Poseidon continues to be held in honor there.

The sanctuary of Mysian Demeter, called Mysaeum, is about sixty stades distant from Pellene. They say it was founded by Mysius, an Argive man, who, according to Argive tradition, hosted Demeter in his house. At Mysaeum there is a grove, the trees of which are all alike, and abundant water flows there from springs. Here they also hold a festival in honor of Demeter, lasting seven days.

But on the third day of the festival, the men depart from the sanctuary; the women remain behind and perform during the night whatever rites it is prescribed for them by custom. Not only are the men excluded, but even the male dogs are removed. On the following day, when the men return to the sanctuary, both the women and the men exchange laughter and joking remarks with one another in turn.

Not far away from the sanctuary of Mysaeus is another sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, called Cyrus. Here too, people receive cures granted by the god. Abundant water is available here, and the statue of Asclepius stands at the largest of the springs. Rivers flow down from the mountains above Pellene; the one flowing toward Aegeira is called Crius, named from the Titan Crius.

Another river called Krios begins from Mount Sipylos and flows down into the Hermos. At the place where the boundaries of the Pellenians' territory meet those of the Sikyonians, the river Sythas, the last of Achaean rivers, empties into the sea within Sikyonian land.