Pausanias Analysis

Thus this sanctuary has been sacred from earliest times. On the right side of the Cabeirion lies a plain called after Tenerus, the seer, whom they regard as a son of Apollo and Melia. Here also stands the great sanctuary of Heracles, surnamed Hippodetus ("Horse-binder"). They say that when the Orchomenians once came here with an army, Heracles took their horses at night and bound together those yoked to the chariots.

As one proceeds, there is a mountain from which they say the Sphinx launched herself, singing forth her riddle to the ruin of those she carried off. But others assert that, living as a pirate, she wandered about with a naval force, and landed at the sea near Anthedon, and occupied this mountain, engaging in acts of robbery, until Oedipus overcame her, surpassing her in battle with a greater force, which he brought with him from Corinth.

It is also said that she was an illegitimate daughter of Laius, and that Laius himself, out of affection, taught her the oracle delivered to Cadmus at Delphi. Moreover, no one else knew this oracle except the royal family. Thus, whenever anyone challenged the right to royal power and approached the Sphinx—for Laius had sons born from concubines, and the oracle from Delphi had declared that rule belonged only to Epicaste and her offspring—the Sphinx accordingly employed subtle riddles against these brothers, reasoning that as sons of Laius, they must surely know the oracle given to Cadmus.

Since they could not answer, they punished them with death, on the grounds that they had improperly disputed their lineage and royal power. Oedipus, it is said, arrived, having learned of the oracle through a dream.

Fifteen stades from this mountain are the ruins of the city Onchestos; it is said that Onchestos, the son of Poseidon, dwelt there. In my time there still remained both the temple and the image of Poseidon Onchestios, and also the sacred grove, which Homer himself praised.

Turning away from the Cabeirium and proceeding on the road that lies to the left for about fifty stadia, Thespiae lies situated beneath Mount Helicon. They say that Thespia was a daughter of Asopus, and from her the city derived its name; others maintain that Thespios, having come from Athens, gave the city its name.

That he himself was descended from Erechtheus. In the city of Thespiae there is a bronze image of Zeus Saotas. They relate that when a dragon once ravaged their city, the god commanded them yearly to give the beast the youth selected by lot from among the citizens. They say that they do not preserve the memory of the names of those who perished; but when Cleostratus was chosen by lot, his lover Menestratus, they say, devised a stratagem.

He made for himself a bronze breastplate, which had on each of its scales a hook curving upward. Putting on this breastplate, he willingly surrendered himself to the dragon, intending both to be killed and simultaneously to destroy the creature. In recognition of this deed Zeus received the surname Saotes ("Savior"). He also made the statue of Dionysus, as well as one of Tyche, and elsewhere one of Hygieia; and Athena called Ergane and Plutus he represented standing by her side.