Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.15.1

← 1.14.7 1.15.2 →

Passage 1.15.1: Athenian trophy for cavalry victory over Pleistarchus

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἰοῦσι δὲ πρὸς τὴν στοάν, ἣν Ποικίλην ὀνομάζουσιν ἀπὸ τῶν γραφῶν, ἔστιν Ἑρμῆς χαλκοῦς καλούμενος Ἀγοραῖος καὶ πύλη πλησίον· ἔπεστι δέ οἱ τρόπαιον Ἀθηναίων ἱππομαχίᾳ κρατησάντων Πλείσταρχον, ὃς τῆς ἵππου Κασσάνδρου καὶ τοῦ ξενικοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀδελφὸς ὢν ἐπετέτραπτο. αὕτη δὲ ἡ στοὰ πρῶτα μὲν Ἀθηναίους ἔχει τεταγμένους ἐν Οἰνόῃ τῆς Ἀργεία; ἐναντία Λακεδαιμονίων· γέγραπται δὲ οὐκ ἐς ἀκμὴν ἀγῶνος οὐδὲ τολμημάτων ἐς ἐπίδειξιν τὸ ἔργον ἤδη προῆκον, ἀλλὰ ἀρχομένη τε ἡ μάχη καὶ ἐς χεῖρας ἔτι συνιόντες.

English Translation

As you proceed towards the colonnade called "Painted" from its pictures, you will see a bronze Hermes named Agoraeus ("of the Market") and a gate nearby. Upon it stands a trophy raised by the Athenians when they defeated in a cavalry battle Pleistarchus, who had been entrusted with the command of Cassander's cavalry and foreign troops, being Cassander's brother. This portico first depicts Athenians arrayed at Oenoe in Argive territory, opposite the Lacedaemonians. The battle scene portrayed is not at the height nor stage when bold deeds can already be fully demonstrated, but at its very beginning, with the fighters still advancing together into combat.

Proper Nouns

Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Agoraios (Ἀγοραῖος) other
Also in: 2.9.8 3.11.11
Cassander (Κάσσανδρος) person
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Pleistarchos (Πλείσταρχος) person
Also in: 3.4.9 3.5.1
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Oinoe (Οἰνόη) place Q17524320
Poikile (Ποικίλη) place Q936234
Also in: 3.15.8 5.21.17
Argolis (Ἀργεία) place Q12649101
← 1.14.7 1.15.2 →