Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.17.1

← 1.16.3 1.17.2 →

Passage 1.17.1: Altars to Mercy, Shame, Rumor, and Impulse in the Athenian marketplace

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Ἀθηναίοις δὲ ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ καὶ ἄλλα ἐστὶν οὐκ ἐς ἅπαντας ἐπίσημα καὶ Ἐλέου βωμός, ᾧ μάλιστα θεῶν ἐς ἀνθρώπινον βίον καὶ μεταβολὰς πραγμάτων ὄντι ὠφελίμῳ μόνοι τιμὰς Ἑλλήνων νέμουσιν Ἀθηναῖοι. τούτοις δὲ οὐ τὰ ἐς φιλανθρωπίαν μόνον καθέστηκεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεοὺς εὐσεβοῦσιν ἄλλων πλέον, καὶ γὰρ Αἰδοῦς σφισι βωμός ἐστι καὶ Φήμης καὶ Ὁρμῆς· δῆλά τε ἐναργῶς, ὅσοις πλέον τι ἑτέρων εὐσεβείας μέτεστιν, ἴσον σφίσι παρὸν τύχης χρηστῆς.

English Translation

The Athenians have in their market-place other things too, not all of which are notable to everyone, and an altar of Mercy, whom alone of the Greeks the Athenians honor, considering this deity especially beneficial to human life and its changing fortunes. Among them, it is established not only to practice humanity toward people, but they also worship the gods more devoutly than others. For indeed they possess altars of Shame, Rumor, and Impulse; it is clearly evident that those who have greater piety than others equally enjoy favorable fortune.

Proper Nouns

Aidos (Αἰδώς) deity Q404076
Also in: 3.20.10 3.20.11
Pheme (Φήμη) deity
Eleos (Ἔλεος) deity
Hormē (Ὁρμή) deity
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) person
agora (ἀγορά) place Q395367
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