Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.17.2

← 1.17.1 1.17.3 →

Passage 1.17.2: Ptolemy's gymnasium and nearby Theseus sanctuary with paintings of Amazons and Centaurs

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐν δὲ τῷ γυμνασίῳ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἀπέχοντι οὐ πολύ, Πτολεμαίου δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ κατασκευασαμένου καλουμένῳ, λίθοι τέ εἰσιν Ἑρμαῖ θέας ἄξιοι καὶ εἰκὼν Πτολεμαίου χαλκῆ· καὶ ὅ τε Λίβυς Ἰόβας ἐνταῦθα κεῖται καὶ ὁ Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς. πρὸς δὲ τῷ γυμνασίῳ Θησέως ἐστὶν ἱερόν· γραφαὶ δέ εἰσι πρὸς Ἀμαζόνας Ἀθηναῖοι μαχόμενοι. πεποίηται δέ σφισιν ὁ πόλεμος οὗτος καὶ τῇ Ἀθηνᾷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀσπίδι καὶ τοῦ Ὀλυμπίου Διὸς ἐπὶ τῷ βάθρῳ. γέγραπται δὲ ἐν τῷ τοῦ Θησέως ἱερῷ καὶ ἡ Κενταύρων καὶ ἡ Λαπιθῶν μάχη· Θησεὺς μὲν οὖν ἀπεκτονώς ἐστιν ἤδη Κένταυρον, τοῖς δὲ ἄλλοις ἐξ ἴσου καθέστηκεν ἔτι ἡ μάχη.

English Translation

In the gymnasium, which is situated not far from the agora and is called Ptolemy's after the man who built it, there are stone images of Hermes worthy of viewing and a bronze statue of Ptolemy. Here lie buried the Libyan Juba and Chrysippus of Soli. Near the gymnasium is a sanctuary of Theseus. Here are paintings depicting the Athenians in battle against the Amazons. This same conflict is depicted both on the shield of Athena and on the pedestal of Zeus Olympios. Painted also in the temple of Theseus is the battle between the Centaurs and Lapiths; Theseus himself is represented as having already slain a Centaur, while the struggle between the others remains evenly balanced.

Proper Nouns

Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Olympian Zeus (Ὀλύμπιος Ζεύς) deity
Centaurs (Κένταυροι) other
Centaur (Κένταυρος) other
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Libys (Λίβυς) person
Lapiths (Λαπίθαι) person
Also in: 1.28.2 5.10.8
Ptolemy (Πτολεμαῖος) person
Chrysippos the Solian (Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Amazons (Ἀμαζόνες) person
Iobas (Ἰόβας) person
← 1.17.1 1.17.3 →