Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.18.5

← 1.18.4 1.18.6 →

Passage 1.18.5: The temple and cult of Eileithyia.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πλησίον δὲ ᾠκοδόμητο ναὸς Εἰλειθυίας, ἣν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐξ Ὑπερβορέων ἐς Δῆλον γενέσθαι βοηθὸν ταῖς Λητοῦς ὠδῖσι, τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους παρʼ αὐτῶν φασι τῆς Εἰλειθυίας μαθεῖν τὸ ὄνομα· καὶ θύουσί τε Εἰλειθυίᾳ Δήλιοι καὶ ὕμνον ᾄδουσιν Ὠλῆνος. Κρῆτες δὲ χώρας τῆς Κνωσσίας ἐν Ἀμνισῷ γενέσθαι νομίζουσιν Εἰλείθυιαν καὶ παῖδα Ἥρας εἶναι· μόνοις δὲ Ἀθηναίοις τῆς Εἰλειθυίας κεκάλυπται τὰ ξόανα ἐς ἄκρους τοὺς πόδας. τὰ μὲν δὴ δύο εἶναι Κρητικὰ καὶ Φαίδρας ἀναθήματα ἔλεγον αἱ γυναῖκες, τὸ δὲ ἀρχαιότατον Ἐρυσίχθονα ἐκ Δήλου κομίσαι.

English Translation

Nearby was built a temple of Eileithyia, who, according to tradition, came from the Hyperboreans to Delos to assist at Leto's childbirth. They say it was from the Delians themselves that the other peoples learned the name of Eileithyia. The Delians sacrifice to Eileithyia and sing the hymn composed by Olen. But the Cretans of the territory of Knossos maintain that Eileithyia was born at Amnisos, and that she is the daughter of Hera. The Athenians alone cover the wooden images of Eileithyia down to their feet. The women said that two of these statues are Cretan in origin and dedicated by Phaedra, while the oldest one was brought from Delos by Erysichthon.

Proper Nouns

Eileithyia (Εἰλείθυια) deity
Leto (Λητώ) deity
Hera (Ἥρα) deity
Delians (Δήλιοι) other
Also in: 8.21.3 9.40.4
Cretans (Κρῆτες) other
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) other
Hyperboreans (Ὑπερβόρεοι) other
Also in: 5.7.8 5.7.9
Phaedra (Φαίδρα) person
Erysichthon (Ἐρυσίχθων) person
Also in: 1.2.6 1.31.2
Olen (Ὠλῆνος) person
Delos (Δῆλος) place Q173148
Knossia (Κνωσσία) place
Amnisos (Ἀμνισός) place Q473766
← 1.18.4 1.18.6 →