Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.23.5

← 1.23.4 1.23.6 →

Passage 1.23.5: Stone where Silenus rested when Dionysus entered the land

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ἔστι δὲ λίθος οὐ μέγας, ἀλλʼ ὅσον καθίζεσθαι μικρὸν ἄνδρα· ἐπὶ τούτῳ λέγουσιν, ἡνίκα Διόνυσος ἦλθεν ἐς τὴν γῆν, ἀναπαύσασθαι τὸν Σιληνόν. τοὺς γὰρ ἡλικίᾳ τῶν Σατύρων προήκοντας ὀνομάζουσι Σιληνούς· περὶ δὲ Σατύρων, οἵτινές εἰσιν, ἑτέρου πλέον ἐθέλων ἐπίστασθαι πολλοῖς αὐτῶν τούτων ἕνεκα ἐς λόγους ἦλθον. ἔφη δὲ Εὔφημος Κὰρ ἀνὴρ πλέων ἐς Ἰταλίαν ἁμαρτεῖν ὑπὸ ἀνέμων τοῦ πλοῦ καὶ ἐς τὴν ἔξω θάλασσαν, ἐς ἣν οὐκέτι πλέουσιν, ἐξενεχθῆναι. νήσους δὲ εἶναι μὲν ἔλεγεν ἐρήμους πολλάς, ἐν δὲ ἄλλαις οἰκεῖν ἄνδρας ἀγρίους·

English Translation

There is a stone, not large indeed, but just large enough for a small man to sit upon; on this stone, they say, Silenus rested when Dionysus came into the land. For those among the Satyrs who are older in age are given the name Sileni. Concerning the Satyrs, who they really are, I have spoken at greater length elsewhere, wishing to know more about them precisely for these reasons. Euphemus, a Carian man, reported that while sailing towards Italy he was driven off course by winds, and carried out into the open sea, into waters where people no longer travel. He stated that there were many islands lying desolate, but that on others savage men dwell.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Satyrs (Σάτυρος) other
Also in: 1.20.2 1.23.6
Euphemus (Εὔφημος) person
Also in: 5.17.9
Car (Κάρ) person
Also in: 1.39.5 1.40.6
Silenus (Σιληνός) person
Also in: 2.7.9 6.1.4
Italy (Ἰταλία) place Q913582
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