Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.24.1

← 1.23.10 1.24.2 →

Passage 1.24.1: Athena striking Marsyas the Silenus.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ἐνταῦθα Ἀθηνᾶ πεποίηται τὸν Σιληνὸν Μαρσύαν παίουσα, ὅτι δὴ τοὺς αὐλοὺς ἀνέλοιτο, ἐρρῖφθαι σφᾶς τῆς θεοῦ βουλομένης. ---τούτων πέραν, ὧν εἴρηκα, ἐστὶν ἡ λεγομένη Θησέως μάχη πρὸς τὸν ταῦρον τὸν Μίνω καλούμενον, εἴτε ἀνὴρ εἴτε θηρίον ἦν ὁποῖον κεκράτηκεν ὁ λόγος· τέρατα γὰρ πολλῷ καὶ τοῦδε θαυμασιώτερα καὶ καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἔτικτον γυναῖκες.

English Translation

Here is represented Athena striking Marsyas the Silenus, because he had taken up the flutes which the goddess intended to discard after casting them away. Beyond these things I have described is the depiction of what is known as Theseus' battle against the bull called the Minotaur—whether it was a man or beast according to the prevailing tradition; for even in my own time women have given birth to monstrosities far more wondrous than this creature.

Proper Nouns

Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Minos (Μίνως) person
Silenus Marsyas (Σιληνὸς Μαρσύας) person
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