Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.24.6

← 1.24.5 1.24.7 →

Passage 1.24.6: Griffins guarding earth-produced gold from the one-eyed Arimaspi.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

τούτους τοὺς γρῦπας ἐν τοῖς ἔπεσιν Ἀριστέας ὁ Προκοννήσιος μάχεσθαι περὶ τοῦ χρυσοῦ φησιν Ἀριμασποῖς τοῖς ὑπὲρ Ἰσσηδόνων· τὸν δὲ χρυσόν, ὃν φυλάσσουσιν οἱ γρῦπες, ἀνιέναι τὴν γῆν· εἶναι δὲ Ἀριμασποὺς μὲν ἄνδρας μονοφθάλμους πάντας ἐκ γενετῆς, γρῦπας δὲ θηρία λέουσιν εἰκασμένα, πτερὰ δὲ ἔχειν καὶ στόμα ἀετοῦ. καὶ γρυπῶν μὲν πέρι τοσαῦτα εἰρήσθω·

English Translation

Concerning these griffins, Aristeas of Proconnesus in his verses says that they fight for the gold against the Arimaspi, who dwell beyond the Issedones; and that the gold guarded by the griffins is produced by the earth itself. He relates that all Arimaspi are men with one eye from birth, and that griffins are beasts resembling lions, but having the wings and beaks of eagles. Let thus much suffice regarding the griffins.

Proper Nouns

Proconnesian (Προκοννήσιος) other
Arimaspians (Ἀριμασποί) person
Also in: 1.31.2
Aristeas (Ἀριστέας) person
Also in: 5.7.9 5.21.10
Issedones (Ἰσσηδόνες) person
← 1.24.5 1.24.7 →