Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.28.11

← 1.28.10 1.29.1 →

Passage 1.28.11: Exiles defending themselves from a ship at Phreattys, Piraeus

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

λέγεται μὲν δὴ καὶ ἄλλα τῶν ἀψύχων αὐτόματα ἐπιθεῖναι σὺν τῷ δικαίῳ τιμωρίαν ἀνθρώποις· ἔργον δὲ κάλλιστον καὶ δόξῃ φανερώτατον ὁ Καμβύσου παρέσχετο ἀκινάκης. ἔστι δὲ τοῦ Πειραιῶς πρὸς θαλάσσῃ Φρεαττύς· ἐνταῦθα οἱ πεφευγότες, ἢν ἀπελθόντας ἕτερον ἐπιλάβῃ σφᾶς ἔγκλημα, πρὸς ἀκροωμένους ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ νεὼς ἀπολογοῦνται· Τεῦκρον πρῶτον λόγος ἔχει Τελαμῶνι οὕτως ἀπολογήσασθαι μηδὲν ἐς τὸν Αἴαντος θάνατον εἰργάσθαι. τάδε μὲν οὖν εἰρήσθω μοι τῶνδε ἕνεκα, γνῶναι ὁπόσοις μέτεστι σπουδῆς τὰ ἐς τὰ δικαστήρια·

English Translation

Indeed, it is said that even certain inanimate objects have spontaneously executed just vengeance against men; but of these the sword of Cambyses provided the finest and most celebrated example. There is a place by the sea in Piraeus known as Phreattys, where exiles, if another accusation is brought against them when they have gone abroad, make their defense from a ship to those listening from the shore. Tradition says Teucer first used such means to defend himself before Telamon, pleading that he had committed no wrong regarding the death of Ajax. Thus I have related these things for the benefit of those who take a serious interest in matters of judicial procedure.

Proper Nouns

Ajax (Αἴας) person Q14566703
Cambyses (Καμβύσης) person
Also in: 1.42.3
Telamon (Τελαμῶν) person
Also in: 1.35.2 2.29.4
Teucer (Τεῦκρος) person
Piraeus (Πειραιεύς) place Q58976 Pleiades
Phreattys (Φρεαττύς) place Q24040803
← 1.28.10 1.29.1 →