Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.29.2

← 1.29.1 1.29.3 →

Passage 1.29.2: The Academy at Athens, with sanctuaries to Artemis and a temple for Dionysus Eleuthereus

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

Ἀθηναίοις δὲ καὶ ἔξω πόλεως ἐν τοῖς δήμοις καὶ κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς θεῶν ἐστιν ἱερὰ καὶ ἡρώων καὶ ἀνδρῶν τάφοι· ἐγγυτάτω δὲ Ἀκαδημία, χωρίον ποτὲ ἀνδρὸς ἰδιώτου, γυμνάσιον δὲ ἐπʼ ἐμοῦ. κατιοῦσι δʼ ἐς αὐτὴν περίβολός ἐστιν Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ξόανα Ἀρίστης καὶ Καλλίστης· ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ δοκῶ καὶ ὁμολογεῖ τὰ ἔπη τὰ Πάμφω, τῆς Ἀρτέμιδός εἰσιν ἐπικλήσεις αὗται, λεγόμενον δὲ καὶ ἄλλον ἐς αὐτὰς λόγον εἰδὼς ὑπερβήσομαι. καὶ ναὸς οὐ μέγας ἐστίν, ἐς ὃν τοῦ Διονύσου τοῦ Ἐλευθερέως τὸ ἄγαλμα ἀνὰ πᾶν ἔτος κομίζουσιν ἐν τεταγμέναις ἡμέραις.

English Translation

The Athenians also have sanctuaries of gods and heroes, and tombs of men, both outside the city in the demes and along the roads. Nearest of these is the Academy, once the estate of a private man, but in my time a gymnasium. As one descends into it, there is an enclosure sacred to Artemis, containing wooden images of Ariste ("Best") and Calliste ("Fairest"). In my opinion—and indeed the verses of Pamphos agree—these are epithets of Artemis; I am aware that another story is told about them, but I pass over it. There is also a small temple into which, on appointed days of every year, they bring the statue of Dionysus Eleuthereus.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Kalliste (Καλλίστη) deity
Also in: 8.35.8
Ariste (Ἀρίστη) deity
Artemis (Ἀρτέμις) deity
Eleutheraeus (Ἐλευθερεύς) deity
Also in: 1.20.3
Pamphos (Πάμφως) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Academy (Ἀκαδημία) place Q19283711 Pleiades
← 1.29.1 1.29.3 →