Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.31.1

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Passage 1.31.1: Sanctuaries and local cults in small Attic demes

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

δῆμοι δὲ οἱ μικροὶ τῆς Ἀττικῆς, ὡς ἔτυχεν ἕκαστος οἰκισθείς, τάδε ἐς μνήμην παρείχοντο· Ἀλιμουσίοις μὲν Θεσμοφόρου Δήμητρος καὶ Κόρης ἐστὶν ἱερόν, ἐν Ζωστῆρι δὲ ἐπὶ θαλάσσης καὶ βωμὸς Ἀθηνᾶς καὶ Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ Λητοῦς. τεκεῖν μὲν οὖν Λητὼ τοὺς παῖδας ἐνταῦθα οὔ φασι, λύσασθαι δὲ τὸν ζωστῆρα ὡς τεξομένην, καὶ τῷ χωρίῳ διὰ τοῦτο γενέσθαι τὸ ὄνομα. Προσπαλτίοις δέ ἐστι καὶ τούτοις Κόρης καὶ Δήμητρος ἱερόν, Ἀναγυρασίοις δὲ Μητρὸς θεῶν ἱερόν· Κεφαλῆσι δὲ οἱ Διόσκουροι νομίζονται μάλιστα, Μεγάλους γὰρ σφᾶς οἱ ταύτῃ θεοὺς ὀνομάζουσιν.

English Translation

The small demes of Attica, founded each according to chance, provide the following noteworthy places: the Halimousians have a sanctuary of Demeter Thesmophoros and Kore. In Zoster, near the sea, there stands an altar dedicated to Athena, Apollo, Artemis, and Leto. They do not say that Leto actually bore her children here, but rather that she loosened her girdle at this spot, preparing herself for childbirth; hence the district received its name. At Prospalta too, there is a temple sacred to Kore and Demeter, and at Anagyrus a sanctuary of the Mother of the Gods. Among the Kephalenses, the Dioskouroi receive special veneration, and the people here call them the "Great Gods."

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity Q40730
Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι) deity
Kore (Κόρη) deity Q45967
Leto (Λητώ) deity Q103107
Mother of the Gods (Μήτηρ θεῶν) deity Q136681970
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity Q37122
Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity Q37340
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity Q39503
Zoster (Ζώστηρ) place Q24882540
Kephaleis (Κεφαλαί) place
Prospaltians (Προσπαλτιοῖ) place
Alimousians (Ἀλιμοῦσιοι) place
Anagyraisians (Ἀναγυρασίοι) place
Attica (Ἀττική) place Q122443
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