Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.33.2

← 1.33.1 1.33.3 →

Passage 1.33.2: The sanctuary of Nemesis at Rhamnus.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Μαραθῶνος δὲ σταδίους μάλιστα ἑξήκοντα ἀπέχει Ῥαμνοῦς τὴν παρὰ θάλασσαν ἰοῦσιν ἐς Ὠρωπόν. καὶ αἱ μὲν οἰκήσεις ἐπὶ θαλάσσῃ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις εἰσί, μικρὸν δὲ ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἄνω Νεμέσεώς ἐστιν ἱερόν, ἣ θεῶν μάλιστα ἀνθρώποις ὑβρισταῖς ἐστιν ἀπαραίτητος. δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἀποβᾶσιν ἐς Μαραθῶνα τῶν βαρβάρων ἀπαντῆσαι μήνιμα ἐκ τῆς θεοῦ ταύτης· καταφρονήσαντες γὰρ μηδέν σφισιν ἐμποδὼν εἶναι τὰς Ἀθήνας ἑλεῖν, λίθον Πάριον ὃν ὡς ἐπʼ ἐξειργασμένοις ἦγον ἐς τροπαίου ποίησιν.

English Translation

Rhamnus is at a distance of about sixty stades from Marathon for those traveling along the coast toward Oropus. The dwellings of the inhabitants lie along the shore, but a short distance inland up from the sea stands the sanctuary of Nemesis, a goddess who, above all others, is relentless toward humans guilty of hubris. It is said that it was the wrath of this goddess which fell upon the barbarians who landed at Marathon; for in their contempt, believing nothing could hinder them from capturing Athens, they brought with them Parian marble, intending to erect it into a trophy as if their victory had already been accomplished.

Proper Nouns

Nemesis (Νέμεσις) deity
Parian (Πάριος) other
Also in: 2.27.2
Marathon (Μαραθὼν) place Q212150 Pleiades
Athens (Ἀθῆναι) place Q844930
Oropus (Ὠρωπός) place Q18073696
Rhamnous (Ῥαμνοῦς) place Q1768553
Also in: 7.5.3
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