Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.37.4

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Passage 1.37.4: Altar of Zeus Meilichios where Theseus received purification

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

διαβᾶσι δὲ τὸν Κηφισὸν βωμός ἐστιν ἀρχαῖος Μειλιχίου Διός· ἐπὶ τούτῳ Θησεὺς ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπογόνων τῶν Φυτάλου καθαρσίων ἔτυχε, λῃστὰς καὶ ἄλλους ἀποκτείνας καὶ Σίνιν τὰ πρὸς Πιτθέως συγγενῆ. τάφος δὲ ἔστι μὲν αὐτόθι Θεοδέκτου τοῦ Φασηλίτου, ἔστι δὲ Μνησιθέου· τοῦτον λέγουσιν ἰατρόν τε ἀγαθὸν γενέσθαι καὶ ἀναθεῖναι ἀγάλματα, ἐν οἷς καὶ ὁ Ἴακχος πεποίηται. ᾠκοδόμηται δὲ κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ναὸς οὐ μέγας καλούμενος Κυαμίτου· σαφὲς δὲ οὐδὲν ἔχω λέγειν εἴτε πρῶτος κυάμους ἔσπειρεν οὗτος εἴτε τινὰ ἐπεφήμισαν ἥρωα, ὅτι τῶν κυάμων ἀνενεγκεῖν οὐκ ἔστι σφίσιν ἐς Δήμητρα τὴν εὕρεσιν. ὅστις δὲ ἤδη τελετὴν Ἐλευσῖνι εἶδεν ἢ τὰ καλούμενα Ὀρφικὰ ἐπελέξατο, οἶδεν ὃ λέγω.

English Translation

After crossing the Cephisus there is an ancient altar of Zeus Meilichios. It was upon this altar that Theseus received purification from the descendants of Phytalos, having slain robbers and other men, including Sinis, who was related by blood to Pittheus. Nearby are tombs: one of Theodektes of Phaselis, and another of Mnesitheus. They say Mnesitheus was a skilled physician who dedicated statues, among which is represented Iacchos. Beside the road stands a small temple called that of Kyamites. I cannot clearly say whether this figure was the first who sowed beans or merely a hero given this epithet, since they are unable to attribute to Demeter the invention of beans. Whoever has seen the rites at Eleusis or read the so-called Orphic texts will understand what I am saying.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Meilichios Zeus (Μειλίχιος Ζεύς) deity
Iacchus (Ἴακχος) deity
Also in: 1.2.4
Orphica (Ὀρφικά) other
Theodectes (Θεοδέκτης) person
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Kyamitos (Κυάμιτος) person
Mnêsitheos (Μνησιθεύς) person
Pittheus (Πιτθεύς) person
Sinis (Σίνις) person
Also in: 2.1.4
Phaselites (Φασηλίτης) person
Phytalos (Φυτάλος) person
Cephisus (Κηφισός) place Q115829088
Eleusis (Ἐλευσίς) place Q11918833
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