Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.39.4

← 1.39.3 1.39.5 →

Passage 1.39.4: Megara: early Athenian control, mythic kings (Pandion, Nisus), later seized by Corinthians

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Ἐλευσῖνι δὲ ἤδη πλησιόχωρος ἡ καλουμένη Μεγαρίς· τῆς Ἀθηναίων ἦν καὶ αὕτη τὸ ἀρχαῖον, Πύλα τοῦ βασιλέως καταλιπόντος Πανδίονι. μαρτύρια δέ μοι τάφος τε Πανδίονος ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ Νῖσος Αἰγεῖ μὲν πρεσβυτάτῳ τοῦ παντὸς γένους παραχωρήσας Ἀθηναίων ἄρχειν, αὐτὸς δὲ Μεγάρων καὶ τῆς ἄχρι Κορίνθου βασιλεύειν ἀξιωθείς· Νίσαιά τε ἔτι καὶ νῦν Μεγαρεῦσιν ἐπίνειον ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ καλεῖται. Κόδρου δὲ ὕστερον βασιλεύοντος στρατεύουσιν ἐπʼ Ἀθήνας Πελοποννήσιοι· καὶ ὡς οὐδὲν ἀποδειξάμενοι λαμπρὸν ἐκομίζοντο ὀπίσω, Μέγαρα Ἀθηναίων ἑλόντες Κορινθίων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων τοῖς ἐθέλουσιν ἔδωκαν οἰκῆσαι.

English Translation

Bordering close upon Eleusis is the region called Megaris. In earlier times this also belonged to the Athenians, for King Pylas relinquished it to Pandion. As evidence I point both to Pandion's tomb in that land and to Nisus himself, who yielded rule over Athens to Aegeus, the eldest of the whole family, but retained for himself Megara and the territory as far as Corinth, ruling as king. Indeed, even now the port Nisaea, which serves the Megarians, bears his name. Later, in the reign of Codrus, the Peloponnesians attacked Athens; and when they returned home without having achieved any notable success, they captured Megara from the Athenians and gave it to the Corinthians and other allies who wished to settle there.

Proper Nouns

Aegeus (Αἰγεύς) person
Corinthians (Κορίνθιοι) person
Kodros (Κόδρος) person
Megarians (Μεγαρεῖς) person
Nisos (Νῖσος) person
Pandion (Πανδίων) person
Peloponnesians (Πελοποννήσιοι) person
Pylas (Πύλας) person
Also in: 1.39.6
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Corinth (Κόρινθος) place Q1363688 Pleiades
Megara (Μέγαρα) place Q42307600
Megaris (Μεγαρίς) place Q645572
Nisaea (Νίσαια) place Q2537089
Also in: 1.19.4 1.44.3
Athens (Ἀθῆναι) place Q844930
Eleusis (Ἐλευσίς) place Q11918833
← 1.39.3 1.39.5 →