Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.39.6

← 1.39.5 1.40.1 →

Passage 1.39.6: Succession dispute between Sciron and Nisus in Megara.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

δωδεκάτῃ δὲ ὕστερον μετὰ Κᾶρα τὸν Φορωνέως γενεᾷ λέγουσιν οἱ Μεγαρεῖς Λέλεγα ἀφικόμενον ἐξ Αἰγύπτου βασιλεῦσαι καὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους κληθῆναι Λέλεγας ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ· Κλήσωνος δὲ τοῦ Λέλεγος γενέσθαι Πύλαν, τοῦ Πύλα δὲ Σκίρωνα· τοῦτον συνοικῆσαι Πανδίονος θυγατρί, καὶ ὕστερον Νίσῳ τῷ Πανδίονος ἐς ἀμφισβήτησιν ἐλθεῖν περὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς Σκίρωνα καί σφισιν Αἰακὸν δικάσαι, βασιλείαν μὲν διδόντα Νίσῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀπογόνοις, Σκίρωνι δὲ ἡγεμονίαν εἶναι πολέμου. Μεγαρέα δὲ τὸν Ποσειδῶνος θυγατρὶ Νίσου συνοικήσαντα Ἰφινόῃ διαδέξασθαι τὴν τοῦ Νίσου φασὶν ἀρχήν· τὸν δὲ Κρητικὸν πόλεμον καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ Νίσου βασιλεύοντος ἅλωσιν τῆς πόλεως οὐκ ἐθέλουσιν εἰδέναι.

English Translation

The Megarians say that twelve generations after Car, the son of Phoroneus, Lelex came from Egypt and became king, and that the people were named Leleges from him during his rule. Lelex had a son named Cleson, and from Cleson was born Pylas, and from Pylas, Sciron. This Sciron married the daughter of Pandion, and afterwards entered into a dispute with Nisus, son of Pandion, regarding the kingdom. Aeacus arbitrated between them, awarding the kingship to Nisus and his descendants, but assigning the military command to Sciron. Megareus, who married Iphinoë, the daughter of Nisus, succeeded him on the throne, according to tradition. However, the Megarians refuse to acknowledge the Cretan war and the capture of the city which took place during the reign of Nisus.

Proper Nouns

Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Cretan (war) (Κρητικός (πόλεμος)) other
Aeacus (Αἰακός) person
Cleson (Κλήσων) person
Carians (Κᾶρ) person
Also in: 7.3.6
Lelex (Λέλεγας) person
Also in: 3.12.5
Leleges (Λέλεγες) person
Also in: 3.1.1 7.2.8 7.4.1
Megareus (Μεγαρέας) person
Megarians (Μεγαρεῖς) person
Nisos (Νῖσος) person
Pandion (Πανδίων) person
Pylas (Πύλας) person
Also in: 1.39.4
Sciron (Σκίρων) person
Phoroneus (Φορωνεύς) person
Iphinoe (Ἰφινόη) person
Egypt (Αἴγυπτος) place Q79 Pleiades
← 1.39.5 1.40.1 →