Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.42.4

← 1.42.3 1.42.5 →

Passage 1.42.4: The temple of Athena on the Megarian acropolis.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

Μεγαρεῦσι δὲ ἔστι μὲν βουλευτήριον, Τιμάλκου δὲ ἦν ποτε ὡς λέγουσι τάφος, ὃν πρότερον ὀλίγον τούτων οὐκ ἔφην ὑπὸ Θησέως ἀποθανεῖν. ᾠκοδόμηται δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ κορυφῇ τῆς ἀκροπόλεως ναὸς Ραθηνᾶς, ἄγαλμα δέ ἐστιν ἐπίχρυσον πλὴν χειρῶν καὶ ἄκρων ποδῶν· ταῦτα δὲ καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν ἐστιν ἐλέφαντος. καὶ ἕτερον ἐνταῦθα ἱερὸν Ἀθηνᾶς πεποίηται καλουμένης Νίκης καὶ ἄλλο Αἰαντίδος· τὰ δὲ ἐς αὐτὸ Μεγαρέων μὲν παρεῖται τοῖς ἐξηγηταῖς, ἐγὼ δὲ ὁποῖα νομίζω γενέσθαι γράψω. Τελαμὼν ὁ Αἰακοῦ θυγατρὶ Ἀλκάθου Περιβοίᾳ συνῴκησεν· Αἴαντα οὖν τὴν ἀρχὴν τὴν Ἀλκάθου διαδεξάμενον ποιῆσαι τὸ ἄγαλμα ἡγοῦμαι τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς.

English Translation

The Megarians have a council chamber, which they say was once the tomb of Timalkos, of whom I stated a little before that he was killed by Theseus. On the summit of their acropolis is built a temple of Athena, whose image is gilded except for the hands and the extremities of the feet; these parts, along with the face, are made of ivory. There is another sanctuary here dedicated to Athena called Nike (Victory), and yet another to Athena Aiantis. Concerning this latter, although the Megarians rely on their local guides for its history, I shall record what I myself consider to have occurred. Telamon, son of Aiakos, married Periboia, daughter of Alkathous, and thus, I suppose, Ajax, succeeding to the sovereignty of Alkathous, made the statue to Athena.

Proper Nouns

Nike (Νίκη) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Aiantis (sanctuary/heroine) (Αἰαντίς) other
Aeacus (Αἰακός) person
Ajax (Αἴας) person Q14566703
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Periboia (Περιβοία) person
Also in: 1.17.3
Timalcus (Τίμαλκος) person
Also in: 1.41.3 1.41.4
Telamon (Τελαμών) person
Alcathous (Ἀλκάθους) person
Megara (Μέγαρα) place Q42307600
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