Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.43.5

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Passage 1.43.5: Sanctuary of Dionysus at Megara

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

παρὰ δὲ τὴν ἔσοδον τὴν ἐς τὸ Διονύσιον τάφος ἐστὶν Ἀστυκρατείας καὶ Μαντοῦς· θυγατέρες δὲ ἦσαν Πολυίδου τοῦ Κοιράνου τοῦ Ἄβαντος τοῦ Μελάμποδος ἐς Μέγαρα δʼ ἐλθόντος Ἀλκάθουν ἐπὶ τῷ φόνῳ τῷ Καλλιπόλιδος καθῆραι τοῦ παιδός. ᾠκοδόμησε δὴ καὶ τῷ Διονύσῳ τὸ ἱερὸν Πολύιδος καὶ ξόανον ἀνέθηκεν ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἐφʼ ἡμῶν πλὴν τοῦ προσώπου· τοῦτο δέ ἐστι τὸ φανερόν. Σάτυρος δὲ παρέστηκεν αὐτῷ Πραξιτέλους ἔργον Παρίου λίθου. τοῦτον μὲν δὴ Πατρῷον καλοῦσιν· ἕτερον δὲ Διόνυσον Δασύλλιον ἐπονομάζοντες Εὐχήνορα τὸν Κοιράνου τοῦ Πολυίδου τὸ ἄγαλμα ἀναθεῖναι λέγουσι.

English Translation

Beside the entrance to the sanctuary of Dionysus there is the tomb of Astycrateia and of Manto. They were daughters of Polyidus, son of Coeranus, son of Abas, son of Melampus, who came to Megara to purify Alcathous from the killing of his son Callipolis. It was Polyidus who built the sanctuary for Dionysus and dedicated the wooden image, which in my time remains concealed except for the face, this portion alone being visible. Standing next to this god is a satyr of Parian marble, a work of Praxiteles. This statue they call Patroos ("Ancestral"); while another Dionysus they name Dasyllius, saying it was dedicated by Euchenor, son of Coeranus, son of Polyidus.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Dionysos Dasyllios (Διόνυσος Δασύλλιος) deity
Patroos (Πατρῷος) deity
Euchenor (Εὐχήνωρ) person
Callipolis (Καλλιπόλις) person
Koiranos (Κοίρανος) person
Manto (Μαντώ) person
Melampus (Μελάμπους) person
Polyidos (Πολύιδος) person
Praxiteles (Πραξιτέλης) person
Alcathous (Ἀλκάθους) person
Astycrateia (Ἀστυκρατεία) person
Abas (Ἄβαντας) person
Also in: 2.16.2 2.25.5
Dionysion (Διονύσιον) place Q124644655
Also in: 2.7.5
Megara (Μέγαρα) place Q42307600
Parian (Πάριος) place
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