Pausanias Analysis

Passage 1.44.7

← 1.44.6 1.44.8 →

Passage 1.44.7: Ino's leap with Melicertes into the sea at Molouris.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

λόγοι δέ εἰσιν ἐς τὰς πέτρας, αἳ κατὰ τὸ στενὸν τῆς ὁδοῦ μάλιστα ἀνέχουσιν, ἐς μὲν τὴν Μολουρίδα, ὡς ἀπὸ ταύτης αὑτὴν ἐς θάλασσαν Ἰνὼ ῥίψαι Μελικέρτην ἔχουσα τῶν παίδων τὸν νεώτερον· τὸν γὰρ δὴ πρεσβύτερον αὐτῶν Λέαρχον ἀπέκτεινεν ὁ πατήρ. λέγεται μὲν δὴ καὶ μανέντα δρᾶσαι ταῦτα Ἀθάμαντα, λέγεται δὲ καὶ ὡς ἐς τὴν Ἰνὼ καὶ τοὺς ἐξ αὐτῆς παῖδας χρήσαιτο ἀκρατεῖ τῷ θυμῷ τὸν συμβάντα Ὀρχομενίοις λιμὸν καὶ τὸν δοκοῦντα Φρίξου θάνατον αἰσθόμενος, οὗ τὸ θεῖον αἴτιον οὐ γενέσθαι, βουλεῦσαι δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοις πᾶσιν Ἰνὼ μητρυιὰν οὖσαν·

English Translation

There are traditions concerning the rocks, which especially rise upon the narrow road, regarding Molouris; it was from there, they say, that Ino, holding her younger son Melicertes, threw herself into the sea. For Athamas, their father, had already slain his elder child Learchus. Some say Athamas acted thus in madness, while others relate that upon realizing that Ino, as stepmother, had plotted against Phrixus—causing the famine that befell Orchomenus and being responsible, though falsely believed, for the supposed death of Phrixus—he became uncontrollably enraged against both her and her children.

Proper Nouns

Learchos (Λέαρχος) person
Also in: 9.34.7
Melikertes (Μελικέρτης) person
Phrixos (Φρίξος) person
Athamas (Ἀθάμας) person
Ino (Ἰνώ) person
Molouris (Μολουρίς) place
Also in: 1.44.8
Orchomenus (Ὀρχομενός) place Q13574822
← 1.44.6 1.44.8 →