Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.12.3

← 10.12.2 10.12.4 →

Passage 10.12.3: The Sibyl of Marpessos and her claimed Ida-born origin

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ταῦτα μὲν δὴ μαινομένη τε καὶ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ κάτοχος πεποίηκεν· ἑτέρωθι δὲ εἶπε τῶν χρησμῶν ὡς μητρὸς μὲν ἀθανάτης εἴη μιᾶς τῶν ἐν Ἴδῃ νυμφῶν, πατρὸς δὲ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ οὕτω λέγει τὰ ἔπη· εἰμὶ δʼ ἐγὼ γεγαυῖα μέσον θνητοῦ τε θεᾶς τε, νύμφης δʼ ἀθανάτης, πατρὸς δʼ αὖ κητοφάγοιο, μητρόθεν Ἰδογενής, πατρὶς δέ μοί ἐστιν ἐρυθρή Μάρπησσος, μητρὸς ἱερή, ποταμός τʼ Ἀιδωνεύς.

English Translation

She composed these verses while inspired and possessed by the god. Elsewhere in her oracles she says her mother was one of the immortal nymphs of Ida, and her father a mortal man. The verses run as follows: "I am born midway between mortal and goddess, Of an immortal nymph and a father who feeds upon fish, From my mother’s side I am Ida-born, And my fatherland is red Marpessos, sacred to the Mother, And the river Aidoneus."

Proper Nouns

goddess (θεά) deity
Aïdoneus (Ἀιδωνεύς) deity
Marpessos (Μάρπησσος) place Q1670784
Also in: 10.12.4
Ida (Ἴδη) place Q83659
← 10.12.2 10.12.4 →