Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.18.4

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Passage 10.18.4: Ambrakia's bronze ass commemorating the victory over the Molossians

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Ῥόδιοι δὲ οἱ ἐν Λίνδῳ παρὰ ταύτην τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν τὸ ἄγαλμα ἔστησαν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος. ἀνέθεσαν δὲ καὶ Ἀβρακιῶται χαλκοῦν ὄνον, νυκτομαχίᾳ Μολοσσοὺς νικήσαντες. λόχον μέν σφισιν ἐν νυκτὶ οἱ Μολοσσοὶ παρεσκεύασαν· ὄνου δέ, ὃς ἐλαυνόμενος ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ τότε ἔτυχεν, ὄνον θήλειαν διώκοντος σὺν ὕβρει τε τῇ ἄλλῃ καὶ τραχύτητι τοῦ φθέγματος, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ὃς τὸν ὄνον ἤλαυνε βοῶντος ἀσαφῆ τε καὶ ἄκοσμα, οὕτως οἵ τε ἐκ τῆς ἐνέδρας τῶν Μολοσσῶν ἐξανίστανται ταραχθέντες καὶ οἱ Ἀμβρακιῶται φωράσαντες τὰ ἐπὶ σφίσι βεβουλευμένα ἐπιχειροῦσιν ἐν τῇ νυκτί, καὶ ἐκράτησαν μάχῃ τῶν Μολοσσῶν.

English Translation

The Rhodians in Lindos set up near this statue of Athena an image of Apollo. The people of Ambrakia also dedicated a bronze ass, commemorating their victory over the Molossians in a night battle. The Molossians had prepared an ambush against them during the night, but at that very moment an ass, driven in from the countryside, happened to pursue a she-ass and, through his insolence and the harshness of his braying, along with the unclear and disorderly shouting of the driver who was pushing the animal along, caused the Molossians in ambush to leap up in confusion. Thus, discovered during their plotting, they were suddenly exposed, and the Ambrakiots, becoming aware of the enemy's plan, attacked them during the night and prevailed over the Molossians in battle.

Proper Nouns

Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Molossus (Μολοσσός) person
Ambraciot (Ἀμβρακιώτης) person
Rhodian (Ῥόδιος) person
Lindos (Λίνδος) place Q65122097
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