Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.25.1

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Passage 10.25.1: The Lesche at Delphi housing Polygnotus' paintings

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὑπὲρ δὲ τὴν Κασσοτίδα ἐστὶν οἴκημα γραφὰς ἔχον τῶν Πολυγνώτου , ἀνάθημα μὲν Κνιδίων, καλεῖται δὲ ὑπὸ Δελφῶν Λέσχη, ὅτι ἐνταῦθα συνιόντες τὸ ἀρχαῖον τά τε σπουδαιότερα διελέγοντο καὶ ὁπόσα μυθώδη· τοιαῦτʼ εἶναι πολλὰ ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν Ἑλλάδα Ὅμηρος ἐν Μελανθοῦς λοιδορίᾳ πρὸς Ὀδυσσέα ἐδήλωσεν· οὐδʼ ἐθέλεις εὕδειν χαλκήιον ἐς δόμον ἐλθὼν ἠέ που ἐς λέσχην, ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πόλλʼ ἀγορεύεις. Hom. Od. 18.328

English Translation

Above the Cassotis there is a building containing paintings by Polygnotus, dedicated by the people of Cnidus. This structure is called the Lesche by the Delphians, because originally people gathered here and discussed serious matters and also such topics as myths. Homer shows that similar meeting-places existed throughout Greece, when Melanthius reproaches Odysseus, saying: "You will not go to sleep in the smithy nor in some meeting-hall, but here you remain, endlessly speaking aloud." (Homer, Odyssey 18.328)

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