Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.29.10

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Passage 10.29.10: Friendship of Theseus and Peirithous praised by Homer

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Θησέως δὲ καὶ Πειρίθου τὴν λεγομένην φιλίαν ἐν ἀμφοτέραις ἐδήλωσεν Ὅμηρος ταῖς ποιήσεσι, καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς μὲν πρὸς Φαίακας λέγων ἐστὶ καί νύ κʼ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὓς ἔθελόν περ, Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα· Hom. Od. 11.631 foll. πεποίηται δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν Ἰλιάδι ὁ Νέστωρ ἄλλα τε ἐπὶ Ἀγαμέμνονος καὶ Ἀχιλλέως νουθεσίᾳ καὶ ἔπη τάδε εἰρηκώς· οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι οἷον Πειρίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν Καινέα τʼ Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον Θησέα τʼ Αἰγείδην ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν. Hom. Il. 1.262 foll.

English Translation

Homer has made clear the famous friendship between Theseus and Peirithous in both his poems. Odysseus, speaking among the Phaeacians, says: "And now I would have seen still earlier men, whom I wished indeed to behold—Theseus and Peirithous, illustrious sons of gods." (Homer, Odyssey 11.631ff.) Moreover, Nestor in the Iliad is portrayed as giving counsel to Agamemnon and Achilles, and there he speaks these words as well: "For never yet have I seen, nor shall I see, men such as Peirithous, Dryas, shepherd of the people, Kaineus, Exadios, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus, son of Aegeus, resembling the immortals." (Homer, Iliad 1.262ff.)

Proper Nouns

gods (θεοί) deity
Iliad (Ἰλιάς) other
Phaeacians (Φαίακες) people
Aegides (son of Aegeus, i.e. Theseus) (Αἰγεῖδης) person
Dryas (Δρύας) person
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Caeneus (Καινεύς) person
Also in: 5.10.8
Nestor (Νέστωρ) person
Peirithous (Πειρίθους) person
Polyphemus (Πολύφημος) person
Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων) person
Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς) person
Exadius (Ἐξάδιος) person
Odysseus (Ὀδυσσεύς) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
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