Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.30.4

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Passage 10.30.4: Iaseus removing Phocus's gold signet, commemorating their friendship.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

γέγραπται δὲ ὑπὲρ αὐτοὺς Φῶκός τε ἡλικίαν μειράκιον καὶ Ἰασεὺς γενείων μὲν εὖ ἔχων, δακτύλιον δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἀριστερᾶς τοῦ Φώκου περιαιρούμενος χειρὸς ἐπὶ τοιῷδέ ἐστι λόγῳ. Φώκῳ τῷ Αἰακοῦ διαβάντι ἐξ Αἰγίνης ἐς τὴν νῦν καλουμένην Φωκίδα, καὶ ἀνθρώπων τε ἀρχὴν τῶν ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ ταύτῃ κτήσασθαι καὶ αὐτῷ θέλοντι ἐνταῦθα οἰκῆσαι, ἀφίκετο ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ὁ Ἰασεὺς φιλίας, καί οἱ δῶρα ἄλλα τε ὡς τὸ εἰκὸς ἐδωρήσατο καὶ λίθου σφραγῖδα ἐνδεδεμένην χρυσῷ· Φώκῳ δὲ οὐ μετὰ πολὺν χρόνον ἀνακομισθέντι ἐς Αἴγιναν Πηλεὺς αὐτίκα ἐβούλευσε τοῦ βίου τὴν τελευτήν. καὶ τοῦδε ἕνεκα ἐν τῇ γραφῇ ἐς ἀνάμνησιν ἐκείνης τῆς φιλίας ὅ τε Ἰασεὺς τὴν σφραγῖδά ἐστιν ἐθέλων θεάσασθαι καὶ ὁ Φῶκος παρεὶς λαβεῖν αὐτήν.

English Translation

Depicted above these figures are Phocus, portrayed as still youthful in age, and Iaseus, who has a fine beard and is shown removing a ring from the left hand of Phocus. The story behind this scene is as follows: when Phocus, son of Aeacus, moved from Aegina to the region now called Phocis, acquired power over the inhabitants of that part of the mainland, and resolved to settle there, he grew particularly close in friendship to Iaseus. Among other gifts which Iaseus naturally bestowed upon him was a seal-stone bound in gold. Not much later, however, when Phocus returned to Aegina, Peleus immediately plotted his death. It is for this reason, in memory of their friendship, that the painting depicts Iaseus eagerly examining the seal-stone, and Phocus tolerantly permitting him to take it.

Proper Nouns

Aeacus (Αἰακός) person
Peleus (Πηλεύς) person
Phokos (Φῶξ) person
Iaseus (Ἰασεύς) person
Aegina (Αἴγινα) place Q191082
Phocis (Φωκίς) place Q2637650
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