Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.31.8

← 10.31.7 10.31.9 →

Passage 10.31.8: Paris clapping to summon Penthesileia.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὑπὲρ δὲ τὸν Σαρπηδόνα τε καὶ Μέμνονα, ἔστιν ὑπὲρ αὐτοὺς ὁ Πάρις οὐκ ἔχων πω γένεια· κροτεῖ δὲ ταῖς χερσίν, οἷος ἂν γένοιτο ἀνδρὸς ἀγροίκου κρότος· ἐοικέναι τὸν Πάριν φήσεις τῷ ψόφῳ τῶν χειρῶν Πενθεσίλειαν παρʼ αὑτὸν καλοῦντι. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ Πενθεσίλεια ὁρῶσα ἐς τὸν Πάριν, τοῦ προσώπου δὲ ἔοικε τῷ νεύματι ὑπερορᾶν τε αὐτὸν καὶ ἐν οὐδενὸς τίθεσθαι λόγῳ· τὸ δὲ σχῆμά ἐστι τῇ Πενθεσιλείᾳ παρθένος τόξον ἔχουσα τοῖς Σκυθικοῖς ἐμφερὲς καὶ παρδάλεως δέρμα ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων.

English Translation

Above Sarpedon and Memnon stands Paris, depicted still beardless. He is clapping his hands, producing a sound like that which might be made by a rustic fellow; from the clapping noise of his hands, you might suppose that Paris is summoning Penthesileia, who is portrayed beside him. Penthesileia herself is also present, gazing toward Paris, but from her facial expression she appears contemptuous in manner, disregarding him and paying him no heed. Penthesileia is represented as a maiden; she holds a bow like those of Scythian type and wears the skin of a leopard across her shoulders.

Proper Nouns

Scythians (Σκύθαι) other
Also in: 3.9.6
Memnon (Μέμνων) person
Paris (Πάρις) person
Penthesileia (Πενθεσίλεια) person
Also in: 5.11.6 10.31.9
Sarpedon (Σαρπηδών) person
Also in: 7.3.7 10.31.5
← 10.31.7 10.31.9 →