Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.5.9

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Passage 10.5.9: Earliest temple of Apollo made from laurel or beeswax, associated with the Hyperboreans.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ποιηθῆναι δὲ τὸν ναὸν τῷ Ἀπόλλωνι τὸ ἀρχαιότατον δάφνης φασί, κομισθῆναι δὲ τοὺς κλάδους ἀπὸ τῆς δάφνης τῆς ἐν τοῖς Τέμπεσι· καλύβης δʼ ἂν σχῆμα οὗτός γε ἂν εἴη παρεσχηματισμένος ὁ ναός. δεύτερα δὲ λέγουσιν οἱ Δελφοὶ γενέσθαι ὑπὸ μελισσῶν τὸν ναὸν ἀπό τε τοῦ κηροῦ τῶν μελισσῶν καὶ ἐκ πτερῶν· πεμφθῆναι δὲ ἐς Ὑπερβορέους φασὶν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος.

English Translation

They say that the earliest temple of Apollo was made from laurel, and that the branches of this laurel were brought from the one growing in Tempe. The structure of this temple would have resembled that of a hut. Secondly, the Delphians say the temple was constructed by bees, made from beeswax and wings. They say also that it was sent by Apollo to the Hyperboreans.

Proper Nouns

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Tempe (Τέμπη) place Q258540
Hyperboreans (Ὑπερβόρεοι) place Q11925683
Also in: 5.7.7
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