Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.8.9

← 10.8.8 10.8.10 →

Passage 10.8.9: The Castalian spring (the water of Castalia)

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ἐκ δὲ τοῦ γυμνασίου τὴν ἐς τὸ ἱερὸν ἀνιόντι ἔστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς ὁδοῦ τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς Κασταλίας, καὶ πιεῖν ἡδὺ καὶ λοῦσθαι καλόν. δοῦναι δὲ τὸ ὄνομα τῇ πηγῇ γυναῖκα λέγουσιν ἐπιχωρίαν, οἱ δὲ ἄνδρα Καστάλιον· Πανύασσις δὲ ὁ Πολυάρχου πεποιηκὼς ἐς Ἡρακλέα ἔπη θυγατέρα Ἀχελῴου τὴν Κασταλίαν φησὶν εἶναι. λέγει γὰρ δὴ περὶ τοῦ Ἡρακλέους· Παρνησσὸν νιφόεντα θοοῖς διὰ ποσσὶ περήσας ἵκετο Κασταλίης Ἀχελωΐδος ἄμβροτον ὕδωρ. Panyassis, work unknown

English Translation

Going up from the gymnasium towards the sanctuary, on the right side of the road is the water of Castalia, pleasant to drink and beautiful for bathing. They say the spring was named from a local woman, though others say it was named after a man, Castalius. Panyassis son of Polyarchus, however, who composed verses about Heracles, claims that Castalia was a daughter of Acheloüs. For he says thus concerning Heracles: "Having swiftly crossed snowy Parnassus with swift feet, He reached the immortal water of Castalia, daughter of Acheloüs."

Proper Nouns

Achelous (Ἀχελῷος) deity
Kastalion (Καστάλιος) person
Also in: 10.6.4
Kastalia (Κασταλία) person
Panyassis (Πανύασσις) person
Also in: 9.11.2 10.29.9
Polyarchos (Πολύαρχος) person
Also in: 10.20.4
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Kastalia (Κασταλία) place Q152348
Also in: 10.8.10
Parnassus (Παρνασσός) place Q105261
← 10.8.8 10.8.10 →