Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.1.3

← 2.1.2 2.1.4 →

Passage 2.1.3: Melicertes and the founding of the Isthmian Games

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τῆς δὲ Κορινθίας ἐστὶ γῆς καὶ ὁ καλούμενος Κρομυὼν ἀπὸ τοῦ Κρόμου τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος. ἐνταῦθα τραφῆναί φασι Φαιὰν , καὶ τῶν λεγομένων Θησέως καὶ τὸ ἐς τὴν ὗν ταύτην ἐστὶν ἔργον. προϊοῦσι δὲ ἡ πίτυς ἄχρι γε ἐμοῦ πεφύκει παρὰ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν καὶ Μελικέρτου βωμὸς ἦν. ἐς τοῦτον τὸν τόπον ἐκκομισθῆναι τὸν παῖδα ὑπὸ δελφῖνος λέγουσι· κειμένῳ δὲ ἐπιτυχόντα Σίσυφον θάψαι τε ἐν τῷ ἰσθμῷ καὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ποιῆσαι τῶν Ἰσθμίων.

English Translation

Within Corinthian territory lies also the place called Cromyon, named after Cromus, the son of Poseidon. There, they say, the sow Phaea was nurtured, and among the notable deeds of Theseus is his encounter with this sow. Proceeding onward, a pine tree grew by the shore up until my day, and there was an altar of Melicertes. They recount that Melicertes was carried to this spot by a dolphin, and that Sisyphus, who found the boy lying here, buried him on the Isthmus and established the games of the Isthmia in his honor.

Proper Nouns

Poseidon (Ποσειδών) deity
Phaia (Φαιά) other
Isthmian Games (Ἰσθμία) other
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Kromos (Κρόμος) person
Melikertes (Μελικέρτης) person
Sisyphus (Σίσυφος) person
Corinthia (Κορινθία) place Q12899460
Kromyon (Κρομυών) place Q1789784
Also in: 1.27.9
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