Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.1.7

← 2.1.6 2.1.8 →

Passage 2.1.7: The temple of Poseidon at Isthmia

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

θέας δὲ αὐτόθι ἄξια ἔστι μὲν θέατρον, ἔστι δὲ στάδιον λίθου λευκοῦ. ἐλθόντι δὲ ἐς τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦτο μὲν ἀθλητῶν νικησάντων· τὰ Ἴσθμια ἑστήκασιν εἰκόνες, τοῦτο δὲ πιτύων δένδρα ἐστὶ πεφυτευμένα ἐπὶ στοίχου, τὰ πολλὰ ἐς εὐθὺ αὐτῶν ἀνήκοντα. τῷ ναῷ δὲ ὄντι μέγεθος οὐ μείζονι ἐφεστήκασι Τρίτωνες χαλκοῖ. καὶ ἀγάλματά ἐστιν ἐν τῷ προνάῳ δύο μὲν Ποσειδῶνος, τρίτον δὲ Ἀμφιτρίτης, καὶ Θάλασσα καὶ αὕτη χαλκῆ. τὰ δὲ ἔνδον ἐφʼ ἡμῶν ἀνέθηκεν Ἡρώδης Ἀθηναῖος, ἵππους τέσσαρας ἐπιχρύσους πλὴν τῶν ὁπλῶν· ὁπλαὶ δέ σφισίν εἰσιν ἐλέφαντος.

English Translation

Noteworthy sights at this place include a theater and a stadium made of white stone. On the approach to the sanctuary of the god, there are statues of athletes who have won victories at the Isthmian games. There is also a row of pine trees planted in a straight line, most of them standing upright. Near the temple itself, which is of moderate size, stand bronze Tritons. In the pronaos are statues: two of Poseidon and a third of Amphitrite, and also a representation in bronze of the sea (Thalassa). The inner decorations were dedicated in my time by Herodes the Athenian; these include four horses overlaid with gold except for their hooves, which are made of ivory.

Proper Nouns

Thalassa (Θάλασσα) deity Q659437
Also in: 2.1.8 2.1.9
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity Q41127
Triton (Τρίτων) deity Q148030
Amphitrite (Ἀμφιτρίτη) deity Q180222
Isthmian Games (Ἴσθμια) other Q675181
Athenian (Ἀθηναῖος) person
Herodes (Ἡρώδης) person Q311879
← 2.1.6 2.1.8 →