Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.1.8

← 2.1.7 2.1.9 →

Passage 2.1.8: Chariot group of Poseidon and Amphitrite with Tritons and Nereids.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ Τρίτωνες δύο παρὰ τοὺς ἵππους εἰσὶ χρυσοῖ, τὰ μετʼ ἰξὺν ἐλέφαντος καὶ οὗτοι· τῷ δὲ ἅρματι Ἀμφιτρίτη καὶ Ποσειδῶν ἐφεστήκασι, καὶ παῖς ὀρθός ἐστιν ἐπὶ δελφῖνος ὁ Παλαίμων· ἐλέφαντος δὲ καὶ χρυσοῦ καὶ οὗτοι πεποίηνται. τῷ βάθρῳ δὲ ἐφʼ οὗ τὸ ἅρμα μέση μὲν ἐπείργασται Θάλασσα ἀνέχουσα Ἀφροδίτην παῖδα, ἑκατέρωθεν δέ εἰσιν αἱ Νηρηίδες καλούμεναι. ταύταις καὶ ἑτέρωθι τῆς Ἑλλάδος βωμοὺς οἶδα ὄντας, τοὺς δὲ καὶ τεμένη σφίσιν ἀναθέντας † ποιμαίνισιν , ἔνθα καὶ Ἀχιλλεῖ τιμαί· Δωτοῦς δὲ ἐν Γαβάλοις ἱερόν ἐστιν ἅγιον, ἔνθα πέπλος ἔτι ἐλείπετο, ὃν Ἕλληνες Ἐριφύλην λέγουσιν ἐπὶ τῷ παιδὶ λαβεῖν Ἀλκμαίωνι.

English Translation

Beside the horses there are two golden Tritons, with ivory used in parts of them also. Poseidon and Amphitrite stand upon the chariot, and Palaemon stands upright upon a dolphin; these figures likewise are fashioned from ivory and gold. On the pedestal bearing the chariot a figure of Thalassa ("the Sea") is wrought in the centre, holding up her daughter Aphrodite. On either side are the figures known as the Nereids. I know of altars dedicated to them also elsewhere in Greece, and there are precincts that communities established for them especially near the seashore, where honours are also paid to Achilles. At Gabala in Doton there is a sanctuary held in reverence, wherein was preserved the robe which, according to the Greek tradition, Eriphyle received as payment for betraying her son Alcmaeon.

Proper Nouns

Doto (Δωτώ) deity
Thalassa (Θάλασσα) deity
Also in: 2.1.7 2.1.9
Nereids (Νηρηίς) deity
Palaimon (Παλαίμων) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Triton (Τρίτων) deity
Amphitrite (Ἀμφιτρίτη) deity
Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Hellenes (Ἕλλην) other
Also in: 7.23.7 9.30.4
Alcmaeon (Ἀλκμαίων) person
Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς) person
Eriphyle (Ἐριφύλη) person
Gabaloi (Γάβαλοι) place
Hellas (Ἑλλάς) place Q7798
← 2.1.7 2.1.9 →