Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.16.3

← 2.16.2 2.16.4 →

Passage 2.16.3: Perseus founds Mycenae—name from sword chape or water-producing mushroom.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ Ἀκρισίῳ μὲν ἡ πρόρρησις τοῦ θεοῦ τέλος ἔσχεν, οὐδὲ ἀπέτρεψέν οἱ τὸ χρεὼν τὰ ἐς τὴν παῖδα καὶ τὸν θυγατριδοῦν παρευρήματα· Περσεὺς δὲ ὡς ἀνέστρεψεν ἐς Ἄργος---ᾐσχύνετο γὰρ τοῦ φόνου τῇ φήμῃ---, Μεγαπένθην τὸν Προίτου πείθει οἱ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀντιδοῦναι, παραλαβὼν δὲ αὐτὸς τὴν ἐκείνου Μυκήνας κτίζει. τοῦ ξίφους γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἐξέπεσεν ὁ μύκης αὐτῷ, καὶ τὸ σημεῖον ἐς οἰκισμὸν ἐνόμιζε συμβῆναι πόλεως. ἤκουσα δὲ καὶ ὡς διψῶντι ἐπῆλθεν ἀνελέσθαι οἱ μύκητα ἐκ τῆς γῆς, ῥυέντος δὲ ὕδατος πιὼν καὶ ἡσθεὶς Μυκήνας ἔθετο τὸ ὄνομα τῷ χωρίῳ.

English Translation

For Acrisius, the god's oracle had its fulfillment at last; neither his precautions nor the devices he managed against his daughter and grandson could avert fate. When Perseus returned to Argos, ashamed because of the rumor of the murder, he persuaded Megapenthes, son of Proetus, to exchange kingdoms with him. Taking Megapenthes' kingdom, he founded Mycenae. For here the chape (mykes) had fallen from his sword, and he believed this sign to be an omen for establishing the city. But I have also heard another account: that when Perseus was thirsty, he happened upon a mushroom (mykes) growing from the ground, and plucking it, water immediately gushed forth. Having drunk from it gladly, he was pleased and thus gave the place the name Mycenae.

Proper Nouns

god (θεός) deity
Megapenthes (Μεγαπένθης) person
Perseus (Περσεύς) person
Proetus (Προῖτος) person
Acrisius (Ἀκρίσιος) person
Mycenae (Μυκῆναι) place Q132564
Argos (Ἄργος) place Q13533353
← 2.16.2 2.16.4 →