Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.2.3

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Passage 2.2.3: Lechaeum and Cenchreae: ports, temples, and Helen's Bath

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Κορινθίοις δὲ τοῖς ἐπινείοις τὰ ὀνόματα Λέχης καὶ Κεγχρίας ἔδοσαν, Ποσειδῶνος εἶναι καὶ Πειρήνης τῆς Ἀχελῴου λεγόμενοι· πεποίηται δὲ ἐν Ἠοίαις μεγάλαις Οἰβάλου θυγατέρα εἶναι Πειρήνην. ἔστι δὲ ἐν Λεχαίῳ μὲν Ποσειδῶνος ἱερὸν καὶ ἄγαλμα χαλκοῦν, τὴν δὲ ἐς Κεγχρέας ἰόντων ἐξ ἰσθμοῦ ναὸς Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ξόανον ἀρχαῖον. ἐν δὲ Κεγχρέαις Ἀφροδίτης τέ ἐστι ναὸς καὶ ἄγαλμα λίθου, μετὰ δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐρύματι τῷ διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης Ποσειδῶνος χαλκοῦν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ ἕτερον πέρας τοῦ λιμένος Ἀσκληπιοῦ καὶ Ἴσιδος ἱερά. Κεγχρεῶν δὲ ἀπαντικρὺ τὸ Ἑλένης ἐστὶ λουτρόν· ὕδωρ ἐς θάλασσαν ἐκ πέτρας ῥεῖ πολὺ καὶ ἁλμυρὸν ὕδατι ὅμοιον ἀρχομένῳ θερμαίνεσθαι.

English Translation

The Corinthians gave to their seaports the names Lechaeum and Cenchreae, after Leches and Cenchrias, who were said to be sons of Poseidon and Peirene, the daughter of Achelous; though in the "Great Eoeae" it is recorded that Peirene was a daughter of Oebalus. At Lechaeum there is a sanctuary of Poseidon and a bronze statue. On the way from the Isthmus toward Cenchreae there is a temple of Artemis with an ancient wooden statue. In Cenchreae itself is a temple of Aphrodite with an image made of stone. Beyond this, upon the mole projecting into the sea, is a bronze image of Poseidon, and at the other end of the harbour there are temples dedicated to Asclepius and Isis. Opposite Cenchreae lies Helen's Bath, a large stream of salt water flowing from a rock into the sea, similar to seawater and slightly warm.

Proper Nouns

Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός) deity
Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Achelous (Ἀχελῷος) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Isis (Ἶσις) deity
Corinthians (Κορίνθιος) person
Oibalus (Οἰβάλιος) person
Peirene (Πειρήνη) person
Also in: 2.3.2 2.24.7
Helen (Ἑλένη) person
Cenchreae (Κεγχρεαί) place Q111565756
Lechaion (Λέχαιον) place Q57961021
Leches (Λέχης) place Q28224981
Eoeae (Ἠοῖαι) place
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