Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.20.7

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Passage 2.20.7: A sculpture of Perilaus slaying Othryades stands in the Argive theater.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

παρὰ δὲ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ Κηφισοῦ Μεδούσης λίθου πεποιημένη κεφαλή· Κυκλώπων φασὶν εἶναι καὶ τοῦτο ἔργον. τὸ δὲ χωρίον τὸ ὄπισθεν καὶ ἐς τόδε Κριτήριον ὀνομάζουσιν, Ὑπερμήστραν ἐνταῦθα ὑπὸ Δαναοῦ κριθῆναι λέγοντες. τούτου δέ ἐστιν οὐ πόρρω θέατρον· ἐν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἄλλα θέας ἄξια καὶ ἀνὴρ φονεύων ἐστὶν ἄνδρα, Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν Σπαρτιάτην Περίλαος Ἀργεῖος ὁ Ἀλκήνορος· Περιλάῳ δὲ τούτῳ καὶ πρότερον ἔτι ὑπῆρχε Νεμείων ἀνῃρῆσθαι νίκην παλαίοντι.

English Translation

Beside the sanctuary of Cephisus there is a head of Medusa made of stone; this too, they say, is a work of the Cyclopes. Behind this spot is a place which even today is called Criterion ("Judgment-place"); here, they say, Hypermnestra was judged by Danaus. Not far from here is a theater, and in it there are other noteworthy sights including a sculpture of a man killing another man, Perilaus, the Argive, son of Alcenor, slaying Othryades, the Spartan. This Perilaus had earlier distinguished himself by winning a wrestling victory at the Nemean games.

Proper Nouns

Kephisos (Κήφισος) deity
Cyclopes (Κύκλωπες) other
Also in: 7.25.6 8.29.2
Medusa (Μεδούσα) other
Spartan (Σπαρτιάτης) other
Argive (Ἀργεῖος) other
Danaus (Δαναός) person
Perilaus (Περίλαος) person
Alkinor (Alcenor) (Ἀλκήνωρ) person
Othryadas (Ὀθρυάδας) person
Hypermnestra (Ὑπερμήστρα) person
Kritêrion (Κριτήριον) place
Nemea (Νεμέα) place Q748108
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