Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.21.4

← 2.21.3 2.21.5 →

Passage 2.21.4: Pyrrhus' cremation monument in the Argive marketplace.

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ δὲ οἰκοδόμημα λευκοῦ λίθου κατὰ μέσον μάλιστα τῆς ἀγορᾶς οὐ τρόπαιον ἐπὶ Πύρρῳ τῷ Ἠπειρώτῃ, καθὰ λέγουσιν οἱ Ἀργεῖοι, καυθέντος δὲ ἐνταῦθα τοῦ νεκροῦ μνῆμα καὶ τοῦτο ἂν εὕροι τις, ἐν ᾧ τά τε ἄλλα ὅσοις ὁ Πύρρος ἐχρῆτο ἐς τὰς μάχας καὶ οἱ ἐλέφαντές εἰσιν ἐπειργασμένοι. τοῦτο μὲν δὴ κατὰ τὴν πυρὰν τὸ οἰκοδόμημα ἐγένετο· αὐτὰ δὲ κεῖται τοῦ Πύρρου τὰ ὀστᾶ ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῆς Δήμητρος, παρʼ ᾧ συμβῆναί οἱ καὶ τὴν τελευτὴν ἐδήλωσα ἐν τῇ Ἀτθίδι συγγραφῇ. τοῦ δὲ τῆς Δήμητρος ἱεροῦ τούτου κατὰ τὴν ἔσοδον ἀσπίδα ἰδεῖν Πύρρου χαλκῆν ἔστιν ὑπὲρ τῶν θυρῶν ἀνακειμένην.

English Translation

The structure of white stone standing near the very center of the marketplace is not, as the Argives claim, a trophy commemorating victory over Pyrrhus the Epirote; rather, it marks the place where his corpse was cremated, and this can also be recognized by examining it closely. For upon it, among other representations, are carved the elephants and other things used by Pyrrhus in battle. The building was erected over the site of his pyre. As for Pyrrhus' bones themselves, they lie in the sanctuary of Demeter, near which, as I explained in my Attic history, he met his death. At the entrance to this sanctuary of Demeter, above the doors, one can see a bronze shield of Pyrrhus hanging as a dedication.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Atthis (Ἀτθίς) other
Pyrrhus (Πύρρος) person
Argives (Ἀργεῖοι) person
Epirote (Ἠπειρώτης) person
Also in: 1.9.8
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