Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.26.8

← 2.26.7 2.26.9 →

Passage 2.26.8: Asclepius cult originating in Epidaurus and spreading to Athens (Epidauria) and Pergamum.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι καὶ τόδε ἐν Ἐπιδαύρῳ τὸν θεὸν γενέσθαι· τὰ γὰρ Ἀσκληπιεῖα εὑρίσκω τὰ ἐπιφανέστατα γεγονότα ἐξ Ἐπιδαύρου. τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ Ἀθηναῖοι, τῆς τελετῆς λέγοντες Ἀσκληπιῷ μεταδοῦναι, τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην Ἐπιδαύρια ὀνομάζουσι καὶ θεὸν ἀπʼ ἐκείνου φασὶν Ἀσκληπιόν σφισι νομισθῆναι· τοῦτο δὲ Ἀρχίας ὁ Ἀρισταίχμου, τὸ συμβὰν σπάσμα θηρεύοντί οἱ περὶ τὸν Πίνδασον ἰαθεὶς ἐν τῇ Ἐπιδαυρίᾳ, τὸν θεὸν ἐπηγάγετο ἐς Πέργαμον.

English Translation

This fact also testifies to me that the god originated in Epidaurus: for I find that the most renowned sanctuaries of Asclepius originated from Epidaurus. Firstly, the Athenians, asserting that they shared their rites with Asclepius, named this festival-day Epidauria, and say that from that place Asclepius came into worship among them as a god. Secondly, Archias, son of Aristaechmus, who while hunting near Pindasos received an accidental sprain, was healed in Epidauria and consequently introduced the god into Pergamum.

Proper Nouns

Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός) deity
Epidauria (Ἐπιδαύρια) other
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Aristaichmos (Ἀρίσταιχμος) person
Archias (Ἀρχίας) person
Also in: 1.8.3 5.7.3
Pergamum (Πέργαμος) place Q18986
Pindasos (Πίνδασος) place Q4833452
Asklepieion (Ἀσκληπιεῖον) place Q7698713
Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος) place Q233576
← 2.26.7 2.26.9 →