Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.26.9

← 2.26.8 2.26.10 →

Passage 2.26.9: Asclepius sanctuaries and the Cyrenaean practice of sacrificing goats.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ Περγαμηνῶν Σμυρναίοις γέγονεν ἐφʼ ἡμῶν Ἀσκληπιεῖον τὸ ἐπὶ θαλάσσῃ. τὸ δʼ ἐν Βαλάγραις ταῖς Κυρηναίων ἐστὶν Ἀσκληπιὸς καλούμενος Ἰατρὸς ἐξ Ἐπιδαύρου καὶ οὗτος. ἐκ δὲ τοῦ παρὰ Κυρηναίοις τὸ ἐν Λεβήνῃ τῇ Κρητῶν ἐστιν Ἀσκληπιεῖον. διάφορον δὲ Κυρηναίοις τοσόνδε ἐς Ἐπιδαυρίους ἐστίν, ὅτι αἶγας οἱ Κυρηναῖοι θύουσιν, Ἐπιδαυρίοις οὐ καθεστηκότος.

English Translation

In our time, the people of Smyrna established their sea-side sanctuary of Asclepius from the temple belonging to the Pergamenians. The one in Balagrae, which belongs to the Cyrenaeans, houses an image of Asclepius called “the Healer,” which was also brought from Epidaurus. From this sanctuary among the Cyrenaeans originated the sanctuary of Asclepius at Lebena in Crete. The Cyrenaeans diverge from the Epidaurians in this respect: the Cyrenaeans sacrifice goats, a custom not practiced by the Epidaurians.

Proper Nouns

Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός) deity
Asklepieion (Ἀσκληπιεῖον) other
Also in: 2.11.5 4.30.1
Iatros (the Physician) (Ἰατρός) other
Balagrai (Βάλαγραι) place Q34245451
Crete (Κρήτη) place Q34374 Pleiades
Cyrene (Κυρήνη) place Q44112
Lebene (Λεβήνη) place
Pergamum (Πέργαμον) place Q18986
Also in: 6.24.8 10.15.3
Smyrna (Σμύρνη) place Q1379299
Also in: 5.8.7 9.11.7
Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος) place Q233576
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