Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.27.4

← 2.27.3 2.27.5 →

Passage 2.27.4: Hippolytus' pillar and sanctuary at Aricia.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

γέγραπται δὲ φωνῇ τῇ Δωρίδι. χωρὶς δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐστὶν ἀρχαία στήλη· ἵππους δὲ Ἱππόλυτον ἀναθεῖναι τῷ θεῷ φησιν εἴκοσι. ταύτης τῆς στήλης τῷ ἐπιγράμματι ὁμολογοῦντα λέγουσιν Ἀρικιεῖς, ὡς τεθνεῶτα Ἱππόλυτον ἐκ τῶν Θησέως ἀρῶν ἀνέστησεν Ἀσκληπιός· ὁ δὲ ὡς αὖθις ἐβίω, οὐκ ἠξίου νέμειν τῷ πατρὶ συγγνώμην, ἀλλὰ ὑπεριδὼν τὰς δεήσεις ἐς Ἰταλίαν ἔρχεται παρὰ τοὺς Ἀρικιεῖς, καὶ ἐβασίλευσέ τε αὐτόθι καὶ ἀνῆκε τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι τέμενος, ἔνθα ἄχρι ἐμοῦ μονομαχίας ἆθλα ἦν καὶ ἱερᾶσθαι τῇ θεῷ τὸν νικῶντα· ὁ δὲ ἀγὼν ἐλευθέρων μὲν προέκειτο οὐδενί, οἰκέταις δὲ ἀποδρᾶσι τοὺς δεσπότας.

English Translation

It is written in the Dorian dialect. Apart from the other offerings stands an ancient pillar, whose inscription says that Hippolytus dedicated twenty horses to the god. Concerning this pillar's inscription, the Aricians assert the same story: that Hippolytus, after death, was raised back to life by Asklepios because of the curses of Theseus. However, once restored to life, he refused to grant pardon to his father and, ignoring all entreaties, departed to Aricia in Italy. There he ruled as king, dedicating a precinct to Artemis, where down to my day, contests of single combat took place, the winner appointed as priest of the goddess. This contest was not open to freemen, but only to slaves who escaped from their masters.

Proper Nouns

Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Doric (Δωρίς) other
Also in: 6.24.5 9.22.3
Theseus (Θησεύς) person
Hippolytus (Ἱππόλυτος) person
Aricians (Ἀρικιεῖς) place
Italy (Ἰταλία) place Q913582
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