Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.27.5

← 2.27.4 2.27.6 →

Passage 2.27.5: The theatre of Epidaurus by Polykleitos.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Ἐπιδαυρίοις δέ ἐστι θέατρον ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ μάλιστα ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν θέας ἄξιον· τὰ μὲν γὰρ Ῥωμαίων πολὺ δή τι καὶ ὑπερῆρ κ ε τῶν πανταχοῦ τῷ κόσμῳ, μεγέθει δὲ Ἀρκάδων τὸ ἐν Μεγάλῃ πόλει· ἁρμονίας δὲ ἢ κάλλους ἕνεκα ἀρχιτέκτων ποῖος ἐς ἅμιλλαν Πολυκλείτῳ γένοιτʼ ἂν ἀξιόχρεως; Πολύκλειτος γὰρ καὶ θέατρον τοῦτο καὶ οἴκημα τὸ περιφερὲς ὁ ποιήσας ἦν. ἐντὸς δὲ τοῦ ἄλσους ναός τέ ἐστιν Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ἄγαλμα Ἠπιόνης καὶ Ἀφροδίτης ἱερὸν καὶ Θέμιδος καὶ στάδιον, οἷα Ἕλλησι τὰ πολλὰ γῆς χῶμα, καὶ κρήνη τῷ τε ὀρόφῳ καὶ κόσμῳ τῷ λοιπῷ θέας ἀξία.

English Translation

At Epidaurus, within the sanctuary, there is a theatre which seems to me especially worth seeing. The theatres of the Romans may surpass all others in magnificence throughout the world, and the one at Megalopolis in Arcadia in size, but what architect would be worthy to compete with Polykleitos in symmetry or beauty? For it was Polykleitos who constructed both this theatre and the circular building here. Within the sacred grove is a temple of Artemis, a statue of Epione, sanctuaries of Aphrodite and of Themis, and a stadium similar to most Greek stadiums, consisting chiefly of an earthen embankment. There is also a fountain noteworthy for its roof and overall decoration.

Proper Nouns

Themis (Θέμις) deity
Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Hebeione (or Epione) (Ἡπιόνη) deity
Polykleitos (Πολύκλειτος) person
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) person
Romans (Ῥωμαῖοι) person
Megalopolis (Μεγάλη πόλις) place Q36024972
Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος) place Q233576
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