Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.3.2

← 2.3.1 2.3.3 →

Passage 2.3.2: The Peirene spring, formed from a mother's tears over her son Cenchrias.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐκ δὲ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἐξιόντων τὴν ἐπὶ Λεχαίου προπύλαιά ἐστι καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῶν ἅρματα ἐπίχρυσα, τὸ μὲν Φαέθοντα Ἡλίου παῖδα, τὸ δὲ Ἥλιον αὐτὸν φέρον. ὀλίγον δὲ ἀπωτέρω τῶν προπυλαίων ἐσιοῦσιν ἐν δεξιᾷ ἐστιν Ἡρακλῆς χαλκοῦς. μετὰ δὲ αὐτὸν ἔσοδός ἐστι τῆς Πειρήνης ἐς τὸ ὕδωρ. ἐπὶ δὲ αὐτῇ λέγουσιν ὡς ἥ Πειρήνη γένοιτο ὑπὸ δακρύων ἐξ ἀνθρώπου πηγή, τὸν παῖδα ὀδυρομένη Κεγχρίαν ὑπὸ Ἀρτέμιδος ἀκούσης ἀποθανόντα.

English Translation

As one leaves the Agora by the gateway towards Lechaeum, there stand gilded chariots upon the gates themselves, one carrying Phaethon the son of Helios, the other with Helios himself. A short distance beyond the gates, on the right-hand side as you enter, is a bronze statue of Heracles. After this statue is the entrance leading to the waters of Peirene. They say that Peirene became a spring, flowing from human tears, shed by a woman weeping for her son Cenchrias, who was unintentionally slain by Artemis.

Proper Nouns

Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Helios (Ἥλιος) deity
Peirene (Πειρήνη) person
Also in: 2.2.3 2.24.7
Phaethon (Φαέθων) person
Also in: 1.3.1 1.4.1
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Cenchreae (Κεγχρεαί) place Q111565756
Lechaion (Λέχαιον) place Q57961021
Peirene (Πειρήνη) place Q3389191
Also in: 2.3.3
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