Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.3.4

← 2.3.3 2.3.5 →

Passage 2.3.4: Seated bronze Hermes with a ram on the road to Lechaeum

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

αὖθις δʼ ἰοῦσιν ἐπὶ Λεχαίου τὴν εὐθεῖαν χαλκοῦς καθήμενός ἐστιν Ἑρμῆς, παρέστηκε δέ οἱ κριός, ὅτι Ἑρμῆς μάλιστα δοκεῖ θεῶν ἐφορᾶν καὶ αὔξειν ποίμνας, καθὰ δὴ καὶ Ὅμηρος ἐν Ἰλιάδι ἐποίησεν υἱὸν Φόρβαντος πολυμήλου, τόν ῥα μάλιστα Ἑρμείας Τρώων ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσε· Hom. Il. 14.490 τὸν δὲ ἐν τελετῇ Μητρὸς ἐπὶ Ἑρμῇ λεγόμενον καὶ τῷ κριῷ λόγον ἐπιστάμενος οὐ λέγω. μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἄγαλμα τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ Ποσειδῶν καὶ Λευκοθέα καὶ ἐπὶ δελφῖνός ἐστιν ὁ Παλαίμων.

English Translation

Again, on the straight road toward Lechaeum, there is a bronze statue of Hermes seated, with a ram standing beside him, because of all the gods Hermes is especially thought to watch over and prosper flocks. Homer also portrayed the son of Phorbas as wealthy in sheep, whom Hermes cherished above all the Trojans and enriched with possessions (Hom. Il. 14.490). The story told during the initiation rites of the Mother concerning Hermes and the ram I well know, but will not describe it. Beyond the statue of Hermes stand Poseidon, Leucothea, and Palaemon seated upon a dolphin.

Proper Nouns

Leucothea (Λευκοθέα) deity
Mother (Meter) (Μήτηρ) deity
Palaimon (Παλαίμων) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Trojans (Τρῶες) other
Iliad (Ἰλιάς) other
Phorbas (Φόρβανς) person
Also in: 5.1.11 6.19.13
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Lechaion (Λέχαιον) place Q57961021
← 2.3.3 2.3.5 →