Pausanias Analysis

Passage 2.34.1

← 2.33.5 2.34.2 →

Passage 2.34.1: Methana: sanctuary of Isis and hot, salty baths that erupted from the earth

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τῆς δὲ Τροιζηνίας γῆς ἐστιν ἰσθμὸς ἐπὶ πολὺ διέχων ἐς θάλασσαν, ἐν δὲ αὐτῷ πόλισμα οὐ μέγα ἐπὶ θαλάσσῃ Μέθανα ᾤκισται. Ἴσιδος δὲ ἐνταῦθα ἱερόν ἐστι καὶ ἄγαλμα ἐπὶ τῆς ἀγορᾶς Ἑρμοῦ, τὸ δὲ ἕτερον Ἡρακλέους. τοῦ δὲ πολίσματος τριάκοντά που στάδια ἀπέχει θερμὰ λουτρά· φασὶ δὲ Ἀντιγόνου τοῦ Δημητρίου Μακεδόνων βασιλεύοντος τότε πρῶτον τὸ ὕδωρ φανῆναι, φανῆναι δὲ οὐχ ὕδωρ εὐθὺς ἀλλὰ πῦρ ἀναζέσαι πολὺ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, ἐπὶ δὲ τούτῳ μαρανθέντι ῥυῆναι τὸ ὕδωρ, ὃ δὴ καὶ ἐς ἡμᾶς ἄνεισι θερμόν τε καὶ δεινῶς ἁλμυρόν. λουσαμένῳ δὲ ἐνταῦθα οὔτε ὕδωρ ἐστὶν ἐγγὺς ψυχρὸν οὔτε ἐσπεσόντα ἐς τὴν θάλασσαν ἀκινδύνως νήχεσθαι· θηρία γὰρ καὶ ἄλλα καὶ κύνας παρέχεται πλείστους.

English Translation

In the territory of Troezen there is an isthmus which juts far out into the sea, and upon it a small coastal town, Methana, has been built. Here stands a sanctuary of Isis, and in the marketplace there are images set up, one of Hermes and another of Heracles. About thirty stades from this town are hot baths; people say that the water first appeared during the reign of Antigonus, son of Demetrius, who was king of the Macedonians at that time. Yet it was not water that immediately appeared, but first a great flame burst forth from the earth, and only when this subsided did the water flow out, which still today comes forth hot and exceedingly salty. When one bathes here, neither cold water is close at hand, nor can one safely swim out into the sea, as the place harbors many sea creatures, including especially abundant sharks.

Proper Nouns

Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) deity
Isis (Ἶσις) deity
Macedonians (Μακεδόνες) other
Demetrius (Δημήτριος) person
Antigonus (Ἀντίγονος) person
Methana (Μέθανα) place Q107472458
Troezenia (Τροιζήνια) place
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