Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.1.2

← 3.1.1 3.1.3 →

Passage 3.1.2: Lakedaimon marries Sparta and founds the city named Sparta.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἅτε δὲ οὐκ ὄντων· αὐτῷ παίδων ἀρρένων βασιλεύειν καταλείπει Λακεδαίμονα, μητρὸς μὲν Ταϋγέτης ὄντα, ἀφʼ ἧς καὶ τὸ ὄρος ὠνομάσθη, ἐς Δία δὲ πατέρα ἀνήκοντα κατὰ τὴν φήμην· συνῴκει δὲ ὁ Λακεδαίμων Σπάρτῃ θυγατρὶ τοῦ Εὐρώτα. τότε δὲ ὡς ἔσχε τὴν ἀρχήν, πρῶτα μὲν τῇ χώρᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις μετέθετο ἀφʼ αὑτοῦ τὰ ὀνόματα, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ᾤκισέ τε καὶ ὠνόμασεν ἀπὸ τῆς γυναικὸς πόλιν, ἣ Σπάρτη καλεῖται καὶ ἐς ἡμᾶς.

English Translation

Since he himself had no male children, he left the kingdom of Lakedaimon to Lakedaimon, whose mother was Taygete—from whom the mountain also received its name—and who, according to tradition, traced his descent on his father's side back to Zeus. Lakedaimon married Sparta, daughter of Eurotas. When he took power, he first transferred his own name onto the land and its people; afterward, he founded a city, naming it after his wife. This city is still called Sparta even now.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Eurotas (Εὐρώτας) person Q111157900
Also in: 3.1.1 3.18.6
Lacedaemon (Λακεδαίμων) person
Sparta (Σπάρτη) person
Taygete (Ταΰγετη) person
Sparta (Σπάρτη) place Q5690 Pleiades
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