Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.11.3

← 3.11.2 3.11.4 →

Passage 3.11.3: The Persian Stoa on the Agora with marble figures of Mardonius and Artemisia

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπιφανέστατον δὲ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἐστιν ἣν στοὰν Περσικὴν ὀνομάζουσιν ἀπὸ λαφύρων ποιηθεῖσαν τῶν Μηδικῶν· ἀνὰ χρόνον δὲ αὐτὴν ἐς μέγεθος τὸ νῦν καὶ ἐς κόσμον τὸν παρόντα μεταβεβλήκασιν. εἰσὶ δὲ ἐπὶ τῶν κιόνων Πέρσαι λίθου λευκοῦ καὶ ἄλλοι καὶ Μαρδόνιος ὁ Γωβρύου. πεποίηται δὲ καὶ Ἀρτεμισία, θυγάτηρ μὲν Λυγδάμιδος, ἐβασίλευσε δὲ Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ· ταύτην φασὶν ἑκουσίως ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα συστρατεῦσαι Ξέρξῃ καὶ ἔργα ἐν τῇ ναυμαχίᾳ περὶ Σαλαμῖνα ἀποδείξασθαι.

English Translation

The most famous building on the Agora is the Stoa called the Persian, which was constructed from the spoils of the Persian wars. Over time, they have transformed this structure into its present size and current splendor. On the columns stand figures of Persians carved from white marble, among whom is Mardonius, the son of Gobryas. Also depicted is Artemisia, daughter of Lygdamis, who reigned in Halicarnassus. They say that she willingly joined Xerxes' expedition against Greece and distinguished herself by her exploits in the naval battle off Salamis.

Proper Nouns

Median (Μηδικός) other
Also in: 2.29.5 4.6.1
Persians (Πέρσαι) other
Persian (stoa) (Περσική) other
Gobryas (Γωβρύης) person Q4927914
Also in: 1.1.5 7.25.6
Lygdamis (Λύγδαμις) person
Also in: 5.8.8
Mardonius (Μαρδόνιος) person
Xerxes (Ξέρξης) person
Artemisia (Ἀρτεμισία) person
Salamis (Σαλαμίς) place Q767089
Halicarnassus (Ἁλικαρνασσός) place Q5843680
Also in: 2.30.9 8.16.4
Hellas (Ἑλλάς) place Q7798
← 3.11.2 3.11.4 →