Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.14.10

← 3.14.9 3.15.1 →

Passage 3.14.10: Youth combat at the Platanistas.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ θυσίᾳ κάπρους ἠθάδας οἱ ἔφηβοι συμβάλλουσι μαχουμένους· ὁποτέρων δʼ ἂν ὁ κάπρος τύχῃ νικῶν, ἐστιν ἐν τῷ Πλατανιστᾷ κρατῆσαι τούτους ὡς τὰ πλείω συμβαίνει. τοσάδε μὲν δρῶσιν ἐν τῷ Φοιβαίῳ· ἐς δὲ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ὀλίγον πρὸ μεσούσης ἡμέρας ἐσίασι κατὰ τὰς γεφύρας ἐς τὸ εἰρημένον χωρίον. τὴν μὲν δὴ ἔσοδον, καθʼ ἣν ἐσελθεῖν δεῦρο ἔστιν ἑκατέραν τάξιν, προεδήλωσε κλῆρός σφισιν ἐν τῇ νυκτί· μάχονται δὲ καὶ ἐν χερσὶ καὶ ἐμπηδῶντες λάξ, δάκνουσί τε καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἀντορύσσουσιν. ἀνὴρ μὲν δὴ πρὸς ἄνδρα τὸν εἰρημένον τρόπον μάχεται· ἀθρόοι δέ ἐμπίπτουσι βιαίως καὶ ἐς τὸ ὕδωρ ὠθοῦσιν ἀλλήλους.

English Translation

At the sacrifice, the ephebes set two trained boars to fight against each other. Whichever side's boar happens to win, that group usually prevails in the contest at the Platanistas. Such are their proceedings in the Phoibaion. On the following day, shortly before midday, the youths enter across the bridges into the aforementioned place. During the preceding night, lots have already determined for each group the entrance by which they must approach. They fight both hand-to-hand and by kicking and leaping upon one another; they bite and even try to gouge out each other's eyes. Thus man grapples against man in the manner described; and they rush together violently in groups and push each other into the water.

Proper Nouns

Platanistas (Πλατανιστάς) place Q3391805
Phoibaion (Φοιβαῖον) place Q124615381
Also in: 3.14.9 3.20.2
← 3.14.9 3.15.1 →