Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.14.5

← 3.14.4 3.14.6 →

Passage 3.14.5: Spartan cults: secret Thetis image, Demeter Chthonia, Sarapis and Zeus Olympios temples.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ μὲν δὴ ξόανον τῆς Θέτιδος ἐν ἀπορρήτῳ φυλάσσουσι· Δήμητρα δὲ Χθονίαν Λακεδαιμόνιοι μὲν σέβειν φασὶ παραδόντος σφίσιν Ὀρφέως, δόξῃ δὲ ἐμῇ διὰ τὸ ἱερὸν τὸ ἐν Ἑρμιόνῃ κατέστη καὶ τούτοις Χθονίαν νομίζειν Δήμητρα. ἔστι δὲ καὶ Σαράπιδος νεώτατον τοῦτο Σπαρτιάταις ἱερὸν καὶ Διὸς ἐπίκλησιν Ὀλυμπίου.

English Translation

The wooden image of Thetis is indeed preserved in secrecy. The Lacedaemonians say that their worship of Demeter Chthonia was handed down to them by Orpheus; yet, in my own opinion, their belief in Demeter as Chthonia arose due to the sanctuary at Hermione. There is also a very recent temple of Sarapis among the Spartans, as well as one dedicated to Zeus under the epithet Olympios.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Thetis (Θέτις) deity
Sarapis (Σάραπις) deity
Chthonia (Χθονία) deity
Olympios (Ὀλύμπιος) other
Also in: 2.5.5
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Spartiates (Σπαρτιάται) person
Orpheus (Ὀρφεύς) person
Hermione (Ἑρμιόνη) place Q58401924
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