Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.14.8

← 3.14.7 3.14.9 →

Passage 3.14.8: Platanistas, the plane-tree encircled island-like arena where youths fight.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ χωρίον Πλατανιστᾶς ἐστιν ἀπὸ τῶν δένδρων, αἳ δὴ ὑψηλαὶ καὶ συνεχεῖς περὶ αὐτὸ αἱ πλάτανοι πεφύκασιν. αὐτὸ δὲ τὸ χωρίον, ἔνθα τοῖς ἐφήβοις μάχεσθαι καθέστηκε, κύκλῳ μὲν εὔριπος περιέχει κατὰ ταὐτὰ καὶ εἰ νῆσον θάλασσα, ἔφοδοι δὲ ἐπὶ γεφυρῶν εἰσι. γεφυρῶν δὲ ἐφʼ ἑκατέρᾳ τῇ μέν ἐστιν ἄγαλμα Ἡρακλέους, τῇ δὲ εἰκὼν Λυκούργου· νόμους δὲ ἔς τε τὴν ἄλλην πολιτείαν καὶ ἐς τὴν μάχην τῶν ἐφήβων ἔθηκεν ὁ Λυκοῦργος.

English Translation

There is also a place called Platanistas, named after the plane-trees [platanes], as the plane-trees around it grow high and close together. The area itself, appointed as the place where the youths fight, is encircled by a canal filled with water, just like an island by the sea, and has entrances by means of bridges. At each of these bridges stands a statue—by one is an image of Heracles, by the other a figure representing Lycurgus. Indeed, Lycurgus established their laws, both those governing the rest of their civic order as well as those governing the youths' combat.

Proper Nouns

Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) deity
Lycurgus (Λυκοῦργος) person
Platanistas (Πλατανιστάς) place Q3391805
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