Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.15.11

← 3.15.10 3.16.1 →

Passage 3.15.11: Aphrodite Morpho statue seated with veil and fetters placed by Tyndareus.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπίκλησις μὲν δὴ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ἐστὶν ἡ Μορφώ, κάθηται δὲ καλύπτραν τε ἔχουσα καὶ πέδας περὶ τοῖς ποσί· περιθεῖναι δέ οἱ Τυνδάρεων τὰς πέδας φασὶν ἀφομοιοῦντα τοῖς δεσμοῖς τὸ ἐς τοὺς συνοικοῦντας τῶν γυναικῶν βέβαιον. τὸν γὰρ δὴ ἕτερον λόγον, ὡς τὴν θεὸν πέδαις ἐτιμωρεῖτο ὁ Τυνδάρεως, γενέσθαι ταῖς θυγατράσιν ἐξ Ἀφροδίτης ἡγούμενος τὰ ὀνείδη, τοῦτον οὐδὲ ἀρχὴν προσίεμαι· ἦν γὰρ δὴ παντάπασιν εὔηθες κέδρου ποιησάμενον ζῴδιον καὶ ὄνομα Ἀφροδίτην θέμενον ἐλπίζειν ἀμύνεσθαι τὴν θεόν.

English Translation

The surname of Aphrodite is Morpho; she is seated, holding a veil and having fetters around her feet. They say Tyndareus placed these fetters upon her, symbolizing through bonds the steadfastness which wives should observe toward their husbands. But as for the other account, that Tyndareus punished the goddess with chains out of resentment, supposing Aphrodite had caused disgrace to his daughters, I cannot accept this version at all. Indeed, it would be utterly foolish to create a wooden image, name it Aphrodite, and then believe oneself thereby to be taking vengeance upon the goddess.

Proper Nouns

Morpho (Μορφώ) deity
Also in: 3.15.10
Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Tyndareus (Τυνδάρεως) person
← 3.15.10 3.16.1 →