Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.15.4

← 3.15.3 3.15.5 →

Passage 3.15.4: The murder of Oionos by Hippokoön's sons.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

προσεγένετο δὲ ἐς τοῦ πολέμου τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ ἄλλο τοιόνδε. Οἰωνὸς ἡλικίαν μὲν μειράκιον, ἀνεψιὸς δὲ Ἡρακλεῖ---Λικυμνίου γὰρ παῖς ἦν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ Ἀλκμήνης---ἀφίκετο ἐς Σπάρτην ἅμα Ἡρακλεῖ· περιιόντι δὲ καὶ θεωμένῳ τὴν πόλιν, ὡς ἐγίνετο κατὰ τοῦ Ἱπποκόωντος τὴν οἰκίαν, ἐνταῦθά οἱ κύων ἐπεφέρετο οἰκουρός. ὁ δὲ τυγχάνει τε ἀφεὶς λίθον ὁ Οἰωνὸς καὶ καταβάλλει τὴν κύνα· ἐπεκθέουσιν οὖν τοῦ Ἱπποκόωντος οἱ παῖδες καὶ ῥοπάλοις τύπτοντες κατεργάζονται τὸν Οἰωνόν.

English Translation

Another event occurred that also sparked the beginning of the war. Oionos, still a youth in age and cousin to Herakles—for he was the son of Likymnios, the brother of Alkmene—had come to Sparta accompanying Herakles. While wandering around and examining the town, he happened to come to the house of Hippokoön, where a watchdog ran out at him. Oionos immediately threw a stone and killed the dog. Then Hippokoön's sons rushed forth and, striking him with clubs, caused Oionos' death.

Proper Nouns

Lycimnius (Λικύμνιος) person
Also in: 2.22.8
Oionos (Οἰωνός) person
Also in: 3.15.5
Alcmene (Ἀλκμήνη) person
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Hippocoön (Ἱπποκόων) person
Sparta (Σπάρτη) place Q5690 Pleiades
← 3.15.3 3.15.5 →