Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.16.1

← 3.15.11 3.16.2 →

Passage 3.16.1: Sanctuary of Hilaeira and Phoebe, featuring a hanging egg said to be Leda's.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πλησίον δὲ Ἱλαείρας καὶ Φοίβης ἐστὶν ἱερόν· ὁ δὲ ποιήσας τὰ ἔπη τὰ Κύπρια θυγατέρας αὐτὰς Ἀπόλλωνός φησιν εἶναι. κόραι δὲ ἱερῶνταί σφισι παρθένοι, καλούμεναι κατὰ ταὐτὰ ταῖς θεαῖς καὶ αὗται Λευκιππίδες. τὸ μὲν δὴ ἕτερον τῶν ἀγαλμάτων ἱερασαμένη τις ταῖς θεαῖς Λευκιππὶς ἐπεκόσμησε, πρόσωπον ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀρχαίου ποιησαμένη τῆς ἐφʼ ἡμῶν τέχνης τὸ δὲ ἕτερον μὴ καὶ τοῦτο ἐπικοσμεῖν αὐτὴν ἀπεῖπεν ὄνειρον. ἐνταῦθα ἀπήρτηται ᾠὸν τοῦ ὀρόφου κατειλημένον ταινίαις· εἶναι δέ φασιν ᾠὸν ἐκεῖνο ὃ τεκεῖν Λήδαν ἔχει λόγος.

English Translation

Near (the statues of) Hilaeira and Phoebe there is a sanctuary; the author of the Cyprian verses says these goddesses are daughters of Apollo. Maidens who serve as priestesses for them are called Leucippides, named after the goddesses themselves. One of the statues was decorated by a woman named Leucippis who served as priestess to these goddesses; she altered the face into the contemporary artistic style, replacing its original appearance, but a dream prevented her from likewise adorning the other statue. In this sanctuary, an egg is suspended from the roof, wrapped around with ribbons. They say that this is the very egg which tradition relates was laid by Leda.

Proper Nouns

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Kypria (Κύπρια) other
Also in: 4.2.7
Leda (Λήδα) person
Leucippides (Λευκιππίδες) person
Also in: 3.13.7
Leucippis (Λευκιππίς) person
Phoebe (Φοίβη) person
Also in: 2.22.5 4.31.12
Hilaeira (Ἱλαείρα) person
← 3.15.11 3.16.2 →