Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.17.1

← 3.16.11 3.17.2 →

Passage 3.17.1: Temple of Eileithyia near the sanctuary of Orthia

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

οὐ πόρρω δὲ τῆς Ὀρθίας ἐστὶν Εἰλειθυίας ἱερόν· οἰκοδομῆσαι δέ φασιν αὐτὸ καὶ Εἰλείθυιαν νομίσαι θεὸν γενομένου σφίσιν ἐκ Δελφῶν μαντεύματος. Λακεδαιμονίοις δὲ ἡ ἀκρόπολις μὲν ἐς ὕψος περιφανὲς ἐξίσχουσα οὐκ ἔστι, καθὰ δὴ Θηβαίοις τε ἡ Καδμεία καὶ ἡ Λάρισα Ἀργείοις· ὄντων δὲ ἐν τῇ πόλει λόφων καὶ ἄλλων, τὸ μάλιστα ἐς μετέωρον ἀνῆκον ὀνομάζουσιν ἀκρόπολιν.

English Translation

Not far from the sanctuary of Orthia is a temple of Eileithyia. They say that they built it, and recognized Eileithyia as a goddess, in accordance with an oracle they received from Delphi. The Lacedaemonians do not have an acropolis rising conspicuously high, as the Thebans have their Cadmeia, and the Argives their Larisa; yet, as there are other hills within the city, the one which rises highest above the rest they call the acropolis.

Proper Nouns

Eileithyia (Εἰλείθυια) deity
Orthia (Ὀρθία) deity
Thebans (Θηβαῖοι) person
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Argives (Ἀργεῖοι) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Cadmeia (Καδμεία) place Q1276854
Larisa (Λάρισα) place Q178405 Pleiades
← 3.16.11 3.17.2 →