Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.17.2

← 3.17.1 3.17.3 →

Passage 3.17.2: Sanctuary of Athena Polias (Chalcioecus) and its bronze statue by Gitiadas.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐνταῦθα Ἀθηνᾶς ἱερὸν πεποίηται Πολιούχου καλουμένης καὶ Χαλκιοίκου τῆς αὐτῆς. τοῦ δὲ ἱεροῦ τῆς κατασκευῆς Τυνδάρεως καθὰ λέγουσιν ἤρξατο· ἀποθανόντος δὲ ἐκείνου δεύτερα οἱ παῖδες ἐξεργάσασθαι τὸ οἰκοδόμημα ἤθελον, ἀφορμὴ δέ σφισιν ἔμελλε τὰ ἐξ Ἀφιδναίων ἔσεσθαι λάφυρα. προαπολιπόντων δὲ καὶ τούτων, Λακεδαιμόνιοι πολλοῖς ἔτεσιν ὕστερον τόν τε ναὸν ὁμοίως καὶ τὸ ἄγαλμα ἐποιήσαντο Ἀθηνᾶς χαλκοῦν· Γιτιάδας δὲ εἰργάσατο ἀνὴρ ἐπιχώριος. ἐποίησε δὲ καὶ ᾄσματα Δώρια ὁ Γιτιάδας ἄλλα τε καὶ ὕμνον ἐς τὴν θεόν.

English Translation

Here stands a sanctuary of Athena, known as Polias ("Guardian of the City") and also Chalcioecus ("of the Bronze House"). According to tradition, the building of the sanctuary was begun by Tyndareus; after his death, his sons intended to complete the construction, using for their purpose the spoils they expected to gain from Aphidna. But they also left it unfinished, until many years later the Lacedaemonians constructed both the temple and a bronze image of Athena. The artist of the statue was Gitiadas, a local man, who also composed Dorian songs, among these a hymn dedicated to the goddess.

Proper Nouns

Poliouchos (Πολιοῦχος) deity
Chalcioecus (Χαλκίοικος) deity
Also in: 3.17.7
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Dorian (Δώριον) other
Also in: 5.20.9 9.12.5
Gitiadas (Γιτιάδας) person Q1010778
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Tyndareus (Τυνδάρεως) person
Aphidnai (Ἀφίδναι) place Q618453
← 3.17.1 3.17.3 →