Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.18.10

← 3.18.9 3.18.11 →

Passage 3.18.10: Reliefs of mythic scenes: Taygete, Alcyone, Atlas, Heracles, Centaurs.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἀνέχουσιν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτόν, κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὲ καὶ ὀπίσω, Χάριτές τε δύο καὶ Ὧραι δύο· ἐν ἀριστερᾷ δὲ Ἔχιδνα ἕστηκε καὶ Τυφώς, ἐν δεξιᾷ δὲ Τρίτωνες. τὰ δὲ ἐπειργασμένα καθʼ ἕκαστον ἐπʼ ἀκριβὲς διελθεῖν ὄχλον τοῖς ἐπιλεξομένοις παρέξειν ἔμελλεν· ὡς δὲ δηλῶσαι συλλαβόντι, ἐπεὶ μηδὲ ἄγνωστα τὰ πολλὰ ἦν, Ταϋγέτην θυγατέρα Ἄτλαντος καὶ ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς Ἀλκυόνην φέρουσι Ποσειδῶν καὶ Ζεύς. ἐπείργασται δὲ καὶ Ἄτλας καὶ Ἡρακλέους μονομαχία πρὸς Κύκνον καὶ ἡ παρὰ Φόλῳ τῶν Κενταύρων μάχη.

English Translation

In front and likewise behind him stand two Graces and two Seasons. On the left are placed Echidna and Typhos, on the right Tritons. To describe in exact detail the whole of the workmanship would present too great an abundance to those who would read it; yet, briefly stated—for most of it was not unknown—they depict Taygete, the daughter of Atlas, and also her sister Alcyone being carried off by Poseidon and Zeus. There are also represented Atlas, the single combat of Heracles against Cycnus, and the battle with the Centaurs that took place at the dwelling of Pholus.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Tritons (Τρίτωνες) deity
Charites (Χάριτες) deity
Horae (Ὧραι) deity
Centaurs (Κένταυροι) other
Cycnus (Κύκνος) person
Taygete (Ταϋγέτη) person
Also in: 3.20.2 9.35.1
Typhon (Τυφώς) person
Pholos (Φόλος) person
Alcyone (Ἀλκυόνη) person
Also in: 2.30.8 9.22.5
Atlas (Ἄτλας) person
Echidna (Ἔχιδνα) person
Also in: 8.18.2
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
← 3.18.9 3.18.11 →