Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.18.2

← 3.18.1 3.18.3 →

Passage 3.18.2: Temple of Athena Ophthalmitis dedicated by Lycurgus after losing an eye.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἰόντι δὲ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ Ἀλπίον καλούμενον ναός ἐστιν Ἀθηνᾶς Ὀφθαλμίτιδος· ἀναθεῖναι δὲ Λυκοῦργον λέγουσιν ἐκκοπέντα τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν τὸν ἕτερον ὑπὸ Ἀλκάνδρου, διότι οὓς ἔθηκε νόμους οὐκ ἀρεστοὺς συνέβαινεν εἶναι τῷ Ἀλκάνδρῳ. διαφυγὼν δὲ ἐς τοῦτο τὸ χωρίον Λακεδαιμονίων ἀμυνάντων μὴ προσαπολέσθαι οἱ καὶ τὸν λειπόμενον ὀφθαλμόν, οὕτω ναὸν Ὀφθαλμίτιδος Ἀθηνᾶς ἐποίησε.

English Translation

On the road leading toward the place called Alpion is a temple of Athena Ophthalmitis ("Athena of the Eye"). They say that Lycurgus built it as a dedication after losing one of his eyes, having been struck by Alcander, because the laws that he had established happened not to please Alcander. Having fled for refuge to this place, and with the Lacedaemonians intervening to spare his remaining eye, Lycurgus thus built the temple to Athena Ophthalmitis.

Proper Nouns

Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Ophthalmitis (Ὀφθαλμίτις) deity
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Lycurgus (Λυκοῦργος) person
Alkandros (Ἀλκάνδρος) person
Alpion (Ἀλπίον) place Q19985772
← 3.18.1 3.18.3 →