Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.18.4

← 3.18.3 3.18.5 →

Passage 3.18.4: Artemis Knagia named after Knageus rescuing a Cretan priestess and the goddess's image.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὰ δὲ ἐς τὴν Κναγίαν Ἄρτεμίν ἐστιν οὕτω λεγόμενα· Κναγέα ἄνδρα ἐπιχώριον στρατεῦσαί φασιν ἐς Ἄφιδναν ὁμοῦ τοῖς Διοσκούροις, ληφθέντα δὲ αἰχμάλωτον ἐν τῇ μάχῃ καὶ πραθέντα ἐς Κρήτην δουλεύειν ἔνθα ἦν Ἀρτέμιδος τοῖς Κρησὶν ἱερόν, ἀνὰ χρόνον δὲ αὐτόν τε ἀποδρᾶναι καὶ παρθένον τὴν ἱερωμένην ἔχοντα οἴχεσθαι τὸ ἄγαλμα ἀγομένην. ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ λέγουσιν ὀνομάζειν Κναγίαν Ἄρτεμιν·

English Translation

The traditions concerning Artemis Knagia are related thus: they say that Knageus, a man from this region, joined the expedition of the Dioscuri against Aphidna and was captured in battle. Having been taken prisoner and sold into slavery in Crete, he served there at a sanctuary of Artemis that belonged to the Cretans. After some time, he escaped, carrying away both the priestess, a maiden, and bringing her image of the goddess along with them. From this event, they say, Artemis received the name "Knagia."

Proper Nouns

Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Cretans (Κρῆτες) other
Knageus (Κναγεύς) person
Knagia (Κναγία) place Q136554423
Crete (Κρήτη) place Q34374 Pleiades
Aphidna (Ἄφιδνα) place Q618453
← 3.18.3 3.18.5 →