Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.19.10

← 3.19.9 3.19.11 →

Passage 3.19.10: Polyxo avenges Tlepolemus by having Helen seized and hanged on Rhodes.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

εἶναι γὰρ καὶ Πολυξὼ τὸ γένος Ἀργείαν, Τληπολέμῳ δὲ ἔτι πρότερον συνοικοῦσαν φυγῆς μετασχεῖν τῆς ἐς Ῥόδον καὶ τῆς νήσου τηνικαῦτα ἄρχειν ὑπολειπομένην ἐπὶ ὀρφανῷ παιδί. ταύτην τὴν Πολυξώ φασιν ἐπιθυμοῦσαν Ἑλένην τιμωρήσασθαι τελευτῆς τῆς Τληπολέμου τότε, ὡς ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ὑποχείριον, ἐπιπέμψαι οἱ λουμένῃ θεραπαίνας Ἐρινύσιν ἴσα ἐσκευασμένας· καὶ αὗται διαλαβοῦσαι δὴ τὴν Ἑλένην αἱ γυναῖκες ἀπάγχουσιν ἐπὶ δένδρου, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ Ῥοδίοις Ἑλένης ἱερόν ἐστι Δενδρίτιδος.

English Translation

For Polyxo, they say, was Argive by birth, and, having been married earlier to Tlepolemus, she had shared in his flight to Rhodes, where she remained behind ruling the island at that time, left guardian over an orphaned child. This Polyxo, it is said, desiring to avenge Helen for the death of Tlepolemus, when Helen fell into her hands, sent upon her, as she bathed, serving women disguised as Erinyes; and these women seized Helen and hanged her from a tree. Because of this event, the Rhodians have a sanctuary dedicated to Helen "of the Tree" (Dendritis).

Proper Nouns

Erinys (Ἐρινύς) deity
Dendritis (Δενδρίτις) other
Polyxo (Πολυξώ) person
Also in: 3.19.9
Tlepolemus (Τληπολέμος) person
Also in: 3.19.9
Helen (Ἑλένη) person
Argolis (Ἀργεία) place Q12649101
Rhodians (Ῥόδιοι) place Q12884165
Also in: 1.6.6 6.7.1
Rhodes (Ῥόδος) place Q13533316
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