Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.20.2

← 3.20.1 3.20.3 →

Passage 3.20.2: Sanctuaries near Therapne: Dioskouroi, Poseidon Gaiaochos, and Alesiai (Myleas, Lakedaimon).

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Θεράπνης δὲ οὐ πόρρω Φοιβαῖον καλούμενόν ἐστιν, ἐν δὲ αὐτῷ Διοσκούρων ναός· καὶ οἱ ἔφηβοι τῷ Ἐνυαλίῳ θύουσιν ἐνταῦθα. τούτου δὲ οὐ πολὺ Ποσειδῶνος ἀφέστηκεν ἱερὸν ἐπίκλησιν Γαιαόχου. καὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ προελθόντι ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ Ταΰγετον ὀνομάζουσιν Ἀλεσίας χωρίον, Μύλητα τὸν Λέλεγος πρῶτον ἀνθρώπων μύλην τε εὑρεῖν λέγοντες καὶ ἐν ταῖς Ἀλεσίαις ταύταις ἀλέσαι. καί σφισι Λακεδαίμονος τοῦ Ταϋγέτης ἐνταῦθά ἐστιν ἡρῷον.

English Translation

Not far from Therapne there is a place called Phoibaion, and in it is a sanctuary of the Dioskouroi; here the young men sacrifice to Enyalios. At no great distance from it stands a sanctuary of Poseidon known as Gaiaochos ("Earth-holder"). Proceeding from there towards Taygetos, one comes to a site called Alesiai; they say it was here that Myleas, son of Lelex, was the first among men to invent the mill and grind meal, and that he ground grain in Alesiai. Here also stands the hero shrine of Lakedaimon, the son of Taygete.

Proper Nouns

Gaiochos (Earth-holder, an epithet of Poseidon) (Γαιαόχος) deity
Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Enyalios (Ἐνυάλιος) deity
Lelegos (Λέλεγος) person
Lacedaemon (Λακεδαίμων) person
Mylitas (Μύλητας) person
Also in: 3.12.5
Taygete (Ταϋγέτη) person
Also in: 3.18.10 9.35.1
Therapne (Θεράπνη) place Q15940498
Taygetos (Ταΰγετος) place Q515809
Phoibaion (Φοιβαῖον) place Q124615381
Also in: 3.14.9 3.14.10
Alesiai (Ἀλεσίαι) place Q124615475
← 3.20.1 3.20.3 →