Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.20.4

← 3.20.3 3.20.5 →

Passage 3.20.4: Taleton peak on Taygetus sacred to Helios, noted for horse sacrifices.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἄκρα δὲ τοῦ Ταϋγέτου Ταλετὸν ὑπὲρ Βρυσεῶν ἀνέχει. ταύτην Ἡλίου καλοῦσιν ἱερὰν καὶ ἄλλα τε αὐτόθι Ἡλίῳ θύουσι καὶ ἵππους· τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ Πέρσας οἶδα θύειν νομίζοντας. Ταλετοῦ δὲ οὐ πόρρω καλούμενός ἐστιν Εὐόρας, θηρία καὶ ἄλλα τρέφων καὶ αἶγας μάλιστα ἀγρίας. παρέχεται δὲ καὶ διʼ ὅλου τὸ Ταΰγετον τῶν αἰγῶν τούτων ἄγραν καὶ ὑῶν, πλείστην δὲ καὶ ἐλάφων καὶ ἄρκτων.

English Translation

The peak of Taygetus, Taleton, rises above Bryseai; they call this spot sacred to Helios, and there they offer sacrifices to Helios, among other things horses especially. I know that the Persians also follow a similar custom in sacrificing horses. Not far from Taleton is a place named Evoras, which shelters wild animals and especially wild goats. The whole Taygetus range abounds with hunting, both for these goats and for wild boars, and very plentifully also for deer and bears.

Proper Nouns

Helios (Ἥλιος) deity
Persians (Πέρσαι) person
Bryseai (Βρύσεαι) place Q16538992
Euoras (Εὐόρας) place Q114463064
Taygetos (Ταΰγετος) place Q515809
Taleton (Ταλετόν) place Q111858121
← 3.20.3 3.20.5 →