Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.20.8

← 3.20.7 3.20.9 →

Passage 3.20.8: Sanctuary of Achilles near Sparta

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὴν δὲ ἐπʼ Ἀρκαδίας ἰοῦσιν ἐκ Σπάρτης Ἀθηνᾶς ἕστηκεν ἐπίκλησιν Παρείας ἄγαλμα ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ, μετὰ δὲ αὐτὸ ἱερόν ἐστιν Ἀχιλλέως· ἀνοίγειν δὲ αὐτὸ οὐ νομίζουσιν· ὁπόσοι δʼ ἂν τῶν ἐφήβων ἀγωνιεῖσθαι μέλλωσιν ἐν τῷ Πλατανιστᾷ, καθέστηκεν αὐτοῖς τῷ Ἀχιλλεῖ πρὸ τῆς μάχης θύειν. ποιῆσαι δέ σφισι τὸ ἱερὸν Σπαρτιᾶται λέγουσι Πράκα ἀπόγονον τρίτον Περγάμου τοῦ Νεοπτολέμου.

English Translation

On the road from Sparta toward Arcadia stands a statue of Athena called "Pareia" in the open air; beyond it is a sanctuary of Achilles. It is not customary for them to open it, but all those youths intending to compete in the games at Platanistas are required to sacrifice to Achilles before their contest. The Spartans say that this sanctuary was built for them by Prax, a descendant in the third generation from Pergamos, the son of Neoptolemus.

Proper Nouns

Parea (Παρεια) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Neoptolemus (Νεοπτόλεμος) person
Pergamus (Πέργαμος) person
Also in: 1.11.1 1.11.2
Pracas (Πράκας) person
Spartiates (Σπαρτιᾶται) person
Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς) person
Platanistas (Πλατανιστάς) place Q3391805
Sparta (Σπάρτη) place Q5690 Pleiades
Arcadia (Ἀρκαδία) place Q12898802
← 3.20.7 3.20.9 →