Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.21.4

← 3.21.3 3.21.5 →

Passage 3.21.4: Krokeai's stone quarry, with a stone Zeus and bronze Dioscuri.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπὶ θάλασσαν δὲ ἐς Γύθιον καταβαίνοντί ἐστι Λακεδαιμονίοις ἡ κώμη καλουμένη Κροκέαι καὶ λιθοτομία· μία μὲν πέτρα συνεχὴς οὐ διήκουσα, λίθοι δὲ ὀρύσσονται σχῆμα τοῖς ποταμίοις ἐοικότες, ἄλλως μὲν δυσεργεῖς, ἢν δὲ ἐπεργασθῶσιν, ἐπικοσμήσαιεν ἂν καὶ θεῶν ἱερά, κολυμβήθραις δὲ καὶ ὕδασι συντελοῦσι μάλιστα ἐς κάλλος. θεῶν δὲ αὐτόθι πρὸ μὲν τῆς κώμης Διὸς Κροκεάτα λίθου πεποιημένον ἄγαλμα ἕστηκε, Διόσκουροι δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ λιθοτομίᾳ χαλκοῖ.

English Translation

Descending to the sea toward Gythium, the Spartans have a village called Krokeai and a stone quarry. The rock itself is not one continuous mass reaching uninterrupted; instead, stones are excavated resembling river pebbles in shape, typically difficult to work, but when properly crafted, capable of adorning even sanctuaries of the gods, being especially beautiful in baths and fountains. Regarding the gods, outside the village stands an image of Zeus, made from Krokean stone, while at the quarry itself are bronze statues of the Dioscuri.

Proper Nouns

Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Krokeatan (Κροκεάτης) other
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Gytheion (Γύθειον) place Q56398303
Krokeai (Κροκεαί) place Q21591486 Pleiades
Also in: 2.3.5
← 3.21.3 3.21.5 →