Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.26.2

← 3.26.1 3.26.3 →

Passage 3.26.2: Pephnos island claimed as the birthplace of the Dioscuri

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Θαλαμῶν δὲ ἀπέχει σταδίους εἴκοσιν ὀνομαζομένη Πέφνος ἐπὶ θαλάσσῃ. πρόκειται δὲ νησὶς πέτρας τῶν μεγάλων οὐ μείζων, Πέφνος καὶ ταύτῃ τὸ ὄνομα· τεχθῆναι δὲ ἐνταῦθα τοὺς Διοσκούρους φασὶν οἱ Θαλαμᾶται. τοῦτο μὲν δὴ καὶ Ἀλκμᾶνα ἐν ᾄσματι οἶδα εἰπόντα· τραφῆναι δὲ οὐκέτι ἐν τῇ Πέφνῳ φασὶν αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ Ἑρμῆν τὸν ἐς Πελλάναν κομίσαντα εἶναι.

English Translation

About twenty stades distant from Thalamae is a place by the sea named Pephnos. Directly offshore lies a small island no larger than a great rock, which is likewise called Pephnos. The inhabitants of Thalamae say that the Dioscuri were born there. Indeed, I know that Alcman also says this in one of his poems. They add, however, that the twins were no longer reared at Pephnos, but rather that Hermes took them and carried them to Pellana.

Proper Nouns

Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Thalamatai (Θαλαμᾶται) person
Alcman (Ἀλκμάν) person
Thalamai (Θάλαμοι) place Q16643340
Phephnos (Πέφνος) place Q16617755
Also in: 3.26.4
Pellana (Πελλάνη) place Q56399014
← 3.26.1 3.26.3 →