Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.4.6

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Passage 3.4.6: Cleomenes' trial of the oracle

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

εἴη δʼ ἂν καὶ τὰ μηνίματα ἔκ τε ἡρώων ὁμοῦ καὶ θεῶν ἐς τὸ αὐτὸ τῷ Κλεομένει συνεληλυθότα, ἐπεί τοι καὶ ἰδίᾳ Πρωτεσίλαος ἐν Ἐλαιοῦντι οὐδὲν ἥρως Ἄργου φανερώτερος ἄνδρα Πέρσην ἐτιμωρήσατο Ἀρταΰκτην καὶ Μεγαρεῦσιν οὔ ποτε θεῶν τῶν ἐν Ἐλευσῖνι ὄντων ἐξεγένετο ἱλάσασθαι τὸ μήνιμα γῆν ἐπεργασαμένοις τὴν ἱεράν. τὰ δὲ ἐς τοῦ μαντείου τὴν διάπειραν οὐδὲ τὸ παράπαν ἄλλον γε οὐδένα ὅτι μὴ μόνον Κλεομένην τολμήσαντα ἴσμεν.

English Translation

Indeed, it may well be that the resentments of heroes and gods alike converged together upon Cleomenes. Certainly we know that Protesilaus, a hero in Elaeus, who was not more renowned than Argos, individually exacted vengeance upon Artayctes, a Persian, nor did it ever happen for the Megarians to appease the anger of the Eleusinian divinities after they had cultivated sacred ground. And as for the trial of the oracle, we know of absolutely no other person who ever dared attempt it but Cleomenes alone.

Proper Nouns

Cleomenes (Κλεομένης) person
Megarians (Μεγαρεῖς) person
Persian (Πέρσης) person
Protesilaos (Πρωτεσίλαος) person
Artayctes (Ἀρταΰκτης) person
Argos (Ἄργος) place Q13533353
Elaeus (Ἐλαιοῦς) place Q1234913
Eleusis (Ἐλευσίς) place Q11918833
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