Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.18.7

← 4.18.6 4.19.1 →

Passage 4.18.7: Aristomenes enlarges a foxhole to escape captivity, seen as divinely aided.

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ τὴν μέν, ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀριστομένους ἠλευθερώθη, τὸ φωλίον ἔμελλεν ὑποδέξεσθαι· Ἀριστομένης δὲ---οὐ γάρ τι ἡ ὀπὴ καὶ τούτῳ παρέχειν ἐδύνατο ἔξοδον---εὐρυτέραν τε ταῖς χερσὶν ἐποίησε καὶ οἴκαδε ἐς τὴν Εἶραν ἀποσώζεται, παραδόξῳ μὲν τῇ τύχῃ καὶ ἐς τὴν ἅλωσιν χρησάμενος, τὸ γάρ οἱ φρόνημα ἦν καὶ τὰ τολμήματα μείζονα ἢ ὡς ἐλπίσαι τινὰ Ἀριστομένην αἰχμάλωτον ἂν γενέσθαι, παραδοξοτέρα δέ ἐστι καὶ πάντων προδηλότατα οὐκ ἄνευ θεοῦ ἡ ἐκ τοῦ Κεάδα σωτηρία.

English Translation

As for the foxhole, it was destined to receive the girl, after she had been freed by Aristomenes; Aristomenes himself, however—for the opening could not provide an exit even for him—enlarged it with his hands and managed to return safely to his home at Eira. Extraordinary indeed was his fate, both in having fallen prisoner in such a manner—for his spirit and daring deeds were so great that no one could have expected Aristomenes to become captive—and more astonishing still, clearly demonstrating above all else that his rescue from the Ceadas was not without divine intervention.

Proper Nouns

Aristomenes (Ἀριστομένης) person
Eira (Εἶρα) place Q16575287
Keadas (Κεάδας) place
Also in: 4.18.4 4.18.5
← 4.18.6 4.19.1 →