Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.19.6

← 4.19.5 4.20.1 →

Passage 4.19.6: Maiden frees Aristomenes by drugging his Cretan captors.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τότε δὲ ὡς τὸν Ἀριστομένην ἐσάγουσιν οἱ Κρῆτες, συνεφρόνησεν ἡ παρθένος ὕπαρ ἥκειν τὸ ἐν τῇ νυκτί οἱ πεφηνὸς καὶ ἀνηρώτα τὴν μητέρα ὅστις εἴη· μαθοῦσα δὲ ἐπερρώσθη τε καὶ ἀπιδοῦσα ἐς αὐτὸν τὸ προσταχθὲν συνῆκεν. οἶνον οὖν τοῖς Κρησὶν ἐγχέουσα ἀνέδην, ὡς σφᾶς ἡ μέθη κατελάμβανεν, ὑφαιρεῖται τοῦ μάλιστα ὑπνωμένου τὸ ἐγχειρίδιον· τὰ μὲν δὴ δεσμὰ τοῦ Ἀριστομένους ἔτεμεν ἡ παρθένος, ὁ δὲ παραλαβὼν τὸ ξίφος ἐκείνους διειργάσατο. ταύτην τὴν παρθένον λαμβάνει γυναῖκα Γόργος Ἀριστομένους· ἐδίδου δὲ Ἀριστομένης τῇ παιδὶ ἐκτίνων σῶστρα, ἐπεὶ Γόργῳ οὐκ ἦν πω δέκατον καὶ ὄγδοον ἔτος, ὅτε ἔγημεν.

English Translation

At that time, as the Cretans were bringing Aristomenes in, the maiden recognized clearly the vision she had seen during the night. She asked her mother who the man might be, and having learned his identity she grew resolute. Gazing upon Aristomenes, she understood the command that had been given to her. Pouring wine without restraint for the Cretans, when drunkenness overcame them she removed a dagger from the one who had fallen most deep asleep. With it, the maiden cut Aristomenes' bonds; and he, taking the sword, dispatched the guards. Gorgus, Aristomenes' son, later took this maiden as his wife. Indeed, Aristomenes gave her to his son, wishing thus to repay the debt of his deliverance, although Gorgus was not yet eighteen years of age at the time of their marriage.

Proper Nouns

Cretans (Κρῆτες) people
Gorgos (Γόργος) person Q20851109
Aristomenes (Ἀριστομένης) person
← 4.19.5 4.20.1 →