Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.2.2

← 4.2.1 4.2.3 →

Passage 4.2.2: Melaneus settles Oechalia (Carnasium), granted by King Perieres.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον, ὡς ἦν τῶν Πολυκάονος οὐδεὶς ἔτι ἀπογόνων, ἐς γενεὰς πέντε ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν προελθόντων καὶ οὐ πλέονας, Περιήρην τὸν Αἰόλου βασιλέα ἐπάγονται. παρὰ τοῦτον ἀφίκετο, ὡς οἱ Μεσσήνιοί φασι, Μελανεύς, τοξεύειν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ διὰ τοῦτο Ἀπόλλωνος εἶναι νομιζόμενος· καί οἱ τῆς χώρας τὸ Καρνάσιον, τότε δὲ Οἰχαλίαν κληθεῖσαν, ἀπένειμεν ὁ Περιήρης ἐνοικῆσαι· γενέσθαι δὲ ὄνομα Οἰχαλίαν τῇ πόλει φασὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ Μελανέως τῆς γυναικός.

English Translation

Some time later, when no descendants of Polycaon were left, after five generations had passed—I believe not more—they introduced Perieres, son of Aeolus, as their king. According to the Messenians, Melaneus came to him, a man skilled in archery and for this reason held to be a son of Apollo. Perieres granted him that territory called Carnasium, though at that time it was named Oechalia, to settle and dwell in. They say the city was given the name Oechalia from the wife of Melaneus.

Proper Nouns

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) other
Aeolus (Αἰόλος) person
Melaneus (Μελανεύς) person
Also in: 4.33.5
Perieres (Περιήρης) person
Polycaon (Πολυκάων) person
Karnasium (Καρνάσιον) place Q28000806
Also in: 4.33.5 8.35.1
Oechalia (Οἰχαλία) place Q60790408
← 4.2.1 4.2.3 →