Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.29.6

← 4.29.5 4.29.7 →

Passage 4.29.6: Messenians avoid joining the Achaean council after aiding Sparta against Pyrrhus

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

ἐς δὲ τὸ συνέδριον οἱ Μεσσήνιοι τὸ Ἀχαιῶν ἐπὶ τῷδε οὔ μοι δοκοῦσιν ἐσελθεῖν κατʼ ἀρχάς. Λακεδαιμονίοις αὐτεπάγγελτοι βοηθήσοντες ἀφίκοντο ὑπὸ Πύρρου τοῦ Αἰακίδου πολεμουμένοις, καί σφισιν ἀπὸ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ταύτης ἤδη τὰ ἐκ τῆς Σπάρτης εἰρηνικώτερα ὑπῆρχεν. οὔκουν ἀνακινῆσαι τὸ ἔχθος ἐβούλοντο ἐς τὸ συνέδριον συγχωρήσαντες, οἳ Λακεδαιμονίων μάλιστα πολέμιοι ἐκ τοῦ φανεροῦ καθεστήκεσαν.

English Translation

It is my opinion that the Messenians did not at first join the council of the Achaeans for the following reason. They voluntarily aided the Lacedaemonians when the latter were at war with Pyrrhus, the son of Aeacides; and as a result of this service, relations with Sparta thereafter became somewhat more peaceful. Thus the Messenians, openly the bitterest enemies of Sparta, did not wish to revive their hostility by joining the Achaean council.

Proper Nouns

Aeacides (Αἰακίδης) person Q403377
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Messenians (Μεσσήνιος) person
Pyrrhus (Πύρρος) person
Achaeans (Ἀχαιοί) person
Sparta (Σπάρτη) place Q5690 Pleiades
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