Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.31.7

← 4.31.6 4.31.8 →

Passage 4.31.7: Cult of Artemis Laphria among the Messenians and Patreans.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Δαμοφῶντος δέ ἐστι τούτου καὶ ἡ Λαφρία καλουμένη παρὰ Μεσσηνίοις· σέβεσθαι δέ σφισιν ἀπὸ τοιοῦδε αὐτὴν καθέστηκε. Καλυδωνίοις ἡ Ἄρτεμις---ταύτην γὰρ θεῶν μάλιστα ἔσεβον--- ἐπίκλησιν εἶχε Λαφρία· Μεσσηνίων δὲ οἱ λαβόντες Ναύπακτον παρὰ Ἀθηναίων---τηνικαῦτα γὰρ Αἰτωλίας ἐγγύτατα ᾤκουν---παρὰ Καλυδωνίων ἔλαβον. τὸ σχῆμα ἑτέρωθι δηλώσω. τὸ μὲν δὴ τῆς Λαφρίας ἀφίκετο ὄνομα ἔς τε Μεσσηνίους καὶ ἐς Πατρεῖς Ἀχαιῶν μόνους, Ἐφεσίαν δὲ Ἄρτεμιν πόλεις τε νομίζουσιν αἱ

English Translation

By the same Damophon is also the so-called Laphria among the Messenians; their veneration of her has come to pass from the following cause. Among the Calydonians, Artemis—since they honored this goddess above all others—had the surname Laphria. Now, the Messenians who received Naupactus from the Athenians—for at that time they were dwelling very near Aetolia—acquired her from the Calydonians. Her appearance I shall describe elsewhere. Thus, the name Laphria came alone among the Messenians and the Patreans of the Achaeans; but as for Artemis Ephesia, many cities worship her.

Proper Nouns

Laphria (Λαφρία) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Ephesian (Ἐφεσία) deity
Damophon (Δαμοφῶν) person Q1158742
Calydonians (Καλυδώνιοι) person
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
Patraeans (Πατρεῖς) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Achaeans (Ἀχαιοί) person
Aetolia (Αἰτωλία) place Q26857
Naupactus (Ναύπακτος) place Q56398924
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