Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.33.7

← 4.33.6 4.34.1 →

Passage 4.33.7: Dorium, where Thamyris was punished for boasting against the Muses

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

διαβάντων δὲ Ἠλέκτραν Ἀχαΐα τε ὀνομαζομένη πηγὴ καὶ πόλεώς ἐστιν ἐρείπια Δωρίου. πεποίηκε δὲ Ὅμηρος μὲν Θαμύριδι ἐνταῦθα ἐν τῷ Δωρίῳ γενέσθαι τὴν συμφοράν, ὅτι καὶ αὐτὰς Μούσας νικήσειν ἔφασκεν ᾀδούσας· Πρόδικος δὲ Φωκαεὺς---εἰ δὴ τούτου τὰ ἐς τὴν Μινυάδα ἔπη---προσκεῖσθαί φησι Θαμύριδι ἐν Ἅιδου δίκην τοῦ ἐς τὰς Μούσας αὐχήματος. διεφθάρη δὲ ὁ Θάμυρις ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν ὑπὸ νόσου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ Ὁμήρῳ συνέπεσεν ὕστερον· ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν καὶ ἐς ἅπαν διετέλει ποιῶν, οὐ γάρ τι εἶκε τῇ συμφορᾷ, Θάμυρις δὲ καὶ τὴν ᾠδὴν ὑπὸ κακοῦ τοῦ παρόντος ἐξέλιπεν.

English Translation

After crossing the river Elektra, there is a spring called Achaia and the ruins of the city Dorium. Homer has described Dorium as the place where the calamity befell Thamyris, because he boasted that he could surpass even the Muses in singing. Prodicus of Phocaea—if indeed the verses belonging to the "Minyad" are his—relates that Thamyris in Hades endured punishment for his boastfulness against the Muses. As it seems to me, Thamyris lost his sight due to illness, the same misfortune that later befell Homer himself. But Homer continued to compose poetry throughout his life, as he in no way yielded to his misfortune, whereas Thamyris, overwhelmed by his adversity, ceased entirely from song.

Proper Nouns

Muses (Μοῦσαι) deity
Hades (Ἅιδης) deity
Thamyris (Θάμυρις) person
Minyad (Μινυάς) person
Prodicus (Πρόδικος) person
Phocaeus (Φωκαεύς) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Dorian (Δώριον) place
Also in: 6.3.16 6.19.2
Achaia (Ἀχαΐα) place Q2790451
Electra (Ἠλέκτρα) place
← 4.33.6 4.34.1 →