Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.9.3

← 4.9.2 4.9.4 →

Passage 4.9.3: Tisis, Delphic envoy ambushed but released after a divine voice

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐδόκει δὲ καὶ θεωρὸν πέμψαι σφίσιν ἐς Δελφούς. ἀποστέλλουσιν οὖν Τῖσιν τὸν Ἄλκιδος, καὶ ἀξιώματι οὐδενὸς ὕστερον καὶ ὅτι προσκεῖσθαι μαντικῇ μάλιστα ἐνομίζετο. τοῦτον τὸν Τῖσιν ἐπανιόντα ἐκ Δελφῶν λοχῶσιν ἄνδρες Λακεδαιμονίων ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν Ἀμφείᾳ φρουρᾶς· λοχήσαντες δὲ---οὐ γὰρ ὑπεῖκεν αἰχμάλωτος γενέσθαι--- περιμένοντα οὖν ἀμύνεσθαι καὶ ἀνθεστηκότα ἐτίτρωσκον, ἐς ὃ γίνεται βοή σφισιν ἐξ ἀφανοῦς "τὸν χρησμοφόρον μέθες."

English Translation

And they decided also to send one of their people as a sacred envoy to Delphi. They therefore dispatched Tisis, son of Alcis, a man second to none in reputation, and renowned particularly for his talent in divination. As Tisis was returning from Delphi, men from the Lacedaemonian garrison stationed at Ampheia set an ambush for him. Once ambushed—since he refused to allow himself to be taken captive—he waited to defend himself and resisted bravely. They wounded him, until suddenly a voice came to them out of the unseen, saying clearly, "Release the bearer of the oracle."

Proper Nouns

Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Tisis (Τῖσις) person
Also in: 4.9.4
Alkis (Ἄλκις) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Amphia (Ἀμφεία) place Q19760768
← 4.9.2 4.9.4 →