Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.9.9

← 4.9.8 4.9.10 →

Passage 4.9.9: Euphaes persuades the Messenians to accept the maiden's death.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τοιαῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ μάντεως τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Μεσσηνίων ὥρμησεν ἀποκτενοῦντες τὸν μνηστῆρα τῆς παιδός, ὡς Ἀριστοδήμῳ τε μίασμα εἰκαῖον προσάψαντα καὶ σφίσι τῆς σωτηρίας τὴν ἐλπίδα ἀμφίβολον πεποιηκότα. ἢν δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ οὗτος ἐς τὰ μάλιστα τῷ Εὐφαεῖ φίλος· πείθει οὖν τοὺς Μεσσηνίους Εὐφαὴς τόν τε χρησμὸν ἔχειν τέλος ἀποθανούσης τῆς παιδὸς καὶ σφίσιν ἀποχρᾶν τὰ ὑπὸ Ἀριστοδήμου πεποιημένα.

English Translation

After the seer had said these words, the multitude of the Messenians rushed forth intending to kill the suitor of the maiden, accusing him of having unjustly imputed pollution to Aristodemus and thereby having cast doubt on their hopes for deliverance. But this man was particularly dear to Euphaes. So Euphaes persuaded the Messenians that the oracle's fulfillment would come about through the death of the maiden, and that the actions already performed by Aristodemus were sufficient for their needs.

Proper Nouns

Euphaeus (Εὐφαεύς) person
Also in: 4.10.5
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
Aristodemus (Ἀριστοδήμης) person
Also in: 3.16.6 4.10.5
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