Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.10.1

← 5.9.6 5.10.2 →

Passage 5.10.1: Altis, the sacred grove of Zeus at Olympia.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πολλὰ μὲν δὴ καὶ ἄλλα ἴδοι τις ἂν ἐν Ἕλλησι, τὰ δὲ καὶ ἀκούσαι θαύματος ἄξια· μάλιστα δὲ τοῖς Ἐλευσῖνι δρωμένοις καὶ ἀγῶνι τῷ ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ μέτεστιν ἐκ θεοῦ φροντίδος. τὸ δὲ ἄλσος τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ Διὸς παραποιήσαντες τὸ ὄνομα Ἄλτιν ἐκ παλαιοῦ καλοῦσι· καὶ δὴ καὶ Πινδάρῳ ποιήσαντι ἐς ἄνδρα Ὀλυμπιονίκην ᾆσμα Ἄλτις ἐπωνόμασται τὸ χωρίον.

English Translation

Indeed one could observe many other notable things among the Greeks, and also hear many things worthy of wonder; but above all, the mysteries performed at Eleusis and the contest held at Olympia receive special care from the god. As for the sacred grove of Zeus, its name has long ago been altered, and it has been called the "Altis" since ancient times. Indeed, even in a poem composed by Pindar about an Olympic victor, this place is called "Altis."

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Pindar (Πίνδαρος) person
Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) person
Olympionikes (Ὀλυμπιονίκης) person
Altis (Ἄλτις) place Q2400346
Eleusis (Ἐλευσίς) place Q11918833
Olympia (Ὀλυμπία) place Q38888 Pleiades
← 5.9.6 5.10.2 →