Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.10.4

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Passage 5.10.4: Gilded tripod, Victory, and Medusa shield dedicated at Olympia

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐν δὲ Ὀλυμπίᾳ λέβης ἐπίχρυσος ἐπὶ ἑκάστῳ τοῦ ὀρόφου τῷ πέρατι ἐπίκειται καὶ Νίκη κατὰ μέσον μάλιστα ἕστηκε τὸν ἀετόν, ἐπίχρυσος καὶ αὕτη. ὑπὸ δὲ τῆς Νίκης τὸ ἄγαλμα ἀσπὶς ἀνάκειται χρυσῆ, Μέδουσαν τὴν Γοργόνα ἔχουσα ἐπειργασμένην. τὸ ἐπίγραμμα δὲ τὸ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀσπίδι τούς τε ἀναθέντας δηλοῖ καὶ καθʼ ἥντινα αἰτίαν ἀνέθεσαν· λέγει γὰρ δὴ οὕτω· ναὸς μὲν φιάλαν χρυσέαν ἔχει, ἐκ δὲ Τανάγρας τοὶ Λακεδαιμόνιοι συμμαχία τʼ ἀν έ θεν δῶρον ἀπʼ Ἀργείων καὶ Ἀθαναίων καὶ Ἰώνων, τὰν δεκάταν νίκας εἵνεκα τῶ πολέμω. ταύτης τῆς μάχης μνήμην καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀτθίδι ἐποιησάμην συγγραφῇ, τὰ Ἀθήνῃσιν ἐπεξιὼν μνήματα.

English Translation

In Olympia stands a tripod plated with gold placed upon each end of the roof, and a Victory, likewise gilded, is set conspicuously in the very center upon the eagle. Beneath this statue of Victory lies a golden shield bearing a relief of Medusa the Gorgon finely wrought into it. The inscription upon the shield indicates both those who dedicated it and the cause of its dedication; for it runs thus: "The temple holds a golden bowl; from Tanagra the Lacedaemonians and their allies dedicated this gift taken from the Argives, the Athenians, and the Ionians, a tithe for victory in war." I have also made mention of this battle in my account on Attica, when describing the monuments existing at Athens.

Proper Nouns

Nike (Νίκη) deity
Gorgon (Γοργών) other
Medusa (Μέδουσα) other
Also in: 1.23.7
Atthis (Ἀτθίς) other
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Argives (Ἀργεῖοι) person
Ionians (Ἴωνες) person
Tanagra (Τάνᾰγρα) place Q41818752
Athens (Ἀθῆναι) place Q844930
Olympia (Ὀλυμπία) place Q38888 Pleiades
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