Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.11.1

← 5.10.10 5.11.2 →

Passage 5.11.1: The chryselephantine statue of Zeus at Olympia.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

καθέζεται μὲν δὴ ὁ θεὸς ἐν θρόνῳ χρυσοῦ πεποιημένος καὶ ἐλέφαντος· στέφανος δὲ ἐπίκειταί οἱ τῇ κεφαλῇ μεμιμημένος ἐλαίας κλῶνας. ἐν μὲν δὴ τῇ δεξιᾷ φέρει Νίκην ἐξ ἐλέφαντος καὶ ταύτην καὶ χρυσοῦ, ταινίαν τε ἔχουσαν καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ στέφανον· τῇ δὲ ἀριστερᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ χειρὶ ἔνεστι σκῆπτρον μετάλλοις τοῖς πᾶσιν ἠνθισμένον, ὁ δὲ ὄρνις ὁ ἐπὶ τῷ σκήπτρῳ καθήμενός ἐστιν ὁ ἀετός. χρυσοῦ δὲ καὶ τὰ ὑποδήματα τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἱμάτιον ὡσαύτως ἐστί· τῷ δὲ ἱματίῳ ζῴδιά τε καὶ τῶν ἀνθῶν τὰ κρίνα ἐστὶν ἐμπεποιημένα.

English Translation

The god sits on a throne fashioned of gold and ivory; upon his head is placed a crown imitating branches of olive. In his right hand he carries a Victory, this too made of ivory and gold, holding a ribbon and having a crown upon her head. In the left hand of the god he holds a sceptre adorned with all manner of metals, and an eagle stands upon this sceptre. The sandals of the god, as well as his robe, are also of gold; and woven into the robe are figures of animals and lilies among other flowers.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Nike (Νίκη) deity
Aetos (ἀετός) other
Also in: 6.20.12
← 5.10.10 5.11.2 →