Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.13.7

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Passage 5.13.7: Monuments of Pelops and Tantalus: Tantalus' lake and tomb; Pelops' throne and myrtle‑wood Aphrodite.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Πέλοπος δὲ καὶ Ταντάλου τῆς παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐνοικήσεως σημεῖα ἔτι καὶ ἐς τόδε λείπεται, Ταντάλου μὲν λίμνη τε ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ καλουμένη καὶ οὐκ ἀφανὴς τάφος, Πέλοπος δὲ ἐν Σιπύλῳ μὲν θρόνος ἐν κορυφῇ τοῦ ὄρους ἐστὶν ὑπὲρ τῆς Πλαστήνης μητρὸς τὸ ἱερόν, διαβάντι δὲ Ἕρμον ποταμὸν Ἀφροδίτης ἄγαλμα ἐν Τήμνῳ πεποιημένον ἐκ μυρσίνης τεθηλυίας· ἀναθεῖναι δὲ Πέλοπα αὐτὸ παρειλήφαμεν μνήμῃ, προϊλασκόμενόν τε τὴν θεὸν καὶ γενέσθαι οἱ τὸν γάμον τῆς Ἱπποδαμείας αἰτούμενον.

English Translation

Evidence of the residence of Pelops and Tantalus among us remains even now: there is the lake called after Tantalus himself and his clearly visible tomb. And for Pelops, on Sipylus there is a throne placed on the peak of the mountain, above the sanctuary of his mother Plastene. Beyond the river Hermus, in Temnus, there is a statue of Aphrodite fashioned from living myrtle-wood; tradition records that Pelops dedicated this image as a memorial, appeasing the goddess and requesting her favor to marry Hippodameia.

Proper Nouns

Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Pelops (Πέλοψ) person
Plastene (Πλαστήνη) person
Tantalus (Τάνταλος) person
Hippodameia (Ἱπποδάμεια) person
Sipylus (Σίπυλος) place Q532698
Temnus (Τῆμνος) place Q376084
Hermus (Ἕρμος) place Q1351474
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