Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.15.10

← 5.15.9 5.15.11 →

Passage 5.15.10: Elean monthly sacrifices and the officials who oversee them.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἑκάστου δὲ ἅπαξ τοῦ μηνὸς θύουσιν ἐπὶ πάντων Ἠλεῖοι τῶν κατειλεγμένων βωμῶν. θύουσι δὲ ἀρχαῖόν τινα τρόπον· λιβανωτὸν γὰρ ὁμοῦ πυροῖς μεμαγμένοις μέλιτι θυμιῶσιν ἐπὶ τῶν βωμῶν, τιθέασι δὲ καὶ κλῶνας ἐλαίας ἐπʼ αὐτῶν καὶ οἴνῳ χρῶνται σπονδῇ. μόναις δὲ ταῖς Νύμφαις οὐ νομίζουσιν οἶνον οὐδὲ ταῖς Δεσποίναις σπένδειν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῷ βωμῷ τῷ κοινῷ πάντων θεῶν. μέλει δὲ τὰ ἐς θυσίας θεηκόλῳ τε, ὃς ἐπὶ μηνὶ ἑκάστῳ τὴν τιμὴν ἔχει, καὶ μάντεσι καὶ σπονδοφόροις, ἔτι δὲ ἐξηγητῇ τε καὶ αὐλητῇ καὶ τῷ ξυλεῖ·

English Translation

On one day each month, the Eleans make sacrifices upon all the altars I have listed. They sacrifice in an ancient manner, burning incense mixed with wheat grains and honey upon the altars; they also place olive branches upon them and pour wine as libations. Only to the Nymphs and to the Goddesses called Despoinai, and upon the common altar of all the gods, do they consider it improper to offer wine-libations. The ceremonies regarding the sacrifices are overseen by the theēkolos (divine attendant), who holds office for one month, and by seers, libation bearers, an interpreter (exegetes), a flute-player, and a woodman.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Nymph (Νύμφη) deity
Eleians (Ἠλεῖος) person
← 5.15.9 5.15.11 →