Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.15.3

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Passage 5.15.3: Kallistephanos, the Altis wild olive that provides crowns for Olympic victors.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἔστι δὲ ἐν τῇ Ἄλτει τοῦ Λεωνιδαίου περᾶν μέλλοντι ἐς ἀριστερὰν Ἀφροδίτης βωμὸς καὶ Ὡρῶν μετʼ αὐτόν. κατὰ δὲ τὸν ὀπισθόδομον μάλιστά ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ πεφυκὼς κότινος· καλεῖται δὲ ἐλαία Καλλιστέφανος, καὶ τοῖς νικῶσι τὰ Ὀλύμπια καθέστηκεν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς δίδοσθαι τοὺς στεφάνους. τούτου πλησίον τοῦ κοτίνου πεποίηται Νύμφαις βωμός·

English Translation

In the Altis, as you are about to pass beyond the Leonidaeum, there stands on your left an altar to Aphrodite, and after it one to the Horae. Also, by the rear chamber of the temple, there grows a wild olive tree especially on the right side. This olive tree is called "Kallistephanos" ("Beautiful-crowned"), and it is from this tree that crowns are ordained to be awarded to victors in the Olympic games. Near this wild olive a second altar has been dedicated to the Nymphs.

Proper Nouns

Nymphs (Νύμφαι) deity
Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη) deity
Horae (Ὧραι) deity
Kallistephanos (Fair-crowned Olive) (Καλλιστέφανος) other
Olympic Games (Ὀλύμπια) other
Leonidaion (Λεωνίδαιον) place Q3271682
Also in: 5.15.2 5.15.4
Altis (Ἄλτις) place Q2400346
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