Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.23.7

← 5.23.6 5.24.1 →

Passage 5.23.7: Bronze statue of Zeus (about 18 ft) dedicated by the Cleitorians, crafted by Ariston and Telestas.

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

πλησίον δὲ τοῦ Ὑβλαίων ἀναθήματος βάθρον τε πεποίηται χαλκοῦν καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ Ζεύς· τοῦτον ὀκτὼ μάλιστα εἶναι ποδῶν καὶ δέκα εἰκάζομεν. οἵτινες δὲ αὐτὸν ἔδοσαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ ὧντινών ἐστιν ἔργον, ἐλεγεῖον γεγραμμένον σημαίνει· Κλειτόριοι τόδʼ ἄγαλμα θεῷ δεκάταν ἀνέθηκαν, πολλᾶν ἐκ πολίων χερσὶ βιασσάμενοι. † καιμετρειτ Ἀρίστων ἠδὲ Τελέστας αὐτοκασίγνητοι καλὰ Λάκωνες ἔθεν. τούτους οὐκ ἐς ἅπαν τὸ Ἑλληνικὸν ἐπιφανεῖς νομίζω γενέσθαι· εἶχον γὰρ ἄν τι καὶ Ἠλεῖοι περὶ αὐτῶν λέγειν, καὶ πλέονα ἔτι Λακεδαιμόνιοι πολιτῶν γε ὄντων.

English Translation

Near the dedication by the Hyblaeans stands a pedestal made of bronze, and upon it Zeus; this figure we estimate to be about eighteen feet high. Who gave the image to the god and whose craft fashioned it is indicated by an inscribed elegiac couplet: "This statue as a tithe to the god the Cleitorians dedicated, Having conquered many cities by force of arms. Ariston and Telestas, brothers born, noble Laconians, Skilfully wrought it." I do not think these craftsmen achieved fame throughout Greece; otherwise the Eleans would have much to say about them, and even more surely would the Lacedaemonians, since they were citizens.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Hellenic (Ἑλληνικόν) other
Kleitorians (Κλείτοριοι) person
Lacon (Λάκων) person
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Telestas (Τελέστας) person
Also in: 6.14.4
Ariston (Ἀρίστων) person
Eleans (Ἠλεῖοι) person
Hyblae (Ὕβλαι) place
Also in: 5.23.6
← 5.23.6 5.24.1 →