Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.25.1

← 5.24.11 5.25.2 →

Passage 5.25.1: Statues of Zeus in the Altis, including a depiction of Alexander as Zeus

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τοσαῦτα ἐντὸς τῆς Ἄλτεως ἀγάλματα εἶναι Διὸς ἀνηριθμησάμεθα ἐς τὸ ἀκριβέστατον. τὸ ἀνάθημα γὰρ τὸ πρὸς τῷ μεγάλῳ ναῷ ὑπὸ ἀνδρὸς Κορινθίου τεθέν, Κορινθίων δὲ οὐ τῶν ἀρχαίων ἀλλʼ οἳ παρὰ βασιλέως ἔχουσιν εἰληφότες τὴν πόλιν, τοῦτο τὸ ἀνάθημα Ἀλέξανδρός ἐστιν ὁ Φιλίππου, Διὶ εἰκασμένος δῆθεν. ὁπόσα δὲ ἀλλοῖα καὶ οὐ μίμησίς ἐστι Διός, ἐπιμνησόμεθα καὶ τούτων· εἰκόνας δὲ οὐ τιμῇ τῇ πρὸς τὸ θεῖον, τῇ δὲ ἐς αὐτοὺς χάριτι ἀνατεθείσας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, λόγῳ σφᾶς τῷ ἐς τοὺς ἀθλητὰς ἀναμίξομεν.

English Translation

We have now enumerated, as accurately as possible, the many statues of Zeus within the Altis. As for the offering placed near the great temple by a Corinthian—though not one of the original Corinthians, but one of those who received the city from the king—this dedication is an image of Alexander, the son of Philip, represented supposedly in the likeness of Zeus. As many other statues as remain, which do not imitate Zeus, we shall also mention these. But those likenesses dedicated, not out of reverence toward divinity but as marks of respect to men themselves, we will include in our account concerning the athletes.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Corinthians (Κορίνθιοι) person
Corinthians (Κορίνθιος) person
Philip (Φίλιππος) person
Alexander (Ἀλέξανδρος) person
Altis (Ἄλτις) place Q2400346
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