Pausanias Analysis

Passage 5.8.3

← 5.8.2 5.8.4 →

Passage 5.8.3: Horse-racing competitions at Elis founded by Augeas and Heracles

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἔθηκε δὲ καὶ Αὐγέας καὶ Ἡρακλῆς ὁ Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἑλὼν Ἦλιν· ὁπόσους δὲ ἐστεφάνωσεν οὗτος νικῶντας, ἔστιν Ἰόλαος ταῖς Ἡρακλέους δραμὼν ἵπποις. ἦν δὲ ἄρα ἐκ παλαιοῦ καθεστηκὸς ἀγωνίζεσθαι καὶ ἀλλοτρίαις ἵπποις· Ὅμηρος γοῦν ἐν ἄθλοις τεθεῖσιν ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πεποίηκεν ὡς Μενέλαος Αἴθῃ τῇ Ἀγαμέμνονος, τῷ δὲ ἑτέρῳ χρήσαιτο τῶν ἵππων οἰκείῳ.

English Translation

Augeas also established competitions, as did Heracles, son of Amphitryon, after conquering Elis. Among the victors crowned by him was Iolaus, who raced driving the horses belonging to Heracles. From ancient times indeed, it was an established practice to compete even with horses belonging to another. Homer, for example, in describing the games organized in honor of Patroclus, relates how Menelaus competed with Agamemnon's mare Aethe, while the other horse yoked with her was his own.

Proper Nouns

Aithe (Αἴθη) other
Augeas (Αὐγείας) person Q3629529
Menelaus (Μενέλαος) person
Patroclus (Πάτροκλος) person
Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων) person
Amphitryon (Ἀμφιτρύων) person
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Iolaus (Ἰόλαος) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Elis (Ἦλις) place Q217667
← 5.8.2 5.8.4 →