Pausanias Analysis

Passage 6.20.9

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Passage 6.20.9: Priestess of Demeter Chamyne watching the Olympic games

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπὶ τούτου καθεζομένη τοῦ βωμοῦ θεᾶται γυνὴ τὰ Ὀλύμπια, ἱέρεια Δήμητρος Χαμύνης, τιμὴν ταύτη ν ἄλλοτε ἄλλη ν λαμβάνουσα παρὰ Ἠλείων. παρθένους δὲ οὐκ εἴργουσι θεᾶσθαι. πρὸς δὲ τοῦ σταδίου τῷ πέρατι, ᾗ τοῖς σταδιαδρόμοις ἄφεσις πεποίηται, Ἐνδυμίωνος μνῆμα ἐνταῦθα λόγῳ Ἠλείων ἐστίν.

English Translation

Upon this altar sits a woman who watches the Olympic games, the priestess of Demeter Chamyne, who receives this privilege from the Eleans, now one woman, now another. Maidens, however, are not forbidden to watch. At the far end of the stadium, where the runners have their starting point, stands the tomb of Endymion, according to the Eleans' account.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Chamyne (Χαμύνη) deity
Also in: 6.21.1
Olympic Games (Ὀλύμπια) other
Endymion (Ἐνδυμίων) person
Eleans (Ἠλεῖοι) person
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