Pausanias Analysis

Passage 6.22.11

← 6.22.10 6.23.1 →

Passage 6.22.11: Artemis Elaphiaia—local epithet linked to deer or the nursing woman Elaphion.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

Ἐλαφιαίαν δὲ ἐκάλουν οἱ Ἠλεῖοι τὴν Ἄρτεμιν ἐπὶ τῶν ἐλάφων ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν τῇ θήρᾳ· αὐτοὶ δὲ γυναικὸς ἐπιχωρίας ὄνομα εἶναι τὴν Ἐλάφιον καὶ ὑπὸ ταύτης τραφῆναι τὴν Ἄρτεμίν φασι. Λετρίνων δὲ ὅσον τε ἕξ ἀπωτέρω σταδίοις ἐστὶν ἀέναος λίμνη τριῶν που τὴν διάμετρον σταδίων μάλιστα.

English Translation

The Eleans called Artemis "Elaphiaia," in my opinion because of her hunting of deer (elaphoi). But they themselves claim that "Elaphion" was the name of a local woman, and they say that Artemis was nurtured by this Elaphion. About six stades from Letrinoi is a perennial lake, approximately three stades in diameter.

Proper Nouns

Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Elaphio (Ἐλάφιος) person
Eleans (Ἠλεῖοι) person
Letrini (Λέτραι) place Q12880141
← 6.22.10 6.23.1 →