Pausanias Analysis

Passage 7.23.1

← 7.22.11 7.23.2 →

Passage 7.23.1: The sea-nymph Argyra's love for the shepherd Selemnos

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

μετὰ δὲ τὸν Χάραδρον ἐρείπια οὐκ ἐπιφανῆ πόλεώς ἐστιν Ἀργυρᾶς, καὶ πηγή τε Ἀργυρᾶ ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς λεωφόρου καὶ Σέλεμνος ποταμὸς κατιὼν ἐς θάλασσαν. λόγος δὲ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἐς αὐτόν ἐστι, Σέλεμνον μειράκιον ὡραῖον ποιμαίνειν ἐνταῦθα, Ἀργυρᾶν δὲ εἶναι μὲν τῶν ἐν θαλάσσῃ νυμφῶν, ἐρασθεῖσαν δὲ αὐτὴν Σελέμνου φοιτᾶν τε ὡς αὐτόν φασιν ἐκ θαλάσσης ἀνιοῦσαν, καὶ καθεύδειν παρʼ αὐτῷ·

English Translation

After the river Charadros are the indistinct ruins of the city Argyras, as well as the spring Argyra, situated to the right of the main road, and the river Selemnos flowing down into the sea. The local inhabitants relate a story regarding this river, saying that a handsome young shepherd named Selemnos used to pasture his flock here, and that Argyra, one of the sea-nymphs, fell in love with him, and, enamored of Selemnos, she frequently came up from the sea to visit him and would sleep at his side.

Proper Nouns

Selemnus (Σέλεμνος) person
Also in: 7.23.2
Argyra (Ἀργυρά) person
Also in: 7.23.2
Selemnus (Σέλεμνος) place Q3566505
Charadros (Χάραδρος) place Q3558316
Argyra (Ἀργυρά) place Q3561588
Also in: 7.18.6 7.23.4
← 7.22.11 7.23.2 →