Pausanias Analysis

Passage 7.24.12

← 7.24.11 7.24.13 →

Passage 7.24.12: Destruction of Helice by an earthquake and engulfing sea.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τότε δὲ ἰδέαν μὲν ταύτην ἐπὶ τῇ Ἑλίκῃ τοῦ σεισμοῦ τὴν ἐς τὸ ἔδαφος ἀνακινοῦσαν, σὺν δὲ αὐτῇ καὶ ἄλλο πῆμα τοιόνδε οἱ ἐπιγενέσθαι φασὶν ὥρᾳ χειμῶνος. ἐπῆλθε γάρ σφισιν ἐπὶ πολὺ τῆς χώρας ἡ θάλασσα καὶ τὴν Ἑλίκην περιέλαβεν ἐν κύκλῳ πᾶσαν· καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸ ἄλσος τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐπέσχεν ὁ κλύδων ὡς τὰ ἄκρα τῶν δένδρων σύνοπτα εἶναι μόνον. σείσαντος δὲ ἐξαίφνης τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὁμοῦ τῷ σεισμῷ τῆς θαλάσσης ἀναδραμούσης, καθείλκυσεν αὔτανδρον τὸ κῦμα τὴν Ἑλίκην.

English Translation

Then at Helice the earthquake took this form, stirring the ground beneath them, and together with it another disaster befell the people, they say, during the season of winter. For the sea advanced far inland over their territory and encircled the whole of Helice; and indeed the grove of Poseidon was inundated to such a degree by the wave that only the tops of the trees remained visible. When suddenly the god caused an earthquake, and simultaneously the sea rushed back, the wave dragged down Helice with all of its inhabitants.

Proper Nouns

Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Helike (Ἑλίκη) place Q1432654
← 7.24.11 7.24.13 →