Pausanias Analysis

Passage 7.24.3

← 7.24.2 7.24.4 →

Passage 7.24.3: Sanctuary of Soteria at Aegium with secret image and sea-offerings sent to Arethusa.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐφεξῆς δὲ τῷ Ὁμαγυρίῳ Διὶ Παναχαιᾶς ἐστι Δήμητρος. παρέχεται δὲ ὁ αἰγιαλός, ἐν ᾧ καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ Αἰγιεῦσίν ἐστι τὰ εἰρημένα, ὕδωρ ἄφθονον θεάσασθαί τε καὶ πιεῖν ἐκ πηγῆς ἡδύ. ἔστι δέ σφισι καὶ Σωτηρίας ἱερόν. ἰδεῖν μὲν δὴ τὸ ἄγαλμα οὐδενὶ πλὴν τῶν ἱερωμένων ἔστι, δρῶσι δὲ ἄλλα τοιαῦτα· λαμβάνοντες παρὰ τῆς θεοῦ πέμματα ἐπιχώρια ἀφιᾶσιν ἐς θάλασσαν, πέμπειν δὲ τῇ ἐν Συρακούσαις Ἀρεθούσῃ φασὶν αὐτά.

English Translation

Next to Zeus Homagyrios is a temple of Panachaean Demeter. The seashore, on which stand the sanctuaries already mentioned that belong to the people of Aegium, provides abundant fresh water from a spring, pleasant both to see and to drink. They have also a sanctuary of Soteria (“Salvation”). The image there may be viewed by no one except the priests, and they observe other customs of this kind as well: when they receive from the goddess local cakes, they cast them into the sea, claiming that these are sent to Arethusa in Syracuse.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Soteria (Σωτηρία) deity
Also in: 7.21.7
Arethusa (Ἀρέθουσα) deity
Homagyrios Zeus (Ὁμαγύριος Ζεύς) deity
Also in: 7.24.2
Aigeians (Αἰγιοί) other
Panachaia (Παναχαία) place Q107260957
Syracuse (Συρακοῦσαι) place Q4420718
← 7.24.2 7.24.4 →