Pausanias Analysis

Passage 7.25.1

← 7.24.13 7.25.2 →

Passage 7.25.1: Zeus's oracle at Dodona ordering Athenians to spare Lacedaemonian suppliants.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ δὲ τοῦ Ἱκεσίου μήνιμα πάρεστι μὲν τοῖς ἐς τὴν Ἑλίκην, πάρεστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλοις διδαχθῆναι πολλοῖς ὡς ἔστιν ἀπαραίτητον· φαίνεται δὲ καὶ ὁ θεὸς παραινῶν ὁ ἐν Δωδώνῃ νέμειν ἐς ἱκέτας αἰδῶ. Ἀθηναίοις γὰρ ἐπὶ ἡλικίας μάλιστα τῆς Ἀφείδαντος ἀφίκετο παρὰ τοῦ ἐν Δωδώνῃ Διὸς τὰ ἔπη τάδε· φράζεο δʼ Ἄρειόν τε πάγον βωμούς τε θυώδεις Εὐμενίδων, ὅθι χρὴ Λακεδαιμονίους σʼ ἱκετεῦσαι δουρὶ πιεζομένους. τοὺς μὴ σὺ κτεῖνε σιδήρῳ, μηδʼ ἱκέτας ἀδικεῖν· ἱκέται δʼ ἱεροί τε καὶ ἁγνοί.

English Translation

The wrath of Hikesios serves as a lesson, both for the people of Helike and for many others as well, highlighting that it cannot be averted. Indeed, even the god of Dodona appears to advise reverence towards suppliants. For during the time of Apheidas, the Athenians received the following oracle from Zeus at Dodona: "Consider the Areios Pagos and the fragrant altars of the Eumenides, where you must accept the Lacedaemonians when, oppressed by the spear, they seek your mercy as suppliants. Do not slay them with iron, nor wrong those who take refuge, for suppliants are both sacred and pure."

Proper Nouns

Eumenides (Εὐμενίδες) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Apheidas (Ἀφείδας) person
Hikesios (Ἱκέσιος) person
Also in: 1.20.7 10.9.9
Dodona (Δωδώνη) place Q382317
Areios (Ἄρειος) place Q30057580
Helike (Ἑλίκη) place Q1432654
← 7.24.13 7.25.2 →