Pausanias Analysis

Passage 7.3.1

← 7.2.11 7.3.2 →

Passage 7.3.1: The sanctuary and oracle at Claros

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Κολοφώνιοι δὲ τὸ μὲν ἱερὸν τὸ ἐν Κλάρῳ καὶ τὸ μαντεῖον ἐκ παλαιοτάτου γενέσθαι νομίζουσιν· ἐχόντων δὲ ἔτι τὴν γῆν Καρῶν ἀφικέσθαι φασὶν ἐς αὐτὴν πρώτους τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ Κρῆτας, Ῥάκιον καὶ ὅσον εἵπετο ἄλλο τῷ Ῥακίῳ καὶ ὅσον ἔτι πλῆθος, ἔχον τὰ ἐπὶ θαλάσσῃ καὶ ναυσὶν ἰσχῦον· τῆς δὲ χώρας τὴν πολλὴν ἐνέμοντο ἔτι οἱ Κᾶρες. Θερσάνδρου δὲ τοῦ Πολυνείκους καὶ Ἀργείων ἑλόντων Θήβας καὶ ἄλλοι τε αἰχμάλωτοι καὶ ἡ Μαντὼ τῷ Ἀπόλλωνι ἐκομίσθησαν ἐς Δελφούς· Τειρεσίαν δὲ κατὰ τὴν πορείαν τὸ χρεὼν ἐπέλαβεν ἐν τῇ Ἁλιαρτίᾳ.

English Translation

The Colophonians believe that the sanctuary and oracle at Claros are of very ancient origin. They claim that while the land still belonged to the Carians, the Cretans were the first group of Greeks to arrive, namely Rhacius and those who followed him along with the numbers accompanying them; they held control over the coastal areas and were strong with ships, while the Carians still occupied most of the territory inland. After Thersander, son of Polynices, and the Argives captured Thebes, captives, including Manto herself, were taken as offerings to Apollo and brought to Delphi. On the journey, Tiresias met his fated end at Haliartia.

Proper Nouns

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Thersandros (Θέρσανδρος) person
Carians (Κάρες) person
Colophonian (Κολοφώνιος) person
Cretan (Κρής) person
Carians (Κᾶρες) person
Manto (Μαντώ) person
Polyneices (Πολυνείκης) person
Teiresias (Τειρεσίας) person
Argives (Ἀργεῖοι) person
Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) person
Rhakios (Ῥάκιος) person
Also in: 7.3.2
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Thebes (Θῆβαι) place Q11225429
Claros (Κλάρος) place Q1933754
Haliartos (Ἁλίαρτος) place Q359627
← 7.2.11 7.3.2 →