Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.15.4

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Passage 8.15.4: The temple of Demeter Thesmia beneath Mount Cyllene

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

κύαμον μὲν οὖν ἐφʼ ὅτῳ μὴ καθαρὸν εἶναι νομίζουσιν ὄσπριον, ἔστιν ἱερὸς ἐπʼ αὐτῷ λόγος· οἱ δὲ τῷ Φενεατῶν λόγῳ δεξάμενοι τὴν θεόν, Τρισαύλης καὶ Δαμιθάλης, ἐποιήσαντο μὲν Δήμητρος ναὸν Θεσμίας ὑπὸ τῷ ὄρει τῇ Κυλλήνῃ, κατεστήσαντο δὲ αὐτῇ καὶ τελετήν, ἥντινα καὶ νῦν ἄγουσιν. ὁ δὲ ναὸς οὗτος τῆς Θεσμίας σταδίους πέντε μάλιστά που καὶ δέκα ἐστὶν ἀπωτέρω τῆς πόλεως.

English Translation

For the reason why beans are considered an impure vegetable there exists a sacred account. But those who, according to the tradition of the Pheneatians, once received the goddess, namely Trisaules and Damithales, constructed a temple to Demeter Thesmia beneath Mount Cyllene, and also established rites in her honor, which they celebrate to this very day. This temple of Thesmia is situated roughly fifteen stades from the city.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Thesmia (as an epithet of Demeter; 'of the Laws') (Θεσμία) deity
Damithales (Δαμιθάλης) person
Trisaules (Τρισαύλης) person
Kyllene (Κυλλήνη) place Q56650616
Pheneatae (Φενεάτης) place
Also in: 8.14.10
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