Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.16.1

← 8.15.9 8.16.2 →

Passage 8.16.1: The Trikrena springs, sacred to Hermes after nymphs washed the newborn god.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐκ δὲ Φενεοῦ πρὸς ἥλιον ἰόντι ἀνίσχοντα ὄρους ἐστὶν ἄκρα Γερόντειον καὶ κατὰ ταύτην ὁδός· Φενεάταις δὲ ὅροι πρὸς Στυμφαλίους τῆς γῆς τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ Γερόντειον. τοῦ Γεροντείου δὲ ἐν ἀριστερᾷ διὰ τῆς Φενεατικῆς ὁδεύοντι ὄρη Φενεατῶν ἐστι Τρίκρηνα καλούμενα, καὶ εἰσὶν αὐτόθι κρῆναι τρεῖς· ἐν ταύταις λοῦσαι τεχθέντα Ἑρμῆν αἱ περὶ τὸ ὄρος λέγονται νύμφαι, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ τὰς πηγὰς ἱερὰς Ἑρμοῦ νομίζουσιν.

English Translation

From Pheneus, on the road towards the rising sun, there is a mountain peak called Geronteion, and the road passes by it. Geronteion is the boundary point of the Pheneatian territory with that of the Stymphalians. Traveling through the land of Pheneus, the mountains called Trikrena lie to the left of Geronteion. There are three springs there, and local tradition holds that the nymphs who dwell around the mountain washed Hermes when he was born in these springs. For this reason, the people regard the springs as sacred to Hermes.

Proper Nouns

Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Pheneatae (Φενεάται) person
Geronteion (Γερόντειον) place Q118411909
Also in: 8.22.1
Stymphalos (Στύμφαλος) place Q2359730
Trikrena (Τρίκρηνα) place
Pheneatae (Φενεαταί) place
Pheneatic (Φενεατική) place
Also in: 8.14.5 8.20.1
Pheneus (Φενεός) place Q12885741
← 8.15.9 8.16.2 →