Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.18.4

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Passage 8.18.4: Deadly water dripping from the cliff near Nonacris.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ τὸ ἀπὸ τοῦ κρημνοῦ τοῦ παρὰ τὴν Νώνακριν στάζον ἐσπίπτει μὲν πρῶτον ἐς πέτραν ὑψηλήν, διεξελθὸν δὲ διὰ τῆς πέτρας ἐς τὸν Κρᾶθιν ποταμὸν κάτεισι· θάνατον δὲ τὸ ὕδωρ φέρει τοῦτο καὶ ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ ἄλλῳ ζῴῳ παντί. λέγεται δὲ ὅτι γένοιτό ποτε ὄλεθρος ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἰξίν, αἳ τοῦ ὕδατος ἔπιον πρῶτον· χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον ἐγνώσθη καὶ εἰ δή τι ἄλλο πρόσεστι τῷ ὕδατι τῶν ἐς θαῦμα ἡκόντων.

English Translation

The water dripping from the cliff near Nonacris first falls upon a high rock, and then, passing through the rock itself, empties into the river Crathis. This water brings death alike to humans and to every other living creature. It is said that goats were once destroyed by it, having been the first to drink the water. Afterwards, over time, it became known whether there was indeed any other extraordinary property belonging to this water.

Proper Nouns

Krathis (Κρᾶθις) place Q6436394
Also in: 7.25.11 8.15.8
Nonacris (Νώνᾰκρις) place Q7049180
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