Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.19.3

← 8.19.2 8.19.4 →

Passage 8.19.3: The curative spring Alyssos at Kynaitha.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὃς δʼ ἂν ὑπὸ κυνὸς κατασχέτου λύσσῃ ἤτοι ἕλκος ἢ καὶ ἄλλως κίνδυνον εὕρηται, τὸ ὕδωρ οἱ πίνοντι ἴαμα· καὶ Ἄλυσσον τοῦδε ἕνεκα ὀνομάζουσι τὴν πηγήν· καὶ οὕτω φαίνοιτο ἂν Ἀρκάσι τὸ μὲν πρὸς Φενεῷ ὕδωρ, ὃ Στύγα ὀνομάζουσιν, ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπου συμφορᾷ ἀνευρημένον, ἡ δὲ πηγὴ ἡ ἐν Κυναιθαεῦσιν ἀγαθὸν οὖσα ἀντίρροπον τῷ ἐκεῖ πήματι.

English Translation

And whoever has been seized by madness from the bite of a rabid dog, or who otherwise meets with such danger, drinking the water of this spring brings healing. This is why they call the spring Alyssos ("Curative against madness"). Thus it would appear that among the Arcadians, the water near Pheneos, called Styx, was discovered for man's misfortune, whereas the spring at Kynaitha, being beneficial, serves as an antidote to that evil.

Proper Nouns

Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Cynaetha (Κύναιθα) place Q5199870
Styx (Στύξ) place
Pheneus (Φενεός) place Q12885741
Alyssos (Ἄλυσσος) place Q19985892
← 8.19.2 8.19.4 →