Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.23.1

← 8.22.9 8.23.2 →

Passage 8.23.1: Alea: temples of Artemis Ephesia and Athena Alea; Skiereia (Dionysian scourging).

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

μετὰ δὲ Στύμφαλόν ἐστιν Ἀλέα, συνεδρίου μὲν τοῦ Ἀργολικοῦ μετέχουσα καὶ αὕτη, Ἄλεον δὲ τὸν Ἀφείδαντος γενέσθαι σφίσιν ἀποφαίνουσιν οἰκιστήν. θεῶν δὲ ἱερὰ αὐτόθι Ἀρτέμιδός ἐστιν Ἐφεσίας καὶ Ἀθηνᾶς Ἀλέας, καὶ Διονύσου ναὸς καὶ ἄγαλμα. τούτῳ παρὰ ἔτος Σκιέρεια ἑορτὴν ἄγουσι, καὶ ἐν Διονύσου τῇ ἑορτῇ κατὰ μάντευμα ἐκ Δελφῶν μαστιγοῦνται γυναῖκες, καθὰ καὶ οἱ Σπαρτιατῶν ἔφηβοι παρὰ τῇ Ὀρθίᾳ.

English Translation

After Stymphalus is Alea, which also shares in the meetings of the Argolic council. They assert that Aleus, the son of Apheidas, was their founder. The sanctuaries of gods there are dedicated to Artemis Ephesia and Athena Alea, and there is also a temple and statue of Dionysus. In his honor they hold a yearly festival called Skiereia, and during the festival of Dionysus women are scourged in accordance with an oracle from Delphi, just as the Spartan youths are scourged at the altar of Orthia.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Orthia (Ὀρθία) deity
Skiereia (Σκιέρεια) other
Alea (Ἀλέα) other
Also in: 2.17.7 8.9.6
Argolic (Ἀργολικός) other
Also in: 2.25.7
Ephesia (of Ephesus) (Ἐφέσια) other
Spartiates (Σπαρτιάται) person
Apheidas (Ἀφείδας) person
Aleus (Ἄλεος) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Stymphalos (Στύμφαλος) place Q2359730
Alea (Ἀλέα) place Q3609405
Also in: 8.27.3
← 8.22.9 8.23.2 →