Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.23.5

← 8.23.4 8.23.6 →

Passage 8.23.5: Oldest sacred trees: the willow at Samos, the oak at Dodona, and the Acropolis olive.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

εἰ δὲ Ἑλλήνων τοῖς λόγοις ἑπόμενον καταριθμήσασθαι δεῖ με ὁπόσα δένδρα σῶα ἔτι καὶ τεθηλότα λείπεται, πρεσβύτατον μὲν ἡ λύγος ἐστὶν αὐτῶν ἡ ἐν τῷ Σαμίων πεφυκυῖα ἱερῷ Ἥρας, μετὰ δὲ αὐτὴν ἡ ἐν Δωδώνῃ δρῦς καὶ ἐλαία τε ἡ ἐν ἀκροπόλει καὶ ἡ παρὰ Δηλίοις· τρίτα δὲ ἕνεκα ἀρχαιότητος νέμοιεν ἂν τῇ δάφνῃ τῇ παρὰ σφίσιν οἱ Σύροι· τῶν δὲ ἄλλων ἡ πλάτανός ἐστιν αὕτη παλαιότατον.

English Translation

If, following the traditions of the Greeks, I must enumerate how many trees remain that are still alive and flourishing, the oldest among them is the willow growing in the sanctuary of Hera on Samos; after this come the oak at Dodona, and the olive tree on the Acropolis, and also the one among the Delians. Third in antiquity, according to the Syrians themselves, would be their laurel; but of all the others, this plane-tree is the oldest.

Proper Nouns

Hera (Ἥρα) deity
Syrians (Σύροι) person
Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) person
Delium (Δήλιοι) place
Also in: 4.36.6
Dodona (Δωδώνη) place Q382317
Samians (Σάμιοι) place Q156882
Also in: 9.41.1
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