Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.25.7

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Passage 8.25.7: Statues of Erinys and Lousia; Arcadian myth of Demeter's child and Poseidon Hippios.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ μὲν δὴ τῆς Ἐρινύος τήν τε κίστην καλουμένην ἔχει καὶ ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ δᾷδα, μέγεθος δὲ εἰκάζομεν ἐννέα εἶναι ποδῶν αὐτήν· ἡ Λουσία δὲ ποδῶν ἓξ ἐφαίνετο εἶναι. ὅσοι δὲ Θέμιδος καὶ οὐ Δήμητρος τῆς Λουσίας τὸ ἄγαλμα εἶναι νομίζουσι, μάταια ἴστωσαν ὑπειληφότες. τὴν δὲ Δήμητρα τεκεῖν φασιν ἐκ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος θυγατέρα, ἧς τὸ ὄνομα ἐς ἀτελέστους λέγειν οὐ νομίζουσι, καὶ ἵππον τὸν Ἀρείονα· ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ παρὰ σφίσιν Ἀρκάδων πρώτοις Ἵππιον Ποσειδῶνα ὀνομασθῆναι.

English Translation

The statue of the Erinys holds what is called a cista, and in her right hand a torch; we estimate the figure to be about nine feet tall. The statue of Lousia appeared to be six feet in height. Those who think that this statue of Lousia represents Themis rather than Demeter should know they are holding a mistaken opinion. It is said that Demeter gave birth, by Poseidon, to a daughter whose name they do not consider proper to reveal to the uninitiated, and also to the horse Areion. For this reason, they say, the Arcadians first named Poseidon Hippios ("Horse-god").

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Themis (Θέμις) deity
Lousia (Λουσία) deity
Also in: 8.25.6
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Erinys (Ἐρινύς) deity
Hippios Poseidon (Ἵππιος Ποσειδῶν) deity
Areion (Ἀρείων) other
Also in: 8.25.8 8.25.10
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
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