Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.35.2

← 8.35.1 8.35.3 →

Passage 8.35.2: The sanctuary of Despoina at Hermaion.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

Φαιδρίου δὲ ὡς πέντε ἀπέχει καὶ δέκα σταδίους τὸ κατὰ Δέσποιναν ὀνομαζόμενον Ἑρμαῖον· ὅροι Μεσσηνίων πρὸς Μεγαλοπολίτας καὶ οὗτοι, καὶ ἀγάλματα οὐ μεγάλα Δεσποίνης τε καὶ Δήμητρος, ἔτι δὲ καὶ Ἑρμοῦ πεποίηται δὲ καὶ Ἡρακλέους· δοκεῖν δέ μοι καὶ τὸ ὑπὸ Δαιδάλου ποιηθὲν τῷ Ἡρακλεῖ ξόανον ἐν μεθορίῳ τῆς Μεσσηνίας καὶ Ἀρκάδων ἐνταῦθα εἱστήκει.

English Translation

About fifteen stades from Phaidrias is the place called Hermaion, sacred to Despoina. This spot, too, marks the boundary between the Messenians and the Megalopolitans. Here stand small statues of Despoina and Demeter, as well as Hermes and Heracles. It seems to me that it was here, at the border between Messenia and Arcadia, that the wooden image of Heracles crafted by Daedalus formerly stood.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity Q1146978
Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity Q40730
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity Q41484
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Daedalus (Δαίδαλος) person Q3712559
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Megalopolitans (Μεγαλοπολῖται) person
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
Hermaion (Ἑρμαῖον) place
Also in: 8.34.6
Messenia (Μεσσηνία) place Q1247159
Phaedrion (Φαιδρίον) place
← 8.35.1 8.35.3 →