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 Herakles. It seems to me that it was here, at the border between Messenia and Arcadia, that the wooden image of Herakles crafted by Daidalos formerly stood.

Proper Nouns

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