Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.36.8

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Passage 8.36.8: The mountain of Mainalos: ruins, athletic stadia, and the cult of Pan.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐν δὲ τοῖς κατὰ μεσημβρίαν τοῦ ὄρους Σουμητία ᾤκιστο. ἐν τούτῳ δέ εἰσι τῷ ὄρει καὶ αἱ καλούμεναι Τρίοδοι, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ Ἀρκάδος τοῦ Καλλιστοῦς ἀνείλοντο ἐντεῦθεν κατὰ τὸ ἐκ Δελφῶν μάντευμα οἱ Μαντινεῖς. λείπεται δὲ καὶ αὐτῆς ἔτι ἐρείπια Μαινάλου, ναοῦ τε σημεῖα Ἀθηνᾶς καὶ στάδιον ἐς ἀθλητῶν ἀγῶνα καὶ τὸ ἕτερον αὐτῶν ἐς ἵππων δρόμον· τὸ δὲ ὄρος τὸ Μαινάλιον ἱερὸν μάλιστα εἶναι Πανὸς νομίζουσιν, ὥστε οἱ περὶ αὐτὸ καὶ ἐπακροᾶσθαι συρίζοντος τοῦ Πανὸς λέγουσι.

English Translation

On the southern slopes of the mountain was built a settlement named Soumetia. In this same mountain are also the places called Triodoi ("Three Roads"), from where the Mantineans, following an oracle from Delphi, brought back the bones of Arkas, son of Kallisto. There still remain ruins of Mainalos itself, traces of a temple dedicated to Athena, a stadium built for athletic contests, and another intended for horse races. The mountain of Mainalos is considered especially sacred to Pan, and those who dwell around it say they even hear Pan playing his reed pipes.

Proper Nouns

Pan (Πάν) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Callisto (Καλλιστώ) person
Mantineans (Μαντινεύς) person
Arcadian (Ἀρκάς) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Mainalos (Μαίναλον) place Q2703145
Mainalion (Μαινάλιον) place Q112302501
Soumetia (Σουμητία) place Q39081737
Triodoi (Τρίοδοι) place
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