Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.1

← 8.36.10 8.37.2 →

Passage 8.37.1: The sanctuary of Despoina with marble reliefs and an Artemis statue.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἀπὸ δὲ Ἀκακησίου τέσσαρας σταδίους ἀπέχει τὸ ἱερὸν τῆς Δεσποίνης. πρῶτα μὲν δὴ αὐτόθι Ἡγεμόνης ναός ἐστιν Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ χαλκοῦν ἄγαλμα ἔχον δᾷδας ---ποδῶν ἓξ εἶναι μάλιστα αὐτὸ εἰκάζομεν---, ἐντεῦθεν δὲ ἐς τὸν ἱερὸν περίβολον τῆς Δεσποίνης ἐστὶν ἔσοδος. ἰόντων δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν ναὸν στοά τέ ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ καὶ ἐν τῷ τοίχῳ λίθου λευκοῦ τύποι πεποιημένοι, καὶ τῷ μέν εἰσιν ἐπειργασμέναι Μοῖραι καὶ Ζεὺς ἐπίκλησιν Μοιραγέτης, δευτέρῳ δὲ Ἡρακλῆς τρίποδα Ἀπόλλωνα ἀφαιρούμενος· ὁποῖα δὲ ἐς αὐτοὺς ἐπυνθανόμην γενέσθαι, δηλώσω καὶ τοῦτο, ἢν ἐς τοῦ Φωκικοῦ λόγου τὰ ἔχοντα ἐς Δελφοὺς ἀφικώμεθα.

English Translation

The sanctuary of Despoina lies four stades from Akakesion. At first there stands the temple of Artemis Hegemone, housing a bronze statue holding torches—we estimate it to stand around six feet tall. From there, one enters the sacred enclosure of Despoina. Approaching the temple, there is a portico on the right side, and on its wall are reliefs carved in white marble. On the first relief are portrayed the Fates and Zeus surnamed Moiragetes; on the second is depicted Herakles taking away Apollo's tripod. As for the tradition associated with these scenes, I will recount that too, when I come to the relevant point in my narrative concerning Delphi in the Phocian account.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Moiragetes (Μοιραγέτης) deity
Also in: 5.15.5
Moirai (Μοῖραι) deity
Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) deity
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Hegemon (Ἡγεμών) deity
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
Phocicum (Φωκικόν) place Q106393075
Also in: 10.5.1
Akakesios (Ἀκακήσιος) place Q21547758
Also in: 8.36.9
← 8.36.10 8.37.2 →