Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.2

← 8.37.1 8.37.3 →

Passage 8.37.2: Tablet in Despoina's sanctuary recording the mysteries and praising Polybius.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐν δὲ τῇ στοᾷ τῇ παρὰ τῇ Δεσποίνῃ μεταξὺ τῶν τύπων τῶν κατειλεγμένων πινάκιόν ἐστι γεγραμμένον, ἔχον τὰ ἐς τὴν τελετήν· Νύμφαι δέ εἰσι καὶ Πᾶνες ἐπὶ τῷ τρίτῳ, ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ τετάρτῳ Πολύβιος ὁ Λυκόρτα· καί οἱ ἐπίγραμμά ἐστιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς τε μὴ ἂν σφαλῆναι τὴν Ἑλλάδα, εἰ Πολυβίῳ τὰ πάντα ἐπείθετο, καὶ ἁμαρτούσῃ διʼ ἐκείνου βοήθειαν αὐτῇ γενέσθαι μόνου. πρὸ δὲ τοῦ ναοῦ Δήμητρί τέ ἐστι βωμὸς καὶ ἕτερος Δεσποίνῃ, μετʼ αὐτὸν δὲ μεγάλης Μητρός.

English Translation

In the portico by the sanctuary of Despoina, among the statues previously mentioned, there is a tablet with an inscription, giving the details of the mysteries. On the third panel there are depicted Nymphs and figures of Pan, and on the fourth is Polybius son of Lycortas. The inscription says plainly that Greece would never have gone astray from the beginning if she had fully trusted Polybius; and even after her mistakes, only through him did she receive assistance. Before the temple, there is an altar for Demeter, another one for Despoina, and after that, one dedicated to the Great Mother.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Mother (Meter) (Μήτηρ) deity
Nymphs (Νύμφαι) deity
Pan (Πάν) deity
Lycortas (Λυκόρτας) person
Polybius (Πολύβιος) person
Hellas (Ἑλλάς) place Q7798
← 8.37.1 8.37.3 →