Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.5

← 8.37.4 8.37.6 →

Passage 8.37.5: Anytos (one-armed) beside the statue of Despoina.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

πρὸς δὲ τῆς Δεσποίνης τῷ ἀγάλματι ἕστηκεν Ἄνυτος σχῆμα ὡπλισμένου παρεχόμενος· φασὶ δὲ οἱ περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τραφῆναι τὴν Δέσποιναν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀνύτου, καὶ εἶναι τῶν Τιτάνων καλουμένων καὶ τὸν Ἄνυτον. Τιτᾶνας δὲ πρῶτος ἐς ποίησιν ἐσήγαγεν Ὅμηρος, θεοὺς εἶναι σφᾶς ὑπὸ τῷ καλουμένῳ Ταρτάρῳ, καὶ ἔστιν ἐν Ἥρας ὅρκῳ τὰ ἔπη· παρὰ δὲ Ὁμήρου Ὀνομάκριτος παραλαβὼν τῶν Τιτάνων τὸ ὄνομα Διονύσῳ τε συνέθηκεν ὄργια καὶ εἶναι τοὺς Τιτᾶνας τῷ Διονύσῳ τῶν παθημάτων ἐποίησεν αὐτουργούς.

English Translation

Beside the statue of Despoina stands Anytos, depicted with the form of one armed. Those who dwell around the sanctuary say that Despoina was nurtured by Anytos, who himself is reckoned amongst those called Titans. Homer was the first to introduce the Titans into poetry, describing them as gods dwelling beneath what is called Tartarus; this is found in the passage concerning Hera's oath. From Homer, Onomacritus borrowed the name of the Titans, composed rites in honor of Dionysus, and made the Titans responsible for the sufferings inflicted upon Dionysus.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Titans (Τιτᾶνες) deity
Also in: 7.18.4 7.26.12
Hera (Ἥρα) deity
Anytos (Ἄνυτος) person
Also in: 8.37.6
Onomacritus (Ὀνομάκριτος) person
Also in: 1.22.7 8.31.3
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Tartarus (Τάρταρος) place Q101322
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