Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.7

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Passage 8.37.7: Mirror in an Arcadian sanctuary showing gods clearly but men faintly

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τῶν δὲ ἡμέρων οἱ Ἀρκάδες δένδρων ἁπάντων πλὴν ῥοιᾶς ἐσκομίζουσιν ἐς τὸ ἱερόν. ἐν δεξιᾷ δὲ ἐξιόντι ἐκ τοῦ ναοῦ κάτοπτρον ἡρμοσμένον ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ τοίχῳ· τοῦτο ἤν τις προσβλέπῃ τὸ κάτοπτρον, ἑαυτὸν μὲν ἤτοι παντάπασιν ἀμυδρῶς ἢ οὐδὲ ὄψεται τὴν ἀρχήν, τὰ δὲ ἀγάλματα τῶν θεῶν καὶ αὐτὰ καὶ τὸν θρόνον ἔστιν ἐναργῶς θεάσασθαι.

English Translation

Of cultivated trees, the Arcadians bring all kinds into the sanctuary except the pomegranate. On the right as one exits the temple is fixed a mirror upon the wall; if someone gazes into this mirror, he will either see himself very indistinctly or perhaps not at all, whereas the images of the gods and the throne itself are clearly visible.

Proper Nouns

god (θεός) deity
temple (ναός) other
Sanctuary (ἱερόν) other
Pomegranate (tree) (ῥοιά) other
Arcadian (Ἀρκάς) person
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