Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.8

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Passage 8.37.8: Megaron near Despoina: Arcadian limb-severing sacrifices

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

παρὰ δὲ τὸν ναὸν τῆς Δεσποίνης ὀλίγον ἐπαναβάντι ἐν δεξιᾷ Μέγαρόν ἐστι καλούμενον, καὶ τελετήν τε δρῶσιν ἐνταῦθα καὶ τῇ Δεσποίνῃ θύουσιν ἱερεῖα οἱ Ἀρκάδες πολλά τε καὶ ἄφθονα. θύει μὲν δὴ αὐτῶν ἕκαστος ὅ τι κέκτηται· τῶν ἱερείων δὲ οὐ τὰς φάρυγγας ἀποτέμνει ὥσπερ ἐπὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις θυσίαις, κῶλον δὲ ὅ τι ἂν τύχῃ, τοῦτο ἕκαστος ἀπέκοψε τοῦ θύματος.

English Translation

Near the temple of Despoina, after ascending a little, there is, on the right, a building called the Megaron. Here the Arcadians perform their rites and sacrifice to Despoina many rich offerings. Each devotee sacrifices whatever he possesses; however, they do not cut the throats of the victims as in other sacrifices, but instead each severs from the animal whatever limb the chance may bring.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Megaron (Μέγαρον) place Q657117
Also in: 8.37.10
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