Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.37.9

← 8.37.8 8.37.10 →

Passage 8.37.9: Arcadian goddess Despoina, daughter of Poseidon and Demeter.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ταύτην μάλιστα θεῶν σέβουσιν οἱ Ἀρκάδες τὴν Δέσποιναν, θυγατέρα δὲ αὐτὴν Ποσειδῶνός φασιν εἶναι καὶ Δήμητρος. ἐπίκλησις ἐς τοὺς πολλούς ἐστιν αὐτῇ Δέσποινα, καθάπερ καὶ τὴν ἐκ Διὸς Κόρην ἐπονομάζουσιν, ἰδίᾳ δέ ἐστιν ὄνομα Περσεφόνη, καθὰ Ὅμηρος καὶ ἔτι πρότερον Πάμφως ἐποίησαν· τῆς δὲ Δεσποίνης τὸ ὄνομα ἔδεισα ἐς τοὺς ἀτελέστους γράφειν.

English Translation

The Arcadians especially venerate this goddess, Despoina, whom they say is the daughter of Poseidon and Demeter. Her popular title among most people is Despoina, in the same manner as they also call by the name Kore the daughter of Zeus, but whose personal name is Persephone, as Homer and still earlier Pamphos composed. As for the name of Despoina, I feared to record it for those who are uninitiated.

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity Q1146978
Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity Q40730
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity Q34201
Kore (Κόρη) deity Q45967
Persephone (Περσεφόνη) deity Q45967
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity Q41127
Pamphos (Πάμφως) person Q1228764
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
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