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
Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Kore (Κόρη) deity
Persephone (Περσεφόνη) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Pamphos (Πάμφως) person
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
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