Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.39.5

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Passage 8.39.5: Sanctuary of Artemis Soteira at Phigalia

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

παρελθόντες δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν Λακεδαιμονίων φρουρὰν ἄγουσιν ἐς πάντα ἐπὶ τέλος τὸν χρησμόν· καὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς λόγου μαχεσαμένοις ἀξίως ἐπεγένετο ἡ τελευτὴ καὶ ἐξελάσαντες τοὺς Σπαρτιάτας παρέσχον Φιγαλεῦσιν ἀπολαβεῖν τὴν πατρίδα. κεῖται δὲ ἡ Φιγαλία ἐπὶ μετεώρου μὲν καὶ ἀποτόμου τὰ πλέονα, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρημνῶν ᾠκοδομημένα ἐστὶ τείχη σφίσιν· ἀνελθόντι δὲ ὁμαλής ἐστιν ὁ λόφος ἤδη καὶ ἐπίπεδος. ἔστι δὲ Σωτείρας τε ἱερὸν ἐνταῦθα Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ἄγαλμα ὀρθὸν λίθου· ἐκ τούτου δὲ τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ τὰς πομπάς σφισι πέμπειν κατέστη.

English Translation

Having advanced against the Spartan garrison, they carried the oracle to complete fulfillment: for after they had fought bravely in battle according to prophecy, the end turned out fittingly for them; driving out the Spartans, they enabled the Phigalians to reclaim their homeland. Phigalia itself lies mostly upon a high and precipitous site, and the city's walls are constructed on the cliffs. Once one has ascended, however, the hill at the top is flat and level. There is here a sanctuary dedicated to Artemis Soteira (the Savior) with an upright stone statue; it is from this sanctuary that they established the sending forth of their processions.

Proper Nouns

Soteira (Σωτείρα) deity
Also in: 7.27.3
Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Spartan (Σπαρτιάτης) person
Phigalia (Φιγαλία) place Q7623270
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