Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.42.1

← 8.41.10 8.42.2 →

Passage 8.42.1: The cave of Demeter Melaine on Mount Elaion.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὸ δὲ ἕτερον τῶν ὀρῶν τὸ Ἐλάιον ἀπωτέρω μὲν Φιγαλίας ὅσον τε σταδίοις τριάκοντά ἐστι, Δήμητρος δὲ ἄντρον αὐτόθι ἱερὸν ἐπίκλησιν Μελαίνης. ὅσα μὲν δὴ οἱ ἐν Θελπούσῃ λέγουσιν ἐς μῖξιν τὴν Ποσειδῶνός τε καὶ Δήμητρος, κατὰ ταὐτά σφισιν οἱ Φιγαλεῖς νομίζουσι, τεχθῆναι δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς Δήμητρος οἱ Φιγαλεῖς φασιν οὐχ ἵππον ἀλλὰ τὴν Δέσποιναν ἐπονομαζομένην ὑπὸ Ἀρκάδων·

English Translation

The other mountain, Elaion, is about thirty stades distant from Phigalia; there is a cave there, sacred to Demeter surnamed Melaine ("the Black"). The Thelpousians' account concerning the union of Poseidon and Demeter is the same as that held by the Phigalians; however, the Phigalians assert that the offspring born to Demeter was not a horse but the goddess whom the Arcadians call Despoina ("the Mistress").

Proper Nouns

Despoina (Δέσποινα) deity
Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Melaina (Μελαίνη) deity
Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) deity
Phigaleians (Φιγαλεῖς) person
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Thelpousa (Θέλπουσα) place Q1142954
Phigalia (Φιγαλία) place Q7623270
Elaion (Ἐλάιον) place
Also in: 8.41.7
← 8.41.10 8.42.2 →