Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.42.3

← 8.42.2 8.42.4 →

Passage 8.42.3: Demeter's sacred cave at Mount Elaion with a wooden cult statue.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὴν Ἀρκαδίαν καὶ ἄλλοτε αὐτὸν ἐν ἄλλῳ θηρεύειν τῶν ὀρῶν, ἀφικόμενον δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὸ Ἐλάιον κατοπτεῦσαι τὴν Δήμητρα σχήματός τε ὡς εἶχε καὶ ἐσθῆτα ἐνεδέδυτο ποίαν· πυθέσθαι δὴ τὸν Δία ταῦτα παρὰ τοῦ Πανὸς καὶ οὕτως ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πεμφθῆναι τὰς Μοίρας παρὰ τὴν Δήμητρα, τὴν δὲ πεισθῆναί τε ταῖς Μοίραις καὶ ἀποθέσθαι μὲν τὴν ὀργήν, ὑφεῖναι δὲ καὶ τῆς λύπης. σφᾶς δὲ ἀντὶ τούτων φασὶν οἱ Φιγαλεῖς τό τε σπήλαιον νομίσαι τοῦτο ἱερὸν Δήμητρος καὶ ἐς αὐτὸ ἄγαλμα ἀναθεῖναι ξύλου.

English Translation

They say that Pan, at different times, hunted on various of the mountains in Arcadia, and having come also to Mount Elaion, he looked upon Demeter, noting the form she had assumed and the manner of garment she wore. Zeus, having learned these things from Pan, accordingly sent the Fates to Demeter. And she, persuading herself by the Fates’ message, laid aside her wrath and also began to diminish her grief. In return for these events, say the Phigalians, they considered this cave sacred to Demeter, and dedicated within it a wooden statue to her.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Moirai (Μοῖραι) deity
Pan (Πάν) deity
Phigaleians (Φιγαλεῖς) person
Arcadia (Ἀρκαδία) place Q12898802
Elaion (Ἔλαιον) place
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