Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.47.5

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Passage 8.47.5: The Eryma sanctuary of Athena Polias at Tegea

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Τεγεάταις δέ ἐστι καὶ ἄλλο ἱερὸν Ἀθηνᾶς Πολιάτιδος, ἑκάστου δὲ ἅπαξ ἔτους ἱερεὺς ἐς αὐτὸ ἔσεισι· τοῦτο Ἔρυμα τὸ ἱερὸν ὀνομάζουσι, λέγοντες ὡς Κηφεῖ τῷ Ἀλέου γένοιτο δωρεὰ παρὰ Ἀθηνᾶς ἀνάλωτον ἐς τὸν πάντα χρόνον εἶναι Τεγέαν, καὶ αὐτῷ φασιν ἐς φυλακὴν τῆς πόλεως ἀποτεμοῦσαν τὴν θεὸν δοῦναι τριχῶν τῶν Μεδούσης.

English Translation

The Tegeans have also another sanctuary of Athena Polias, into which the priest enters only once in each year. They call this shrine the Eryma ("Defense"), saying that Athena gave it as a gift to Cepheus, son of Aleus, that Tegea might remain unconquered for all time. They say that the goddess, having cut off hairs from the head of Medusa, gave them to him as a protection for the city.

Proper Nouns

Polias (as epithet of Athena) (Πολιάτις) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Medusa (Μεδούσα) other
Cepheus (Κηφεύς) person
Tegeates (Τεγεάτης) person
Aleus (Ἀλεός) person
Tegea (Τεγέα) place Q645234 Pleiades
Eryma (Ἔρυμα) place
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