Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.5.12

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Passage 8.5.12: Aristokrates' dishonoring of a maiden in Artemis' sanctuary prompts priestess law change

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Ἀριστοκράτης δέ, ὥς οἱ πειρῶντι τὴν παρθένον ἀντέβαινεν ἀεὶ τὰ παρʼ αὐτῆς, τέλος καταφυγοῦσαν ἐς τὸ ἱερὸν παρὰ τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι ᾔσχυνεν. ὡς δὲ ἐς ἅπαντας ἐξηγγέλθη τὸ τόλμημα, τὸν μὲν καταλιθοῦσιν οἱ Ἀρκάδες, μετεβλήθη δὲ ἐξ ἐκείνου καὶ ὁ νόμος· ἀντὶ γὰρ παρθένου διδόασι τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι ἱέρειαν γυναῖκα ὁμιλίας ἀνδρῶν ἀποχρώντως ἔχουσαν.

English Translation

But Aristokrates, finding the maiden continually resisting his advances, finally dishonored her as she fled for refuge into the sanctuary of Artemis. When this outrageous act became known among all, the Arcadians stoned him to death, and from that time onward the law was changed. Instead of a maiden, they appointed as priestess of Artemis a woman who had already had sufficient intercourse with men.

Proper Nouns

Artemis (Ἄρτεμις) deity
Aristocrates (Ἀριστοκράτης) person
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
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