Pausanias Analysis

Passage 8.5.8

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Passage 8.5.8: Wooden image of Demeter Melaina at Phigalia destroyed by fire.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐπὶ δὲ Σίμου τοῦ Φιάλου βασιλεύοντος ἠφανίσθη Φιγαλεῦσιν ὑπὸ πυρὸς τῆς Μελαίνης Δήμητρος τὸ ἀρχαῖον ξόανον· ἐσήμαινε δὲ ἄρα οὐ μετὰ πολὺ ἔσεσθαι καὶ αὐτῷ Σίμῳ τοῦ βίου τὴν τελευτήν. Πόμπου δὲ ἐκδεξαμένου τοῦ Σίμου τὴν ἀρχήν, Αἰγινῆται κατὰ ἐμπορίαν ἐσέπλεον ναυσὶν ἐς Κυλλήνην, ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ὑποζυγίοις τὰ φορτία ἀνῆγον παρὰ τοὺς Ἀρκάδας. ἀντὶ τούτου ἐτίμησεν ὁ Πόμπος μεγάλως, καὶ δὴ καὶ ὄνομα Αἰγινήτην τῷ παιδὶ ἔθετο ἐπὶ τῶν Αἰγινητῶν τῇ φιλίᾳ.

English Translation

During the reign of Simus, son of Phialus, the ancient wooden image of Demeter Melaina at Phigalia was destroyed by fire; and this event soon signified the approaching end of Simus' own life. After Simus, Pompos succeeded to the throne. At that time, the Aeginetans sailed into Cyllene on trading voyages, and from there conveyed their goods by pack animals into Arcadia. Because of this commercial activity, Pompos honored them greatly, even going so far as to name his son "Aeginetes," in recognition of the friendship he had developed with the Aeginetans.

Proper Nouns

Black Demeter (Μελαίνη Δήμητρα) deity
Aeginetan (Αἰγινήτης) person
Aeginetans (Αἰγινῆται) person
Pompus (Πόμπος) person
Simos (Σῖμος) person
Phialos (Φίαλος) person
Also in: 8.3.2 8.5.7 8.39.2
Arcadians (Ἀρκάδες) person
Kyllene (Κυλλήνη) place Q56650616
Phigaleians (Φιγαλεῖς) place
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