Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.12.4

← 9.12.3 9.12.5 →

Passage 9.12.4: The wooden log called Dionysus Cadmus and a bronze statue of Dionysus

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

λέγεται δὲ καὶ τόδε, ὡς ὁμοῦ τῷ κεραυνῷ βληθέντι ἐς τὸν Σεμέλης θάλαμον πέσοι ξύλον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ· Πολύδωρον δὲ τὸ ξύλον τοῦτο χαλκῷ λέγουσιν ἐπικοσμήσαντα Διόνυσον καλέσαι Κάδμον. πλησίον δὲ Διονύσου ἄγαλμα, καὶ τοῦτο Ὀνασιμήδης ἐποίησε διʼ ὅλου πλῆρες ὑπὸ τοῦ χαλκοῦ· τὸν βωμὸν δὲ οἱ παῖδες εἰργάσαντο οἱ Πραξιτέλους .

English Translation

The following story is also told: that at the same time as the thunderbolt struck Semele's chamber, a piece of wood fell from heaven. They say that Polydorus adorned this piece of wood with bronze and called it "Dionysus Cadmus." Near it stands a statue of Dionysus created by Onasimedes, entirely composed of solid bronze; the altar was made by the sons of Praxiteles.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity Q41680
Cadmus (Κάδμος) person Q13053204
Onasimedes (Ὀνασιμήδης) person Q11939352
Polydorus (Πολύδωρος) person
Praxiteles (Πραξιτέλης) person Q105290
Semele (Σεμέλη) person
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