Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.13.5

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Passage 9.13.5: Molpia and Hippo's rape and suicides

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐλέγετο δὲ καὶ μήνιμα ἐς τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων εἶναι τῶν Σκεδάσου. Σκεδάσῳ γὰρ περὶ Λεῦκτρα οἰκοῦντι θυγατέρες Μολπία γίνεται καὶ Ἱππώ· ταύτας ἐς ὥραν ἤδη προηκούσας Λακεδαιμονίων ἄνδρες βιάζονται παρὰ θέμιδα ς καὶ Φρουραρχίδας καὶ Παρθένιος. καὶ αἵ τε παρθένοι παραυτίκα---οὐ γάρ σφισιν ἀνεκτὰ ἐφαίνετο εἶναι τὰ τῆς ὕβρεως---ἀπάγχουσιν αὑτάς· καὶ ὁ Σκέδασος, ὡς ἐς Λακεδαίμονα ἐλθόντι οὐδεμία ἐγένετο αὐτῷ δίκη, οὕτως ἐς τὰ Λεῦκτρα ἐπανήκων αὑτὸν διεργάζεται.

English Translation

And it was said that resentment towards the Lacedaemonians came also from the daughters of Skedasos. For Skedasos, who lived near Leuktra, had two daughters, Molpia and Hippo; and when they reached youthful maturity, they were outrageously violated by two Spartans, Phrurarchidas and Parthenios. Immediately afterward, the maidens—since they could not bear the shame of their violation—hanged themselves. Skedasos, traveling to Lacedaemon, could obtain no redress whatsoever; then returning thus to Leuktra, he ended his own life.

Proper Nouns

Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Molpia (Μολπία) person
Parthenios (Παρθένιος) person
Skedasos (Σκέδασος) person
Phourarchidas (Φρουραρχίδας) person
Hippo (Ἱππώ) person
Lacedaemon (Λακεδαίμων) place Q5690 Pleiades
Leuctra (Λεῦκτρα) place Q56761602
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