Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.14.5

← 9.14.4 9.14.6 →

Passage 9.14.5: Epaminondas founds the city of Messene

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὁ μὲν δὴ χρόνος βοιωταρχοῦντι Ἐπαμινώνδᾳ διήνυστο, τεθνάναι δὲ ἐτέτακτο ἐπιλαβόντα ἄνδρα τῆς ἀρχῆς· ὁ οὖν Ἐπαμινώνδας ὑπεριδὼν ὡς οὐκ ὄντα ἐν καιρῷ τὸν νόμον ἐβοιωτάρχει καὶ ἀφικόμενος τῷ στρατῷ πρὸς τὴν Σπάρτην, ὡς οὐκ ἀντεπῆγεν Ἀγησίλαος μαχούμενος, οὕτω πρὸς τὸν οἰκισμὸν τρέπεται Μεσσήνης. καὶ οἰκιστὴς Μεσσηνίοις τοῖς νῦν ἐστιν Ἐπαμινώνδας· καί μοι τὰ ἐς τὸν οἰκισμὸν ἐδήλωσε τὰ ἐς αὐτοὺς ἔχοντα Μεσσηνίους.

English Translation

The period prescribed by law for Epaminondas to serve as Boeotarch had already expired, and he was liable to the penalty of death if he retained his command beyond the appointed time. Yet Epaminondas, disregarding this ordinance as ill-timed, continued on as Boeotarch. When he led the army against Sparta and Agesilaus chose not to oppose him in battle, Epaminondas proceeded towards the founding of Messene. Thus Epaminondas became the founder of the city of the present-day Messenians. I will explain further on about the settlement and matters concerning the Messenians themselves.

Proper Nouns

Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
Agesilaus (Ἀγησίλαος) person
Epaminondas (Ἐπαμινώνδας) person
Messene (Μεσσήνη) place Q1022117
Sparta (Σπάρτη) place Q5690 Pleiades
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