Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.16.6

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Passage 9.16.6: The temple of Dionysus Lysius at Thebes.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πρὸς δὲ ταῖς καλουμέναις πύλαις Προιτίσι θέατρον ᾠκοδόμηται, καὶ ἐγγυτάτω τοῦ θεάτρου Διονύσου ναός ἐστιν ἐπίκλησιν Λυσίου· Θηβαίων γὰρ αἰχμαλώτους ἄνδρας ἐχομένους ὑπὸ Θρᾳκῶν, ὡς ἀγόμενοι κατὰ τὴν Ἁλιαρτίαν ἐγίνοντο, ἔλυσεν ὁ θεὸς καὶ ἀποκτεῖναί σφισι τοὺς Θρᾷκας παρέδωκεν ὑπνωμένους. ἐνταῦθα οἱ Θηβαῖοι τὸ ἕτερον τῶν ἀγαλμάτων φασὶν εἶναι Σεμέλης· ἐνιαυτοῦ δὲ ἅπαξ ἑκάστου τὸ ἱερὸν ἀνοιγνύναι φασὶν ἐν ἡμέραις τακταῖς.

English Translation

Near the gates known as the Proetidian, a theatre has been built, and very close to this theatre stands a temple dedicated to Dionysus, surnamed Lysius ("the Deliverer"). For the god delivered certain Theban men who had been taken prisoner by Thracians; as they were passing through the lands of Haliartus, the god freed them and delivered over to them the Thracians whom they slew as they lay asleep. The Thebans assert that one of the statues here represents Semele, and say that this sanctuary is opened only once each year, upon fixed days.

Proper Nouns

Dionysus (Διόνυσος) deity
Lysios (Λύσιος) deity
Also in: 2.2.6 2.7.6
Semele (Σεμέλη) deity
Thracians (Θρᾷκες) person
Thebans (Θηβαῖοι) place
Proitis (Προῖτις) place
Haliartia (Ἁλιαρτία) place Q11925163
Also in: 9.34.7
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