Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.17.3

← 9.17.2 9.17.4 →

Passage 9.17.3: Stone statues of Athena Zosteria where Amphitryon girded for battle

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πλησίον δὲ Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἀνάθημα δύο ἀγάλματα λίθινα λέγουσιν Ἀθηνᾶς ἐπίκλησιν Ζωστηρίας· λαβεῖν γὰρ τὰ ὅπλα αὐτὸν ἐνταῦθα, ἡνίκα Εὐβοεῦσι καὶ Χαλκώδοντι ἔμελλεν ἀντιτάξεσθαι. τὸ δὲ ἐνδῦναι τὰ ὅπλα ἐκάλουν ἄρα οἱ παλαιοὶ ζώσασθαι· καὶ δὴ Ὅμηρον, Ἄρει τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιήσαντα ἐοικέναι τὴν ζώνην, τῶν ὅπλων τὴν σκευήν φασιν εἰκάζειν.

English Translation

Near the dedication of Amphitryon, they say, are two stone statues of Athena, surnamed Zosteria ("Girding"). For it was at this place, they say, that he put on his arms, when he was about to engage in battle against the Euboeans and Chalkodon. Indeed, the ancients called the act of putting on armor "girding oneself" (zosasthai). Thus they explain Homer, asserting that when Homer likens Agamemnon’s equipment of armor to the war-belt (zone) of Ares, he too refers metaphorically to the putting on of armor.

Proper Nouns

Zosteria (Ζωστηρία) deity
Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ) deity
Ares (Ἄρης) deity
Euboia (Εὔβοια) person Q16332356
Also in: 2.17.1
Chalcodon (Χαλκώδων) person
Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων) person
Amphitryon (Ἀμφιτρύων) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
← 9.17.2 9.17.4 →