Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.19.5

← 9.19.4 9.19.6 →

Passage 9.19.5: Sanctuary of Demeter Mykalessia, famed for ever-fresh fruits.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

πρὸς θάλασσαν δὲ τῆς Μυκαλησσοῦ Δήμητρος Μυκαλησσίας ἐστὶν ἱερόν· κλείεσθαι δὲ αὐτὸ ἐπὶ νυκτὶ ἑκάστῃ καὶ αὖθις ἀνοίγεσθαί φασιν ὑπὸ Ἡρακλέους, τὸν δὲ Ἡρακλέα εἶναι τῶν Ἰδαίων καλουμένων Δακτύλων. δείκνυται δὲ αὐτόθι καὶ θαῦμα τοιόνδε· πρὸ τοῦ ἀγάλματος τῶν ποδῶν τιθέασιν ὅσα ἐν ὀπώρᾳ πέφυκε γίνεσθαι, ταῦτα δὲ διὰ παντὸς μένει τεθηλότα τοῦ ἔτους.

English Translation

By the sea near Mykalessos is a sanctuary of Demeter Mykalessia. They say that it is closed every night, yet always opened again by Herakles; this Herakles is said to be one of those called the Idaean Daktyloi. A remarkable phenomenon is also shown here: before the feet of the statue they place fruits which ripen naturally in autumn, and these remain fresh throughout the entire year.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Mykalessia (Μυκαλησσία) deity
Also in: 9.19.6
Idaeans (Ἰδαῖοι) other
Also in: 8.31.3
Dactyls (Δάκτυλοι) person
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Mykalessos (Μυκαλησσός) place Q1529070
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