Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.22.2

← 9.22.1 9.22.3 →

Passage 9.22.2: Sanctuary of Hermes Promachos at Tanagra

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

τὸν δὲ Ἑρμῆν λέγουσι τὸν Πρόμαχον Ἐρετριέων ναυσὶν ἐξ Εὐβοίας ἐς τὴν Ταναγραίαν σχόντων τούς τε ἐφήβους ἐξαγαγεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν μάχην καὶ αὐτὸν ὅτε ἔφηβον στλεγγίδι ἀμυνόμενον μάλιστα ἐργάσασθαι τῶν Εὐβοέων τροπήν. κεῖται δὲ ἐν τοῦ Προμάχου τῷ ἱερῷ τῆς τε ἀνδράχνου τὸ ὑπόλοιπον· τραφῆναι δὲ ὑπὸ τῷ δένδρῳ τὸν Ἑρμῆν τούτῳ νομίζουσιν. οὐ πόρρω δὲ θέατρόν τε καὶ πρὸς αὐτῷ στοὰ πεποίηται. εὖ δέ μοι Ταναγραῖοι νομίσαι τὰ ἐς τοὺς θεοὺς μάλιστα δοκοῦσιν Ἑλλήνων· χωρὶς μὲν γὰρ αἱ οἰκίαι σφίσι, χωρὶς δὲ τὰ ἱερὰ ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς ἐν καθαρῷ τέ ἐστι καὶ ἐκτὸς ἀνθρώπων.

English Translation

They say that Hermes, called Promachos ("the Champion"), when the Eretrians landed from Euboea at Tanagra with their ships, led forth the youths to battle, and that he himself, appearing as a youth, defended himself using a scraper (strigil), and played the greatest part in routing the Euboeans. Within the sanctuary of Promachos still lies the remnant of a wild strawberry-tree, under whose branches they believe Hermes was nurtured. Not far from this stands a theater, and beside it a portico. In my judgment, the Tanagraeans appear especially reverent among the Greeks in matters relating to the gods, for they have their houses separate from the sanctuaries, which are set above them in places that are pure and apart from human dwellings.

Proper Nouns

Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Promachos (Πρόμαχος) other
Also in: 9.11.4 9.22.1
Euboeans (Εὔβοιος) person Q12877437
Tanagraeans (Ταναγραῖος) person
Eretrieus (Ἐρετριεύς) person
Also in: 6.14.4 10.9.10
Greeks (Ἕλλην) person
Euboea (Εὐβοία) place Q173096
Tanagraia (Ταναγραία) place Q131909770
← 9.22.1 9.22.3 →