Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.30.5

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Passage 9.30.5: Orpheus's death—murdered by Thracian women or struck down by a thunderbolt.

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

τὰς δὲ γυναῖκάς φασι τῶν Θρᾳκῶν ἐπιβουλεύειν μὲν αὐτῷ θάνατον, ὅτι σφῶν τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀκολουθεῖν ἔπεισεν αὐτῷ πλανωμένῳ, φόβῳ δὲ τῶν ἀνδρῶν οὐ τολμᾶν· ὡς δὲ ἐνεφορήσαντο οἴνου, ἐξεργάζονται τὸ τόλμημα, καὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἀπὸ τούτου κατέστη μεθυσκομένους ἐς τὰς μάχας χωρεῖν. εἰσὶ δὲ οἵ φασι κεραυνωθέντι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ συμβῆναι τὴν τελευτὴν Ὀρφεῖ· κεραυνωθῆναι δὲ αὐτὸν τῶν λόγων ἕνεκα ὧν ἐδίδασκεν ἐν τοῖς μυστηρίοις οὐ πρότερον ἀκηκοότας ἀνθρώπους.

English Translation

The Thracian women, it is said, plotted to bring about his death, because he persuaded their husbands to follow him on his wanderings; yet, in fear of the men, they did not dare to act at first. When, however, they became inflamed with wine, they carried out the audacious deed. This event thus influenced their husbands thereafter to enter battle while intoxicated. According to another tradition, Orpheus met his end by the thunderbolt of the god, struck down on account of the teachings he imparted in the mysteries, revealing to people knowledge previously unheard.

Proper Nouns

Thracians (Θρᾷκες) person
Orpheus (Ὀρφεύς) person
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