Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.31.1

← 9.30.12 9.31.2 →

Passage 9.31.1: Arsinoe statue on Helicon borne by a bronze ostrich.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ Ἀρσινόης ἐστὶν ἐν Ἑλικῶνι εἰκών, ἣν Πτολεμαῖος ἔγημεν ἀδελφὸς ὤν. τὴν δὲ Ἀρσινόην στρουθὸς φέρει χαλκῆ τῶν ἀπτήνων· πτερὰ μέν γε καὶ αὗται κατὰ ταὐτὰ ταῖς ἄλλαις φύουσιν, ὑπὸ δὲ βάρους καὶ διὰ μέγεθος οὐχ οἷά τέ ἐστιν ἀνέχειν σφᾶς ἐς τὸν ἀέρα τὰ πτερά.

English Translation

On Helicon there is also a statue of Arsinoe, whom her brother Ptolemy married. Arsinoe is carried by an ostrich, a bronze figure of a winged bird; although these birds also produce feathers similar to other birds, owing to their weight and size, they are unable to lift themselves into the air by means of their feathers.

Proper Nouns

Ptolemy (Πτολεμαῖος) person
Arsinoe (Ἀρσινόη) person
Helicon (Ἑλικών) place Q215516
← 9.30.12 9.31.2 →