Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.31.9

← 9.31.8 9.32.1 →

Passage 9.31.9: Pamphos links the narcissus to Persephone's abduction

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

νάρκισσον δὲ ἄνθος ἡ γῆ καὶ πρότερον ἔφυεν ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν, εἰ τοῖς Πάμφω τεκμαίρεσθαι χρή τι ἡμᾶς ἔπεσι· γεγονὼς γὰρ πολλοῖς πρότερον ἔτεσιν ἢ Νάρκισσος ὁ Θεσπιεὺς Κόρην τὴν Δήμητρός φησιν ἁρπασθῆναι παίζουσαν καὶ ἄνθη συλλέγουσαν, ἁρπασθῆναι δὲ οὐκ ἴοις ἀπατηθεῖσαν ἀλλὰ ναρκίσσοις.

English Translation

I believe that the narcissus flower grew from the earth even earlier; if we should draw conclusions from the verses of Pamphos. For he lived many years before Narcissus of Thespiae, and he says that the Daughter of Demeter, while she was playing and gathering flowers, was carried away—not deceived by violets, but by narcissi.

Proper Nouns

Demeter (Δήμητρα) deity
Kore (Κόρη) deity
Thespian (Θεσπιεύς) person
Narcissus (Νάρκισσος) person
Also in: 9.31.7 9.31.8
Pamphos (Πάμφως) person
← 9.31.8 9.32.1 →