Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.34.3

← 9.34.2 9.34.4 →

Passage 9.34.3: Temple of Hera at Coroneia with a statue by Pythodorus holding the Sirens

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Κορώνεια δὲ παρείχετο μὲν ἐς μνήμην ἐπὶ τῆς ἀγορᾶς Ἑρμοῦ βωμὸν Ἐπιμηλίου, τὸν δὲ ἀνέμων. κατωτέρω δὲ ὀλίγον Ἥρας ἐστὶν ἱερὸν καὶ ἄγαλμα ἀρχαῖον, Πυθοδώρου τέχνη Θηβαίου, φέρει δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ χειρὶ Σειρῆνας· τὰς γὰρ δὴ Ἀχελῴου θυγατέρας ἀναπεισθείσας φασὶν ὑπὸ Ἥρας καταστῆναι πρὸς τὰς Μούσας ἐς ᾠδῆς ἔργον· αἱ δὲ ὡς ἐνίκησαν, ἀποτίλασαι τῶν Σειρήνων τὰ πτερὰ ποιήσασθαι στεφάνους ἀπʼ αὐτῶν λέγονται.

English Translation

In the marketplace of Coroneia there remained an altar of Hermes Epimēlios ("Guardian of the flocks") and another altar dedicated to the Winds. Slightly below is a temple of Hera containing an ancient image, the work of the Theban artist Pythodorus. This statue holds the Sirens in one hand, for the tale tells how the daughters of Acheloüs were persuaded by Hera to compete against the Muses in song. When the Muses emerged victorious, they are said to have plucked out the feathers of the Sirens and fashioned crowns from them.

Proper Nouns

Muse (Μοῦσα) deity
Achelous (Ἀχελῷος) deity
Epimelios (Ἐπιμήλιος) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Hera (Ἥρα) deity
Theban (Θηβαῖος) other
Siren (Σειρήν) other
Also in: 1.21.1
Pythodoros (Πυθόδωρος) person
Koroneia (Κορώνεια) place Q593295
← 9.34.2 9.34.4 →