Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.38.7

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Passage 9.38.7: Heracles diverts the river Cephisus into the plain of Orchomenus

Mythic Skeptical

Greek Text

Θηβαῖοι δὲ τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν Κηφισόν φασιν ὑπὸ Ἡρακλέους ἐς τὸ πεδίον ἀποστραφῆναι τὸ Ὀρχομένιον· τέως δὲ αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος ἐς θάλασσαν ἐξιέναι, πρὶν ἢ τὸν Ἡρακλέα τὸ χάσμα ἐμφράξαι τὸ διὰ τοῦ ὄρους. ἐπίσταται μὲν οὖν καὶ Ὅμηρος λίμνην ἄλλως τὴν Κηφισίδα οὖσαν καὶ οὐχ ὑπὸ Ἡρακλέους πεποιημένην, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷδε εἴρηκε λίμνῃ κεκλιμένος Κηφισίδι· Hom. Il. 5.709

English Translation

The Thebans say that the river Cephisus was diverted by Heracles into the plain of Orchomenus. Previously the river passed under the mountain and flowed into the sea, until Heracles blocked the cleft through the mountain. Homer, however, knows that Lake Cephisus existed naturally, not as a creation of Heracles, and for this reason he says, "dwelling by Lake Cephisus." (Homer, Iliad 5.709)

Proper Nouns

Homer, Iliad (Homēros Ilias) other
Thebans (Θηβαῖοι) person
Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Cephisid (Κηφισίς) place Q136490941
Cephisus (Κηφισός) place Q115829088
Orchomenian (Ὀρχομένιον) place
Also in: 8.13.4
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