Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.40.11

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Passage 9.40.11: Homeric scepter called the "Spear" venerated at Chaeronea.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

θεῶν δὲ μάλιστα Χαιρωνεῖς τιμῶσι τὸ σκῆπτρον ὃ ποιῆσαι Διί φησιν Ὅμηρος Ἥφαιστον, παρὰ δὲ Διὸς λαβόντα Ἑρμῆν δοῦναι Πέλοπι, Πέλοπα δὲ Ἀτρεῖ καταλιπεῖν, τὸν δὲ Ἀτρέα Θυέστῃ, παρὰ Θυέστου δὲ ἔχειν Ἀγαμέμνονα· τοῦτο οὖν τὸ σκῆπτρον σέβουσι, Δόρυ ὀνομάζοντες. καὶ εἶναι μέν τι θειότερον οὐχ ἥκιστα δηλοῖ τὸ ἐς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐπιφανὲς ἐξ αὐτοῦ·

English Translation

Among the gods, the people of Chaeronea most highly revere the scepter that Homer says Hephaestus made for Zeus, which Hermes received from Zeus and gave to Pelops. Pelops left it to Atreus, Atreus to Thyestes, and from Thyestes it passed to Agamemnon. This scepter they honor and call the "Spear." That something divine indeed inhabits it is most clearly demonstrated by its evident manifestations among men.

Proper Nouns

Zeus (Ζεύς) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Hephaestus (Ἥφαιστος) deity
Dory (Δόρυ) other
Thyestes (Θυέστης) person
Pelops (Πέλοψ) person
Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων) person
Atreus (Ἀτρεύς) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
Chaeronea (Χαιρώνεια) place Q13574678
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