Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.5.8

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Passage 9.5.8: Amphion receiving Hermes' lyre and using song to move stones and beasts.

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὁ δὲ τὰ ἔπη τὰ ἐς Εὐρώπην ποιήσας φησὶν Ἀμφίονα χρήσασθαι λύρᾳ πρῶτον Ἑρμοῦ διδάξαντος· πεποίηκε δὲ καὶ περὶ λίθων καὶ θηρίων, ὅτι καὶ ταῦτα ᾄδων ἦγε. Μυρὼ δὲ Βυζαντία, ποιήσασα ἔπη καὶ ἐλεγεῖα, Ἑρμῇ βωμόν φησιν ἱδρύσασθαι πρῶτον Ἀμφίονα καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ λύραν παρʼ αὐτοῦ λαβεῖν. λέγεται δὲ καὶ ὡς ἐν Ἅιδου δίκην δίδωσιν ὁ Ἀμφίων ὧν ἐς Λητὼ καὶ τοὺς παῖδας καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπέρριψε·

English Translation

The poet who composed verses about Europa states that Amphion first employed the lyre on Hermes' instruction; he also wrote of stones and beasts, for by his singing Amphion led even these. Myro of Byzantium, who composed both epic and elegiac poetry, says that Amphion first erected an altar to Hermes, and thereafter received his lyre from the god. It is also said that Amphion pays punishment in Hades for the insults he himself uttered against Leto and her children.

Proper Nouns

Leto (Λητώ) deity
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) deity
Europa (Εὐρώπη) person
Myro (Μυρώ) person
Amphion (Ἀμφίων) person
Byzantium (Βυζάντιον) place Q23725
Hades (Ἅιδης) place Q1521549
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