Description of Greece

​To Hippolytus, the son of Theseus, a most famous sanctuary is dedicated, and in it are a temple and an ancient image. These they say Diomedes made, and moreover was the first to sacrifice to Hippolytus. For the Troezenians there is a priest of Hippolytus who holds office for the whole time of his life, and annual sacrifices are established, and they also do another thing of this kind: each maiden cuts off a lock of hair for him before marriage, and having cut it, she carries and dedicates it in the temple. But they are unwilling to admit that he died by being dragged by his horses, nor do they point out his grave, though they know it; but the one called the Charioteer in heaven, they believe this to be that Hippolytus, having this honor from the gods.

​Within this enclosure is a temple of Apollo Epibaterius, an offering of Diomedes having escaped the storm which came upon the Greeks as they were returning from Ilium; and they say Diomedes was the first to establish the Pythian games for Apollo. Concerning Damia and Auxesia—for the Troezenians also have a share in them—they do not tell the same story as the Epidaurians and Aeginetans, but say that they were maidens who came from Crete; and when all those in the city were similarly in revolt, they say that these too were stoned to death by the opposing faction, and they keep a festival for them, calling it Lithobolia.

​By the other part of the enclosure is a stadium called after Hippolytus, and above it a temple of Aphrodite Kataskopia; for from there, whenever Hippolytus was exercising, Phaedra, being in love, used to look down at him. Here there still grows the myrtle, having its leaves pierced as I wrote before; and when Phaedra was in despair and found no relief for her love, she used to damage the leaves of this myrtle.

​There is also a grave of Phaedra, and it is not far from the monument of Hippolytus; and the latter is heaped up not far from the myrtle. The image of Asclepius was made by Timotheus, but the Troezenians say it is not Asclepius but an image of Hippolytus. And I know the house of Hippolytus, having seen it; in front of it is a fountain called Heracleian, the water of which, as the Troezenians say, Heracles found.

​On the acropolis is a temple of Athena called Sthenias, and the wooden image itself of the goddess was wrought by Callon of Aegina; and Callon was a pupil of Tectaeus and Angelion, who made for the Delians the image of Apollo; and Angelion and Tectaeus were taught by Dipoenus and Scyllis.

​As you go down from there, there is a sanctuary of Pan Lyterius; for to those holding office among the Troezenians he showed in dreams remedies for the plague when it oppressed the Troezenian land, and most of all the Athenians. And having crossed over, you may see also a temple of Isis and above it one of Aphrodite Acraea; the former the Halicarnassians made, since Troezen is their mother-city, but the image of Isis was dedicated by the people of Troezen.

​For those going by the way through the mountains to Hermione, there is a source of the river Hyllicus, originally called Taurius, and a rock called the Rock of Theseus, this too having changed its name when Theseus took up from under it the sandals and sword of Aegeus; and before it was called the Altar of Zeus Sthenius. Near the rock is a sanctuary of Aphrodite Nymphia, made by Theseus when he took Helen to wife.

​Outside the wall there is also a sanctuary of Poseidon Phytalmius; for they say that Poseidon, being angry with them, made the land barren, the brine reaching to the seeds and the roots of the plants, until, yielding to sacrifices and prayers, he no longer sent up brine into the land. Above the temple of Poseidon is Demeter Thesmophorus, established as they say by Althepus.

​As you go down to the harbor by what is called Celenderis, there is a place which they name Genethlium, saying that Theseus was born there. In front of this place is a temple of Ares, where Theseus also conquered the Amazons in battle; these would be of those who fought in Attica against Theseus and the Athenians.

​For those journeying to the sea called Psiphaean there grows a wild olive tree named the twisted rhachos . The Troezenians call rhachos everything that is a barren olive—wild olive, phyllia, and cotinos; and they nickname this one ‘twisted’ because, his reins having become entangled in it, the chariot of Hippolytus was overturned. Not far from this is the sanctuary of Saronian Artemis, and my narrative has already declared the things concerning it. But I will still declare this much: they keep the Saronia, a festival for Artemis, every year.