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Pausanias · Description of Greece §2.2.1-2.2.8

Sanctuaries on the Isthmus and the Corinthian Agora

Passage 55 of 465 · Greek

Summary

After describing the temple of Palaemon, the tombs of Sisyphus and Neleus, and the sanctuaries at the harbors, the author introduces the various temples and statues in the city's agora, including those of Dionysus, Tyche, and Zeus.

§2.2.1τοῦ περιβόλου δέ ἐστιν ἐντὸς Παλαίμονος ἐν ἀριστερᾷ ναός, ἀγάλματα δὲ ἐν αὐτῷ Ποσειδῶν καὶ Λευκοθέα καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Παλαίμων.
Within the enclosure, on the left, is a temple of Palaemon, and in it are statues of Poseidon, Leucothea, and Palaemon himself.
ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλο Ἄδυτον καλούμενον, κάθοδος δὲ ἐς αὐτὸ ὑπόγεως, ἔνθα δὴ τὸν Παλαίμονα κεκρύφθαι φασίν· ὃς δʼ ἂν ἐνταῦθα ἢ Κορινθίων ἢ ξένος ἐπίορκα ὀμόσῃ, οὐδεμία ἐστίν οἱ μηχανὴ διαφυγεῖν τοῦ ὅρκου.
There is also another place called the Adytum, with an underground descent to it, where they say Palaemon is hidden; and if any person, whether a Corinthian or a stranger, swears falsely here, there is no way for him to escape his oath.
καὶ δὴ ἱερόν ἐστιν ἀρχαῖον Κυκλώπων καλούμενος βωμός, καὶ θύουσιν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ Κύκλωψι.
There is also an ancient sanctuary called the Altar of the Cyclopes, and they sacrifice upon it to the Cyclopes.
§2.2.2τάφους δὲ Σισύφου καὶ Νηλέως—καὶ γὰρ Νηλέα ἀφικόμενον ἐς Κόρινθον νόσῳ τελευτῆσαί φασι καὶ περὶ τὸν ἰσθμὸν ταφῆναι—οὐκ ἂν οἶδʼ εἰ ζητοίη τις ἐπιλεξάμενος τὰ Εὐμήλου·
As for the tombs of Sisyphus and Neleus—for they say that Neleus came to Corinth and died of a disease, and was buried near the Isthmus—I do not know if anyone would seek them after reading the poems of Eumelus.
Νηλέως μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲ Νέστορι ἐπιδειχθῆναι τὸ μνῆμα ὑπὸ τοῦ Σισύφου φησί, χρῆναι γὰρ ἄγνωστον τοῖς πᾶσιν ὁμοίως εἶναι, Σίσυφον δὲ ταφῆναι μὲν ἐν τῷ ἰσθμῷ, τὸν δέ οἱ τάφον καὶ τῶν ἐφʼ αὑτοῦ Κορινθίων ὀλίγους εἶναι τοὺς εἰδότας.
For Eumelus says that Neleus' monument was not shown by Sisyphus even to Nestor, because it had to be unknown to everyone alike, and that Sisyphus was indeed buried on the Isthmus, but few of the Corinthians of his own day knew where his tomb was.
ὁ δὲ Ἰσθμικὸς ἀγὼν οὐδὲ ἀναστάντων ὑπὸ Μομμίου Κορινθίων ἐξέλιπεν, ἀλλʼ ὅσον μὲν χρόνον ἠρήμωτο ἡ πόλις, Σικυωνίοις ἄγειν ἐπετέτραπτο τὰ Ἴσθμια, οἰκισθείσης δὲ αὖθις ἐς τοὺς νῦν οἰκήτορας περιῆλθεν ἡ τιμή.
The Isthmian games did not fail even when the Corinthians were driven out by Mummius; but as long as the city was deserted, the Sicyonians were entrusted with celebrating the Isthmia, and when it was inhabited again by its present citizens, the honor returned to them.
§2.2.3Κορινθίοις δὲ τοῖς ἐπινείοις τὰ ὀνόματα Λέχης καὶ Κεγχρίας ἔδοσαν, Ποσειδῶνος εἶναι καὶ Πειρήνης τῆς Ἀχελῴου λεγόμενοι· πεποίηται δὲ ἐν Ἠοίαις μεγάλαις Οἰβάλου θυγατέρα εἶναι Πειρήνην.
The harbors of the Corinthians received their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who are said to be the children of Poseidon and Peirene, the daughter of Achelous; though in the Great Eoeae Peirene is said to be the daughter of Oebalus.
ἔστι δὲ ἐν Λεχαίῳ μὲν Ποσειδῶνος ἱερὸν καὶ ἄγαλμα χαλκοῦν, τὴν δὲ ἐς Κεγχρέας ἰόντων ἐξ ἰσθμοῦ ναὸς Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ ξόανον ἀρχαῖον.
In Lechaeum there is a sanctuary of Poseidon and a bronze statue, and for those going from the Isthmus to Cenchreae there is a temple of Artemis and an ancient wooden image.
ἐν δὲ Κεγχρέαις Ἀφροδίτης τέ ἐστι ναὸς καὶ ἄγαλμα λίθου, μετὰ δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐρύματι τῷ διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης Ποσειδῶνος χαλκοῦν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ ἕτερον πέρας τοῦ λιμένος Ἀσκληπιοῦ καὶ Ἴσιδος ἱερά.
In Cenchreae there is a temple of Aphrodite and a stone statue, and after it, upon the breakwater running through the sea, a bronze statue of Poseidon, while at the other end of the harbor are sanctuaries of Asclepius and Isis.
Κεγχρεῶν δὲ ἀπαντικρὺ τὸ Ἑλένης ἐστὶ λουτρόν· ὕδωρ ἐς θάλασσαν ἐκ πέτρας ῥεῖ πολὺ καὶ ἁλμυρὸν ὕδατι ὅμοιον ἀρχομένῳ θερμαίνεσθαι.
Opposite Cenchreae is the Bath of Helen; a great quantity of water flows into the sea from a rock, salty and like water that is beginning to grow warm.
§2.2.4ἀνιοῦσι δὲ ἐς Κόρινθον καὶ ἄλλα ἐστὶ κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν μνήματα καὶ πρὸς τῇ πύλῃ Διογένης τέθαπται ὁ Σινωπεύς, ὃν κύνα ἐπίκλησιν καλοῦσιν Ἕλληνες.
As you go up to Corinth there are other monuments along the road, and by the gate is buried Diogenes of Sinope, whom the Greeks surname the Dog.
πρὸ δὲ τῆς πόλεως κυπαρίσσων ἐστὶν ἄλσος ὀνομαζόμενον Κράνειον.
Before the city is a grove of cypresses called Craneum.
ἐνταῦθα Βελλεροφόντου τέ ἐστι τέμενος καὶ Ἀφροδίτης ναὸς Μελαινίδος καὶ τάφος Λαΐδος, ᾧ δὴ λέαινα ἐπίθημά ἐστι κριὸν ἔχουσα ἐν τοῖς προτέροις ποσίν.
Here is a sanctuary of Bellerophon, a temple of Aphrodite Melanis, and the tomb of Lais, upon which is a lioness holding a ram in her forepaws.
§2.2.5ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλο ἐν Θεσσαλίᾳ Λαΐδος φάμενον μνῆμα εἶναι· παρεγένετο γὰρ καὶ ἐς Θεσσαλίαν ἐρασθεῖσα Ἱπποστράτου.
There is also another monument in Thessaly which claims to be that of Lais; for she went to Thessaly as well, having fallen in love with Hippostratus.
τὸ δὲ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐξ Ὑκάρων αὐτὴν τῶν ἐν Σικελίᾳ λέγεται παῖδα οὖσαν ὑπὸ Νικίου καὶ Ἀθηναίων ἁλῶναι, πραθεῖσαν δὲ ἐς Κόρινθον ὑπερβαλέσθαι κάλλει τὰς τότε ἑταίρας, θαυμασθῆναί τε· οὕτω παρὰ Κορινθίοις ὡς ἀμφισβητεῖν σφᾶς καὶ νῦν ἔτι Λαΐδος.
It is said that she was originally from Hycara in Sicily, and when she was a child she was captured by Nicias and the Athenians, and being sold into Corinth she surpassed the courtesans of that time in beauty, and was admired; and she was so celebrated among the Corinthians that they even now dispute about Lais.
§2.2.6λόγου δὲ ἄξια ἐν τῇ πόλει τὰ μὲν λειπόμενα ἔτι τῶν ἀρχαίων ἐστίν, τὰ δὲ πολλὰ αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀκμῆς ἐποιήθη τῆς ὕστερον.
The things worthy of mention in the city include those of the ancient ones that still remain, though most of them were made in the subsequent period of its prime.
ἔστιν οὖν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀγορᾶς— ἐνταῦθα γὰρ πλεῖστά ἐστι τῶν ἱερῶν—Ἄρτεμίς τε ἐπίκλησιν Ἐφεσία καὶ Διονύσου ξόανα ἐπίχρυσα πλὴν τῶν προσώπων· τὰ δὲ πρόσωπα ἀλοιφῇ σφισιν ἐρυθρᾷ κεκόσμηται· Λύσιον δέ, τὸν δὲ Βάκχειον ὀνομάζουσι.
On the marketplace, then—for here are most of the sanctuaries—is Artemis surnamed Ephesia, and gilded wooden images of Dionysus, except for the faces, which are adorned with red paint; they call one Lysius, and the other Bacchieus.
§2.2.7τὰ δὲ λεγόμενα ἐς τὰ ξόανα καὶ ἐγὼ γράφω.
I will also write down the story told about these wooden images.
Πενθέα ὑβρίζοντα ἐς Διόνυσον καὶ ἄλλα τολμᾶν λέγουσι καὶ τέλος ἐς τὸν Κιθαιρῶνα ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ κατασκοπῇ τῶν γυναικῶν, ἀναβάντα δὲ ἐς δένδρον θεάσασθαι τὰ ποιούμενα· τὰς δέ, ὡς ἐφώρασαν, καθελκύσαι τε αὐτίκα Πενθέα καὶ ζῶντος ἀποσπᾶν ἄλλο ἄλλην τοῦ σώματος.
They say that Pentheus, committing outrages against Dionysus, dared other deeds, and finally went to Cithaeron to spy on the women, and climbing up into a tree beheld what was being done; and when they discovered him, they immediately dragged Pentheus down and, while he was still alive, tore him limb from limb, one pulling one part of his body and another another.
ὕστερον δέ, ὡς Κορίνθιοι λέγουσιν, ἡ Πυθία χρᾷ σφισιν ἀνευρόντας τὸ δένδρον ἐκεῖνο ἴσα τῷ θεῷ σέβειν· καὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ διὰ τόδε τὰς εἰκόνας πεποίηνται ταύτας.
Afterwards, as the Corinthians say, the Pythian priestess gave them an oracle to find that tree and worship it equally with the god; and from it, for this reason, they have made these images.
§2.2.8ἔστι δὲ καὶ Τύχης ναός· ἄγαλμα ὀρθὸν Παρίου λίθου· παρὰ δὲ αὐτὸν θεοῖς πᾶσίν ἐστιν ἱερόν.
There is also a temple of Tyche, with a standing image of Parian stone; beside it is a sanctuary for all the gods.
πλησίον δὲ ᾠκοδόμηται κρήνη, καὶ Ποσειδῶν ἐπʼ αὐτῇ χαλκοῦς καὶ δελφὶς ὑπὸ τοῖς ποσίν ἐστι τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος ἀφιεὶς ὕδωρ.
Nearby a fountain has been built, and upon it is a bronze Poseidon, and a dolphin under the feet of Poseidon is releasing water.
καὶ Ἀπόλλων ἐπίκλησιν Κλάριος χαλκοῦς ἐστι καὶ ἄγαλμα Ἀφροδίτης Ἑρμογένους Κυθηρίου ποιήσαντος.
There is also a bronze Apollo surnamed Clarius, and an image of Aphrodite made by Hermogenes of Cythera.
Ἑρμοῦ τέ ἐστιν ἀγάλματα χαλκοῦ μὲν καὶ ὀρθὰ ἀμφότερα, τῷ δὲ ἑτέρῳ καὶ ναὸς πεποίηται.
There are two images of Hermes, both of bronze and standing, and for one of them a temple has been built.
τὰ δὲ τοῦ Διός, καὶ ταῦτα ὄντα ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ, τὸ μὲν ἐπίκλησιν οὐκ εἶχε, τὸν δὲ αὐτῶν Χθόνιον καὶ τὸν τρίτον καλοῦσιν Ὕψιστον.
The statues of Zeus, these too being in the open air, one has no surname, but of the others they call one Chthonius, and the third Hypsistus.

Notes

  1. 2.2.2οὐκ ἂν οἶδʼ εἰ ζητοίη — An idiomatic expression combining οὐκ ἂν οἶδα ("I would not know") and the potential optative ζητοίη introduced by εἰ in an indirect question. It functions to express strong skepticism: "I doubt if anyone would seek..." or "No one who has read Eumelus would bother to look for..."
  2. 2.2.5ὡς ἀμφισβητεῖν σφᾶς — The conjunction ὡς is used here with the infinitive ἀμφισβητεῖν to express result, functioning like ὥστε. The accusative σφᾶς acts as the subject of the infinitive, referring to the Corinthians.
  3. 2.2.7ἴσα τῷ θεῷ — The neuter plural accusative ἴσα is used adverbially with the dative τῷ θεῷ, meaning "equally with the god" or "in the same manner as the god."

Cite this passage

Pausanias, Description of Greece §2.2.1-2.2.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0525.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.2.1-2.2.8

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