Greek Artifacts > Pausanias's "Description of Greece"

Pausanias's "Description of Greece"

Pausanias's Description of Greece

Pausanias's "Description of Greece" remains a source of great interest to anyone fascinated by Greek civilization's relics. Although not celebrated for its literary quality, the work is crucial for understanding the development of modern civilization, which owes much to ancient Greece. Pausanias, who wrote during the Antonine period, provided valuable descriptions of both ancient and contemporary monuments of his time, bridging the gap between historical epochs.

Classical scholars have long been dedicated to studying Pausanias. However, the limited access to Greece and the hidden treasures beneath its soil once made it difficult to assess the accuracy of his descriptions. Early annotated editions, such as Siebelis's (1822-27), relied heavily on citations from ancient writers, but fell short in comprehensiveness.

The German excavations at Olympia marked a new era in the study of Pausanias and Greek art. Using Pausanias as a guide, excavators generally found his accounts reliable. However, some discrepancies prompted questions about his trustworthiness and methods, discussed by scholars like von Wilamowitz, Kalkmann, and Gurlitt. Consensus emerged that Pausanias, despite relying on earlier sources for historical and mythological details, accurately recorded what he observed.

Excavations at Athens, Eleusis, Epidaurus, Pergamon, and other sites have illuminated the ancient Greece Pausanias described, making a thorough, modern treatment of his work both possible and necessary. Such efforts have been undertaken by scholars like Professors Hitzig and Bliimner, whose annotated edition offers a critical apparatus, ancient and modern literary references, and concise summaries of scholarly opinions.

Dr. Frazer's work diverges from Hitzig and Bliimner by providing an excellent English translation, supplemented with a detailed introduction and exhaustive notes. His notes, while sometimes offering too much information, are invaluable for understanding Greek antiquities and complementing the more concise edition by Hitzig and Bliimner.

Overall, Dr. Frazer's translation and commentary are monumental contributions to classical scholarship, offering both young students and seasoned scholars comprehensive insights into Pausanias and ancient Greece.

Harold N. FowlerCleveland, Ohio, May 1898

Sources

Artifacts