Themistocles

spelling of Greek names... I offer a general comment on the spelling of Greek names, with primary reference to the name of Themistocles here at 1.1.2... The name of this famous Athenian statesman could have been spelled here and elsewhere in the hellenized way, as Themistokles. ... Continue reading

archon [arkhōn]... As we see later in our readings, Pausanias 4.5.10, this word ‘archon’ [arkhōn], meaning literally ‘leader’, was the Athenian title of an official who was appoint ... Continue reading

thalassocracy... In the history of Athens, the era of the Athenian Empire was most noted for the city’s maritime power, the Greek word for which was thalassokratiā or ‘thalassocrac ... Continue reading

ship-sheds [neōs oikoi]... In the glory days of the Athenian Empire, a most celebrated visual marker of the magnificence as well as the power of its thalassocracy was the architect ... Continue reading

... e city of Magnesia, contiguous with the river Maeander, is situated on the mainland of Greek Asia Minor. In the time of Themistocles, Magnesia was part of the Persian Empire. After Them ... Continue reading

tomb of Themistocles at Peiraieus... This detail in Pausanias 1.1.2 is of special interest to me. I find it intriguing that Pausanias, visiting Athens in the secon ... Continue reading

Parthenon... The political as well as the cultural significance of the Parthenon here is made evident by the context. We see here in Pausanias 1.1.2 his first mention of the Parthe ... Continue reading