LP0067 - The Protidian Gate - The road from Thebes, from Pausanias' Description of Greece

Legendary Passages #0067 - The Protidian Gate - The road from Thebes, from Pausanias' Description of Greece. Last time we heard how Heracles decided his own destiny. This time we explore the impact that he and his family had on the Theban lands. First, the tomb of Semele is near the temple of her son Dionysus; although Heracles' mother Alcmena has no tomb of her own, as her body was replaced by a stone. Then comes the tombs of the daughters of Antipoenus, who sacrificed their lives so that Heracles and the Thebans could defeat the Orchomenians. Heracles dedicated a stone lion for this victory. Heracles' father Amphitryon dedicated images to Athena on the spot where he put on, or 'girded', his armor. On the edge of the city are the tombs of Zethus & Amphion, Melanippus & Tydeus, Oedipus' children, Teiresias, the Trojan Hector, and lastly, Asphodicus. The road next goes to Teumessus, best known for the legend of the Teumessian fox, which Amphitryon helped defeat. Past Glisas and The Snake's Head, and below supreme Mount Hypastus, is the tomb of Chalcodon, slain by Amphitryon during battle with the Euboeans. Finally, we come to the Sanctuary of Mycalessian Demeter, where each night the doors are closed and opened again by Heracles, here called one of the Idaean Dactyls. Next time, stories of Heracles etched onto the Shield of Eurypylus. http://www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias9A.html#8 The Protidian Gate, a Legendary Passage, from Pausanias' Description of Greece, translated by W. H. S. Jones. [9.16.6] - [9.19.8] Near the Proetidian gate is built a theater, and quite close to the theater is a temple of Dionysus surnamed Deliverer. For when some Theban prisoners in the hands of Thracians had reached Haliartia on their march, they were delivered by the god, who gave up the sleeping Thracians to be put to death. One of the two images here the Thebans say is Semele. Once in each year, they say, they open the sanctuary on stated days. There are also ruins of the house of Lycus, and the tomb of Semele, but Alcmena has no tomb. It is said that on her death she was turned from human form to a stone, but the Theban account does not agree with the Megarian. The Greek legends generally have for the most part different versions. Here too at Thebes are the tombs of the children of Amphion. The boys lie apart; the girls are buried by themselves. XVII. Near is the temple of Artemis of Fair Fame. The image was made by Scopas. They say that within the sanctuary were buried Androcleia and Aleis, daughters of Antipoenus. For when Heracles and the Thebans were about to engage in battle with the Orchomenians, an oracle was delivered to them that success in the war would be theirs if their citizen of the most noble descent would consent to die by his own hand. Now Antipoenus, who had the most famous ancestors, was loath to die for the people, but his daughters were quite ready to do so. So they took their own lives and are honored therefor. Before the temple of Artemis of Fair Fame is a lion made of stone, said to have been dedicated by Heracles after he had conquered in the battle the Orchomenians and their king, Erginus son of Clymenus. Near it is Apollo surnamed Rescuer, and Hermes called of the Market-place, another of the votive offerings of Pindar. The pyre of the children of Amphion is about half a stade from the graves. The ashes from the pyre are still there. Near this are two stone images of Athena, surnamed Girder, said to have been dedicated by Amphitryon. For here, they say, he put on his armour when he was about to give battle to Chalcodon and the Euboeans. It seems that the ancients used the verb “to gird oneself” in the sense of “to put on one's armour,” and so they say that when Homer compares Agamemnon to Ares “in respect of his girdle,” he is really saying that they were alike in the fashion of their armour. The tomb shared by Zethus and Amphion is a small mound of earth. The inhabitants of Tithorea in Phocis like to steal earth