Pausanius begins with a description of the Lesche in which the paintings are housed: "[10.25.1]Beyond the Cassotis stands a building with paintings of Polygnotus. It was dedicated by the Cnidians, and is called by the Delphians Lesche (Place of Talk, Club Room), because here in days of old they used to meet and chat about the more serious matters and legendary history. That there used to be many such places all over Greece is shown by Homer's words in the passage where Melantho abuses Odysseus:--"And you will not go to the smith's house to sleep, Nor yet to the place of talk, but you make long speeches here." [Odyssey 18.329] [10.25.2] Inside this building the whole of the painting on the right depicts Troy taken and the Greeks sailing away."
![]()
"On the ship of Menelaus they are preparing to put to sea. The ship is painted with children among the grown-up sailors; amidships is Phrontis the steersman holding two boat-hooks..... [10.25.3] Phrontis then is in the painting of Polygnotus, and beneath him is one Ithaemenes carrying clothes, and Echoeax is going down the gangway, carrying a bronze urn. Polites, Strophius and Alphius are pulling down the hut of Menelaus, which is not far from the ship. Another hut is being pulled down by Amphialus, at whose feet is seated a boy. There is no inscription on the boy, and Phrontis is the only one with a beard. His too is the only name that Polygnotus took from the Odyssey; the names of the others he invented, I think, himself."
Commentary and Source Material | Back to the Introduction | Next Picture
Please note: all student papers hosted by the Perseus Project are offered "as is." Papers are the work of students: the project does not edit, revise, update, or otherwise endorse the content of these pages. These papers may not be copied or reproduced elsewhere; see our copyright page for more information. Please feel free to link to these materials. We do not retain contact information for the authors.