Pausanias

Pausanias is a Greek name associated with several historical figures from ancient Greece. The two most prominent are Pausanias the geographer, a 2nd-century CE traveler and author of Description of Greece (Periegesis Hellados), and Pausanias, a Spartan general and regent who commanded at Plataea during the Persian Wars and later fell from power.

Pausanias the geographer flourished in the 2nd century CE. His Description of Greece, written in ten books, surveys the country from Attica to the Peloponnese, recording temples, sanctuaries, statues, inscriptions, and local legends. The work combines travel narrative with antiquarian detail and often draws on earlier sources. While some passages reflect the author’s biases or inaccuracies, it remains a crucial source for archaeologists and historians, providing valuable information on ancient Greek art, architecture, topography, and religious practices, including sites that have since disappeared or been rebuilt.

Pausanias the Spartan general is best known for his role in the Persian Wars. He commanded Greek forces at the decisive victory of Plataea in 479 BCE and was a leading figure in Spartan military leadership during that period. After the war, he returned to Sparta, where he faced charges—including accusations of tyranny and improper influence, and alleged dealings with the Persians via Delphi—that led to his downfall. He is traditionally said to have taken his own life in 468 BCE following his condemnation.

Together, these figures illustrate the range of activities associated with the name Pausanias: civil leadership and military command in the classical era, and travel-writing that preserves a detailed record of ancient Greek sites for posterity.