’Most Worth Remembering’: Pausanias, Analogy, and Classical Archaeology

Pausanias is one of the key ancient authors used by classical archaeologists. His Periegesis Hellados or Description of Greece has long been used to complement and supplement our understanding of material remains. Recent approaches have sought to emphasize the value of Pausanias as a literary source, and not just a topographic reporter. This article assesses the impact of Pausanias on archaeological and historical modes of thinking, and suggests ways in which the literary reading of the text may be integrated into our understanding of material remains.