Pausanias

(c. 110 - c. 180)

Likely born in Lydia (part of modern Turkey) to a Greek family, Pausanias is widely regarded as one of literature’s first travel writers. He was largely unread until the twentieth century, when archaeologists seeking ancient treasures found his Description of Greece a remarkably accurate mapping tool. His description of the lead-up to the battle between the Greeks and Gauls at Delphi contains one of the earliest descriptions of a panic, a term derived from the Greek god Pan, who was said to instill sudden fear—panikon—in all who heard him shout.

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