# Pausanias — Poetry character guide

> Pausanias in Poetry by Matthew Arnold.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0057-the-strayed-reveller

## Who they are

A physician who converses with Empedocles on Etna.

## Relationships

### [Callicles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/callicles)

_friendship_

Callicles and Pausanias are philosophical companions, engaging in dialogues about ethics and power in ancient Greek settings.

### [Peisianax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/peisianax)

_social_

Pausanias and Peisianax are acquaintances within the aristocratic circles of ancient Greece, with Peisianax often hosting gatherings.

### [Obermann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/obermann)

_psychological_

Obermann is a melancholic, introspective figure who influences Pausanias through letters and philosophical reflection.

## In the story

### [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/chapters/act-i)

The silent listener to Empedocles' discourse, addressed directly as 'thou son of Anchitus' and 'Pausanias'.

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/chapters/act-ii)

Mentioned as having left; Empedocles reflects that he has learned his lesson and can now face life.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters/pausanias
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_16_se/characters