The Extant Odes of Pindar | Page 8

at present
attaches to most modern writers who deal with them. Olympus, Athens,
Corinth, Syracuse, and the like are naturalized among us by long
familiarity; it seems at present at least pedantic to change them. In the
case of other less familiar names I have concurred with the desire,
which seems in the main a reasonable one, that the names of Hellenic
persons and places should be reproduced, as far as possible, without

Latin mediation.
Of the Fragments I have translated six of the longest and most
interesting. They are 289 in all, but the greater part are not longer than
a line or two, and very many even shorter.
The odes are unequal in poetical merit, and many readers may not
unreasonably wish to have those pointed out which, in the judgement of
one acquainted with all, are among the best worth reading; though of
course the choice of individual readers will not always be the same. To
those therefore who would wish to begin with a selection, the following
may be recommended as at any rate among those of preeminent merit:
Pyth. 4, 9, 1, 10, 3; Ol. 7, 6, 2, 3, 13, 8, 1; Nem. 5, 10; Isthm. 2, 7; all
the Fragments translated.
In the arrangement of the odes I have adhered to the traditional order. I
should much have liked to place them in what must always be the most
interesting and rational arrangement of a poet's works, that is, in
chronological order. This would have been approximately possible, as
we know the dates of the greater part of them. But convenience of
reference and of comparison with the Greek text seems to supply a
balance of reasons on the other side. Subjoined however is a list of the
odes in their probable chronological order so far as it can be obtained.
Pythian 10-------------B.C. 502.
" 6------------- " 494.
" 12------------- " 494 or 490.
" 7------------- "
490.
" 3------------- " 486 or 482.
Olympian 10 } ---------- " 484.
" 11 } ---------- " 484.
Isthmian 5
Nemean 5
Isthmian 7 ------------
" 480.
Isthmian 3
Pythian 8-------------- " 478.
" 9-------------- " 478.
" 11-------------- " 478.
" 2-------------- " 477.

Olympian 14-------------- " 476.
" }----------------- " 476.
" }----------------- " 476.
Pythian 1

Nemean 1--------------- " 473.
Olympian 1--------------- " 472.

" 12-------------- " 472.
Nemean 9
Isthmian 2
Olympian
6-------------- " 468.
Pythian 4 }------------- " 466.
" 5 }
Olympian 7-------------- " 464.
" 13-------------- " 464.
Nemean 7
" 3
" 4
" 6
" 8
Olympian 9-------------- " 456.
Isthmian 6

Olympian 4 }------------ " 452.
" 5 }
The Olympic games were held once in four years, in honour of Zeus.
The prize was a wreath of wild olive.
The Pythian games were held once in four years, in honour of Apollo.
The prize was a wreath of bay.
The Nemean games were held once in two years, in honour of Zeus.
The prize was a wreath of wild parsley.
The Isthmian games were held once in two years, in honour of
Poseidon. The prize was a wreath of wild parsley or of pine.
[Footnote 1: The importance and interest to a student in Hellenic
literature of a collateral study of whatever remains to us of Hellenic
plastic art--statues, vases, gems, and coins--can hardly be too strongly
insisted on.]
[Footnote 2: In Mr. J.A. Symonds' 'Studies of the Greek Poets' there is
an essay on Pindar which dwells with much appreciative eloquence
upon the poets literary characteristics.]
[Footnote 3: In thus touching on the obligations of our morality to the
Hebrew and to the Hellene respectively, I have insisted more
exclusively on the weak points of the former than I should have done in
a fuller discussion of the subject: here I am merely concerned to
question in passing what seems to be a popular one-sided estimate.]

OLYMPIAN ODES.
I.
FOR HIERON OF SYRACUSE,
WINNER IN THE HORSE-RACE.

This ode seems to owe its position at the head of Pindar's extant works
to Aristophanes the grammarian, who placed it there on account of its
being specially occupied with the glorification of the Olympic games in
comparison with others, and with the story of Pelops, who was their
founder.
Hieron won this race B.C. 472, while at the height of his power at
Syracuse. Probably the ode was sung at Syracuse, perhaps, as has been
suggested, at a banquet.

Best is Water of all, and Gold as a flaming fire in the night shineth
eminent amid lordly wealth; but if of prizes in the games thou art fain,
O my soul, to tell, then, as for no bright star more quickening than the
sun must thou search in the void firmament by day, so neither shall we
find any games greater than the Olympic whereof to utter our voice: for
hence cometh the glorious hymn and entereth into the minds of the
skilled in song,