Olympian 13

Olympian 13, 'For Xenophon of Corinth', is an ode by the 5th century BC Greek poet Pindar.^[1]

Background

The father of Xenophon of Corinth won the footrace at Olympia in 504 BC.^[1] Xenophon himself is now lauded as having (in 464 BC) performed the unprecedented feat of winning the stadium and the pentathlon on the same day.^[1] The stadium was the short foot-race of about 200 yards (183 m); the length of the Olympic stadium was just under 630 feet (192 m).^[1] The pentathlon was a contest including five events, which Simonides enumerates as ἅλμα ποδωκείην, δίσκον, ἄκοντα, παλην.^[1] The actual order of the events was probably foot-race, long jump, discus, javelin, wrestling.^[1] Victory in three events was sufficient, but not necessary.^[1] If no competitor won three events, or if two won two events, the prize was probably decided by taking account of second or third places in the several results.^[1]^[2]

Summary

The praise of the victor's family is bound up with the praise of Corinth (1–5), the dwelling-place of Law and Justice and Peace (6–10).^[1] A noble theme must be treated with truthful courage (11 f).^[3] Corinth is famed for athletic prowess and inventive spirit: it has invented the dithyramb, the bit, and the adornment of the pediment with the eagle.^[4] It is the home of the Muses and of the God of War (13–23).^[4] May Zeus preserve the people, and welcome the triumphal chorus in honour of Xenophon's victory in two events, which have never before been won on the same day (24–29).^[4] Victories previously won by Xenophon (29–34), and by his father (35–40), and his family (40–46).^[4] These victories are as countless as the sand of the sea, but it is now time to make an end of this theme (47 f); and thus the poet returns to the praise of Corinth, and of the famous Corinthians, Sisyphus, Medea, and Glaucus (49–62).^[4]

The myth of Bellerophon (63–92).^[4] But the poet must not hurl his javelins too often; he therefore checks himself (93–95), and returns to the successes won by the victor's house; ending with a prayer that it may continue to prosper (96–115).^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Sandys, ed. 1915, p. 130.
^ Gardiner 1910, p. 370.
^ Sandys, ed. 1915, pp. 130–1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Sandys, ed. 1915, p. 131.

Sources

Gardiner, E. Norman (1910). Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals. London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd. p. 370.

Attribution:

Sandys, John, ed. (1915). The Odes of Pindar, including the Principal Fragments. Loeb Classical Library. New York: The Macmillan Co. pp. 130–43. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.