Pindar's work is truly a fascinating collection. It consists of 45 odes that pay tribute to the winners of the diverse Ancient Greek games. These odes are not only about celebrating the athletes but also incorporate references to politics, myth, and philosophy.

In just a couple of pages, Pindar manages to include all of these elements and more, all presented in the fundamental form of an ode. His ability to compress such a wealth of ideas and themes into a relatively short space is remarkable.

The Anthony Verity translation in Oxford's World Classics allows modern readers to access and appreciate Pindar's work. Through this translation, we can gain insights into the ancient Greek world, its values, and its cultural significance. Pindar's odes serve as a window into a bygone era, offering a unique perspective on the achievements and ideals of the people who lived during that time.

Overall, Pindar's work is a testament to the power of poetry and its ability to convey complex ideas and emotions. It is a valuable addition to the literary canon and continues to be studied and admired by scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Pindar's victory odes are remarkable celebrations of the triumphs achieved by competitors in the Panhellenic festivals, such as the renowned Olympian Games.

The establishment of these athletic and musical festivals stands as one of the greatest feats of the Greek aristocracies. Even in the 5th century BC, despite the growing trend towards professionalism, they remained predominantly aristocratic assemblies. This is because attending such events, whether as a competitor or a spectator, demanded both expense and leisure. It was an opportunity for individuals to display their status and promote themselves. The prestige associated with victory, which required a significant commitment of time and/or wealth, far exceeded anything that modern athletic victories can offer. Pindar's odes manage to capture the essence of this prestige and the aristocratic grandeur that accompanied the moment of victory.

The odes are organized into four books, named after the Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean Games. These were Panhellenic festivals held respectively at Olympia, Delphi, Corinth, and Nemea. This classification reflects the fact that the majority of the odes were composed to honor boys, youths, and men who had recently emerged victorious in athletic (and sometimes musical) contests at these festivals.

Read these for Roman Roads Old Western Culture: Fifth Nemean Ode, Tenth Pythian Ode, First Olympian Ode, and First Isthmian Ode. These odes are an important part of the Roman Roads Old Western Culture. They offer valuable insights into the values, beliefs, and traditions of that era. However, I must admit that I remember none of them. It could be due to a lack of proper study or simply because my memory fails me in this regard. Nevertheless, it is essential to explore and understand these odes to gain a deeper appreciation for the rich history and culture they represent. Perhaps with further reading and research, I will be able to recall and truly comprehend the significance of each one.

Well, I think it's really cool if you can understand something from it.

It's like when you're exploring a new place and suddenly you discover a hidden gem. That moment of realization and understanding can be truly exciting.

Whether it's learning a new language, solving a difficult problem, or simply grasping a new concept, it gives you a sense of accomplishment.

It makes you feel that all the effort you've put in has paid off.

And not only that, but it also opens up new possibilities and opportunities for you.

It allows you to see things from a different perspective and expand your knowledge and skills.

So, keep on learning and exploring, and you'll be amazed at what you can discover and understand.

Men often have diverse aspirations. Some fervently pray for gold, believing it will bring them wealth and security. Others long for boundless land, envisioning vast empires and power. However, my desire is different. I strive to please my townsmen. I am dedicated to this cause until the day I am laid to rest and my limbs are wrapped in the earth. I firmly believe in praising what should be praised. When I see acts of kindness, courage, and virtue, I will not hesitate to give due recognition. At the same time, I will also scatter reproach on wrongdoers. When injustice and immorality rear their ugly heads, I will not remain silent. I will speak out and condemn such actions. This is my creed, and I will坚守 it until the end.

As a Latin and Greek Major as an Undergrad, I have an insatiable passion for reading the classics. I strive to immerse myself in these ancient works as often as possible.

One of my favorite authors is Pindar. His poetry is filled with some truly great lines and beautiful turns of phrase. The elegance and sophistication of his language are simply captivating.

When I read Pindar, I am transported to a different time and place. His words have the power to paint vivid pictures in my mind and evoke a wide range of emotions.

Whether it's his descriptions of heroic deeds or his meditations on love and beauty, Pindar's poetry always leaves a lasting impression on me. I am constantly amazed by his ability to use language in such a creative and profound way.

In conclusion, as a Latin and Greek Major, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study the classics and discover the beauty and wisdom they contain. And Pindar will always hold a special place in my heart as one of the greatest poets of antiquity.

It would be unwise to offer comments on the poetry of a translation. Instead, I will focus on the content of the Odes of Pindar.

The Odes of Pindar provide a captivating exploration of the aristocratic attitudes in 5th century BC Greece. As odes to athletic success, they center on physical excellence and references to mythology. Early Pindar is in continuity with Homer, especially the Iliad, elevating honor as the highest achievement of man. This is because blessings in this life are fleeting and never guaranteed, so we can never be truly happy until dead, similar to Solon in Herodotus' Histories. Pindar emphasizes that life is unpredictable and destruction can strike anyone, regardless of their righteousness. Unlike a later Christian writer, there is no hope of divine retribution or a strong sense of afterlife recompense. This fear of cosmic randomness drives Pindar and most Greeks to embrace happiness when they have it and put faith in something greater than themselves. Honor is the one thing that clearly outlasts human life.

However, as Pindar ages, his perception of honor becomes more pessimistic. He realizes that honor is not always distributed justly, citing examples like Odysseus and Ajax. This recognition of the limitations of honor sets the stage for Greek philosophy to explore the nature of eudaimonia. Pindar clearly states that success is defined by one's breeding, divine favor, and the intangible power of fate.

Pindar is guided by a conservative philosophy that upholds aristocracy and piety. He almost always attributes success to good breeding, which reinforces the power of the aristocracy. This becomes relevant later in his life with the rise of Athens. Pindar fears and laments the rise of tyrants, who are seen as usurping power and undermining the natural order. His belief in aristocracy is related to his piety to the gods. He often references the mythology of the athlete's homeland, drawing a connection between aristocracy and divinity. Pindar also insists that many Greek myths were wrongly altered to make the gods and heroes seem immoral.

Overall, Pindar reflects Greece strongly. As a man who depended on the patronage of noble families from different cities and shunned the philosophy and intellectualism of Athens, he is well-positioned to echo the sentiments of his society. His Odes offer a unique perspective on the Greek world as a whole, as most Greek writing we have is from Athenians or those with close ties to Athens. Pindar's work gives us a sense of the broader Greek experience.

Ngl. This was a real struggle to read.

Maybe I just needed another translation, but I truly wouldn't describe the writing here as beautiful. After all, it's supposed to be poetry!

There simply wasn't enough mythology in it to maintain my interest. I mean, mythology is often the essence that makes such works captivating.

And I don't have much care for ancient sports outside of the context of funeral games, like those described in The Iliad or similar great works.

The lack of a rich and engaging mythology and the unappealing treatment of ancient sports really made this a less than enjoyable read for me.

I was hoping for more depth and beauty in the poetry, but unfortunately, it didn't quite meet my expectations.

Perhaps with a different translation or a more skillful handling of the subject matter, it could have been a more remarkable piece.

Pindar is renowned mainly for the hymns that laud the contestants triumphant in the Ancient Greek Games. The Olympian was just one of numerous such works during that era. Due to the vast quantity of highly intricate allusions to Greek mythology, I discovered that I was spending the majority of my time poring over the footnotes rather than the verses. And by that, I don't simply mean looking up who Zeus was.

This work is recommended solely to those who are already well-versed in Greek cosmology. It requires a certain level of prior knowledge and understanding to fully appreciate and make sense of the numerous references and subtleties within the text.

For those without a solid foundation in Greek mythology, the experience of reading Pindar's hymns can be quite challenging and may result in a lot of confusion and frustration.

However, for those who have dedicated the time and effort to study Greek cosmology, Pindar's works offer a rich and rewarding exploration of the ancient world and its beliefs.

Heavy poems without the cultural context can be quite a challenge to understand.

I found myself spending most of the time looking at the absurd quantity of notes rather than engaging directly with each poem.

However, there were still moments when the poetry truly shined.

For instance, Pindar's cheeky commentary added a touch of humor and liveliness to the works.

His beautiful phrasing was like a melody that danced on the tongue.

Moreover, his strong (and impressive) understanding of city-state/Grecian mythology was evident in his poems.

It was as if he was able to bring the ancient myths and legends to life, making them accessible and relevant to modern readers.

Despite the initial difficulties, these moments of brilliance made the reading experience worthwhile.

They reminded me of the power and beauty of poetry, even when it is presented without the full cultural context.

Perhaps with further study and exploration, I will be able to unlock the full potential of these heavy poems and gain a deeper appreciation for their artistry.

Maan, Pindar is truly not to my taste. His poetry is indeed remarkable, yet the hero worship aspect that he presents just doesn't appeal to me. Hhh, I still derived some enjoyment from certain odes, but I will never read all of them again.

Also, lmao, I can't believe that out of everyone else, Pindar is likely to be my last book of 2021. That's so far from how I envisioned it. I had expected to end the year with a completely different literary work. But here we are, with Pindar being the unexpected conclusion. It just goes to show how unpredictable the reading journey can be.

Despite not being a huge fan of Pindar, I do appreciate the artistry and skill that went into his poetry. Maybe in the future, I'll give him another chance and approach his work with a different perspective. Who knows, I might discover something new and wonderful.

Ancient flowery poetry of the "Oh great [name of god] who ascends from on high" sort really puts me off.

Recently, I made an attempt to finally overcome this aversion and "get it" by reading a translation of Pindar's odes. However, I failed miserably and had to bail out.

I found this book to be an absolute bore. The language seemed overly elaborate and convoluted, lacking the simplicity and directness that I prefer in poetry.

Perhaps the original Greek version is better and more engaging. Maybe the nuances and beauty of the language are lost in translation. But based on this experience, I don't think I'll be rushing to explore more ancient poetry anytime soon.

It's possible that I just don't have the appreciation or understanding for this particular style of poetry. Or maybe I need to approach it from a different perspective or with more background knowledge.

Either way, for now, I'll stick to the types of poetry that I enjoy and leave the ancient flowery stuff to those who have a greater affinity for it.