Olympian 13

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

Background
Silver stater of Corinth, 478–458 BC. Pegasus

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
Coins of Corinth: Pegasus; Athena; Persephone; Bellerophon and Chimaera

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
  1. Sandys, ed. 1915, p. 130.
  2. Gardiner 1910, p. 370.
  3. Sandys, ed. 1915, pp. 130–1.
  4. Sandys, ed. 1915, p. 131.

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

Attribution:

Further reading
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