Studies in Pindar

Abstract

The bulk of this thesis consists of commentaries on Pindar Pythian 11 and Nemean 2. As a prologue there is a general introduction to Pindar analysing some Pindaric problems, and an analysis of some features of the Pindaric scholia (the ancient commentaries on Pindar).

The INTRODUCTION shows now Pindar tailored the mythical parts of his victory odes to suit the occasion, and how the odes do not nicely conform to a general pattern.

The second part, TITLES and INSCRIPTIONES in the PINDARIC SCHOLIA and the OCCASION of PYTHIAN ELEVEN, snows that the dates and titles given by the scholia for Pindar's odes are an unreliable amalgam of bits of information and guesses (often inferences from the odes themselves).

The COMMENTARY on PYTHIAN ELEVEN tackles the problem posed by Pindar apparently spatchcocking an irrelevant mythical story about Agamemnon into the ode. It is suggested (l) the victor's conquest at the Games has affinities to Orestes's conquest over his father's murderers; (2) when Pindar says he went off-course in telling the myth he is being disingenuous; representing what he thinks would be the attitude to the myth of the victor's family; (3) themes of envy, moderation, success, highlighted in the myth are relevant to the victor.

The COMMENTARY on NEMEAN TWO suggests this short ode (like other snort ones) was designed to preface the komos (victory sing-song and celebrations) held for the victor. The ode's compressed thought and obscure allusions are unravelled: Orion following the Pleiades symbolises how the victor may hope to gain a big win at Olympia after his recent little successes; Hector's submission to Aias is analogous to the submissions gained by the victor over his opponents. Puns and etymologising are shown to be a feature of the poem.