The Power of Poetry and Immortal Fame

Where it surfaces

• I For Hiero of Syracuse

  Pindar asserts that song grants lasting fame, comparing the victory to a star brighter than the sun, and expresses confidence in his own poetic skill to glorify Hiero.

• III For Theron of Akragas

  The Muse inspires the poet to create a song that grants Theron deathless fame, equating his glory with the highest achievements.

• VI For Agesias of Syracuse

  Pindar asserts that great deeds require poets to record them, and his song ensures Agesias' glory endures.

• VII For Diagoras of Rhodes

  Pindar's ode itself is presented as a nectar-like gift that grants lasting fame to Diagoras, ensuring his victories are remembered.

• VIII For Alkimedon of Aegina

  The ode itself ensures that Alkimedon's victory and his family's glory are remembered forever.

• IX For Epharmostus of Opus

  Pindar asserts that song grants lasting glory, comparing his praise to a swift steed or galley, and calls on the Muse to crown the victor.

• X For Agesidamus of Locri Epizephyrii

  Pindar emphasizes that without song, athletic toil is forgotten; his ode grants Agesidamus undying renown.

• XI For Agesidamus of Lokri Epizephyrii

  The poet asserts that song provides a 'sure foundation' for fame, making victory immortal through verse.

• XII For Ergoteles of Himera

  Pindar's ode itself grants Ergoteles enduring renown, transforming his personal story into a timeless example of triumph over adversity.

• XIII For Xenophon of Corinth

  Pindar asserts his role as a truthful witness, immortalizing the victories of the house through song, and acknowledges the Muse's presence.

• XIV For Asopichus of Orchomenus

  The poet's song is the vehicle for immortalizing Asopichus's victory and conveying glory to his father in the underworld.

• I For Hiero of Syracuse

  The lyre's music soothes gods and mortals; poetry ensures lasting fame, contrasting Croesus' kindness with Phalaris' infamy.

• II For Hiero of Syracuse

  Pindar's song confers lasting glory on Hiero, likened to Tyrian merchandise.

• IV

  The poet vows to hymn Arkesilas' fame, emphasizing poetry's role in conferring eternal glory.

• V For Arkesilas of Kyrene

  The victory song ensures that Arkesilas' deeds and those of his ancestors are remembered, linking earthly success to immortal glory.

• VI For Xenocrates of Akragas

  The treasure-house of song is described as imperishable, granting eternal glory to the victor and his family.

• VIII For Aristomenes of Aegina

  Pindar's song immortalizes Aristomenes' victory and the glory of Aegina, linking poetry to lasting renown.

• IX For Telesikrates of Kyrene

  Pindar asserts that his song will immortalize Telesikrates' victory, rescuing it from oblivion and ensuring lasting fame.

• X For Hippokleas of Thessaly

  Pindar's song is likened to a bee gathering honey, aiming to immortalize Hippokleas' glory.

• XI For Thrasydaius of Thebes

  Pindar emphasizes the Muse's role in singing for a fee and the lasting glory poetry bestows on victors like Thrasydaius and heroes like Iolaus and the Dioskouroi.

• XII For Midas of Akragas, on his victory in flute-playing, 490 BC

  The victory is immortalized through song, and the myth of Athene's flute invention underscores the enduring power of music and art.

• II For Timodemus of Acharnae

  Pindar's song immortalizes Timodemus's victory, following the Homeric tradition of praising Zeus.

• III For Aristokleides of Aegina

  The Muse's song is the "meetest companion" of victory; Pindar blends honeyed song with the victor's achievements to grant lasting fame.

• IV For Timasarchus of Aegina

  Pindar emphasizes song's ability to heal, immortalize deeds, and surpass mere physical achievements.

• V For Pytheas of Aegina

  Pindar contrasts his living song with lifeless statues, asserting poetry's power to spread glory across the seas.

• VI For Alkimidas of Aegina

  Pindar emphasizes that noble deeds are rescued from oblivion by song, and invokes the Muse to ensure Alkimidas' victory is remembered.

• VII For Sogenes of Aegina

  Pindar asserts that song alone can preserve great deeds from oblivion, comparing it to a mirror that reflects glory.

• VIII For Deinias of Aegina

  Pindar promises to raise a 'pillar of song' for Deinias and his family, asserting that poetry grants lasting glory.

• IX For Chromius of Etna

  The ode asserts that great deeds must be celebrated in song to avoid being 'buried in earth,' and the bard's voice waxes bold with wine.

• II

  Pindar contrasts the old poets who sang for love with the modern mercenary Muse, and insists his own song is not a lifeless statue but a living tribute to carry Xenokrates' fame.

• IV For Melissus of Thebes

  Homer's poetry immortalizes Aias, and Pindar's song will similarly preserve Melissus's achievements.

• V For Phylakidas of Aegina

  Pindar emphasizes that song grants enduring renown, as seen in the praise of Phylakidas and the Aiakids through lyre and flute.

• VI

  The poet uses song to immortalize Phylakidas's victory, emphasizing the enduring glory conferred by poetic praise.

• VII For Strepsiades of Thebes

  The poet asserts that only poetry preserves glory, as mortals forget heroic deeds unless they are wedded to song.

• VIII For Kleandros of Aegina

  The Muses' dirge for Achilles and the poet's song for Kleandros demonstrate how poetry grants eternal fame to heroes.