Pindar (522 – 443 BC)(Ancient Literature)

 Pindar

     (522 – 443 BC)

 Pindar was an ancient Greek lyric poet from Thebes.

 He was the first Greek poet to reflect on the nature of poetry and on the poet’s role.

 His poetry illustrates the beliefs and values of Archaic Greece at the dawn of classical period.

 About ten days before he died, the goddess Persephone appeared to him and complained that she was the only divinity to whom he never composed a rhyme.

 He died around 440 BC while attending a festival at Argos.

 Scholars at the Library of Alexandria collected his compositions in 17 books organized according to genre.

 One book of humnoi “Hymns”, 

one book of Paines “Paeans” ,

 two books of dithuramboi “Dithyrambs”,

2 books of Prosadia “Processionals”, 

3 books of parthenia “Song for Light Dance” , 

1 book of threnoi “Laments”, 

4 books of epinikia “Victory odes” – above all Epinikia Odes written to commemorate athletic victories, survive in complete form.

 His victory Odes are grouped in 4 books: Olympion, Pythian, Isthmian and Nemean Games.

 Longinus likens to a vast fire and Athenaeus refers to him as a Great Voked Pindar.

 Pindaric Ode – There are 3 types of stanza in each ode based on choral positions. Strophe (right to left),

anti-strophe (left to right) and Epode (in a circle).

 A variation of Pindaric ode called Irregular Ode was developed by Abraham Cowley (17th century).