Philosopher Pindar: The Complete Odes #11/71

He fenced the Altis*round and marked it off in an open space,

designated the plain around as a resting place for meals,

and honoured the Alpheus along with the twelve chief gods.

He gave the hill of Cronus its name; for before that time,

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when Oenomaus was king, it had had no name,

but was covered deep in snow.

At this first-born ceremony the Fates too stood close by,

as did Time,*the only arbiter of absolute truth.

Time as it travels onward has clearly revealed

how Heracles divided up the spoils of war

and made an offering of the choicest portion,

and how he then founded the four-year festival

with the first Olympiad and its victorious triumphs.

Who then won the first fresh crown with hands, feet

or chariot,

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planting glory in the games in his thoughts and winning it by his deeds?

Licymnius’ son Oeonus ran best in the straight stretch of the stadion race,

he who had come from Midea, at the head of his army.

In the wrestling, Echemus brought glory to Tegea.

Doryclus, whose city was Tiryns, won the boxing prize, and in the four-horsed chariot race Samus of Mantinea.*

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Halirothius’ son Phrastor hit the mark with his javelin,

while Niceus whirled the stone in his hand and threw it beyond all others;

a great shout burst forth from the crowd,

and the lovely light of the moon’s fair face made the evening bright.

The whole precinct rang with hymns of praise, sung at the

joyful feast.

So, following this ancient example, we shall in turn sing a song

that takes its name from proud victory, extolling

the thunder and fiery bolt of Zeus, the noise-awakener,

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the blazing lightning that accompanies every triumph.

Seductive melodies will respond to the pipe’s reed,

songs which have at last come to light by famous Dirce.*

But just as the heart of a man, now far from youth,

is warmed with love for the longed-for son his wife has borne him—

for when wealth passes into the charge of a stranger,

a man from abroad, it torments a dying man—

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so, Hagesidamus, a man who has done noble deeds

and reached the house of Hades without a song to praise him

has wasted his breath and won but little pleasure from his toil.

But on you the sweet-toned lyre and tuneful pipe are

shedding fame,

and the Pierian daughters of Zeus*spread your glory far afield.

And I have eagerly added my support to the famous people of Locri,

showering their city of fine men with honey.

I have sung the praises of Archestratus’ handsome son, whom Isaw

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victorious by the strength of his hands on that day near Olympia’s altar;

beautiful to look upon, and endued with that youthfulness which once,

through the help of the Cyprus-born goddess,

saved Ganymede*from pitiless death.

OLYMPIAN 11

For Hagesidamus of Western Locri, winner in the boys’ boxing

OLYMPIAN 12

For Ergoteles of Himera, winner in the long-distance race