Pindarus, Olympia 4: women's reaction to a contestant at Hypsipyle's funeral games for her father

Pindarus, Olympia 4: women's reaction to a contestant at Hypsipyle's funeral games for her father

518 - after 446 BCE

Ode

Literary source

This is a reference to the funeral games Hypsipyle organized for her father Thoas in Lemnos. Clymenes' son Erginus was mocked by the local women because his grey hair made him seem unfit to compete, but he was vindicated by his victory.

O Zeus most high, whose chariot is the tireless-footed thundercloud! on thee I call; for it is thine Hours that, in their circling dance to the varied notes of the lyre's minstrelsy, sent me to bear witness to the most exalted of all contests; and, when friends are victorious, forthwith the heart of the noble leapeth up with gladness at the sweet tidings.
But, Son of Cronus, that holdest Etna, that breeze-swept height which lieth heavily on the mighty Typhon! welcome the Olympian victor; welcome, for the Graces’ sake, this minstrel band, this long-enduring light of widely potent prowess. ’Tis the minstrel-band that cometh in honour of the chariot of Psaumis, who, crowned with the olive of Pisa, is eager to win high glory for Camarina. May Heaven be gracious to his further prayers, for I praise one who is right ready in the rearing of coursers, one who rejoiceth in welcoming all his guests, and one who in pure heart devoteth himself to Peace that loveth the State. I shall utter a word untinged with falsehood. “Trial is the true test of mortal men”.
This it was that caused the son of Clymenus to cease to be mocked by the women of Lemnos. When, in armour of bronze, he won the foot-race, he spake on this wise to Hypsipylé, as he went to receive the crown: “Such am I in swiftness of foot, with hands and heart to match. Even young men full often find their hair growing grey, even before the fitting time of life”.

John Sandys, The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments (= Loeb Classical Library; 56), London 1915.

ἐλατὴρ ὑπέρτατε βροντᾶς ἀκαμαντόποδος Ζεῦ: τεαὶ γὰρ ὧραι
ὑπὸ ποικιλοφόρμιγγος ἀοιδᾶς ἑλισσόμεναί μ᾽ ἔπεμψαν
ὑψηλοτάτων μάρτυρ᾽ ἀέθλων.
ξείνων δ᾽ εὖ πρασσόντων ἔσαναν αὐτίκ᾽ ἀγγελίαν
ποτὶ γλυκεῖαν ἐσλοί.
ἀλλ᾽, ὦ Κρόνου παῖ, ὃς Αἴτναν ἔχεις,
ἶπον ἀνεμόεσσαν ἑκατογκεφάλα Τυφῶνος ὀβρίμου,
Οὐλυμπιονίκαν δέκευ
Χαρίτων ἕκατι τόνδε κῶμον,
χρονιώτατον φάος εὐρυσθενέων ἀρετᾶν. Ψαύμιος γὰρ ἵκει
ὀχέων, ὅς, ἐλαίᾳ στεφανωθεὶς Πισάτιδι, κῦδος ὄρσαι
σπεύδει Καμαρίνᾳ. θεὸς εὔφρων
εἴη λοιπαῖς εὐχαῖς: ἐπεί νιν αἰνέω μάλα μὲν
τροφαῖς ἑτοῖμον ἵππων,
χαίροντά τε ξενίαις πανδόκοις
καὶ πρὸς ἁσυχίαν φιλόπολιν καθαρᾷ γνώμᾳ τετραμμένον.
οὐ ψεύδεϊ τέγξω λόγον:
διάπειρά τοι βροτῶν ἔλεγχος:
ἅπερ Κλυμένοιο παῖδα
Λαμνιάδων γυναικῶν
ἔλυσεν ἐξ ἀτιμίας.
χαλκέοισι δ᾽ ἐν ἔντεσι νικῶν δρόμον
ἔειπεν Ὑψιπυλείᾳ μετὰ στέφανον ἰών:
‘ οὗτος ἐγὼ ταχυτᾶτι:
χεῖρες δὲ καὶ ἦτορ ἴσον.
φύονται δὲ καὶ νέοις ἐν ἀνδράσιν
πολιαὶ θαμὰ καὶ παρὰ τὸν ἁλικίας
ἐοικότα χρόνον.’

John Sandys (ed.), The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments (= Loeb Classical Library; 56), London 1915.

D. E. Gerber (1987), Pindar’s “Olympian” Four: A Commentary, Quaderni Urbinati Di Cultura Classica 25, 21–23.