Blog Post 4: Ode 13 Bacchylides

Analysis

Victor: Pytheas

Victor's Father: Lampon

Homeland: Aigina

Event: Pankration--anything goes wrestling/boxing (1)

Games: Nemean. Stated in line 66 and inferred because the pankration comes from the Herculean acts and these games are dedicated to Zeus and Herakles

Missing lines 1-43: Usually in these first lines, there is a small description of the victory itself, full of epithets and an invocation of the muses/gods and the everlasting nature of the victor's fame and glory. It also often makes reference to the specific games in which the victory was won. 

Lines 44-45: Part of the moral of the poem. The reader can infer this because "punishments to mortal men" to "put an end to arrogance" is mentioned. It is likely that the punishments are given by Zeus/other gods, as they are the typical enforcers of Ancient Greece. The moral likely deals with the ignobility of arrogance. 

Ant.2: The story of a descendant of Perseus (the child of Zeus and Danae who was destined to kill his father. Killed Medusa, saved Andromeda, killed his father by accident while competing in discus, killed the court of Polydectes to save his mother, later killed by Dionysus) (2). Herakles was a descendant of Perseus, so the "crushing hand" against the "savage lion" is most likely Herakles, who killed the Nemean lion. The "flashing bronze" is a sword of bronze able to kill men but not the "unapproachable bulk", or Herakles, which is to say that the victors who partake in the pankration are strong enough such that bronze weapons cannot effect them, so they must be taken down by the hands of another man. This section essentially details the myth that led to the creation of the pankration event. 

Ep.2: The "golden fame" and "flowers of glory-laden Victory (Goddess Nike) are given to those preferred by Zeus, as they sit "beside [his] altar" for "a few men throughout their lifetimes" who battle in the pankration and "flourish in the sight of many". The reader is aware that death is finite and fame is infinite, because "when death's dark cloud conceals them, there remains renown...for a thing well done". This section essentially explains the classic Greek idea that the victors of these games are preferred by the gods and while they will die they will live on in glory forever. 

Str.3: Reasserts that the games are at Nemea and the "son of Lampon" has "attained" "honors". Nationalist reference of Aigina, his "ancestral island", to which his victory gives "gentle sounds of revelry that gives delight" due to his "strength that gained the upper hand in combat". 

Ant.3: In reference to the namesake of Aigina and the nation itself, to which the "son of Kronos" (Zeus) "has given great honor" by giving preference to their fighter, Pytheas, and allowing him to be the victor. In addition, the image of the victory "like a bright torch" "in view of all the Greeks" is a classic Olympic image, possibly meaning that the victor may continue to compete in the Olympic games as well. It is also stated that Pytheas' "might" is sung by "many a high-vaughnting girl", or chorus girls, who "lightly [leap] in company with worthy friends and neighbors". This is yet another invocation of the fame and lasting reputation of glory that comes with victory. 

Ep. 3: Transitions into a story of the native land of the victor through speaking to the victor's mother ("mistress of a land that welcomes guests") "and Endeis too". Endeis is a nymph of Aigina who was a child of the centaur and married Aiakos to birth Peleus and Telamon. (3).

Str. 4: Transitions into a story of Achilles in the Trojan war through the fact that Achilles was a foster child of the centaur, thus related to Endeis. Also transitions through Achilles and the Trojan War to a story of Ajax's battle with Hektor, in which he prevented Hektor from "set[ting]...[the ships]...ablaze" with the help of Athena. (4) This is tied to Achilles because it was at around this time that Peleus sent his son, Achilles, into battle in his armor.

Ant. 4: Continues the story of Achilles "setting the Dardanians free from their woes". Also discusses Achilles' glory and strength through the fact that "his foes" "cowered out of battle's reach" as he "[shook] the spear that slaughtered multitudes". Also introduces the turning point that he "ceased to take part in warfare" later in life.

Ep. 4: Imagery comparing sailors in a dark and stormy night that opens to reveal calm and sunshine to the joy and hope that encapsulated the Trojans when they learned that Achilles was no longer fighting.

Str. 5: Continues the simile describing the Trojans' hope and explains that Achilles is not fighting so he can stay home with Briseis. With their hope, the Trojans leave home and "[bring] fierce battle" to the Danaans.

Ant. 5: Discusses the perceived turn of events in the Trojan War as "under Hektor's hand" "the...earth reddened" "with the blood of...men".

Ep. 5: Begins the transition from the Trojan War back to present-day (the games) by stating that the Trojans thought they "would hold sway...throughout the city", but they "were destined...to make...[the] waters crimson, dying...[at] the...hands of Aiakos' descendants."

Str.6: Continues the transition back to present-day by invoking the goddess of goodness, valor, and excellence (Arete), who "does not grow dim in hiding" as an explanation for the continuity of glory for the Aiginians. (5)

Ant. 6: Continued invocation of Excellence (Arete), stating that she "does honor to...Aiakos...and...keeps the towns...under safe guard in peace." This takes us back to present day, as the Excellence of Aiakos has helped the island continue to be victorious through her continued preference. (5)

Ep. 6: Back to present-day (the games), where Pytheas is honored but also Menandros, his trainer, and Athena, who both have "set crowns upon the hair of countless men". The invocation of Athena is highly traditional, but the praise of Menandros is reflective of a greater level of wealth of Lampon as it is not seen frequently, thus must be an added cost.

Str. 7: Somewhat of a moral that "justice bids" everyone to "praise...a man of skill" (Pytheas). Additionally, that "truth...and...the thing which has been nobly done" will always come "into public view" whereas "the ill-disposed...fade away from sight". This is to play on a common trope regarding the finitude of life and how the noble will be remembered and talked about for their acts but the ignoble will be forgotten.

Ant.7: Most likely to Lampon, thanking him for "trusting" Bacchylides and "the Muses" to immortalize his son in song.

Ep. 7: Continued thanks to Lampon for commissioning him to write the poem and for his "hospitality". Additionaly invoking Kleio, the Muse whose name means 'make famous', to do just that for the victor. (6)

References: 

(1) Greek Lyric

(2) http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Perseus/perseus.html
(3) http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheEndeis.html
(4) http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/K5.10.html
(5) http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Arete.html
(6) http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/MousaKleio.html