Blog Post 4: Bacchylides Ode 13

Pankration: a kind of sports, mix of boxing and wrestling

 (Ant.2)

The subject of the story is Herakles who is Perseus’ descendant.

Bacchylides compared the strength and fame of Pytheas to that of Herakles.

(Str.3)

Praising Pytheas for his victory at the pankration.

Aigina: a city state and also a nymph

(Ant. 3)

Kronos: king of the titans. Father of Zeus

Son of Kronos: Zeus

Still praising Pytheas, describing how god chose him for the victory.

(Ep. 3)

Talks about the story of Aigiana’s son Aiakos, Aiakos’ wife Endeis, and their sons Peleus and Telamon who were the great warriors.

(Str. 4) 

Achilles: son of Peleus

Eriboia: Telamon’s wife

Ajax: son of Telamon and Eriboia

Hektor: a warrior of Troy

Ajax was defending the Greek ship and Hektor was attacking.

         (going into deeper layer from the present time)

At that time, Achilles got angry and left the warfare which made the Trojans more advantageous.

        ( deeper layer)

(Ant 4) deeper layer 

Dardanians: Trojans

Previously (another deeper layer) Trojans were kept inside because they were afraid of Achilles 

(Ep.4)

when angry Achilles left the warfare, they came out to fight, “joyfully making their way beyond all hope to land.”(coming back from the layer)

(Str.5)

Briseis: Achilles’ woman but she was taken away by Agamemnon, a Greek army’s commander in chief

Trojans are coming to the battle after leaving Laomedon’s walls or the walls of Troy.

(Ant. 5)

Danaans: Greeks

The scene of bloody battle where Trojans under Hektor attacks Greeks

                 (coming back from the layer)

(Ep. 5)

Skamandro: river in Troy

Torojans’ continual attack and Greeks are losing.

(Str.6)

Aiakos’ descendants: Achilles

The Skamandro river turned red by the blood of Trojans who were killed by Achilles who came back to warfare.

(Ant.6)

Change of subject to Aigina, the nymph , the mother of Aiakos.

Aigina honors the land and takes care of the city and men.

(coming back from the layer)

(Ep.6)

Coming back to the celebration of Pytheas.

Menandros: trainer of Phtheas

(coming back from the deeper layer to present )

(Str.7)

Stating that people should praise the victor, a man with skill

(Ant.7)

Stating that the victor has hope, confidence and faithful to gods

(Ep.7)

Bacchylides mentioning Lampon who requested the poem and saying that he wish Lampon like the gift- the poem

Resource : Greek Lyric