Ben Long
Bacchylides Ode 13
Event: Pankration- anything goes fighting
Location: Nemea
Winner: Pytheas, from Aigina
“Lines 1-43 missing”- Like Bacchylides other odes these
lines probably describe where Pytheas came from, his background, who his family
was, and the details of his victory in the games. It also likely talks about how great Pytheas
is, how he now has eternal glory, and the gods are smiling upon him.
Ant 2- “So crushing…sweat and toil”- These lines spell out
the origin of the Pankration. It is the
story of how “Perseus’ descendant”, who is assumed to be Heracles, killed the
Nemean lion in what was the first of his twelve labors. When Heracles was fighting the lion, his
“flashing sword” could not penetrate the “unnaproachable bulk” of the lion, so
he choked it to death instead. Heracles’
tactics and fighting style became known as pankration, a word that means “all
might”. After Heracles slayed the Lion
the event of Pankration was created where people would fight in hand-to-hand
combat.
Epode 2- “Since then…portion”- this part of the poem is basically saying
that those who win the Pankration are lauded by Zeus because they the few that
have “golden fame” out of the many that have tried to achieve it. It goes on to say that even when these men
are concealed by the “death’s dark cloud” and they are no longer living, their
fame will live on forever and their accomplishments will never die.
Strophe 3: “Such honors…pankratists”- Confirms that the event was indeed held at
Nemea and that Pytheas, the “son of Lampon” has brought honor to his home,
Aigina.
Antistrope 3: “O daughter…neighbors”- Talks about how Zeus
has bestowed a great honor on Aigina by allowing Pytheas to be victorious. His
victory is like a “bright torch” (referencing the Olympic torch). Because of his victory, “high-vaunting
girl[s]” everywhere in Greece are singing about his great accomplishments.
Epode 3: “Wreathed…Love”- goes into story about Aigina in
which Endeis married the king Aikos and had two sons who were great warriors,
Peleus and Telamon.
Strophe 4: “Their battle…woes”- Tells story of Ajax in the Trojan war. It is the story of Ajax’s battle with Hektor
during which Ajax stopped Hektor from “rushing to the ships to set them
awesomely ablaze”. The poem then talks
about how Peleus’ son Achilles set the “Dardanians free of their woes”, which
means he killed them, during this same time.
Antistrophe 4: “Previously…warfare”- talks more about the
Dardanians and how they usually stay inside “Illion’s prodigious citadel” when
Achilles came they ran away because Achilles was so powerful and they would not
be able to defeat him and they were afraid of him. They were right to be afraid because Achilles
slaughtered them in “multitudes”. After
slaughtering all of them, Achilles refused to take part in warfare.
Epode 4: “then…land”: draws comparison between how the
Trojans feel now that Achilles stopped fighting and the sea and the waves. Everything is calm and the “light of dawn
shines forth for mortals “. This
basically means they feel that the worst is over and everything is going to be
okay.
Strophe 5: “in this way…them”: Reveals that the reason
Achilles isn’t fighting is because he is with Briseis, a woman he captured
while killing the Trojans. Upon learning
this, the Trojans are reinvigorated and go back and fight bringing their
newfound confidence or “fierce battle” with them.
Antistrophe 5: “and rousing…onslaught”- talks about how the
tide of the war turned and “under Hektor’s hand” the Trojans were victorious
Epode 5: “truly…crimson”- more about the Trojan come
back. They made “Skamandros’ eddying
waters crimson”. Skamandros is the river
god so it is saying that they killed so many people that the blood turned the
rivers red.
Strophe 6: “dying…hiding”- brings it back to how it was
about the descendants Aikos who were responsible for the great victory. Aikos is the king of Aigina, which is where
Pytheas is from. It is the poem’s way of
transitioning back to the main point of the poem.
Antistrophe 6: “but…peace”- talks more about how great
Pytheas’ victory is for Aigina and Pytheas,
he “who holds the wreath dear” will help Aigina to keep moving in the
right direction
Epode 6: “Celebrate…Greeks”- there must be celebration
because Pytheas won, but his trainer Menandros should be thanked and honored as
well for helping him win
Strophe 7: “Unless…sight”- says men of skill must be praised
and the truth always prevails and outshines all the lies.
Antistrophe 7:
“he…veils”- basically Bacchillides is thanking Lampon for allowing him
to write about his son Pytheas
Epode 7: “this newly…people”- more thanking of Lampon for
letting him write the poem, considers it an honor and a gift Also says that hopefully, Kleio, the muse
whose name literally means “make famous” will make Bacchilides famous.
Sources:
Greek Lyric
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