Bacchylides, Ode 13
Introduction
Bacchylides wrote this specific ode to commemorate the son
of Lampon named Pytheas, the victor in the Pankration event of the Nemean
games. Unfortunately, the introduction of ode 13 is missing; however, similar
to other odes that were dedicated for the Pan-Hellenic games, it can be assumed
that the introduction mentions the Gods and the Muses, victor’s name and his
accomplishments.
Ant. 2
Bacchylides mentioning the “savage lion” and Perseus’
descendant most likely confirms that the story is about Herakles, who slays the
Nemean lion for his first labor and is related to Perseus through his mother,
Alkmene. Because Nemean game was specifically related to Zeus and Hercules,
Bacchylides begins the ode by explaining the great power of Herakles to emphasize
the Pankration event.
Ep. 2, Str.3, and Ant.
3
In Ep. 2 and Str. 3,
Bacchylides gets into more details. By mentioning the game of Nemea, son of
Lampon and his city, and the combat with pankratiasts, he clearly address why and
for whom he writes the ode. Very similarly wrote in other odes, Bacchylides
mentions the everlasting glory and fame of such victor of any Pen-Hellenic
games by using phrases such as “golden fame to flourish, a high-vaunting girl,
and upon the flowering hills.”
Ep.3
Bacchylides especially
focuses on Aigina, the victor’s motherland. Endeis is a princess
who married King Aikos of the island of Aigina and gave birth to Peleus and Telamon.
Str. 4, Ant. 4, Ep. 4
As Bacchylides mentions Peleus and Telamon, he chooses
to switch the subject by introducing a story of the Trojan War and Achilles.
Describing the fight between Ajax and Hektor and the great power of Achilles,
“driving his foes before him in confusion”, Bacchylides compares the nature of
sea to the men fighting in the war in order to put strong emphasis on Achilles’
unwillingness to fight.
Str. 5, Ant.5, Ep. 5
Since Achilles’ staying in his quarters with
Briseis truly was good news to the Trojans, Bacchylides switches the tone of
explaining the Trojan battle. He writes phrases like, “glimpsing a patch of
brightness agleam beneath the storm-clouds, and with great hopes did they draw
breath and utter their overweening cries” to describe the change of Trojan
soldiers’ point of view, which clearly becomes more confident with a chance of
winning.
Str. 6, Ant. 6, Ep. 6
After giving details about the Trojan War,
Bacchylides returns to his original purpose of this ode. He not only praises
Pytheas, but also mentions Menandros, his trainer to provide further
explanation of such glory and fame for winning the pankration event.
St.7, Ant. 7, Ep. 7
Bacchylides continues to emphasize how significant
and honorable it is to win such event and deserve respect among the public. In
addition, he mentions the father of Pytheas, Lampon to thank the opportunity
and most likely the commission for writing such ode for his son. Then, he ends
the ode by mentioning the Muses, which was one of many essential parts in terms
of writing odes.
Greek Lyrics by Andrew M. Miller (p.218-224)
You touched on most of the key details of this in your annotations - good, thorough work on this complex ode. The next move for any annotation is to then get into the specific moves that the poem makes on its own - what sort of moral message might be imparted here? What's the aim of the ode? An interesting contrast to look to is that between the maidens (or parthenoi) being evoked, in relation to the violence of the pankration, equivalent to today's ultimate fighting. Lastly, I did notice that you had a few sentences that ran on quite a ways. A tip: if you find yourself using more than one subordinating conjunction (however, unfortunately, etc) you might want to break it up into more than one sentence. Also, check how you referred to the Nemean games as "Nemean game" - you need a preceding definite article as well as "games" in plural.
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