The Odes of Pindar

By: Pindar

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Pindar was one of the greatest lyric poets of ancient Greece. He is best known today for his odes to the victors of athletic contests, including those at famed Olympia. These odes, the only complete surviving pieces by Pindar, are marvels of sustained imagination, packed with dense parallels between the athletic victor, his illustrious aristocratic ancestors, and the myths of Olympian gods and heroes like Jason, Heracles, and Perseus.

Those myths were the religious foundation for the athletic festivities. Pindar knew these athletes and their noble families, as he was a member of the nobility - he had a personal link to the traditions that were highly cherished by Dorian Greeks. Pindar's renown as a poet was richly deserved, and he was extremely well paid for his work.

Pindar was born in Boeotia around 518 B.C., and, according to tradition, died at Argos in 443 B.C. Some sources say he lived to be 79. His first extant ode, Pythian number 10, was written in 498 B.C. His last, a Nemean ode, was composed in 444 B.C.

Although the Olympic games are today the most famous of Greek athletic contests, they were not the only ones of importance. The Isthmian, Nemean, and Pythian games were also highly regarded in ancient times, and odes to victors in those games make up a large part of these surviving pieces. The extreme piety with regard to the gods Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hera, and the Muses is singularly apparent throughout. It is indicative of the spiritual reverence of the Greek people in this period. There has never been a poet who celebrated the majesty and mystic significance of athletic competition more magnificently than Pindar.

©2007 Audio Connoisseur (P)2007 Audio Connoisseur

Soulful as the Iliad

Almost one hour of exposition, the actual odes don’t start till chapter 4. I recommend you skip the first three, they will put you to sleep.

this is certainly a very florally language book which uses too many idioms and synonyms to be contextually clear

this book is just overly complicated the author speaks like a Bard and it could have been done so much more clearly

A poet who transcended his commercial requirements

Original poems, most with mythic comparisons, for patrons on the occasion of sporting victories, coronations, weddings, funerals, etc.
They endure because they are terrific.
Well read by Charlton Griffin.

Glorious, masterful poetry from ancient times

This is a phenomenal find, if you like to hear beautiful verse, performed with dignity and confidence. This poetry has managed to survive centuries yet somehow still seems bright as day.