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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2009
The story of Orestes in Pindar's Pythian XI presents two problems. First, there is the manner of its introduction; as Wilamowitz says, ‘ganz ausserlich ist die Verbindung mit dem Mythos.’ After praising the victory of the Theban Thrasydaeus in the Pythian Games Pindar moves with astonishing abruptness to the story of Agamemnon's death and the vengeance of Orestes. At first sight nothing could be more superficial than the way in which Pindar passes to the myth. Thrasydaeus has glorified his home
⋯ν ⋯φνεαῖς ⋯ραισι πυλ⋯δ
νικ⋯ν ξ⋯νου Λ⋯κωνος 'ο;ρ⋯στα,
τ⋯ν δ⋯ φονευομ⋯νου πατρ⋯ς κτλ.
page 129 note 1 Pindaros p. 260.
page 129 note 2 Schol. Pyth. XI 23 a.
page 129 note 3 Cf. Farnell, L. R., The Works of Pindar I p. 146Google Scholar.
page 130 note 1 P.S.I. X (1934). No. 1174Google Scholar. The fragment was first published with a full discussion by Coppola, G., Introduzionc a Pindaro pp. 231–242Google Scholar.
page 130 note 2 Fr. 2 Diehl.
page 130 note 3 VIII 778–9.
page 130 note 4 Theb. II 134–140.
page 131 note 1 Cf. Schroeder, O., Pindars Pythitn p. 103Google Scholar.
page 131 note 2 Cf. Wilamowitz, , Pindaros pp. 186–7Google Scholar.
page 132 note 1 Frs. 13–14 Diehl.
page 133 note 1 Cf. Wilamowitz, , Pindaros pp. 477–480Google Scholar.
page 134 note 1 Aischylos: Orestie II p. 251.
page 134 note 2 Fr. 12 Diehl
page 134 note 3 Pindaros p. 263.
page 135 note 1 The problem is discussed with great care and fairness by Farnell, , The Works of Pindar pp. 221–5Google Scholar. It is of course possible that the Thrasydaeus of 454 is different from the Thrasydaeus of 454.
page 136 note 1 The whole situation is discussed by Wade-Gery, H. T. in J.H.S. LII (1932) pp. 211–213Google Scholar.
page 137 note 1 For ⋯λικ⋯ο meaning ‘time of life’ as here compare Pyth. IV 157, γηραι⋯ν μ⋯ρος ⋯λικ⋯ας.Also Aesch. Pers. 914, Plat. Gorg. 484c.
page 141 note 1 Trs. W. Headlam.
