Pindar’s Epinician Myth:an Ethnographic Study Of Pindar’s Myth-Making

An ethnographic study of Pindar’s epinician odes provides a new perspective on the study of Pindar’s myth-making. By focusing on the mythic elements in Pindar’s Olympian 1, Pythian 1, Pythian 2 and Pythian 3, this inquiry introduces a clear definition of Epinician Myth and places the continuous mythological narratives under the light of social, cultural and religious interaction in Sicily during the time when Ancient Greece was undergoing a great change from the Archaic period to the Classical period.The first part examines in detail the four epinician odes Pindar composed for the same patron, Hieron of Syracuse, for his athletic victories in both Olympian Games and Pythian Games. By underlining the relationship among mythological narratives, the author points out that there are two types of mythological narratives existing in Pindar’s epinician odes and brings into focus three epinician myths.The second part analyzes one by one these three epinician myths and through the illustration of each myth, the author reveals that epinician myth is fabricated by Pindar while re-using and re-adapting old mythic stories. Due that epinician myth by itself is a complex, its ambiguity and complexity dulls its functionality and henceforth invites the poet to use different strategies endeavoring to show the audience its true point as well as maintain his authority as the traditional poet.Based on the analysis of the epinician myths for Hieron, the third part combines the three epinician myths as a whole and underlines the fact that the poet constructs a systematic narrative in order to parallel Hieron on earth with Zeus in heaven, displaying his utmost power, might and wealth. Hieron, the tyrant of Syracuse, commissions Pindar a great deal just to secure his status and strengthen his influence all over Greece as the leader of the most powerful and wealthy city-state.