Venice masks

Monday, 6 October 2025

Nemea 2 - Pindar

Even as the Homeridai, 
the rhapsode singers of stories, for the greater part 
begin with a prelude to Zeus, so this man also 
is given his first choral for victory in the sacred games at Nemea 
in Zeus' grove, the much-besung. 

If his life in its speed 
along the path his fathers trod has given 
glory to great Athens, it is his due 
over and again to reap the splendid flowers of Isthmian victories, Pythian also, 
this son of Timonoos. It is fitting 
 
for Orion to follow 
not far behind the mountain Peleiades. 
Likewise Salamis is strong to build a man who can be 
a fighter. At Troy, Hektor gave way before Ares. O Timodamos, your strength 
and patient courage in the pankration will bring you through. 
 
Acharnai's sons (it is proverbial) 
are brave men, and for contests 
the Timodamidai are pre-eminent in men's speech. 
From beside high, brooding Parnassos they brought home four victories in the games; 
and at the hands of the men of Korinth 
 
in the hollows of princely Pelops 
they have gathered into their arms ere now eight garlands, 
seven at Zeus' festival in Nemea, at home 
time beyond number. Citizens, make Zeus your song as Timodamos comes home in triumph. 
Strike up the sweet choral singing.

Pindar (c. 522 B.C. - 438 B.C.) Greece
Translated by Richmond Lattimore
Source: Odes of Pindar, selected and translated by Richmond Lattimore, University of Chicago Press, 1947

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