Praise of Hieron's Victory and the Myth of Pelops — Pindar, Olympian Odes 1.1–1.116, Greek & English

ἄριστον μὲν ὕδωρ, ὁ δὲ χρυσὸς αἰθόμενον πῦρ

Water is best, and gold, like a blazing fire

ἅτε διαπρέπει νυκτὶ μεγάνορος ἔξοχα πλούτου·

in the night, stands out conspicuous beyond lordly wealth.

εἰ δʼ ἄεθλα γαρύεν¹

But if you wish to sing of

ἔλδεαι, φίλον ἦτορ,

contests, my dear heart,

μηκέθʼ ἁλίου σκόπει

look no further for

ἄλλο θαλπνότερον ἐν ἁμέρᾳ φαεννὸν ἄστρον ἐρήμας διʼ αἰθέρος,

another star warmer than the sun, shining by day through the empty ether,

μηδʼ Ὀλυμπίας ἀγῶνα φέρτερον αὐδάσομεν·

nor let us praise any contest greater than Olympia.

ὅθεν ὁ πολύφατος ὕμνος ἀμφιβάλλεται²

From there, the famous hymn wraps itself around

σοφῶν μητίεσσι, κελαδεῖν

the minds of the wise, so that they loudly sing

Κρόνου παῖδʼ ἐς ἀφνεὰν ἱκομένους

of the son of Cronus when they come to the wealthy

μάκαιραν Ἱέρωνος ἑστίαν,

and blessed hearth of Hieron,

θεμιστεῖον ὃς ἀμφέπει σκᾶπτον ἐν πολυμάλῳ

who wields the scepter of law in sheep-rich

Σικελίᾳ, δρέπων μὲν κορυφὰς ἀρετᾶν ἄπο πασᾶν,

Sicily, plucking the summits of all virtues,

ἀγλαΐζεται δὲ καὶ

and is also splendedly adorned

μουσικᾶς ἐν ἀώτῳ,

in the choice blossom of music,

οἷα παίζομεν φίλαν

such as we men often play

ἄνδρες ἀμφὶ θαμὰ τράπεζαν. ἀλλὰ Δωρίαν ἀπὸ φόρμιγγα πασσάλου

around his friendly table. But take down the Dorian lyre from its peg,

λάμβανʼ, εἴ τί τοι Πίσας τε καὶ Φερενίκου χάρις

if the grace of Pisa and of Pherenicus

νόον ὑπὸ γλυκυτάταις ἔθηκε φροντίσιν,

has placed your mind under sweetest thoughts,

ὅτε παρʼ Ἀλφεῷ σύτο, δέμας

when he sped beside the Alpheus, presenting his body

ἀκέντητον ἐν δρόμοισι παρέχων,

ungoaded in the races,

κράτει δὲ προσέμιξε δεσπόταν,

and joined his master with victory,

Συρακόσιον ἱπποχάρμαν βασιλῆα. λάμπει δέ οἱ κλέος

the king of Syracuse who delights in horses. His glory shines

ἐν εὐάνορι Λυδοῦ Πέλοπος ἀποικίᾳ·

in the fine-peopled colony of Lydian Pelops,

τοῦ μεγασθενὴς ἐράσσατο γαιάοχος

whom the mighty earth-shaker

Ποσειδᾶν, ἐπεί νιν καθαροῦ λέβητος ἔξελε Κλωθὼ

Poseidon loved, after Clotho took him out of the pure cauldron,

ἐλέφαντι φαίδιμον ὦμον κεκαδμένον.

adorned with a bright shoulder of ivory.

ἦ θαυματὰ πολλά, καί πού τι καὶ βροτῶν φάτις ὑπὲρ τὸν ἀλαθῆ λόγον³

Indeed, wonders are many, and sometimes the talk of mortals, going beyond the true account,

δεδαιδαλμένοι ψεύδεσι ποικίλοις ἐξαπατῶντι μῦθοι

stories embellished with varied lies, deceive.

Χάρις δʼ, ἅπερ ἅπαντα τεύχει τὰ μείλιχα θνατοῖς,

And Grace, who fashions all sweet things for mortals,

ἐπιφέροισα τιμὰν καὶ ἄπιστον ἐμήσατο πιστὸν

by bringing honor, makes even the incredible seem credible

ἔμμεναι τὸ πολλάκις·

many a time.

ἁμέραι δʼ ἐπίλοιποι

But the days to come

μάρτυρες σοφώτατοι.

are the wisest witnesses.

ἔστι δʼ ἀνδρὶ φάμεν ἐοικὸς ἀμφὶ δαιμόνων καλά· μείων γὰρ αἰτία.

It is seemly for a man to speak good things about the gods; for the blame is less.

υἱὲ Ταντάλου, σὲ δʼ, ἀντία προτέρων, φθέγξομαι,⁴

Son of Tantalus, I shall speak of you, contrary to the men of old,

ὁπότʼ ἐκάλεσε πατὴρ τὸν εὐνομώτατον

how, when your father invited the gods to that most orderly

ἐς ἔρανον φίλαν τε Σίπυλον,

feast and to his beloved Sipylus,

ἀμοιβαῖα θεοῖσι δεῖπνα παρέχων,

offering mutual dinners to the gods,

τότʼ Ἀγλαοτρίαιναν ἁρπάσαι

then he of the splendid trident seized you,

δαμέντα φρένας ἱμέρῳ χρυσέαισί τʼ ἀνʼ ἵπποις

his mind subdued by desire, and on golden horses

ὕπατον εὐρυτίμου ποτὶ δῶμα Διὸς μεταβᾶσαι,

carried you away to the highest palace of wide-honored Zeus,

ἔνθα δευτέρῳ χρόνῳ

where, in a later time,

ἦλθε καὶ Γανυμήδης

Ganymede also came

Ζηνὶ τωὔτʼ ἐπὶ χρέος.

for the same service to Zeus.

ὡς δʼ ἄφαντος ἔπελες, οὐδὲ ματρὶ πολλὰ μαιόμενοι φῶτες ἄγαγον,

But when you had vanished, and the searching men did not bring you back to your mother,

ἔννεπε κρυφᾶ τις αὐτίκα φθονερῶν γειτόνων,

immediately some envious neighbor spoke secretly,

ὕδατος ὅτι σε πυρὶ ζέοισαν εἰς ἀκμὰν

that they had cut your limbs with a knife into

μαχαίρᾳ τάμον κάτα μέλη,

the boiling depth of water over the fire,

τραπέζαισί τʼ, ἀμφὶ δεύτατα, κρεῶν

and around the tables, at the final course,

σέθεν διεδάσαντο καὶ φάγον.

they divided and ate your flesh.

ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄπορα γαστρίμαργον μακάρων τινʼ εἰπεῖν. ἀφίσταμαι.

But for me, it is impossible to call any of the blessed gods a glutton; I stand aloof.

ἀκέρδεια λέλογχεν θαμινὰ κακαγόρους.

Loss often falls to the lot of slanderers.

εἰ δὲ δή τινʼ ἄνδρα θνατὸν Ὀλύμπου σκοποὶ

If ever the guardians of Olympus

ἐτίμασαν, ἦν Τάνταλος οὗτος· ἀλλὰ γὰρ καταπέψαι

honored any mortal man, that man was Tantalus; but he was

μέγαν ὄλβον οὐκ ἐδυνάσθη, κόρῳ δʼ ἕλεν

unable to digest his great prosperity, and through insolence he drew

ἄταν ὑπέροπλον, ἅν οἱ πατὴρ ὑπερκρέμασε καρτερὸν αὐτῷ λίθον,

a monstrous ruin, which the Father hung over him as a mighty stone,

τὸν αἰεὶ μενοινῶν κεφαλᾶς βαλεῖν εὐφροσύνας ἀλᾶται.

which he, ever longing to cast from his head, wanders away from joy.

ἔχει δʼ ἀπάλαμον βίον τοῦτον ἐμπεδόμοχθον,

He has this helpless life of constant toil,

μετὰ τριῶν τέταρτον πόνον, ἀθανάτων ὅτι κλέψαις⁵

a fourth labor after three others, because he stole from the immortals

ἁλίκεσσι συμπόταις

and gave to his companions, his drinking partners,

νέκταρ ἀμβροσίαν τε

nectar and ambrosia,

δῶκεν, οἷσιν ἄφθιτον

with which they had made him incorruptible.

θῆκαν. εἰ δὲ θεὸν ἀνήρ τις ἔλπεταί τι λαθέμεν ἔρδων, ἁμαρτάνει.

If any man hopes to do anything escaping the notice of a god, he is mistaken.

τοὔνεκα προῆκαν υἱὸν ἀθάνατοί οἱ πάλιν

Therefore the immortals sent his son back again

μετὰ τὸ ταχύποτμον αὖτις ἀνέρων ἔθνος.

to the swift-fated race of men.

πρὸς εὐάνθεμον δʼ ὅτε φυὰν

And when, towards the flowery bloom of his growth,

λάχναι νιν μέλαν γένειον ἔρεφον.

down covered his dark chin,

ἑτοῖμον ἀνεφρόντισεν γάμον

he turned his thoughts to a ready marriage,

Πισάτα παρὰ πατρὸς εὔδοξον Ἱπποδάμειαν

to win from her father of Pisa the glorious Hippodameia.

σχεθέμεν. ἐγγὺς ἐλθὼν πολιᾶς ἁλὸς οἶος ἐν ὄρφνᾳ

Going near the gray sea alone in the darkness,

ἄπυεν βαρύκτυπον

he called upon the heavy-sounding

Εὐτρίαιναν· ὁ δʼ αὐτῷ

Lord of the Trident; and he appeared to him,

πὰρ ποδὶ σχεδὸν φάνη.

close at hand at his feet.

τῷ μὲν εἶπε· φίλια δῶρα Κυπρίας ἄγʼ εἴ τι, Ποσείδαον, ἐς χάριν

Pelops said to him:

τέλλεται, πέδασον ἔγχος Οἰνομάου χάλκεον,

”If the friendly gifts of Cyprian Aphrodite, Poseidon, lead to favor,

ἐμὲ δʼ ἐπὶ ταχυτάτων πόρευσον ἁρμάτων

block the bronze spear of Oenomaus,

ἐς Ἆλιν, κράτει δὲ πέλασον.

and carry me on the swiftest chariots

ἐπεὶ τρεῖς τε καὶ δέκʼ ἄνδρας ὀλέσαις

to Elis, and bring me near to victory.

ἐρῶντας ἀναβάλλεται γάμον

For having destroyed thirteen men

θυγατρός. ὁ μέγας δὲ κίνδυνος ἄναλκιν οὐ φῶτα λαμβάνει.

who wooed her, he puts off the marriage

θανεῖν δʼ οἷσιν ἀνάγκα,⁶ τί κέ τις ἀνώνυμον

of his daughter. Great danger does not take hold of a cowardly man.

γῆρας ἐν σκότῳ καθήμενος ἕψοι μάταν,

Since we must die, why should anyone sit in darkness

ἁπάντων καλῶν ἄμμορος; ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ μὲν οὗτος ἄεθλος

nursing an inglorious old age in vain, without a share of all noble things?

ὑποκείσεται· τὺ δὲ πρᾶξιν φίλαν δίδοι.

But for me, this contest shall lie before me; and you, grant a welcome accomplishment.”

ὣς ἔννεπεν· οὐδʼ ἀκράντοις ἐφάψατʼ ὦν ἔπεσι. τὸν μὲν ἀγάλλων θεὸς

Thus he spoke; and he did not lay hold of unfulfilled words. The god, glorifying him,

ἔδωκεν δίφρον τε χρύσεον πτεροῖσίν τʼ ἀκάμαντας ἵππους.

gave him a golden chariot and untiring horses with wings.

ἕλεν δʼ Οἰνομάου βίαν παρθένον τε σύνευνον·

He overcame the might of Oenomaus and took the maiden as his bride;

τέκε τε λαγέτας ἓξ ἀρεταῖσι μεμαότας υἱούς.

and she bore him six sons, leaders of the people, eager in virtues.

νῦν δʼ ἐν αἱμακουρίαις

And now he is mixed with splendid

ἀγλααῖσι μέμικται,

blood-offerings,

Ἀλφεοῦ πόρῳ κλιθείς,

resting beside the ford of Alpheus,

τύμβον ἀμφίπολον ἔχων πολυξενωτάτῳ παρὰ βωμῷ. τὸ δὲ κλέος

having an attended tomb beside the altar that receives many guests. And the glory

τηλόθεν δέδορκε τᾶν Ὀλυμπιάδων ἐν δρόμοις

of Pelops shines from afar in the races of the Olympiads,

Πέλοπος, ἵνα ταχυτὰς ποδῶν ἐρίζεται

where swiftness of feet contends

ἀκμαί τʼ ἰσχύος θρασύπονοι·

and the heights of strength, bold in toil.

ὁ νικῶν δὲ λοιπὸν ἀμφὶ βίοτον

The victor, for the rest of his life,

ἔχει μελιτόεσσαν εὐδίαν

enjoys honeyed calm

ἀέθλων γʼ ἕνεκεν. τὸ δʼ αἰεὶ παράμερον ἐσλὸν

because of the contests. But the good that comes day by day

100

ὕπατον ἔρχεται παντὶ βροτῶν. ἐμὲ δὲ στεφανῶσαι

is ever the supreme one for every mortal. For me, to crown

κεῖνον ἱππίῳ νόμῳ

him with the equestrian strain

Αἰοληΐδι μολπᾷ

in Aeolian song

χρή· πέποιθα δὲ ξένον

is necessary; and I trust that no host

μή τινʼ, ἀμφότερα καλῶν τε ἴδριν ἁμᾷ καὶ δύναμιν κυριώτερον,

among those now living, both skilled in noble things and more sovereign in power,

105

τῶν γε νῦν κλυταῖσι δαιδαλωσέμεν ὕμνων πτυχαῖς.

shall I adorn with the glorious folds of hymns.

θεὸς ἐπίτροπος ἐὼν τεαῖσι μήδεται

A god who is your guardian plans this,

ἔχων τοῦτο κᾶδος, Ἱέρων,

having this care, Hieron,

μερίμναισιν· εἰ δὲ μὴ ταχὺ λίποι,

for your concerns; and if he does not desert you soon,

ἔτι γλυκυτέραν κεν ἔλπομαι

I hope to celebrate an even sweeter victory

110

σὺν ἅρματι θοῷ κλεΐξειν, ἐπίκουρον εὑρὼν ὁδὸν λόγων

with a swift chariot, finding a helping path of words,

παρʼ εὐδείελον ἐλθὼν Κρόνιον. ἐμοὶ μὲν ὦν

coming to the sunny hill of Cronus. For me, indeed,

Μοῖσα καρτερώτατον βέλος ἀλκᾷ τρέφει·

the Muse nurtures the strongest shaft in strength;

ἐπʼ ἄλλοισι δʼ ἄλλοι μεγάλοι. τὸ δʼ ἔσχατον

different men are great in different ways, but the highest

κορυφοῦται βασιλεῦσι. μηκέτι πάπταινε πόρσιον.

is crowned in kings. Look no further.

115

εἴη σέ τε τοῦτον ὑψοῦ χρόνον πατεῖν, ἐμέ τε τοσσάδε νικαφόροις

May it be yours to walk aloft during this time, and mine

ὁμιλεῖν, πρόφαντον σοφίᾳ καθʼ Ἕλλανας ἐόντα παντᾷ.

to associate with victors, being conspicuous for wisdom everywhere among the Greeks.

Syntax notes6 items

1.3γαρύεν
Doric infinitive equivalent to Attic γηρύειν. It functions here as the complement of the following verb ἔλδεαι.
1.8ἀμφιβάλλεται
Used in the passive voice meaning 'is wrapped around'. It takes the dative plural σοφῶν μητίεσσι as its object of relation.
1.28ὑπὲρ τὸν ἀλαθῆ λόγον
The preposition ὑπέρ with the accusative meaning 'beyond' or 'exceeding'. It modifies the rumor of mortals (φάτις) that goes beyond the true account.
1.36σὲ δʼ, ἀντία προτέρων, φθέγξομαι
The accusative pronoun σέ is the direct object of φθέγξομαι. ἀντία is used adverbially (neuter plural accusative) meaning 'contrary to'. This is the core syntax of the poet's declaration to revise the traditional myth.
1.60ὅτι κλέψαις
The conjunction ὅτι introduces a causal clause ('because'), in which the aorist active participle κλέψαις (nominative masculine singular) expresses an action prior to the main verb δῶκεν.
1.82θανεῖν δʼ οἷσιν ἀνάγκα
An impersonal construction with the dative relative pronoun οἷσιν (contracted for ἐκείνοις οἷς) and the infinitive θανεῖν, meaning 'for those for whom to die is a necessity'. It sets the condition for the following main clause starting with τί κέ τις...

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.1-1.116