Hagesidamus' Victory and the Founding of the Games — Pindar, Olympian Odes 10.1–10.105, Greek & English

τὸν Ὀλυμπιονίκαν ἀνάγνωτέ μοι

Read for me the Olympian victor,

Ἀρχεστράτου παῖδα, πόθι φρενὸς

the son of Archestratus, where in my mind

ἐμᾶς γέγραπται· γλυκὺ γὰρ αὐτῷ μέλος ὀφείλων ἐπιλέλαθʼ·¹ ὦ Μοῖσʼ, ἀλλὰ σὺ καὶ θυγάτηρ

it is written; for owing him a sweet song, I have forgotten. O Muse, but do you and Truth,

Ἀλάθεια Διός, ὀρθᾷ χερὶ

daughter of Zeus, with upright hand

ἐρύκετον ψευδέων

ward off from me

ἐνιπὰν ἀλιτόξενον.

the reproach of falsehood that sins against hospitality.

ἕκαθεν γὰρ ἐπελθὼν ὁ μέλλων χρόνος

For the future time, coming from afar,

ἐμὸν καταίσχυνε βαθὺ χρέος.

has shamed my deep debt.

ὅμως δὲ λῦσαι δυνατὸς ὀξεῖαν ἐπιμομφὰν τόκος· ὁρᾶτʼ ὦν νῦν ψᾶφον ἑλισσομέναν

Yet, interest is able to dissolve sharp blame. See now the rolling pebble,

ὅπα κῦμα κατακλύσσει ῥέον,²

how the flowing wave washes it away,

ὅπα τε κοινὸν λόγον

and how we shall pay a common tribute

φίλαν τίσομεν ἐς χάριν.

for a beloved favor.

νέμει γὰρ Ἀτρέκεια πόλιν Λοκρῶν Ζεφυρίων,

For Strict Justice inhabits the city of the Western Locrians,

μέλει τέ σφισι Καλλιόπα

and they care for Calliope

καὶ χάλκεος Ἄρης. τράπε δὲ Κύκνεια μάχα καὶ ὑπέρβιον

and bronze Ares. The fight with Cycnus turned back even mighty

Ἡρακλέα. πύκτας δʼ ἐν Ὀλυμπιάδι νικῶν

Heracles. And let Hagesidamus, winning as a boxer at the Olympiad,

Ἴλᾳ φερέτω χάριν

bring gratitude to Ilas,

Ἁγησίδαμος ὡς

as Patroclus did

Ἀχιλεῖ Πάτροκλος.

to Achilles.

θήξαις δέ κε φύντʼ ἀρετᾷ³ ποτὶ

A man, with the hand of a god, might sharpen one born to virtue

πελώριον ὁρμάσαι κλέος ἀνὴρ θεοῦ σὺν παλάμᾳ·

to rush toward immense glory;

ἄπονον δʼ ἔλαβον χάρμα παῦροί τινες,

but few indeed have obtained joy without toil,

ἔργων πρὸ πάντων βιότῳ φάος.

which is a light for life before all deeds.

ἀγῶνα δʼ ἐξαίρετον ἀεῖσαι θέμιτες ὦρσαν Διός, ὃν ἀρχαίῳ σάματι πὰρ Πέλοπος

And the laws of Zeus have urged me to sing of the supreme contest, which he established beside the ancient tomb of Pelops

βωμῶν ἑξάριθμον ἐκτίσσατο,

with six altars,

ἐπεὶ Ποσειδάνιον

after he slew

πέφνε Κτέατον ἀμύμονα,

noble Cteatus, son of Poseidon,

πέφνε δʼ Εὔρυτον, ὡς Αὐγέαν λάτριον

and slew Eurytus, so that he might exact from unwilling Augeas

ἀέκονθʼ ἑκὼν μισθὸν ὑπέρβιονπράσσοιτο, λόχμαισι δὲ δοκεύσαις ὑπὸ Κλεωνᾶν δάμασε καὶ κείνους Ἡρακλέης ἐφʼ ὁδῷ,

the immense reward for his service, willing though Augeas was unwilling; and Heracles subdued them on the road, lying in wait in the thickets below Cleonae,

ὅτι πρόσθε ποτὲ Τιρύνθιον

because previously those arrogant Moliones

ἔπερσαν αὐτῷ στρατὸν

had destroyed his Tirynthian army

μυχοῖς ἥμενον Ἄλιδος

as it was encamped in the recesses of Elis.

Μολίονες ὑπερφίαλοι. καὶ μὰν ξεναπάτας

And indeed, the guest-deceiving

Ἐπειῶν βασιλεὺς ὄπιθεν

king of the Epeians afterwards

οὐ πολλὸν ἴδε πατρίδα πολυκτέανον ὑπὸ στερεῷ πυρὶ

saw his wealthy fatherland, his own city,

πλαγαῖς τε σιδάρου βαθὺν εἰς ὀχετὸν ἄτας

sinking into a deep trench of ruin under harsh fire

ἵζοισαν ἑὰν πόλιν.

and blows of iron.

νεῖκος δὲ κρεσσόνων

And to put aside a conflict with those who are stronger

ἀποθέσθʼ ἄπορον.

is impossible.

καὶ κεῖνος ἀβουλίᾳ ὕστατος

And he too, by his folly, meeting capture at the last,

ἁλώσιος ἀντάσαις θάνατον αἰπὺν οὐκ ἐξέφυγεν.

did not escape sheer death.

ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Πίσᾳ ἔλσαις ὅλον τε στρατὸν

And then, having gathered the whole army and all the booty at Pisa, the brave son of Zeus

λαίαν τε πᾶσαν Διὸς ἄλκιμος

measured out a sacred grove for his greatest father;

υἱὸς σταθμᾶτο ζάθεον ἄλσος πατρὶ μεγίστῳ· περὶ δὲ πάξαις Ἄλτιν μὲν ὅγʼ ἐν καθαρῷ

and having fenced it around, he marked out the Altis in a clear space,

διέκρινε, τὸ δὲ κύκλῳ πέδον

and made the surrounding plain

ἔθηκε δόρπου λύσιν,

a place for feasting,

τιμάσαις πόρον Ἀλφεοῦ

honoring the stream of Alpheus

μετὰ δώδεκʼ ἀνάκτων θεῶν. καὶ πάγον

along with the twelve ruling gods. And he named

Κρόνου προσεφθέγξατο· πρόσθε γὰρ

the hill of Cronus; for previously,

νώνυμνος, ἇς Οἰνόμαος ἆρχε, βρέχετο πολλᾷ νιφάδι. ταύτᾳ δʼ ἐν πρωτογόνῳ τελετᾷ

nameless while Oenomaus ruled, it was drenched with much snow. And at this first-born ritual,

παρέσταν μὲν ἄρα Μοῖραι σχεδὸν

the Fates indeed stood nearby,

ὅ τʼ ἐξελέγχων μόνος

and also Time,

ἀλάθειαν ἐτήτυμον

who alone reveals genuine truth,

χρόνος. τὸ δὲ σαφανὲς ἰὼν πόρσω κατέφρασεν,

Time. And going forward, Time made the clear truth plain,

ὅπα τὰν πολέμοιο δόσιν

how he divided the spoils, the gift of war,

ἀκρόθινα διελὼν ἔθυε καὶ πενταετηρίδʼ ὅπως ἄρα

and sacrificed them, and how indeed he established the five-year festival

ἔστασεν ἑορτὰν σὺν Ὀλυμπιάδι πρώτᾳ

with the first Olympiad

νικαφορίαισί τε.

and the victories.

τίς δὴ ποταίνιον

Who then won

ἔλαχε στέφανον

the new crown

χείρεσσι ποσίν τε καὶ ἅρματι,

with hands, feet, and chariot,

ἀγώνιον ἐν δόξᾳ θέμενος εὖχος, ἔργῳ καθελών;

having set in his mind the glory of the contest, and winning it by deed?

σταδίου μὲν ἀρίστευσεν εὐθὺν τόνον

In the footrace, the son of Licymnius,

ποσσὶ τρέχων παῖς ὁ Λικυμνίου

Oeonus, excelled, running the straight stretch with his feet;

Οἰωνός· ἷκεν δὲ Μιδέαθεν στρατὸν ἐλαύνων· ὁ δὲ πάλᾳ κυδαίνων Ἔχεμος Τεγέαν·

and he had come leading an army from Midea. And in wrestling, Echemus glorified Tegea;

Δόρυκλος δʼ ἔφερε πυγμᾶς τέλος,

and Doryclus carried off the prize for boxing,

Τίρυνθα ναίων πόλιν·

dwelling in the city of Tiryns;

ἀνʼ ἵπποισι δὲ τέτρασιν

and with a four-horse chariot,

ἀπὸ Μαντινέας Σᾶμος Ὡλιροθίου·

Samos, the son of Halirothius, from Mantinea;

ἄκοντι Φράστωρ ἔλασε σκοπόν·

with the javelin, Phrastor hit the mark;

μᾶκος δὲ Νικεὺς ἔδικε πέτρῳ χέρα κυκλώσαις ὑπὲρ ἁπάντων, καὶ συμμαχία θόρυβον

and Niceus threw the stone with a circling arm, surpassing all in distance, and his comrades kindled a great shout.

παραίθυξε μέγαν· ἐν δʼ ἕσπερον

And in the evening,

ἔφλεξεν εὐώπιδος

the lovely light of the fair-faced

σελάνας ἐρατὸν φάος.

moon blazed up.

ἀείδετο δὲ πᾶν τέμενος τερπναῖσι θαλίαις

And the whole sacred precinct resounded with pleasant feasting

τὸν ἐγκώμιον ἀμφὶ τρόπον.

in the manner of victory songs.

ἀρχαῖς δὲ προτέραις ἑπόμενοι καί νῦν ἐπωνυμίαν χάριν

Following those ancient beginnings, now too, as a tribute named after

νίκας ἀγερώχου, κελαδησόμεθα βροντὰν

the proud victory, we shall sing of the thunder

καὶ πυρπάλαμον βέλος

and the fire-handed weapon

ὀρσικτύπου Διός,

of earth-shaking Zeus,

ἐν ἅπαντι κράτει

the blazing thunderbolt

αἴθωνα κεραυνὸν ἀραρότα.

fitted to every triumph.

χλιδῶσα δὲ μολπὰ πρὸς κάλαμον ἀντιάξει μελέων,

And the luxurious song will answer the reed of the flute,

τὰ παρʼ εὐκλέϊ Δίρκᾳ χρόνῳ μὲν φάνεν·

which have appeared after a time beside famous Dirce.

ἀλλʼ ὥτε παῖς ἐξ ἀλόχου πατρὶ

But like a child from a wife, longed for by a father

ποθεινὸς ἵκοντι νεότατος τὸ πάλιν ἤδη, μάλα δέ οἱ θερμαίνει φιλότατι νόον·

who has already reached the opposite of youth, and who warms his mind greatly with love;

ἐπεὶ πλοῦτος ὁ λαχὼν ποιμένα

since wealth that gets an imported,

ἐπακτὸν ἀλλότριον,⁴

foreign shepherd,

θνᾴσκοντι στυγερώτατος·

is most hateful to a dying man;

καὶ ὅταν καλὰ ἔρξαις ἀοιδᾶς ἄτερ,

and when a man, having done noble deeds without song,

Ἁγησίδαμʼ, εἰς Ἀΐδα σταθμὸν

O Hagesidamus, goes to the dwelling of Hades,

ἀνὴρ ἵκηται, κενεὰ πνεύσαις ἔπορε μόχθῳ βραχύ τι τερπνόν. τὶν δʼ ἁδυεπής τε λύρα

having breathed in vain, he has gained but a short pleasure for his toil. But upon you, the sweet-speaking lyre

γλυκύς τʼ αὐλὸς ἀναπάσσει χάριν·

and the sweet flute sprinkle grace;

τρέφοντι δʼ εὐρὺ κλέος

and the Pierian daughters of Zeus

κόραι Πιερίδες Διός.

nourish your wide glory.

ἐγὼ δὲ συνεφαπτόμενος σπουδᾷ, κλυτὸν ἔθνος

And I, joining eagerly in the task,

Λοκρῶν ἀμφέπεσον μέλιτι

have embraced the famous nation of the Locrians, drenching with honey

εὐάνορα πόλιν καταβρέχων· παῖδʼ ἐρατὸν δʼ Ἀρχεστράτου

their city of brave men; and I have praised the lovely son of Archestratus,

100

αἴνησα, τὸν εἶδον κρατέοντα χερὸς ἀλκᾷβωμὸν παρʼ Ὀλύμπιον,

whom I saw conquering by the strength of his hand beside the Olympian altar,

κεῖνον κατὰ χρόνον

at that time,

ἰδέᾳ τε καλὸν

beautiful in form

ὥρᾳ τε κεκραμένον, ἅ ποτε

and blended with prime of youth, which once

105

ἀναιδέα Γανυμήδει μόρον ἄλαλκε σὺν Κυπρογενεῖ.

with the Cyprus-born goddess warded off shameless death from Ganymede.

Syntax notes4 items

10.3γλυκὺ γὰρ αὐτῷ μέλος ὀφείλων ἐπιλέλαθʼ
The participle ὀφείλων (from ὀφείλω) expresses concession in relation to the main verb ἐπιλέλαθα (1st person singular perfect of ἐπιλανθάνομαι, with present sense): "although I owe him a sweet song, I have forgotten."
10.10ὅπα κῦμα κατακλύσσει ῥέον
The conjunction ὅπα (equivalent to ὅπῃ, "how / in what way") introduces an indirect question clause serving as the object of the preceding imperative ὁρᾶτε ("see"). It visually describes how the pebble (ψᾶφος) is washed away by the flowing wave, serving as a metaphor for the poet's debt being cleared.
10.20θήξαις δέ κε φύντʼ ἀρετᾷ
The optative θήξαις (from θήγω, "to sharpen") with the particle κε (equivalent to ἄν) expresses potentiality ("one might sharpen"). The accusative participle φύντα (aorist active participle of φύω, "to be born") acts as the subject of the infinitive ὁρμάσαι, meaning "to sharpen one who is born to virtue (φύντα ἀρετᾷ) so that he rushes (ὁρμάσαι) toward immense glory."
10.88πλοῦτος ὁ λαχὼν ποιμένα ἐπακτὸν ἀλλότριον
The attributive participle phrase ὁ λαχὼν (from λαγχάνω, "to obtain") modifies πλοῦτος ("wealth") and takes ποιμένα ἐπακτὸν ἀλλότριον ("an imported, foreign shepherd", i.e., an adopted or outside heir) as its object. This construct expresses the grief of dying childless: "wealth that obtains an outside heir is most hateful to a dying man."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.1-10.105