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Bacchylides · Epinician Odes §2.1-2.14

Fame Bringing News of Argeius' Victory to Ceos

Passage 2 of 16 · Greek

Summary

The news of Argeius' victory in the Isthmian boxing match is carried by the personified Fame to his home island of Keos. The local Muse and the sound of flutes join in celebrating his victory and his family's athletic glory.

§2.1ἄ[ϊξεν ἁ] σεμνοδότειρα Φήμα §2.2ἐς Κέον ἱεράν, χαριτώ- §2.3νυμον φέρουσʼ ἀγγελίαν, §2.4ὅτι μ[άχ]ας θρασύχειρος Ἀρ- §2.5γεῖος ἄρατο νίκαν·
Revered fame has flown to sacred Keos, bringing a glad tidings of beautiful name, that bold-handed Ar has won victory in the fight.
§2.6καλῶν δʼ ἀνέμνασεν, ὅσʼ ἐν κλεεννῷ §2.7αὐχένι ϝισθμοῦ ζαθέαν §2.8λιπόντες Εὐξαντίδα νᾶ- §2.9σον ἐπεδείξαμεν ἑβδομή- §2.10κοντα σὺν στεφάνοισιν.
And she reminded of the noble deeds, as many as on the famous neck of Isthmus, leaving the sacred island of Euxantius, we displayed along with seventy crowns.
§2.11καλεῖ δὲ Μοῦσʼ αὐθιγενὴς §2.12γλυκεῖαν αὐλῶν καναχάν, §2.13γεραίρουσʼ ἐπινικίοις §2.14Πανθείδα φίλον υἱόν.
And the native Muse summons the sweet clangor of flutes, honoring with victory-songs the dear son of Pantheidas.

Notes

  1. 2.4ὅτι — The ὅτι clause (ὅτι... ἄρατο νίκαν) functions as an appositive clause explaining the content of the noun ἀγγελίαν (tidings) in the preceding phrase.
  2. 2.6ἀνέμνασεν — The verb ἀνέμνασεν (aorist active of ἀนามιμνήσκω) governs the genitive object καλῶν. The subject is Φήμα (Fame) from line 2.1, meaning she reminded the people of Keos of their past glorious deeds.
  3. 2.8Εὐξαντίδα νᾶσον — 'The island of Euxantius' is a poetic expression for the island of Keos, which was ruled by Euxantius, the son of Minos and Dexithea. It is the object of the participle λιπόντες (leaving).
  4. 2.11αὐθιγενὴς — An adjective meaning 'born in the land' or 'native', modifying the subject Μοῦσα. It indicates that the Muse represents the local poetic and choral tradition of the island of Keos.

Cite this passage

Bacchylides, Epinician Odes §2.1-2.14. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0199.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.1-2.14

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