OF THE PYTHIAN GAMES. THE Pythian Games were instituted in honor of Apollo. Conjectures vary with respect to the origin of the word, which some imagine to have been named from the serpent Python slain by that god. So Ovid (Met. i. 445) describing the generation and death of this monster: Neve operis famam possit delere vetustas, Pythia de domito serpentis nomine dictos. Others derive the term anо тоν πνdeσlaι, because the serpent lay and putrefied there; others again añо тоν πuv@aveσ@aι, from inquiry, because men in doubt went to consult the Pythian Apollo. But the most probable conjecture is that which derives them from Pytho, the ancient name of the town Delphi, situated in a valley of Mount Parnassus, the scene of their celebration, as the other Grecian games, the Olympian, Nemean, and Isthmian, were denominated from the spot on which they were held. The Pythian contests, which the Greeks regarded with the highest reverence, were instituted many years after the Olympic, and before the Isthmian. Some authors maintain that they were established by Adrastus king of Argos, B. C. 1263. At first they were held every ninth, but afterwards every fifth year. It is said that in the first Pythiad the gods themselves were combatants; and that Castor won the prize in the stadic course, Pollux in boxing, Hercules in the pancratium, Calais in the foot race, Zetes in fighting with armor, Telamon in wrestling, and Peleus in throwing the quoit; and that the victor's reward was a laurel crown bestowed by Apollo, afterwards changed for a garland of palm-leaves. Ovid (loc. cit.) says that the wreath was arbitrary : His juvenum quicumque manu, pedibusve, rotave The exercises at these games were originally the same as at the Olympic, with the exception of the chariot race, which however was at length added. The songs by which the praises of Apollo for his victory over the serpent Pytho were celebrated were, according to Strabo, divided into avakpovais, the prelude; an allusion to which is probably contained in the opening of the Pythian odes: eμπeipa, the first experiment; KATAKEλEVσμOS, collecting courage, and rousing for the fight; ιαμβος και δακτυλος, the insults of the god over his prostrate enemy; ovplyYes, a shrill air expressing the hisses of the expiring serpent. According to some authors, these games were introduced into Rome under the title of Ludi Apollinares. THE FIRST PYTHIAN ODE. TO HIERO, THE ETNEAN, ON HIS VICTORY IN THE CHARIOT RACE, GAINED IN THE TWENTY-NINTH PYTHIAD. ARGUMENT. PINDAR begins this ode with a beautiful and poetical invocation to the lyre, expatiating on its powerful effects on gods and men-The impious alone are incapable of enjoying its sweetness, among which number is Typhoeus, who is described with great sublimity, as struggling under the superincumbent weight of Ætna-This digression leads to the mention of the town built by Hiero at the foot of the mountain, and named from it-Of this city he had caused himself to be proclaimed a citizen by the herald, who declared him victorious in the Pythian chariot race. This the poet regards as a presage of future triumphs, and invokes Apollo to take the town together with the surrounding country under his especial protection: since, as his pious disposition leads him frequently to declare, all mortal advantages, as wisdom, strength, eloquence, are derived from the gods-Then follow the praises of Hiero, and good wishes for his future prosperity, together with the mention of his son Dinomenes-Calling to mind the ancient history of the family and the calamities which they had suffered, the poet invokes Jupiter to be propitious to them in future, and to avert the perils of war by which they were threatened-Concludes with offering his advice and good wishes. O GOLDEN lyre! to whose harmonious string When moving in the mazy dance To the sweet strains the band advance, 5 Thine is the potent art to tame The lightning's everlasting flame. Jove's slumbering eagle on his sceptre laid, Rests with swift plume on either side display'd. 12 Thy melting sounds his eyelids close While his curved head and quivering back declare In the dark shadows of repose. That even in sleep thy darts have enter'd there. 11 15 Gives his impetuous spear to rest— Conducts the Muses' sacred band. 24 But wretches whom immortal Jove 20 25 9 Casimir appears to have imitated this splendid passage, (Lyric. Ep. ix. 15.) -tibi præpes alti Civis Olympi Hinc et hinc pressis reverenter alis Attulit pacem. Homer (Il. xxiv. 361.) calls the eagle Jove's winged messenger, and the strong sovereign of the plumed race.-Pope. Apuleius (Metam. vi. 119.) gives almost a verbal translation of the words of Pindar: Nam supremi Jovis regalis ales illa, repente, propansis utrimque pennis, affuit rapax aquila.' The English reader will probably call to mind a poetical paraphrase of the celebrated invocation with which this beautiful ode begins, by Akenside, in his hymn to the Naiads: With emulation all the sounding choir, And bright Apollo, leader of the song, Their voices through the liquid air exalt, &c. |