Pindar, Pythian Xl

Extract

The story of Orestes in Pindar's Pythian XI presents two problems. First, there is the manner of its introduction; as Wilamowitz says, ‘ganz ausserlich ist die Verbindung mit dem Mythos.’ After praising the victory of the Theban Thrasydaeus in the Pythian Games Pindar moves with astonishing abruptness to the story of Agamemnon's death and the vengeance of Orestes. At first sight nothing could be more superficial than the way in which Pindar passes to the myth. Thrasydaeus has glorified his home

⋯ν ⋯φνεαῖς ⋯ραισι πυλ⋯δ

νικ⋯ν ξ⋯νου Λ⋯κωνος 'ο;ρ⋯στα,

τ⋯ν δ⋯ φονευομ⋯νου πατρ⋯ς κτλ.