• The Odes of Pindar

  • By: Pindar
  • Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
  • Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (37 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Odes of Pindar  By  cover art

The Odes of Pindar

By: Pindar
Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.80

Buy for $16.80

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Pindar was one of the greatest lyric poets of ancient Greece. He is best known today for his odes to the victors of athletic contests, including those at famed Olympia. These odes, the only complete surviving pieces by Pindar, are marvels of sustained imagination, packed with dense parallels between the athletic victor, his illustrious aristocratic ancestors, and the myths of Olympian gods and heroes like Jason, Heracles, and Perseus.

Those myths were the religious foundation for the athletic festivities. Pindar knew these athletes and their noble families, as he was a member of the nobility - he had a personal link to the traditions that were highly cherished by Dorian Greeks. Pindar's renown as a poet was richly deserved, and he was extremely well paid for his work.

Pindar was born in Boeotia around 518 B.C., and, according to tradition, died at Argos in 443 B.C. Some sources say he lived to be 79. His first extant ode, Pythian number 10, was written in 498 B.C. His last, a Nemean ode, was composed in 444 B.C.

Although the Olympic games are today the most famous of Greek athletic contests, they were not the only ones of importance. The Isthmian, Nemean, and Pythian games were also highly regarded in ancient times, and odes to victors in those games make up a large part of these surviving pieces. The extreme piety with regard to the gods Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hera, and the Muses is singularly apparent throughout. It is indicative of the spiritual reverence of the Greek people in this period. There has never been a poet who celebrated the majesty and mystic significance of athletic competition more magnificently than Pindar.

©2007 Audio Connoisseur (P)2007 Audio Connoisseur
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Odes of Pindar

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A poet who transcended his commercial requirements

Original poems, most with mythic comparisons, for patrons on the occasion of sporting victories, coronations, weddings, funerals, etc.
They endure because they are terrific.
Well read by Charlton Griffin.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Soulful as the Iliad

Almost one hour of exposition, the actual odes don’t start till chapter 4. I recommend you skip the first three, they will put you to sleep.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful